MIAMI – The Yankees were considering a 19-year-old Cuban phenom who has become a highly coveted player, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
Yoan Moncada, also known as Johan, was born in Cienfuegos and left the communist island in August. He is now the Yankees' top prospect.
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"I'm grateful to God and to my parents who have been supportive of me in Cuba," he said in Spanish during an interview with Primera Hora. "My dream is to make it to the big leagues and always give my best not matter what team I'm in."
As a teenager, Moncada shined during the 2010 COPABE Pan American 16U Championship in Mexico. The next year, he earned all-star honors at the 16U World Championship. He became Cuba's top hitter in 2012 when he led the 18U national league's batting average.
In 2013, he joined the Cuban national team.
After getting married to a woman from Argentina, he traveled from the island to her native country in August and then to Guatemala, where he was practicing.
"His case is unusual because the majority of these super athletes leave the island illegally. Moncada was able to leave legally," said Emir Guerra, a baseball coach who worked with him in Guatemala.
Moncada became an amateur international free agent in November. He left Guatemala and is now under the wing of David Hastings, a St. Petersburg accountant who has never represented an athlete before.
"He left the island legally and now he's able to show the world his God-given talent and improve his life,'' Hastings said during an interview with USA Today. "He wants to play at a very high level and he wants to be the best at that high level. He's really driven.''
Moncada has been training in Florida since December. The multi-tool infielder reportedly has seven workouts scheduled for January.
The Major League Baseball reports Moncada is expected to sign for more than $30 million. He is waiting to get a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The signing period ends June 15.