MLB American League News

Juan Uribe Jr. signs with White Sox

Juan Uribe Jr. signs with White Sox

CHICAGO — Juan Uribe Sr. has nothing against any of the other six teams he played for over 16 years in the Major Leagues, producing 199 home runs and two World Series championships.

But he wanted his son to agree to terms with the White Sox and be part of their organization. That dream officially came true on Monday, as the White Sox announced Juan Uribe Jr. ($200,000) as part of their seven-player international free-agent class.

The rest of this group includes right-handed pitchers Luis Reyes ($700,000) and Denny Lima ($10,000), outfielders Abraham Núñez ($700,000) and Albert Alberto ($50,000) and infielders D’Angelo Tejada ($350,000), and Rafael Álvarez ($350,000) from the White Sox signing pool set at $5,284,000. Marco Paddy, the White Sox special assistant to the general manager in charge of international scouting, said there’s more to come for this particular class during a Zoom on Monday.

“Absolutely. In the next few days, we’re going to concentrate our efforts on signing some guys in Venezuela. That class is going to be productive also,” Paddy said. “Coming back from the Christmas break, you have to make sure that everybody is healthy and everybody is ready to go.”

Reyes, 17, is rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 4 international pitching prospect and No. 41 overall. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound native of Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, played for the Miami Miracles travel team in several U.S. tournaments and Perfect Game events from 2020-21. He’s the lone Top 50 international prospect signed by the White Sox, but it’s Uribe who has the greatest name recognition.

It was Uribe Sr. who was the architect of one of the most famous plays in White Sox history. The shortstop fielded Orlando Palmeiro’s slow roller up the middle and threw to first baseman Paul Konerko for the final out in completing a 1-0, Game 4 victory over Houston and sealing the four-game sweep in the 2005 World Series.

Now, Uribe Sr. is developing young talent at the Juan Uribe Academy in Nizao, D.R. His son played at the Uribe complex, as did Alberto, a 16-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder.

“In my academy, we are like a family. All the kids there are like my kids,” said Uribe Sr. through interpreter Billy Russo on Monday night. “I go there with them, I play with them, I eat with them — I eat the same kind of food that they eat — we do all the same stuff, all together.

“They go to school there. They do everything they need to do there. Alberto is…

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