The Cuban pipeline remains strong in Chicago. Oscar Colás has committed to signing with the White Sox for $2.7 million dollars. He will not be able to officially sign until next January during the International Signing period. The $2.7 million is a hefty contract that will take up half of Chicago’s bonus pool money next year. But by all accounts the cuban outfielder is worth every penny.

Sources: White Sox expected to sign Cuban OF Oscar Colas (22) for around $2.7 M when a new international signing period opens on January 15, 2022. Several MLB teams (Mets-Angels-Marlins) were in the race for Colas, who left Cuba in early January 2020 and was a FA last December.

— Francys Romero (@francysromero10) March 25, 2021

Colás is a two way mega-prospect

Oscar Colás announced he was defecting from Cuba in January. Jeff Passan described him as “one of the best prospects to emerge from Cuba in years”. Colás has even been nick named the ‘Cuban Ohtani’ because of his ability to pitch and play outfield. He is only 21-years old. In 2019 he played in Japan on the SoftBank Hawks, and put up some solid numbers. He hit .302 with a .350 slugging percentage and a .516 OPS. The left handed hitter also added 12 home runs, 19 doubles and 48 RBI’s in 73 games.

He is also a left handed pitcher whose fastball touches 95 mph. In 2018 he pitched in the Cuban National Series and posted a 2.70 ERA in three appearances. The jury is still out on whether he can be a major league pitcher. His primary position is in the outfield. As evident by his 95 mph fastball, he has a howitzer of an arm. Trevor Lines wrote in South Side Sox that Colás would have a top five arm among active right fielders in the MLB today.

He has some raw power and some nice components to his swing. His bat stays in the zone and he has shown the ability to drive the ball to opposite field. That being said he has not played in a competitive game in nearly two years. Despite the lack of professional experience scouts still anointed him as the top international prospect on the market.

Cuban Pipeline Is Strong

Colás was on the White Sox radar but they had already signed another cuban outfield prospect, Yoelqui Cespedes and pitcher Norge Vera. Instead of signing with another team Colás decided to wait another year just so he could sign with the White Sox. His friend Luis Robert dropped a hint that this would happen on instagram. He hopes to join his fellow countrymen, Robert and Cespedes in the White Sox future outfield.

The Mets, Angels and Marlins were reportedly in the race for Colás. He will join a great lineage of Cuban talent to play in the White Sox organization. He follows in the footsteps of greats like Minnie Minoso as wells guys on the current roster such as Jose Abreu, Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal.

The news that he was committed to signing with the White Sox was reported by insider Francys Romero. It has yet to be confirmed by any other MLB insiders or outlets. But given Robert’s social media post and this news, the reports seem to have some merit.

By adding another significant international prospect to their organization, the White Sox have restocked their farm system that has already graduated most of their top prospects.