The St. Louis Cardinals signed 16-year-old Dominican Republic left-handed hitting outfielder Royel Strop on January 14 for $1.4 million and $100,000 in tuition, according to Dominican Republic reporter Mike Rodriguez.
Royel Strop is the son of current Major League Baseball right-handed free-agent pitcher and 2016 World Series champion Pedro Strop.
Pedro Strop played for the Texas Rangers from 2009-11, the Baltimore Orioles from 2011-13, the Chicago Cubs from 2013-19 and 2021, and the Cincinnati Reds in 2020.
Pedro Strop, 39, has played 13 seasons in the MLB and has posted a lifetime record of 29-30 with an 8.9 WAR, a 3.20 ERA in 561 appearances out of the bullpen, throwing 505.2 innings with 32 saves, 180 earned runs, 34 home runs, 232 walks, 554 strikeouts, and a 1.171 WHIP.
According to Scott Plaza of Redbird Rants on Fansided Sports, the Cardinals have the third-lowest bonus pool allotment at slightly over $5.6 million.
Plaza also reported that Royel Strop has plus bat control and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. His athletic build also gives him a chance to stay in center field, but scouts say he needs more time to develop the natural instincts to stick at the position.
According to FanGraphs, Royel Strop’s scouting grades sit at Hit: 20/40, Bat Control: 40, Game Power: 20/45, Raw Power: 40/55, Speed: 60/60, Field: 40/50.
The St. Louis organization will evaluate Royel Strop closely in the next few months to determine whether he will start his first professional season at the Complex Level League in Jupiter, Fla., or the Dominican Summer League.
