Padres connected to shortstop Victor Acosta in 2020 international class

Not everyone is interested in video of teenage lads conducting fielding drills, but, for those who are, Baseball America recently published a treasure trove of such content when they profiled notable expected signees of the MLB 2020 international signing period.

The subscription-only piece from Ben Badler features video of one young man, Victor Acosta, who is expected to ink a contract worth between $1.5MM-$2MM with the Padres next summer. A shortstop out of the Dominican Republic, the currently 15-year-old Acosta is said to possess “quick defensive actions” and a strong arm, while his switch-hitting profile features a gap-to-gap, line drive approach.

It’s worth remembering that, currently, officials with MLB are working toward the implementation of an international draft—an implementation that could come as early as 2020, but more likely by 2021. Were the draft to be implemented by next year, San Diego’s agreement with Acosta would be null and void, but, in all likelihood, a lot would have to happen between now and then for that to be the case.

The Padres, of course, have already seen some fruit born from their audacious, headline-grabbing 2016 international signing class. Adrian Morejon, Michel Baez, and Ronald Bolanos are all currently with the club, while 19-year-old Gabriel Arias just wrapped up a .302/.339/.470 season with High-A Lake Elsinore.

Other signees from that class—including TIrso Ornelas, Jeisson Rosario, Jorge Ona, and Tucupita Marcano—have done some nice things in the minors, although infielders Luis Almanzar ($4MM) and Justin Lopez ($1.25MM) haven’t quite lived up to their 2016 signing bonuses.