Royals Sign Dominican All-Star Pitcher Branly Crisotomo

The Royals have been active in the past week in Latin America. Last Thursday, they signed Roman Hernandez Jorrin out of the Dominican (by way of Cuba) and on Thursday, the Dominican Prospect League and Clint Scoles passed along word that Kansas City has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Branly Crisotomo.

Crisotomo is listed at 6’1″ and 190 pounds, but Perfect Game USA suggests he’s more like 5’11” and 175. The DPL lists his birthdate as October 25, 1994, and while ages can sometimes be suspect in the region, the DPL has become reliable in providing accurate information, so we’ll proceed as if that’s the true date. At 17 years old, Crisotomo has a fastball in the 88-91 range (and could top out around 93) with some movement according to a Perfect Game scouting report by David Rawnsley. He also has a curveball and a changeup and reportedly overmatched batters. He was named pitcher of the game in the DPL’s recent All-Star game, registering five strikeouts in two innings.

Rawnsley also stated that if Crisotomo were a high schooler in the states, he’d “have every college after him and he’d end up a top-five round pick out of college.” He may need to fill out a bit more but with three solid pitches, he could be a starter down the line. The DPL’s projection is that he’ll start his professional career in the Royals Dominican Summer League. To me, the reports make him sound like Yordano Ventura with perhaps better secondary pitches but a weaker fastball.

The announced size of the signing bonus was $98,500.

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