The Blue Jays have a pre-agreement in place with catcher Luis Yepez for a $500,000 bonus.
Yepez is out of Venezuela, represented by agent Jaime Ramos, and belongs to the 2029 signing class.
That means this deal won't become official for years, but Toronto is already locking down the relationship early.
The numbers behind the interest are eye-opening for a 14-year-old.
Yepez posts a consistent pop time of 1.84 seconds, elite for a catcher at any age, let alone someone this young.
His throws to second base clock in at 81 mph, a strong arm that's already drawing attention from scouts.
He also runs the 60-yard dash in 6.8 seconds, unusual mobility for a position that doesn't always demand top-end speed.
Why catchers with this profile are so hard to find
Pop time and arm strength are the two traits that separate a real defensive prospect behind the plate from a project.
Yepez already checks both boxes at 14, well before most catchers his age have fully developed physically.
The 6.8-second sprint adds something less common, athleticism that could open up more defensive versatility down the road if his body continues developing this way.
Toronto's international scouting department has been active lately, also linking up with prospects like Angel Montas and Junior Fortunato in recent weeks.
Pre-agreements like this one are non-binding until the actual signing period opens, but they signal serious organizational belief in a player years before he's eligible to officially join the system.
For a $500,000 bonus, Toronto is betting early on a catcher whose tools already stand out, well before his 2029 signing date ever arrives.
Whether Yepez's tools translate into real production once he's old enough to actually play in the organization is a question that won't be answered for years.
Are you excited about the Blue Jays' early investment in catching prospect Luis Yepez?
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