REPORT: Pirates Sign 16-Year-Old Nephew of Sammy Sosa

The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly signed Anthony Sosa as an amateur free agent, according to baseball insider Héctor Gómez. Sosa is the nephew of retired slugger Sammy Sosa.

The 16-year-old Sosa, who can play shortstop as well as the outfield, gets a reported $100K signing bonus as he joins the Pirates’ organization, per Gómez.

His uncle, of course, played 18 major league seasons between the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. As a big leaguer, Sosa was a seven-time All-Star and was the winner of the 1998 National League MVP after hitting 66 home runs and driving in 158 runs.

The current cycle of amateur free agent signings comes to a close on Dec. 15, so the Pirates can continue to add players using the remaining funds from their international bonus pool until then.

Pittsburgh added extra bonus pool space in the deadline deal that sent catcher Austin Hedges to the Texas Rangers.

Here is footage of Sosa hitting from the right-side of the plate as a 15-year-old in 2022.

Anthony Sosa, SS, 15 years old. He's the nephew of Sammy Sosa. pic.twitter.com/rg3uEenmJp

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) August 18, 2022