Royals Sign Dominican Pitcher Igor Feliz

At the start of the month, the Royals dipped into the Latin American market and signed RHP Darwin Castillo out of the Dominican Prospect League.

They must like what they got because they are repeat customers, today signing 17-year-old Igor Feliz from the DPL.  They report his fastball at around 91-93 mph with the occasional 95.  He has “a good feel for his off-speed pitches” and they project him as a starter.

Feliz will get a reported $225,000 bonus for signing with the Royals.  Clint Scoles makes the keen observation that signing him to that bonus equates to another draft pick in the 5-10 range.  Castillo, by comparison, got a $300,000 bonus and is reportedly 18 years old.

Feliz will probably spend all of 2011 in instructional leagues and by 2012 should start seeing some Rookie League action.  He’s a long-term arm to watch.

The Royals have stepped up their involvement in the international market, getting players like Yordano Ventura, Robinson Yambati, Cheslor Cuthbert, Orlando Carlixte, Humberto Arteaga and others in the last couple years, all who are on the prospect radar.

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