Nats land touted Dominican infielder

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Nationals notebook

Date published: 7/3/2006

By TODD JACOBSON

WASHINGTON--The Nationals signed 16-year-old Dominican Republic shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez yesterday, giving the amateur prospect a $1.4 million signing bonus while jumping headfirst into the international amateur talent market.

In a press conference to introduce Gonzalez, general manager Jim Bowden called the switch-hitting shortstop a "definite first-round talent" and a "definite potential star in the big leagues," comparing his defensive ability to Ozzie Smith.

"Everything you want to imagine Ozzie [Smith] doing with the glove, he does, yet he can hit from both sides of the plate. [He hits] electric line drives, shots," Bowden said. "He is a special talent."

But it won't stop with Gonzalez.

Bowden said yesterday's signing signaled a rebirth of the franchise's focus on international scouting, an area that been neglected during Major League Baseball's ownership of the franchise from 2002 to this May.

But when Theodore Lerner and his family were announced as the owners of the team, priority number one was rebuilding the team through scouting and player development, including an increased presence in the international market.

"It's a significant step," incoming team president Stan Kasten said. "It's a needed first step for a whole new program we think will be very important to our future. We cannot compete without having a very visible scouting presence in the Caribbean."

Yesterday was the first day teams can sign international players, and Bowden said Gonzalez and his adviser, Basilio Vizcaino, flew to Washington yesterday at their own cost.

Negotiations began at midnight at the Capital Grille and included principal owner Mark Lerner, Kasten, scouting director Dana Brown and Bowden's special assistant, Jose Rijo, who discovered Gonzalez at his own Dominican Republic baseball academy at the age of 14.

By 2 a.m., Bowden said a deal was struck with a signing bonus believed to be a club record for international players.

Vizcaino said the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins were also interested. Through a translator, Gonzalez said his relationship with Rijo swayed him toward the Nats.

"We are going to compete with all the big market clubs for the best talent in the world," Bowden said. "If they are out there and you think you have them you are going to have to play with us, because we are here to play."

Date published: 7/3/2006