Meet Cristian Hernandez: Soon-to-be Top International Signing for the Cubs

A new phenom prospect will likely join the Chicago Cubs’ farm system in the very near future. According to Baseball America, 17-year-old shortstop Cristian Hernandez is expected to sign with the Cubs when the international signing period opens on January 15th.

After watching the youngster swing the bat, it’s obvious why so many people around baseball are excited about Hernandez joining the Cubs organization.

While MLB scouts largely agree that Hernandez will need to sure up his defensive footwork, his effortless swing exemplifies why so many scouts think so highly of him. In fact, he’s been compared to All-Stars such as Manny Machado and Alex Rodriguez.

Hernandez ranks sixth among international free agents and is expected to sign a deal worth upwards of $3.5 million.

Hernandez, who hails from the Dominican Republic, has been linked to the Cubs since July, when the international signing period usually opens. Due to COVID-19, the start date was been pushed back to January 13th.

The Cubs will reportedly sign four additional international free agents, including a pair of outfielders, a catcher, and a pitcher.