Blue Jays sign international free agents Juan Meza and Kevin Vicuna

According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed two players during the opening day of the 2014 MLB International Free Agency signing period, RHP Juan Meza and shortstop Kevin Vicuna.

Meza hails from Venezuela and Badler describes the sixteen year old as “projectable” with a fastball that will touch the low 90’s and is considered “a good strike-thrower for his age”. MLB.com had him rated as the number eleven international prospect and says “scouts like Meza’s athleticism and his lean muscular build” while adding “there’s also the belief Meza could end up being the best pitcher in the class in a few years.” They write his fastball sits 88-93 MPH and he has an “effective changeup” and “decent slider” but say there are questions about his command.

Vicuna, also 16 and from Venezuela, is only 5’11 and 140 lbs. but “stands out on defense with quick actions and smooth hands” according to Balder. He wasn’t ranked on MLB.com’s top 30 prospects.

The Blue Jays have $3,060,600 to spend on this year’s class of international free agents according to Baseball America, which gives them the ninth largest allocated pool.