Leonardo Seminati was the slugging first baseman for Italy at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 in Thunder Bay.

Seminati (18 year old) was selected as the first baseman of the All World Team. In July he had signed (through scout Sal Varriale) as an international free agent for MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and a reported US$ 135,000 bonus, Reds’ largest on the international market this season. The Reds, thanks to WBSC-MLB-MLBPA global player agreement, allowed Seminati to represent Italy in the U-18 World Cup.

Seminati made his professional debut in late September during Cincinnati’s Instructional League in Arizona and he did impress Reds Farm Director Jeff Graupe. After Spring Training 2018, Seminati will have his first pro assignment. But before committing to baseball, he has a priority: “I am going to be back to Italy in June for my High School graduation exam”.

Source Link: http://www.wbsc.org/news/baseball-news/seminati-from-wbsc-u18-baseball-world-cup-to-cincinnati-reds/