On Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed right-handed pitcher Joseph Deng, a 17-year-old from South Sudan. Deng is the first player from South Sudan to sign a contract with a Major League Baseball organization.
Deng is the second player from Africa to sign a contract during the international signing period, which began on January 15. Infielder Armstrong Muhoozi from Uganda signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday for a $40,000 signing bonus. Muhoozi is the fifth Ugandan player to sign a contract with an MLB organization.
Deng stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 185 pounds. At only 17 years-old, his fastball reaches 95 mph, and he possesses serious potential to increase his velocity over time as he adds on muscle. Ben Badler of Baseball America reports Deng pairs his already impressive fastball with a splitter.
“At 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, Deng has an extremely lanky, long-limbed frame with tons of space to fill out and continue to add velocity once he gets stronger,” Badler wrote in an article about Deng on Baseball America. “He has enormous physical upside and attacks hitters with a fastball/splitter combination.”
Deng stands only four inches shorter than the two tallest pitchers in MLB history: Sean Hjelle of the San Francisco Giants and former journeyman reliever Jon Rauch who both towered at 6-foot-11.
The international signing period began last Wednesday and ends on December 15, 2025. To sign, players must be 16 and turn 17 before September 1, 2026. Any international free agents under 25 are eligible to negotiate with MLB clubs.
WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Wiki Commons for South Sudan Flag and Los Angeles Dodgers Logo
