The Dodgers may see limited action in the upcoming international signing period. The action will be limited compared to the 2015-2016 signing period for the team. That is, the Dodgers – along with the Giants, Cubs, and Royals – are serving two-year $300,000 plus signing bans that began with the 2016-17 international signing period.

Those teams are limited to a $300,000 signing bonus as a result of overspending their international bonus allotments during the 2015-16 signing period. The Dodgers did so with almost reckless abandon doling out $22,000,000 in bonus money and paying a 100% tax on their over-expenditure above $2,002,900.

The club’s strategy was clear as the front office liked to depth on the international scene and simply decided to reload their farm system with as many top international players as possible with the hope that these prospects will develop into Major Leaguers in three to five years. More such signings can take place in two years’ time and there is always the possibility of finding additional gold nuggets such as catcher Keibert Ruiz who signed for $140,000 in 2015.

How did the Dodgers do with their spending extravaganza in 2015-16 and was it worth the gamble? It seems the gamble has paid off and can be listed as an unqualified success at this point in the young careers of the players signed by scouts Patrick Guerrero, Franklin Tavaras Jr., Manelik Pimental and Bob Engle.

A quick check of the Dodgers top 30 prospects as listed by mlbpipeline.com includes five of these 2015-16 signees within the top 23 positions. Four of them are still teenagers:

1. Yadier Alvarez (21) – RHP with the Tulsa Drillers
11. Starling Heredia (18) – OF with the Ogden Raptors
19. Ronny Brito (18) – SS with the Ogden Raptors
20. Oneil Cruz (18) – 3B with the Great Lakes Loons
23. Carlos Rincon (19) – OF with the Great Lakes Loons

A guess would be that many Dodger fans, and especially those who follow the minor league affiliates, have heard about Alvarez, Heredia, Brito and Rincon but Oneil Cruz might be a bit of a mystery player.

Cruz played with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers as a 17-year-old during the 2016 season. He posted a triple slash of .294/.367/.444 in 55 games and chipped in with 11 stolen bases. He played primarily as a third baseman displaying an arm suited to the position.

Even at only 18 years old, Cruz has an incredibly strong arm that makes him a perfect fit at third base.
(Photo credit – Theophil Syslo)

In a rather surprising move, the 6’6”/175-pound native of Nizao in the Dominican Republic, was assigned to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League to begin the 2017 season and to date has played in 84 of the Loons 97 games. As might be expected coming from the Dominican Republic, Cruz who bats left and throws right, found the weather more than a little challenging when the Loons had their home opener on April 7.

He struggled through April hitting just .133 but his manager, Jeremy Rodriguez, stuck with him and his patience, along with the work of hitting coach Jair Fernandez, was soon rewarded.

In May Cruz hit .292, in June he hit .279 and in July he is hitting .304. He is starting to show the power expected of him and has eight home runs and on the bases, has eight steals.

Cruz has again played primarily at third base but also has made 28 appearances at shortstop. For a big man, he has exceptional body control which allows him to play at shortstop although his future will be as a corner infielder.

The highlight of his season came on July 20 when he had a 5-5 night against the Kernels at Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids and missing a cycle by the elusive triple. It was the second consecutive game in which he has hit a home run.

Manager Jeremy Rodriguez attributes Cruz’s recent success to a pregame routine they have worked out for him.

“He showed a really good batting practice,” Rodriguez said. “He used more gap to gap — he wasn’t just trying to hit home runs, he was using all parts of the field. He’s still hitting home runs, but didn’t really try to do too much during batting practice. It really turned over to the game. He did what the game asked him to do and it worked out for him.”

Perhaps as with many young, strong hitters the home run might have been a temptation for Cruz so his hitting coach has been working to slow the game down for Cruz and working to help him make more consistent contact.

“He has a lot of power, crazy power,” Rodriguez said. “When he tries to hit home runs, it doesn’t really work out for him. When he tries a low line drive or just make solid contact, that’s when the ball jumps off the bat. Jair has been doing a really good job during batting practice and staying on him to make sure he stays within himself and not trying to do too much.”

Cruz will play the entire 2017 season as an 18-year-old far away from home in the Dominican Republic. His manager feels he has adjusted well to a totally new life situation for him and has adjusted well to those moments when baseball can be a bit discouraging.

“I am extremely happy,” the Loons skipper said. “He’s been definitely putting a lot of work in. He’s had some ups and downs, but this being his first full season, that’s going to happen. He’s made a huge leap coming straight from the Dominican Republic to Low-A — you don’t see that very often. So, for him to be handling it the way he has been, I’m very proud. I know the whole coaching staff was excited for him.”