Yankees Sign $2.5 Million International Shortstop Ranked No. 11 by MLB

The New York Yankees may have missed out on Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki but the team has been far from idle in the international market, continuing its aggressive efforts that netted $5.1 million signing Jasson Dominguez — who made his major league debut last season — in 2019, and No. 1 ranked international prospect Hans Montero in 2021. On Friday, the Yankees struck again in the international market, signing MLB Pipeline's No. 11 overall international prospect Mani Cedeño out of San Pedro de Marcoris in the Dominican Republic, described as a "potential five-tool shortstop" by Yankees Go Yard writer Adam Weinrib. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Brian Cashman attends the annual charity day hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund on September 12, 2022 in New York City. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Brian Cashman attends the annual charity day hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund on September 12, 2022 in New York City. The word "potential" is key to describing Cedeño, because this prospect is only 16 years old. He will not turn 17 until near the end of the Dominican Summer League season. Cedeño will be assigned to that league in his home country to start his hoped-for journey to the Bronx. He came in as the second-youngest prospect on the MLB Pipeline list of their top 50 international prospects. Baseball America compares Cedeño to Yoeilin Cespedes, a shortstop in the Boston Red Sox system. The Red Sox signed Cespedes in 2023, giving him a $1.4 million bonus. The publication now rates him as the No. 10 prospect in the Red Sox system. The Yankees handed out a $2.5 million signing bonus to Cedeño, who trains at Paulino Baseball Academy, which is a member of MLB's Trainer Partnership program. More MLB: Cubs, Phillies Could Land New Third Basemen in Three-Team Trade Proposal At least 76 big league players have come out of San Pedro de Marcoris, including current players Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres, pitcher Wandy Peralta also of the Padres, and New York Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio. "A certain level of hype comes with being a shortstop from San Pedro de Macorís, a spot Cedeño holds down with consistency due to his supremely smooth actions up the middle," according to the MLB.com scouting report on the Yankees' new signing. He is also considered a "plus" athlete with excellent bat speed. With Dominguez now graduated from "prospect" status to certified MLB player, Cedeño is the only player on the MLB Pipeline top 50 now tied to the Yankees. More MLB: Ex-Mets GM: Pete Alonso 'Great Fit' For Toronto; 'Would Love' Alex Bregman Also