While the 2022 baseball season is still in jeopardy, the Phillies are still active in the market for international prospects. According to Jim Salisbury, the team is set to sign William Bergolla Jr. on Saturday. 

Tomorrow, the international signing period officially opens for the upcoming season, and teams around the league can sign players from all over the country. 

The international signing period hasn’t always panned out well for the Phillies. They’ve struggled to find top players, and have consistently failed as an organization to hunt young talent. Before the rumors regarding Bergolla Jr., the team signed Dariam Gutierrez and Eliecer Bata to international minor league deals.

That could change tomorrow. William Bergolla Jr. is the 8th ranked international prospect per Baseball America and sits at the #4 spot on MLB.com’s international prospect rankings.

Bergolla Jr. is just 17 years old but is known for his all-around game. Bergolla’s name has been tied to the Phillies since August, but with the international signing period opening, the move for Bergolla Jr. can now be made. Here’s what MLB Scouts had to say about William Bergolla Jr. 

MLB Pipeline Scouting Report

Considered one of the top players out of Venezuela in this year’s class, Bergolla has a chance to be an everyday starter in the future because of his all-around game

He already shows solid bat-to-ball skills and an advanced approach and understanding of the strike zone. He shows line-drive power, and more pop is expected to come as he develops and his body matures. 

Bergolla Jr. shows good footwork, soft hands, and a strong enough arm to keep him at the position as he makes his way through the Minor Leagues. He has solid range and good baseball instincts. He’s been praised for his baseball IQ and awareness on both sides of the ball. He is the son of former Major League player William Bergolla Sr., an infielder who spent the majority of his career in the Reds’ system and with various teams in Venezuela’s Winter League. 

Bergolla Jr. trains with veteran trainer Yasser Mendez, a member of the MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program. The Phillies are the favorite to sign the teen. 

The 17-year-old is sitting at 5’11, 175 pounds, a natural right-hander who hits and throws with his right hand. His scouting grades are all very similar, proving that he is an all-around player with a high IQ for the game. He’s received high praise from scouts, teams, and more.

William Bergolla Jr. is the biggest name that has been dropped as of recent for the Phillies, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be the only one. The team has its eyes on multiple other prospects as well. While we sit and wait for the players and owners to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, the team is set to sign a star infield prospect for the very, very far future. 

Mandatory Credit: FotoSport