The Phillies recently signed 17-year-old Francisco Renteria, a Venezuelan outfielder who was ranked in the top three of all international free agents available to be signed by MLB clubs. Much of the hype surrounds his pure skills that encompass loud power, good speed – especially for his 6′ 4″, 200 pound frame – and athleticism that gives the Phillies options on where to play him defensively.
Renteria is from Maracaibo, Venezuela, and he has been on the showcase and national-team circuit that MLB clubs heavily scout in Latin America. Perfect Game lists him as attending Liceo Los Robles in Maracaibo, and in that setting he showed a projectable frame with running speed that stood out for a young outfielder. Perfect Game also notes him showing real bat speed and the ability to drive the ball to both gaps, plus an outfield arm that was already showing life in showcase looks.
The right-handed hitter also has played well not just against players his own age, but as a 15-year-old he appeared for Senadores de Caracas in the Venezuelan Major League and went 8-for-28 (.286) with three doubles, which is notable mainly because it’s a teenager getting hits against older, experienced arms.
CHECK OUT PBN EDITOR CHUCK HIXSON’S SUBSTACK, PBN EXTRA INNINGS, ON A ONE-WEEK FREE TRIAL!
The Phillies set aside $4 million out of their international pool allotment to sign him, an unusually high amount for the Phillies since they generally “spread the wealth” and sign more players to smaller amounts. The potential to sign Renteria was too much for the Phillies to resist after they saw him and tracked him for years.
Offense and what the numbers are really hinting at
Renteria has what some scouts have described as “damage potential.” Multiple scouting write-ups have centered on the idea that the power is special for his age. Some scouts suggest he will need to continue working on facing pitchers who are softer throwers and who specialize in changing speeds.
In addition to the impressive bat speed, Renteria has shown an advanced feel for the strike zone for his age, which is a fancy way of saying he’s not just hacking. He has an idea of what he wants to swing at, and that tends to give young hitters a better chance to get to their power in games.
For a teenager like this, the two leading indicators are usually (1) how often he makes solid contact against better pitching and (2) whether he can keep his strikeouts from swallowing the power. Right now, the power and physical upside are impressive and his ability to make contact consistently is the swing factor.
Defense and athletic profile
Renteria shows the athleticism to handle center field at this point in his career, but depending on his physical development, a move to a corner outfield position may be necessary over time. A lot will depend on how his physical development affects has profile as an above-average runner who can cover ground in the gaps as a center fielder.
From a tools standpoint, FanGraphs has the same profile: the power stands out, the run and field project as solid.
How it all fits for the Phillies
The best way to think about Renteria is as a high-ceiling bet. If the contact piece continues to come along enough for the power to show up in games, he has the profile that can move fast for an international signee and turn into a middle-of-the-order corner outfielder. If the hit tool lags behind, the risk is that he becomes more of a player who will run into mistakes from pitchers but struggles to consistently square up better pitching. That’s why the next couple years are going to be less about home run totals and more about whether the swing decisions and contact quality keep trending in the right direction.
Please scroll down to comment on this story or to give it a rating. We appreciate your feedback!
Disclaimer: Some of the products featured or linked on this website may generate income for Philly Baseball News through affiliate commissions, sponsorships, or direct sales. We only promote items we believe in, but please assume that PBN may earn a cut from qualifying purchases that you make using a link on this site.
Privacy Policy | Contact us
© 2025 LV Sports Media. All rights reserved.
Philly Baseball News 