It appears that the Reds have dipped their toe in the international signing waters once again. Today, they signed Dominican LHP Jacob Constante for $730,000.
Constante, who turns 19 in March, is 6-foot-3, 215 pounds and threw 92-94 mph with good life on his fastball at the IPL event. He showed solid mechanics for his age and flashed a potentially above-average slider at 80-83 mph. He also threw a below-average 83-84 mph changeup that he had trouble keeping out of the dirt. Constante, who is from Santo Domingo and trained with Rudy Santin, is also already fluent in English.
The Reds haven’t had any success whatsoever in signing international left-handed pitchers. Unless you count Aroldis Chapman as a successful signing, of course.