The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have signed Cuban centerfielder Jonatan Machado to a minor league contract in addition to shortstop Erik Pena and catcher Ivan Herrera during the current 2016-17 international signing period that opened on July 2.
Machado, 17, is a prototypical leadoff hitter with plus speed and advanced defensive skills. The left-handed hitting Machado is from La Habana, Cuba and played for Cuba’s Gold Medal winning team at the 2014 15U IBAF Baseball World Cup in Mazatlan, Mexico.
“Machado is a dynamic player who has the ability to affect the game in many ways,” stated Cardinals Director of International Operations Moises Rodriguez. “He makes contact at a high rate and is an ignitor on offense.”
The 5-9, 155-pound Machado batted .336 in 137 plate appearances for La Habana’s 15U youth league team in 2014, striking out in only 4 pct. of his at-bats. The Cardinals have scouted Machado during both the 2014 World Cup and since he arrived in the Dominican Republic late last year.
Machado has been signed to a 2016 contract and will be immediately assigned to the DSL Cardinals team.
The Cardinals also announced today the recent international signings of the switch-hitting Pena (Valencia, Venezuela) and the right-handed hitting Herrera (Panama City, Panama). Both players are 16 years of age.
Machado, Pena, and Herrera join a prior group of 13 international signings that were announced by the Cardinals on July 3.
