New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has made a strong effort to improve the club's scouting and development infrastructure since he took over. So he doesn't have to rely on spending huge sums for other teams' stars. That renewed push helped the team land an intriguing prospect from Italy this week.
Baseball fans are used to the next great stars coming from inside the United States. From parts of Latin America like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. And Japan has delivered a huge influx of high-level talent over the last decade. However, Europe is not considered an MLB prospect hotbed.
Yet, the Mets are tapping into the limited baseball talent on the continent with a teenage prospect from, of all places, Italy. This week, the organization has signed 19-year-old pitcher Matteo Marelli to a contract that will give him a $10,000 signing bonus.
Team scout Rosario Chiovaro has been able to follow Marelli for a couple of years, in part, because of the increased financial investments the organization has made in scouting. Until recently, the pitcher was not viewed as a fast-rising prospect in the scouting department's eyes. However, the youngster took a huge leap forward this year.
"With their recent investments in international infrastructure, the Mets have more resources than ever to commit to the scouting of such players," MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reported. "Three months ago, when Chiovaro showed up to the European Development Tournament in Barcelona, he noticed Marelli's fastball velocity had jumped from the mid-80s to as high as 94 mph. His changeup looked like a legitimate weapon. It was enough for Chiovaro to reach out to Marelli's father, who is also his agent."
DiComo admits it is very hard to get a read on European prospects. They play fewer games than in the US and Latin America, and the competition is not as stiff. However, while many Euro talents go to a US college to develop further, the organization believes he is ready for pro competition now.
"Marelli will begin his professional career in the Dominican Summer League, playing alongside mostly Latin American teenagers," DiComo revealed. "His challenges will include acclimating to the culture and the weather. If Marelli succeeds, he will eventually make his way to full-season ball in Florida. With an eye toward one day reaching Queens."
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