International Signing Day: Cubs Ink Erling Moreno

While much of the attention has surrounded the official announcement of the signing of top international prospect Eloy Jimenez, the continued their international signing day spending spree on Tuesday. Erling Moreno is another Cubs signing that has agreed to an $650,000 deal, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Major League Baseball’s website rates the right handed pitcher as the 17th best international prospect in the 2013 class.

The 16 year old from Columbia boasts a curveball and change up that has caught the attention of scouts. His fastball only sits in the high 80’s, but he has plenty of time for the mph to get bumped up into the lower 90’s in a couple years. He is basically a high school sophomore or junior at this point.

June 15, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Again, with the Cubs having gone with a position player with their first pick in the 2013 draft and going with a surprise reach pick in Rob Zastryzny for round two, it is good to see the front office nab a Top 30 prospect that is a pitcher. The majority of the prospect names to look forward to in the near future are position players, and everyone knows that the Cubs need to address the pitching as well.

While these international signings have been getting more public attention now that MLB regulates the spending on these foreign prospects, it should not be overlooked that Theo Epstein and Company are certainly pushing the limits of their allotted funds.