Fish sign teen Dominican Republic SS prospect

The international signing period window opened Saturday, and the Miami Marlins wasted no time signing their top international free agent target in shortstop Yoffry Solano out of the Dominican Republic. Solano is getting a $750,000 signing bonus, according to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez, who also reported the Marlins are expected to “sign close to 40 international prospects” this cycle.

The Marlins have a $5,721,500 bonus pool to use on international prospects.

Solano is ranked as the No. 44 overall international prospect in this signing period cycle by MLB Pipeline, and is the only prospect among the site’s top-50 signing with Miami.

“They were the team that probably the most constantly looking at me,” Solano said Saturday on a Zoom via Marlins team interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “I was very interested in that team. I was looking for goals to get better every time they came in and watched me play.”

The 17-year-old Solano is listed at 5-10 and 155 pounds and his scouting report says he has the potential to become an everyday shortstop “because of his defensive skills and hitting ability.”

Solano said he has modeled his game after Didi Gregorius growing up and he hopes to some day either play with him or against him.

“Physically,” Solano’s scouting report continues, “he’s athletic and wiry with tons of projection and room to add weight and strength. On defense, he shows advanced instincts and polish for a player his age. He features an emerging arm and solid footwork that consistently puts him in a position to make plays. At the plate, the switchhitting teen shows a solid approach from both sides of the plate. He shows an advanced awareness of the strike zone and efficient bat-to-ball skills. He also has a chance to be an above-average runner. Solano has also been praised for his makeup.”

Jordan McPherson: 305-376-2129, @J_McPherson1126