When newly signed Miami Marlins prospect Victor Victor Mesa was asked Monday how soon he’ll be in the major leagues, Derek Jeter leaned over with a smile and a word of caution for the young Cuban.
“Cuidado,” Jeter said — Spanish for “watch out.”
The futures of Mesa and his younger brother, Victor Jr., may be difficult to project, but the Marlins eagerly signed both outfielders. They left Cuba last spring to pursue major league careers, and their contracts were announced at a news conference Monday at Marlins Park.
Two weeks ago at the same ballpark, the brothers tried out for scouts from all 30 major league teams.
“When I was doing the showcase, I was thinking this could be my ballpark,” Victor Jr. said through a translator. “It was beautiful. I felt like a big leaguer.”
Victor Victor received a signing bonus of $5.25 million, and Victor Jr. received $1 million. The older Mesa was considered the top international free agent, but Jeter acknowledged there’s not a lot of firsthand scouting material on the two players.
“That’s why the workout here was important,” said Jeter, the Marlins CEO said. “We all liked what we saw during the showcase here.”
“Walking around Miami having fans asking are we going to sign the brothers shows their popularity,” Jeter said.
And for the Mesas, the chance to play in Miami was appealing.
“It’s not a secret — there are a lot of Latinos and Cubans here,” Victor Victor said through a translator. “It feels like home here.”
The brothers were recently declared free agents by Major League Baseball, and the Marlins had been widely viewed as front-runners to sign them. Victor Victor Mesa recently posted an Instagram showing him and his brother sitting in the Marlins’ clubhouse holding a Cuban flag. Behind them were Marlins jerseys bearing their names.
Victor Mesa Jr. also posted an Instagram photo of himself with former Marlins All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell.
