Frank Wren still remembers the phone call — and the enthusiasm in the voice on the other end.
“Wait till you see this kid!”
Johnny Almaraz didn’t have to say anything more. He had set out on another trip to a far-flung location in search of a future major leaguer, and Wren just knew by his intonation that he had been successful. In the previous few years, Almaraz had turned up pitchers Julio Teheran from Colombia and Randall Delgado from Panama, Venezuelan shortstop Jose Peraza, and Panamanian catcher Christian Bethancourt. At his recommendation, the Atlanta Braves signed them all despite a limited budget for international amateurs.