The Padres on Thursday signed Cuban left-hander Adrian Morejon to a record-breaking bonus of $11 million. Morejon is the top pitching prospect in the 2016-17 international class, and some scouts rate the 17-year-old above shortstop and consensus No. 1 talent Kevin Maitan.

Morejon’s bonus shatters the club-record $4 million Dominican shortstop Luis Almanzar received when the current signing period opened Saturday. The Padres, aggressively focused on building for the future, already have blown past their allotted bonus pool of $3.347 million and will pay a 100 percent tax on all overages.

Thus far, San Diego has spent about $25 million on international prospects. Including penalties, the total expenditure is closer to $48 million, a figure that should continue grow; the Padres are expected to sign another top Cuban prospect, 20-year-old outfielder Jorge Ona, after he is declared a free agent by Major League Baseball.

Morejon, who was cleared Wednesday, immediately rates as one of the Padres’ top prospects. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is advanced for his age, with a low-90s fastball and a plus curveball. He throws two different change-ups — one with a knuckle grip, the other with a two-seam grip.


If Morejon were entering the 2017 June draft, some evaluators think he would warrant the first overall pick. A number of Padres scouts believed Morejon is a better talent than Jason Groome, a fellow left-hander who was considered the top pitching prospect in last month’s draft.

The young Cuban earns high marks for his polish and poise. In 2014, he was the MVP of the 15-and-under World Cup in Mexico, striking out 12 U.S. batters in the gold-medal game. After returning from the tournament, he became the youngest pitcher ever in Serie Nacional, Cuba’s primary league. Often facing players twice his age, the then-15-year-old recorded a 4.88 ERA over 24 innings.

Morejon left Cuba last October and trained in the Dominican Republic. He will pitch in simulated games at the Padres’ Dominican academy this summer in preparation for the Arizona Instructional League in September. His professional debut will come next year, likely with one of San Diego’s Single-A affiliates.

Gurriel worked out at Petco

Yulieski Gurriel, a highly coveted Cuban infielder, worked out for the Padres at Petco Park last month, according to a source. The 32-year-old Gurriel, who is exempt from international bonus pools, reportedly was quite impressive in the private session.


The best player in Cuba for much of the last 10 years, Gurriel could land a major league contract worth more than $50 million. A number of other teams, including the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees, also have hosted him for private workouts.

Whether the non-contending Padres become a factor in the bidding remains to be seen. Working out Gurriel, meantime, signals the club’s recent, aggressive approach to scouting the Cuban market.

The Padres also have interest in Gurriel’s younger brother, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The 22-year-old infielder-outfielder is scheduled to hold an open showcase later this year.