The first of a dozen surrendered Braves prospects has signed with a new team

The first of the dozen prospects that the Atlanta Braves gave up as part of their punishment for circumventing international signing rules has found a new home.

Yelfri Del Rosario, an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic, is now a member of the Kansas City Royals. He signed this morning for a $650k signing bonus, which he will get on top of the $1 million the Braves paid him during the 2016-2017 international signing period.

Del Rosario, along with the other 11 prospects released from the Braves, are eligible for new signing bonuses through Jan. 15. After that they can’t get a new signing bonus from whichever team they end up on but will keep their old one.

Between Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast League play, Del Rosario put up a 3.62 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. In the Gulf Coast League, he struck out 36 batters in 37.1 total innings.

He reportedly opted for the Royals, according to MLB’s Jesse Sanchez, because former Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura (who died in January in a car crash in the Dominican Republic) was an idol of his.

He made this decision despite there being a larger signing bonus available elsewhere, so his desire to pitch in the same organization as Ventura was apparently strong.

While the prospects are free to re-sign with the Braves next spring (for no additional bonuses), Del Rosario is the first of multiple players in this group that will find homes elsewhere.

Shortly after, the Angels signed Kevin Maitan to a deal, and vastly improved their current crop of prospects in the process. He was the best of the bunch that the Braves were forced to give up, and will be a boon to the Angels’ organization.