Royals ink another former Braves prospect, OF Juan Carlos Negret

Second one this week.

The Royals made their second international signing in a span of three days, inking former Braves OF prospect Juan Carlos Negret. Like Yefri del Rosario, the signing comes after 12 Braves prospect were granted free agency to punish the organization for international wrongdoings.

The 18-year old outfielder comes from Cuba and played his first season of professional baseball with the DSL Braves this summer. He seemed to handle it well, slashing .264/.410/.391 in 50 games. Plate discipline seems like a strength of his, as he posted a robust 47:27 K:BB ratio. Here is some video of his swing.

Negret missed a month last year due to what seemed to be a hamate injury, likely causing him to lose much of his power late in the season.

And interestingly, he was among the minor-league leaders in hit-by-pitches, getting plunked 16 times in 217 plate appearances.

The Braves were forced to lose 12 international free-agent signings as a punishment from Major League Baseball. In addition to the Royals two recent signings, del Rosario and Negret, the Braves had to forfeit Juan Contreras, Abrahan Gutierrez, Kevin Maitan, Yenci Peña, Yunior Severino, Livan Soto, Guillermo Zuniga and top prospect Kevin Maitan. The signing period for these prospects started December 5 and lasts until January 15 with international bonus pool money from either this current signing period or next year’s at the 29 major-league teams’ disposal who are not the offending Atlanta Braves.