Juan Uribe’s defensive heroics in the course of the closing inning of the 2005 World Series will at all times be a part of Chicago White Sox lore.
His son Juan Uribe Jr. took the following step in his baseball journey Sunday, coming to phrases with the Sox in the course of the worldwide signing interval.
Uribe Jr. was one in every of seven worldwide free-agent signees the Sox introduced Monday. The group additionally contains right-handed pitcher Luis Reyes, the No. 41 worldwide prospect in 2023 in keeping with MLB.com.
The phrases with Uribe Jr. — a 5-foot-10, 170-pound second baseman who resides in Nizao, Dominican Republic — embrace a $200,000 signing bonus.
“It was definitely a very emotional moment for my family, a very happy moment for all of us,” Uribe Jr. stated by way of an interpreter Monday on a video convention name. “I’m just glad and very proud to be part of the White Sox organization.”
He stated his greatest baseball classes from his dad have been “how to love this game, how to play with love and how to do your best because this is a very special game.”
His father performed 16 seasons within the majors, together with 5 with the Sox. He raced over from shortstop and wound up within the stands whereas making a spectacular catch on a foul pop for the second out of the ninth in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series towards the Houston Astros.
Uribe made one other nice play, fielding a gradual curler and firing to first for the ultimate out to safe a 1-0 victory and the staff’s first title since 1917.
“I always talk to him about my time with the White Sox and how important my time with them was for my career and how Chicago feels like home to me,” Uribe Sr. stated by way of an interpreter. “As a father, I couldn’t ask for something higher. It’s the precise match for him and I find it irresistible.
“I’m proud of the player that he is and the player that he’s going to become and how he’s going to represent the Chicago White Sox. I want him to reach his dream.”
Marco Paddy, particular assistant to the overall supervisor, worldwide operations, cited Uribe Jr.’s “very short swing” throughout a video convention name.
“There’s no question about his hitting ability,” Paddy stated. “He inherited that from his dad. He handles the bat extremely well.”
Uribe Jr., 16, bats and throws right-handed. He isn’t the one Sox signee with a hyperlink to the massive leagues.
Outfielder Abraham Núñez Jr. — whose deal included a $700,000 signing bonus — is the son of former major-league outfielder Abraham Núñez, who performed for the Florida Marlins (2002, ‘04) and Kansas City Royals (2004).
Núñez, additionally 16, is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
“Very high energy, aggressive, athletic. He can play all three outfield positions,” Paddy stated. “He’ll in all probability find yourself in a nook simply because he’s such a tall child, and for those who have a look at his dad, his dad was an enormous man too. He’s received pace, he’s received energy.
“But the one unique thing about Abraham is he has a feel for the strike zone. He knows how to adjust to pitches. He can recognize the breaking ball and he’s a guy who sprays the ball all over the field.”
Paddy described Reyes, 17, as “a power arm.” MLB Pipeline ranks the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder because the No. 4 worldwide pitching prospect.
A local of Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, Reyes performed for the Miami Miracles journey staff in a number of U.S. tournaments and Perfect Game occasions in 2020-21. His deal features a $700,000 signing bonus.
“He’s got a power fastball, a slider and a changeup,” Paddy stated. “For a younger child — I began seeing Luis on the age of 14, virtually 15 years previous — he’s a man that dominates throwing pitches. He’s received a clear arm, good mechanics and good measurement.
“I’ve seen him pitch and being able to adjust. Even though he was a younger kid, he was able to adjust to older competition extremely well.”
The Sox additionally signed right-hander Denny Lima ($10,000 bonus), outfielder Albert Alberto ($50,000) and infielders D’Angelo Tejada ($350,000) and Rafael Álvarez ($350,000).
The staff anticipates extra signings within the coming weeks.
“Coming back from the Christmas break, you have to make sure that everybody’s healthy and everybody is ready to go,” Paddy stated. “We’ll be announcing some signings in Venezuela pretty soon.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com