Oscar Colás was once dubbed the “Cuban Ohtani,” a reference to Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani and his abilities at the plate and on the mound.
But pitching is in the past for Colás, who is concentrating on contributing as an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox one day.
“That nickname was created because I used to pitch, but it wasn’t really my intent,” Colás said through an interpreter Tuesday. “To me, it’s an honor to be called that because Ohtani is a great player and he’s one of my favorite players. Right now, my focus is just playing in the outfield.”
The Sox announced the signings of two international outfielders Tuesday in Colás ($2.7 million) and Erick Hernández ($1 million).
“I knew that the White Sox were a very good organization, especially with the Cuban players,” Colás said. “I also knew this organization likes to play hard and win games. That was what attracted me the most about this organization.”
Colás and Hernández are ranked in the top 30 international prospects according to MLB Pipeline, with Colás No. 5 and Hernández No. 28. Both deals were first reported by MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez when the international signing period opened Jan. 15.
“The history that we have with Oscar goes back all the way to 2015 … the tools from the get-go were big,” said Marco Paddy, Sox special assistant to the general manager for international operations. “The ability to play the outfield was very advanced for a kid at that age. And obviously the bat and the power that he has is something that is very attractive.”
Colás, 23, played in the Serie Nacional, Cuba’s top league, from 2016-20; the Japan Western League from 2017-19; and the Japan Pacific League in 2019. In Japan he combined to slash .282/.343/.483 with 38 doubles, five triples, 28 home runs, 116 RBIs and 102 runs in 187 career games.
Colás gained a lot from his time in Japan.
“Japan was like going to school for me because when I went there at first, I didn’t have the knowledge of professional baseball,” he said. “I learned there how to play at a professional level and it was a really good experience. It was something that helped me a lot.”
A native of Santiago de Cuba, Colás bats and throws left-handed. Sox center fielder Luis Robert and prospects Yolbert Sánchez and Yoelqui Céspedes, also from Cuba, are among the players providing advice.
“You have to be disciplined to have success and accomplish the things that you want to accomplish here,” Colás said of their message to him. “And of course, get here in shape and show what you can do. Just take care of the things that you can do and be disciplined. That’s what they’ve been telling me.”
Paddy said from a developmental standpoint it made more sense to have Colás remain a position player. Colás said he hasn’t pitched since his first year in Japan.
“All good athletes pitch at some point in their career,” Paddy said. “He did it on a part-time basis when he was on the Cuban national team. He did it on a part-time basis when he was in Japan. But primarily, it’s that he wants to be a position player and he feels that he’s got a better chance to be successful as a position player. And we feel like his development as a pitcher would take much longer than (as) a position player.
“So for that type of player with that type of power, that type of ability on the field, obviously we’re looking for a guy who has the opportunity to get to the major leagues a lot quicker.”
Paddy anticipates Colás will be at spring training.
“At 23 years old, he’s been out of baseball for a couple of years,” Paddy said. “He’s going straight to spring training and we expect him to stay at spring training and we expect him to, with all the help that he’s going to get there, with all the attention he’s going to get there, our staff can’t wait to put their hands on him.
“With all the good advice he’s going to get from players that are currently there, and attention he’s going to get from player development, he’s obviously ready to go.”
Hernández, who recently turned 17, is from Moca, Dominican Republic. He bats and throws left-handed.
“The White Sox used to have an academy in Moca quite a few years back, and he still remembers going as a young kid to see the White Sox play in Moca,” Paddy said. “So he’s been a big fan of us before we got to know him. But he’s a great kid, hard worker, hard-nosed, high-energy type of player. Left-handed bat, very advanced bat for a (17)-year-old kid.
“We spent … time with him, quite a few trips. He played in the States, he played in Arizona, with the MLB combine. We’ve seen him in the Dominican, we’ve seen him in other countries in showcases. And he’s displayed the ability to hit that most kids don’t show at that age.
“And to play in the outfield, be able to play center field at this age, is very impressive. And the power he has, the power he projects, also gave us the confirmation that he has the chance to be a special player.”
