Minor League Player of the Year

Moncada only starting to tap into potential.

- Ben Badler

It didn’t generate much attention at the time, but a youth tournament in the city of Lagos de Moreno in Mexico six years ago was filled with future major league talent.

It was October 2010 when scouts ventured to Mexico for the COPABE 16U Pan American Championship. At shortstop, the United States had Corey Seager, who finished second in the tournament in hitting, ranking behind only his double-play partner, second baseman Alex Bregman. The U.S. was strong up the middle, with Albert Almora in center field. Mexico’s ace was Roberto Osuna.

The player in Lagos de Moreno who captivated the attention of scouts was Cuba’s 15-year-old third baseman, Yoan Moncada. Despite being one of the youngest players in the tournament, Moncada showed dynamic athleticism, tools and feel for the game beyond his years. It was the first time Moncada had traveled out of Cuba, the first time international scouts had seen him play.

Ten months later, after hitting .500/.643/.918 with eight home runs and 37 walks in 158 plate appearances back home in Cuba’s 16U national youth league, where he led the league in nearly every offensive category, Moncada returned to Lagos de Moreno for the 16U World Cup, where he dominated again and made the tournament’s all-star team at third base.

“There’s a 16-year-old, Yoan Moncada,” said one international scout in 2012. “He’s the best player down there (in Cuba). He’s a switch-hitting third baseman with five tools. He’s the guy—and everyone who’s been scouting Cuba knows it.”

Since then, Moncada left Cuba and signed with the Red Sox in March 2015 for $31.5 million, with the Red Sox paying a total of $63 million including the 100 percent overage tax to the commissioner’s office for exceeding their international bonus pool.