Pablo Figueroa, a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher from Río Grande, Puerto Rico, has signed with the Cleveland Guardians as a non-drafted free agent. Figueroa, who moved to Florida with his family, attended Central Pointe Christian Academy and can throw up to 95 miles per hour.
He is the first Puerto Rican player not selected in the MLB draft to sign a professional contract. Other Puerto Rican prospects, including Javeth Carrión and Leamsi Montañez, who were not drafted, can also sign as free agents.
Meanwhile, players who were selected in the draft, such as Justin LeBrón, Aiden Ruiz, and others, have not yet signed their contracts. LeBrón, a shortstop from the University of Alabama, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round and has a assigned value of $4.6 million, while Ruiz, selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates, has a assigned value of $2.28 million.