The New York Mets have agreed to a multimillion-dollar deal with one of the top international prospects in the world, and the shortstop is not even a legal adult yet.
Elian Peña, the No. 3 international prospect in MLB.com’s rankings, got a franchise record $5 million signing bonus from the Mets on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The $5 million figure represents the highest portion of international bonus pool money the Mets have ever allocated to a single player, at roughly 80% of their $6.2 million. The previous mark was set a year ago, when they committed $2.85 million to Venezuelan catcher Yovanny Rodriguez.
Peña has drawn comparisons to star Dominican players like Rafael Devers and Robinson Cano. The 5-foot-10, left-handed hitter is viewed as a five-tool player who can hit the ball all over the field. Scouts have praised Peña for his discipline at the plate.
The Mets have already had a huge offseason, headlined by signing one of the top free agents in MLB history. Their prospect pipeline now looks much better with the addition of Peña.