2014 International Signing Period

So, as this 1st day of the new IFA signing period winds down, here's what we know (as far as we know):

The Astros signed 3 Venezuelans.

RHP Franklin Perez - $1,000,000
SS Miguel Angel Sierra - $1,000,000
C Brandon Benavente - $250,000.

The Astros have $2,765,400 (maybe less) remaining in their IFA bonus pool.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros sign two international prospects from Panama: shortstop Juan Pineda and shortstop Ozziel Sanchez</p>&mdash; Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/484729556104794112">July 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Here's Ben Badler's story on the new signings.

On Piñeda:

On Sanchez:

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> have agreed to a $1.5M deal with OF Ronny Rafael, #20 on <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB">@mlb</a> Top 30 Int’l list <a href="http://t.co/bw8Mkjwr2F">http://t.co/bw8Mkjwr2F</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline">@MLBPipeline</a></p>&mdash; Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseSanchezMLB/statuses/486185676162211840">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros sign No. 25 international prospect Ronny Rafael for $1.5 million. Scouting info at Baseball America: <a href="http://t.co/JLQxtnAKxc">http://t.co/JLQxtnAKxc</a></p>&mdash; Ben Badler (@BenBadler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler/statuses/486194690920685568">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
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The Astros have signed Dominican outfielder Ronny Rafael, the No. 25 international prospect for July 2, for a $1.5 million bonus. His contract also includes $100,000 in college scholarship money, which won’t count against Houston’s bonus pool.

Rafael, 16, has a compact built (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) with impressive righthanded power, though he’s still making adjustments to get to that power in games more frequently. He has a chance to start out in center field, though most teams project him as a corner outfielder, with the arm for right field. Rafael played in the International Prospect League and trained with Manaurys Munoz and Amauris Nina. Nina also had outfielders Felix Lucas ($225,000) and Bryan De La Cruz ($175,000) when they signed with Houston last year.

For the full scouting report, see post #13.

 

In addition, the Astros have also signed OF Hector Martinez.

Oz Ocampo:

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>New Astros intl signees: outfielder Angel DeLeon, center fielder Ronny Rafael, outfielder Hector Martinez and RHP Cristofer Melendez.</p>&mdash; Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/486196838630825984">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Our newest Astro, Venezuelan LHP Javier Navas. Great job by our scout Daniel Acuña. <a href="http://t.co/LKJWLzZ93Y">pic.twitter.com/LKJWLzZ93Y</a></p>&mdash; Oz Ocampo (@OzOcampo) <a href="https://twitter.com/OzOcampo/statuses/498109562118213632">August 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
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