Red Sox fans remember the day that a young phenom named Nomar Garciaparra became Boston’s starting shortstop less than three years out of college. Now, there is a new Nomar making headlines in the baseball world and this one makes that 23-year-old rookie look like an old man.
The Texas Rangers announced Sunday the signing of 16-year-old Dominican prospect Nomar Mazara, according to ESPNdeportes.com. The report indicates that the deal came with a $5 million bonus, making it the largest bonus ever signed by a foreign prospect.
A tall, lanky lefty — already 6-foot-5 but weighing in at just 185 pounds — Mazara is described as a power-hitting outfielder who can hit the ball a mile. He also has an affinity for strikeouts.
“He may have the most raw power in Latin America, with batting practice shots that leave scouts in awe,” Baseball America’s scouting report on Mazara reads. “[But] the only thing that can match Mazara’s epic power [is] his equally epic ability to rack up strikeouts.”
Mazara does not play in any of the Dominican Republic’s premier baseball leagues and his workouts for scouts have been rigidly structured, but he had reportedly drawn interest from the Red Sox, Blue Jays and A’s before signing with Texas.
Mazara’s massive signing bonus breaks the previous record of $4.25 million given to Oakland pitching prospect Michael Ynoa in 2008. The 19-year-old Ynoa, who stands in at 6-foot-7, 210 pounds, went 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three rookie ball starts last summer. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August and is expected to be back on the mound for the first time since the surgery later this month.
If Mazara reaches the majors — a feat that would not happen for several years, if ever — Mazara would become only the second Nomar to ever play in the big leagues.
