As we wrote several weeks ago in a related story, Tijuana baseball prodigy Tirso Ornelas will soon make history. The lanky 16-year-old outfielder with the potent bat has indeed come to terms with the San Diego Padres for a signing bonus of $1.3 million. It’s not official yet, but the money issue is in agreement.
Related: These Mexican Teens Are About to Sign Six-Figure MLB Contracts
We had originally reported that Ornelas would be inked to a deal in the seven-figure category, and this was confirmed by the website Puro Beisbol. What’s left now is to wait until July 2 for the agreement to be final. That’s when the new signing period for international free agents goes into effect. Because of the youngster’s birth date, he is not able to officially sign until that date. But if everything falls into place, Ornelas will become the top “bonus baby” to ever come from Mexico.
Until next month, Tirso Ornelas will remain the property of the Mexico City Red Devils. That organization is still the most prominent in Mexico, and its owner, Roberto Mansur, has financial ties to the Padres. That connection might seem shady, but Mansur is a savvy businessman who understands that Mexico could be in line for an MLB expansion team in the near future. So, promoting future Mexican stars in the big leagues makes perfect sense. This man is the Carlos Slim of Mexican beisbol, and many more prospects will be making headlines in the near future.