KC Royals Bust International Cap With Two Big Signings

By John Viril | Jul 2, 2015

The latest KC Royals rumors suggest the team has busted their international cap with two big signings, according to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez. The Kansas City Royals are believed to have agreed to deals with 9th ranked international prospect Seuly Matias ($2.9 million bonus) and 29th ranked infielder Jeison Guzman ($1.5 million bonus).

[Note: Baseball America rates Seuly Matias 7th and Jeison Guzman 11th among 2015 international prospects]

If this report is accurate, the KC Royals will have smashed their $2.0 million bonus cap for international signings. Since they have exceeded their limit by more than 15 percent, the Royals will be restricted from signing any international player to more than a $300,000 signing bonus for the next two seasons.

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The international signing period for major league baseball opened on Thursday, July 2.

Many analysts expect major-league baseball to institute an international draft in the near future, because commissioner Rob Manfred favors such a policy. The Kansas City Royals might avoid their international signing penalty if this change comes within the next two seasons.

Seuly Matias is a 16-year-old center fielder from the Dominican Republic that is said by DPLbaseball.com to possess five plus tools. He is 6’2″, 190 pounds with scouting grades of: Hit 50, Power 55, Run 50, Arm 60, Field 50.

[Note: Scouts typically grade prospects on a 20-80 scale with 45 average]

You can see video of Seuly Matias by clicking below:

Along with Matias, the Kansas City Royals have apparently reached agreement with Dominican Republic shortstop Jeison Guzman for a $1.5 million signing bonus. According to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, Guzman is 16-year-old, 6’0″ 160 pound, left-handed hitting prospect that scouts expect to stick at short.

Fangraphs.com’s Kiley McDaniel had this to say about Jeison Guzman:

"Guzman was another player I saw in October that stood out, though Guzman is a below average runner with below average power. He’s a very advanced defensive shortstop, maybe the best in this class, with very good feel for the bat head in games and scouts expecting the foot speed to come later."

You can see video of Jeison Guzman by clicking below:

Guzman continues a trend of international shortstop signings by the Kansas City Royals that include Raul Mondesi Jr. (current no. 1 prospect in the KC Royals system), Orlando Calixte, and Martin Gasparini.

If this report is accurate, the KC Royals general manager Dayton Moore is continuing to aggressively chase international prospects to fill his prospect pipeline.

Let’s just hope Seuly Matias and Jeison Guzman continue in the footsteps of former Kansas City Royals international prizes like catcher Salvador Perez and pitcher Yordano Ventura.

Next: Kansas City Royals Potential Offensive Trade Targets

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