The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THIS Sunday is expected to be another milestone day for Bahamian baseball as several of the country's top prospects are set to make their mark on Major League's Baseball International Signing Day.

Bahamian baseball players are again some of the most sought after international prospects in the sport, according to several publications including Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com, in a class considered to be rich with top end talent.

Kristian Robinson, Trent Deveaux, D'Shawn Knowles, D'Vaughn Knowles and Keithron Moss were all ranked among MLBs top 100 prospects, expected to officially join franchises once the international signing period begins on July 2.

On its updated list released this week, Baseball America has Robinson ranked at No.9 while MLP Pipeline has him listed at No.15, the highest ranked of the group of Bahamians.

The 6'3", 195-pound outfielder is a product of the Maximum Development (Max D) Sports Academy.

"Robinson is a physical specimen, and scouts love his tools and potential. A plus runner, the young outfielder moves well for his size and frame. He has shown the ability to read and react well to balls on defence and has wowed scouts with his overall athletic ability.

"Robinson makes all of the routine plays in the outfield and his arm is playable in centre field. That said, he could eventually move to right field," according to his scouting report on MLBPipeline.com.

"Robinson has shown raw power and is viewed as a work in progress at the plate by some scouts, in large part because he needs to improve his timing on breaking balls and offspeed pitches. There are no major flaws in Robinson's game and he has the potential to be a breakout star in the class. Scouts like Robinson's makeup. He just needs more reps and game action."

Deveaux, ranked at No.19 by Baseball America, agreed in principle to a deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in January.

Deveaux's latest stop on his path to professional baseball was training with the Nogae Sports Nation Academy in the Dominican Republic.

D'Shawn Knowles is ranked No.37 in Baseball America's rankings. The Knowles twins and Moss are also members of Max D and have spent significant time with the Stealth Baseball Organisation.

A diverse group, the top 30 International Prospects list includes 14 players from Venezuela, 12 from the Dominican Republic, one from the Bahamas, one from Brazil and two from Mexico. The positions break down like this - 11 outfielders, 15 infielders, two pitchers and two catchers.

An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between July 2 through June 15 of the next year if he is 17 or will turn 17 by the end of the first season of his contract.

According to MLB.com: "The rules for signing international prospects are changing for the signing period that starts July 2. According to the new collective bargaining agreement, every team will get at least $4.75 million to spend on international prospects.

"Any team receiving a Competitive Balance Round A pick in the draft will get $5.25 million in international bonus pool money. Additionally, teams receiving a Competitive Balance Round B pick will have $5.75 million to spend."