Press Release regarding the signing of Andy Paz-Garriga by the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland A’s came to terms with catcher Andy Paz-Garriga this week, according to Dan Kantrovitz, the A’s Coordinator of International Operations. Paz-Garriga is an 18-year-old catcher who resides in Toulouse, France. He is originally from Cuba and immigrated to France in 2007 with his father. Paz-Garriga is the first amateur free agent the A’s have signed from Europe.
Paz-Garriga is six-feet and 170 pounds and he is a right-handed hitter. He has most recently played for Toulouse in the Division Elite in France and has been a member of the French junior national baseball team. According to the Toulouse Baseball website, Paz-Garriga went six-for-12 with a walk and no strikeouts in the four Elite League games in 2010. He also threw out all four runners who attempted to steal off of him. In 2009, he attended the MLB Baseball Camp in Tirrenia, Italy.
Paz-Garriga was considered the top amateur talent in Europe this signing period. He has been scouted by the A’s European scout Tom Gillespie since Paz-Garriga arrived in France in 2007. The A’s were connected with Paz-Garriga at the start of the July 2nd signing period for amateur free agents, but the team didn’t officially come to terms with Paz-Garriga until this week. He is expected to participate in the Dominican Summer League for the 2011 season.