Yankees Rumors: Francisco Vilorio Signs Contract; Ranked Among Top Outfield Prospects

The New York Yankees agreed to a deal with international prospect Francisco Vilorio, according to MLB.com's Jesse Borek and Jesús Cano.

Greg Joyce of the New York Post reported the 17-year-old will collect a bonus worth "close to $1.7 million." The Yankees had a total bonus pool of almost $4.7 million to spend.

Vilorio is the No. 15 overall player on MLB.com's ranking of the top international players.

The young outfielder has a 55 overall grade on the 20-80 scale. His power, run and arm tools all received 55s.

"Overall, he projects to be a middle-of-the-order bat and an offensive threat if he continues to develop at the expected pace," MLB.com said in its scouting report. "His offensive potential makes him valuable, but he's also improving on the other side of the ball. On defense, Vilorio is toolsy enough to start in center field and just might stay there."

Yankees fans may welcome Vilorio's arrival with a guarded sense of optimism thanks to what has become an increasingly spotty organizational record for developing hitters.

In August, Foul Territory's Scott Braun read off a comment from former Yankees prospect Ben Ruta, who outlined what he considered to be the failings of New York's approach at the lower levels.

The quartet of Jasson Domínguez, Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza and Austin Wells is supposed to chart the future for the Bronx Bombers. All four were in the top 100 of MLB.com's 2022 prospect rankings.

Their early returns at the MLB level have been mixed at best, though.

When it comes to Vilorio, the hope is that the Yankees will have ironed things out by the time he's approaching the most pivotal stages of his growth as a player.