The San Diego Padres are favorites to land 19-year-old outfielder Jorge Ona and 18-year-old left-hander Adrian Morejon from Cuba, according to a Baseball America report.
The Cubs were also in the mix for Morejon, but the report indicated they have made way for the Padres to land the standouts.
Several media reports have claimed that the Padres will be active this season in the international market, and plan to sign several players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela on the July 2 deadline.
Ona is credited for having plus raw power to all fields and could begin his career in Low Single-A, according to the report.
Morejon’s fastball has been regularly clocked in the low-90s, despite the fact that he is just 5-foot-11.
The signing of the two Cuban youngsters, who have excelled in Cuba’s junior leagues, along with players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, should help the Padres boost a farm system that is ranked No. 25 in the MLB by Baseball America.
