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."
The signing comes on the heels of an ambitious draft. The Nationals selected high school players with their first six picks and have signed three of them--including first-rounders Chris Marrero and Colton Willems.
Gonzalez likely would have also been a first-rounder had he been part of the draft, Brown said.
"He is going to hit at the top of the lineup, a line drive, gap hitter and the defense is special," Brown said. "It's tough to pull out comparisons. We had one of our scouts say [Miguel] Tejada. It's really tough to put that on a young kid though."
Gonzalez, who turns 17 in September, will work out with the Nationals' Dominican Summer League starting next week, but he is not eligible to play in games until next spring. Bowden said he'll be invited to spring training and will likely be assigned to a minor league team.
When Rijo discovered the shortstop at the age of 14, he said he knew immediately Gonzalez was a special talent--almost too good.
He didn't think the Nats could sign Gonzalez.
Things changed when the Lerners were named owners in May, and this signing follows a model made successful by the Atlanta Braves under Kasten.
The Braves mined the Caribbean, South America and the Pacific for international talent, signing outfielder Andruw Jones from Curacao and shortstop Rafael Furcal from the Dominican Republic.
"The closest analog not as a player but as a step was when we signed Andruw, similar kind of intrigue, similar kind of prospect that seemed to come from out of nowhere," Kasten said. "I think that's a very valid comparison."
Extra basesRight-hander Pedro Astacio will make his Nationals debut today against the Florida Marlins, but he won't be asked to do too much. Astacio should last five innings and will be held to a pitch count around 70, manager Frank Robinson said.
Right-hander Tony Armas Jr. (strained right forearm) threw a bullpen session yesterday and reported no pain. He said he's on track to return from the disabled list this week.
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com