Meet the LA Dodgers new 17-year-old 6ft 7in wonderkid Joseph Deng, the first MLB star from South Sudan

THE Los Angeles Dodgers have history by signing the first-ever MLB prospect from South Sudan.

The Dodgers have enjoyed an incredible few months, which started with ending their 36-year wait for a World Series.

They followed that incredible win with some huge offseason moves - resigning Teoscar Hernandez, adding Korean star Hyeseong Kim and pitching phenomenon Roki Sasaki from Japan .

They have now announced a move for another pitcher, Joseph Deng from South Sudan.

He is one of 29 international signings in the Dodgers' 2025 class, as fans and rivals accused the franchise of 'ruining' baseball .

Deng, 17, is a RHP that currently stands at 6ft 7in and weighs a slight 185 pounds.

read more mlb news Capable of throwing a 95 mph fastball, there is a belief that he could move into triple digits once he bulks up his frame and matures.

A scouting report from Baseball America said: "Deng has an extremely lanky, long-limbed frame with tons of space to fill out and continue to add velocity once he gets stronger.

"He has enormous physical upside and attacks hitters with a fastball/splitter combination." Deng is the second African player to land with an MLB team this year, after Armstrong Muhoozi - an infielder from Uganda - signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Most read in Baseball Dodgers fans were delighted by the signing and the team's ability to find stars around the world.

One wrote: "First Japan now South Sudan? The whole world are The Dodgers farm system.

Another added: "What other team is sending scouts to Sudan?Dodgers are different!" One said: "When you invest in every part of your organization and look everywhere for talent." "Just here for all the sour fans of other teams," said another.

Others also praised his mechanics on a video of him pitching and speculated over his potential.

"17 years old...

triple digits on the heater within reach," wrote one.

Another added: "Once he puts on 50lbs theyre gonna have him throwing 103." One said: "Looks pretty clean delivery at that size and age and lack of access to pitching instruction." Another wrote: "He's definitely a project, but hey nothing wrong with giving him a chance.

"At his size and arm speed, his ceiling could be something like a Tyler Glasnow.

"It will be interesting to see his development going forward.

Wishing him the best." Sasaki, one of the most sought after players in the sport, signed a $6.5 million rookie deal as he is aged just 23.

During the press conference for Sasaki, team president Stan Kasten was asked whether the Dodgers were ruining the sport with their outlandish spending - which is up to a projected $500 million next season.

Lets talk about that for a minute, he said, and then said that the latest odds have his team as favourites but at +250.

So, obviously, it hasnt damaged the game competitively, Kasten added.

And, on the entertainment side, which is what we are, its really good when there is one team beloved by their fans, who come out in record numbers, leading all of baseball in attendance, while that same team can be hated and lead baseball in road attendance.

"Thats a win-win for baseball.

Read More on The US Sun And this is also really contributing to the enhanced globalization of central baseball around the world.

"So its a win-win-win.

This is really good for baseball.

I have no question about it..

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