D-backs sign five international players, including two highly-ranked

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Friday the signing of five international players, including two who were ranked in the top 50 by Baseball America.

The five players were as follows, according to a statement from the D-backs:

Kristian Robinson, Outfielder — Bahamas

This right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder was ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the international class by Baseball America and No. 15 by MLBPipeline.com. From Nassau, Bahamas, Robinson played in Ohio and Florida last summer. He’s the great-nephew of former Olympian Tom Robinson. He’s 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds.

Jorge Barrosa, outfielder — Venezuela

A switch hitter, Barrosa is 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds and is from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He’s ranked as the No. 44 international prospect from Baseball America. He played in the Panama Professional Winter League this past season and hit .333 with three extra base hits and five stolen bases in just 12 games.

Neyfy Castillo, infielder — Dominican Republic

Castillo is 6-foot-3, 175 pounds and hails from Higuey, Dominican Republic.

Sergio Gutierrez, catcher — Venezuela

Gutierrez played for Venezuela’s national 15U team in 2016 in the Pan American Baseball Confederation’s Pan American Tournament in Panama. From Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela, the switch-hitter stands at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds.

Liover Peguero, infielder — Dominican Republic

Like Castillo, Peguero is from Higuey, D.R. and the two were teammates as kids. Peguero is 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds and hits and throws right-handed.

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All six players are 16 years old.

MLB.com reported that Robinson’s contract was worth about $2.5 million. The other four contracts ranged from $415,000 to $600,000. Their Jesse Sanchez also reported that the team had agreed to several other international players, though that information was not formally disclosed in the club’s release.

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