Marten Gasparini

Marten Gasparini

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• Born May 24, 1997 in Ruda, Italy

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Shortstop Marten Gasparini was the first European to sign a million-dollar bonus as an amateur free agent.

Gasparini moved 300 miles from his home to attend the Italian Baseball Academy in 2011. He also participated in the MLB European Academy in 2012. In the 2012 World Junior Championship, the 15-year-old was the second-youngest player, competing against a lot of 18-year-olds. Playing center field for Italy, he went 2 for 17 with 7 strikeouts, two runs, a double and a RBI. Gasparini signed with the Kansas City Royals about a month and a half after his 16th birthday, for a $1.3 million signing bonus. The previous record for a European was $800,000 by Germany's Max Kepler. Gasparini's bonus was even more notable as international signing bonuses had been capped starting in 2013.

Sources

• Mister-Baseball
• Baseball America
• IBAF