Phillies Sign 11-Year-Old Venezuelan Shortstop

Major league teams' scouting departments obviously like to be the first to spot a young prospect before their rivals. But this is ridiculous.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed an 11-year-old shortstop from Venezuela. Yes, you read that correctly.

The 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 have reached a pre-agreement with 𝟭𝟭-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 Venezuelan shortstop, David Basabe, worth $𝟭.𝟴𝗠.

Part of the 2031 international class, he is the youngest player in history to secure a MLB pre-agreement.

As per @wilberdata. pic.twitter.com/m8lR7sPNM2
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) February 17, 2026

The Phillies reached a "pre-agreement" with David Basabe, 11, and it's worth $1.8 million.

Basabe will be part of the 2031 international class, and as you can imagine, he is now the youngest player in history to secure an MLB pre-agreement.

As Wilber Sanchez, who follows these things in the Hispanic baseball market, writes, "The agreement sets a new benchmark in the international market and places David Basabe firmly on the radar as one of the most ambitious bets of his generation."

David Basabe, el jugador más joven en la historia del mercado internacional en tener un preacuerdo.

Con apenas 11 años, los Philadelphia Phillies lo han “amarrado” por un bono de más de seis cifras.

“Es el campocorto con las mejores herramientas ofensivas de la clase 2031. Su… pic.twitter.com/lxDZqpLCFT
— Wilber Sánchez (@wilberdata) February 17, 2026

"He is the shortstop with the best offensive tools in the 2031 class. His combination of coordination, bat speed, and physical projection places him in a distinct category within his generation," adds Sanchez.

To be clear, the youngster has not been paid yet, and his "pre-agreement" doesn't come into effect until 2031 (when he'll be the ripe old age of 16). Until then, neither side is "locked in" to the deal, and it's only a verbal agreement for now. It is non-binding.

So why do this, you ask? The Phillies, as another report states, gain early commitment, scouting access, and developmental influence on the young shortstop in the meantime.

No, Trea Turner has nothing to worry about for the time being.