Angels sign top Venezuelan pitching prospect Ricardo Sanchez

The Angels used more than a quarter of their international bonus pool of $2 million to sign Venezuelan pitcher Ricardo Sanchez, a 16-year-old left-hander who was ranked No. 27 on Baseball America’s list of top international prospects, for a reported $580,000.

Sanchez is only 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but his fastball ranges between 87-90 mph, and he has shown a good feel for his curve and changeup. Though he has had control problems, scouts like his delivery and believe, as he grows, he’ll gain more velocity and command.

Sanchez was named the most valuable player of last August’s Under-15 World Championships when he pitched Venezuela to a win over Cuba in the title game.

The Angels, who recently moved their academy in the Dominican Republic from an antiquated facility in San Pedro de Macoris to a new facility in Boca Chica, hope to revive an international scouting and development program that has been stagnant for several years.

Their limited international budget, as allocated by Major League Baseball, will prevent them from signing multiple top prospects during this year’s signing period, which began Tuesday, but General Manager Jerry Dipoto seems undeterred.

“We’re kind of drilling for oil in the middle of the market,” Dipoto said, “but we’ll be aggressive within the parameters of the bonus pool we have.”