The 2024 worldwide signing interval opens on Monday, Jan. 15, and one solely want take a look at final 12 months’s Main League Baseball award winners to see how vital discovering expertise on this market might be.
It may be a high-profile seven-figure bonus signing like Shohei Ohtani, signed in 2017 and now a two-time MVP, or extra of a low-key signing like Ronald Acuña Jr., who bought $100K in 2014 and simply gained his first MVP Award final 12 months.
There are scores of thrilling younger gamers who got here from different international locations hoping to be subsequent in line in every system. Let’s check out the highest worldwide prospect in every group.
Blue Jays: Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (No. 2/MLB No. 88) The Jays have been huge believers in Martinez’s energy bat since signing him for $3.5 million again in July 2018, and whereas it’s been a roller-coaster profession at occasions, the right-handed slugger is trending again up after ending with 28 complete homers in 2023 and ending with a .263/.340/.507 line over 55 video games as a 21-year-old at Triple-A Buffalo. Martinez is trending towards the third-base nook, the place he could possibly be an choice for Toronto within the first half of ’24.
Orioles: Samuel Basallo, C/1B (No. 5/MLB No. 46)After years of sitting out of the Latin American market, the Orioles jumped again in and made a giant splash by signing Basallo for $1.3 million in January 2021, the most important bonus ever given by the Orioles, on the time, to a global prospect. He’s making it appear to be a cut price, dashing up the High 100 and the organizational ladder, hitting his strategy to Double-A as a young person in 2023 and ending with a mixed .313/.402/.551 line for the season.
Rays: Junior Caminero, 3B/SS (No. 1/MLB No. 6) Initially signed by Cleveland in July 2019, Caminero was moved to the Rays two years later in a deal for Tobias Myers and hasn’t appeared again since. Underneath Tampa Bay’s tutelage, he’s develop into one of many Minors’ premier energy hitters, having hit 31 homers whereas slugging .591 over 117 video games at Excessive-A and Double-A in his age-19 season final summer season. Caminero earned a late-season cup of espresso with the large membership to finish ’23 and must discover a spot someplace on Tampa Bay’s infield, however any such high-ceiling expertise ought to create his personal house within the season forward.
Pink Sox: Ceddane Rafaela, OF/SS (No. 3/MLB No. 72)Probably the most versatile defensive prospect within the sport, Rafaela is a plus-plus heart fielder, a plus shortstop and has dazzled elsewhere along with his mixture of quickness, instincts and arm energy. Signed for $10,000 out of Curacao in 2017, he has an aggressive method that yields stunning energy for a 5-foot-9, 165-pounder and batted .292/.339/.499 with 22 homers and 39 steals between Double-A, Triple-A and Boston in 2023.
Yankees: Jasson Domínguez, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 74)Hyped greater than any worldwide prospect ever, Domínguez signed for $5.1 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, reached the Majors at age 20 final September and homered 4 occasions in eight video games earlier than injuring his left (non-throwing) elbow and requiring Tommy John surgical procedure. He has the upside of a minimum of plus energy with in any other case strong instruments throughout the board, and he hit .265/.373/.441 with 19 homers and 41 steals between Double-A, Triple-A and New York.
Guardians: Brayan Rocchio, SS/2B (No. 1/MLB No. 47)Referred to as “The Professor” for his excessive baseball IQ, Rocchio signed for $125,000 out of Venezuela in 2017 and made his huge league debut final Might. A switch-hitter who gives good bat-to-ball abilities and high quality protection at shortstop, he batted .275/.355/.406 with seven homers and 25 steals between Triple-A and Cleveland.
Royals: Diego Hernandez, OF (No. 15)Hernandez dislocated his proper shoulder in Spring Coaching and struggled offensively upon his return in mid-June, particularly when it got here to energy (.245/.302/.290 over 269 plate appearances at Double-A). The 23-year-old bought additional enjoying time within the Dominican Winter League in October, November and December, and the farther he will get from the shoulder challenge, the higher he may get with the bat. His plus-plus pace, spectacular center-field protection and powerful arm would all be helpful in Kansas Metropolis at any time when the bat proves prepared.
Tigers: Hao-Yu Lee, 2B (No. 8)Two years after he signed with the Phillies out of Taiwan for $570,000, Lee joined the Tigers in a Deadline deal for Michael Lorenzen this previous July. The suitable-handed-hitting second baseman’s profile is pushed by his bat between his clear swing, potential to work a stroll and burgeoning energy. Affected by a quad pressure after the commerce, Lee appeared nearer to himself within the Arizona Fall League and will push for the Minors’ higher ranges this summer season throughout his first full season as a Tiger.
Twins: Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 48)One of many prime gamers within the 2019-20 worldwide signing class, Rodriguez bought $2.75 million to signal with the Twins. He actually jumped on the prospect map in 2022, with a 1.044 OPS in 47 video games in his full-season debut, however a torn meniscus ended that season in June. He was slowed by harm to begin 2023, however shook off a tough begin to put up a .927 OPS from June 1.
White Sox: Edgar Quero, C (No. 3/MLB No. 81)Acquired together with lefty pitching prospect Ky Bush within the commerce that despatched Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to the Angels final July, Quero is a switch-hitting catcher who’s extra superior offensively than defensively at this level. The Cuban gained Single-A California League MVP honors in 2022 earlier than making the bounce to Double-A final season at age 20, when he hit .255/.380/.351.
Angels: Nelson Rada, OF (No. 3)Nonetheless solely 16 when he signed with the Angels in January 2022 for $1.85 million, Rada made a robust first impression by hitting .311/.446/.439 throughout his professional debut within the Dominican Summer season League after signing. The Angels felt his contact-first method was strong sufficient to deal with a bounce to full-season ball in 2023, and he responded with a .276/.395/.346 line and 55 steals whereas not turning 18 till the tip of August. He has a 16.6 p.c Ok price and a 13.3 p.c BB price in his younger profession.
Astros: Luis Baez, OF (No. 2)Baez landed the most important bonus ($1.3 million) within the Astros’ 2022 worldwide class when he turned professional out of the Dominican Republic. He suits the right-field profile along with his plus uncooked energy and arm energy, and he batted .248/.357/.481 with 11 homers in 58 video games throughout his U.S. debut between Rookie ball and Single-A.
A’s: Luis Morales, RHP (No. 5)Considered the highest pitching prospect within the 2023 worldwide signing class, Morales signed a 12 months in the past for $3 million after starring in Cuba’s Serie Nacional earlier than defecting. Whereas understandably introduced into professional ball slowly, his electrical stuff allowed the right-hander to begin his profession within the Dominican Summer season League and finish it with Excessive-A Lansing. He has a four-pitch combine, with a fastball that sits upper-90s and high-spin breaking stuff.
Mariners: Gabriel Gonzalez, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 66)Since signing in Feb. 2021 for $1.3 million, the Venezuelan has made a robust impression with the bat. He posted an OPS of .892 within the DSL the summer season after he signed, then hit his strategy to full-season ball in 2022, ending with a mixed .321/.421/.468 line. In 2023, he crushed it with Single-A Modesto (.933 OPS) and struggled with a transfer up a stage, however that appears to be a sample, so don’t be stunned to see him grasp Excessive-A this season and transfer on.
Rangers: Sebastian Walcott, SS (No. 3/MLB No. 62)Some evaluators consider that Walcott may develop into the most effective participant ever from the Bahamas, and his lofty ceiling earned him a $3.2 million bonus in 2023. He initiatives to have effectively above-average energy and arm energy and reached Single-A at age 17 throughout a professional debut during which he hit .246/.335/.471 with seven homers and 12 steals in 48 video games between three stops.
Braves: Ambioris Tavarez, SS (No. 8)The Braves solely had half of their regular bonus pool to work with in January 2021 as they have been simply rising from the penalty field following their signing violations on the worldwide market. They gave a considerable amount of that bonus ($1.5 million) to Tavarez, who nonetheless has appreciable upside regardless of being slowed by thoracic outlet surgical procedure on his non-throwing arm in 2022 and a full-season debut in 2023 that confirmed he has a number of work to do on his method (40.8 p.c Ok price).
Marlins: Victor Mesa Jr., OF (No. 6)The son of legendary outfielder Victor Mesa — Cuba’s model of Rickey Henderson — Victor Jr. signed with the Marlins alongside along with his brother Victor Victor in 2018, receiving $1 million to his sibling’s $5.25 million. Victor Jr. has developed right into a much better prospect and commenced to develop into some energy in 2023, when he batted .242/.308/.412 with 18 homers and 16 steals in Double-A.
Mets: Luisangel Acuña, SS/2B (No. 1/MLB No. 38)The Mets lined $35 million of Max Scherzer’s remaining contract to choose up Acuña because the prospect return in final 12 months’s Deadline blockbuster. Initially signed by Texas for $425,000 in July 2018, the reigning NL MVP’s youthful brother is a profession .289 hitter within the Minor Leagues and has stolen 40-plus luggage in three straight seasons, topping out with 57 thefts between a pair of Double-A golf equipment in 2023. Whereas the ability nonetheless wants to return, the 21-year-old could possibly be the way forward for second base in Queens.
Nationals: Cristhian Vaquero, OF (No. 9)With a $4.925 million bonus two years in the past, Vaquero signed the largest bonus of anybody within the 2022 class on the energy of his five-tool potential. He reached Single-A Fredericksburg final season in his age-18 marketing campaign after hitting .279/.410/.393 with 15 steals in 42 video games in his stateside debut within the Florida Complicated League. Vaquero continues to indicate plus-plus pace and powerful stroll charges however might want to begin turning his energy potential into in-game pop earlier than lengthy.
Phillies: Starlyn Caba, SS (No. 13)Caba was probably the greatest shortstops within the 2023 worldwide signing class and the Phillies have been in a position so as to add him to the fold final January for $3 million. You by no means need to give an excessive amount of weight to a debut within the hitting-friendly DSL, however the group is worked up about what Caba may do stateside this 12 months. The switch-hitter hit .301 with a .423 OBP and 16 steals in 38 video games final summer season and confirmed sturdy potential at shortstop earlier than a left elbow harm ended his debut early.
Brewers: Jackson Chourio, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 2) The $82 million man is the highest-ranked worldwide participant on this record and for good motive. Chourio, who initially signed with Milwaukee as a shortstop for $1.8 million in January 2021, has put himself on the precipice of the Majors with probably the greatest power-speed combos in prospectdom. His 22 homers and 44 steals in 2023 famously made him one in every of solely 5 youngsters to get pleasure from a 20-40 season within the Minors since 1958 and the primary since Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2017. Even with a loaded Brewers outfield, he must be penciled in because the membership’s Opening Day heart fielder just some weeks after his twentieth birthday.
Cardinals: Leonardo Bernal, C (No. 10)St. Louis signed Bernal for $680,000 out of Panama in January 2021 and bought aggressive with him a 12 months later, leaping him over the stateside complicated league and sending him straight to Single-A Palm Seaside for his age-18 season. The switch-hitter repeated the Florida State League final 12 months and noticed his stroll price greater than double from 7.0 p.c in 2022 to fifteen.2 p.c in 2023. He’s thought of a robust defender behind the dish, and that offers him a strong ground as he’s set to maneuver out of the Sunshine State in ’24.
Cubs: Kevin Alcántara, OF (No. 4/MLB No. 71)Alcántara was the Cubs’ prize within the commerce that despatched Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees in 2021 and gives a number of intrigue as a 6-foot-6 athlete with the potential for strong instruments throughout the board. The Dominican spent most of final season in Excessive-A, batting .286/.341/.466 with 12 homers and 15 steals in 95 video games, and in addition noticed motion in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League.
Pirates: Tsung-Che Cheng, SS (No. 17)Signed for $380,000 in 2019, Cheng is a Taiwanese center infielder who has flown beneath the radar as extra of a excessive ground form of participant. However he hit his strategy to Double-A earlier than he turned 22 years outdated and has hit .279/.375/.445 in his professional profession, stealing 59 luggage within the final two seasons mixed and exhibiting he has the flexibility to play shortstop on the huge league stage.
Reds: Noelvi Marte, 3B/SS (No. 1/MLB No. 23)Initially signed by the Mariners for $1.55 million when the 2018-19 worldwide signing interval opened, he was red-hot in Excessive-A in July of 2022 when he was despatched to the Reds within the Luis Castillo commerce. He performed his manner throughout two ranges of the Minors and made a robust first impression in Cincinnati throughout his huge league debut in 2023, hitting .316/.366/.456, ending the 12 months with a large hitting streak and exhibiting consolation at a brand new place (third) whereas additionally serving to out at brief when wanted.
D-backs: Yu-Min Lin, LHP (No. 4)Undersized at 5-foot-11 with a fastball that typically solely sits within the upper-80s, Lin – a $525,000 signing in December 2021 – is likely one of the most fascinating Minor League southpaws due to his offspeed pitches and the rising motion on that heater. His low-80s changeup will get a number of swing-and-miss, and his low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball can every flash plus. It’s a kitchen-sink method that has helped Lin fan 231 batters over 177 2/3 profession Minor League innings.
Dodgers: Diego Cartaya, C (No. 3/MLB No. 56)MLB Pipeline’s top-rated prospect within the 2018 worldwide class, Cartaya has earned Salvador Perez comparisons since signing for $2.5 million out of Venezuela. His greatest attributes are his plus energy potential and arm energy, however his inventory has taken successful after he batted .189/.278/.379 with 19 homers in 93 video games in Double-A final season.
Giants: Marco Luciano, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 26)Luciano’s well-above-average bat pace and energy made him essentially the most attractive middle-infield prospect within the 2018 worldwide crop and earned him a $2.6 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic. A stress fracture in his again and a hamstring harm hampered him in 2023, when he hit .224/.334/.425 with 15 homers in 88 video games between Double-A, Triple-A and San Francisco.
Padres: Ethan Salas, C (No. 1/MLB No. 5)Salas joined the Padres for $5.6 million as the highest prospect within the 2023 worldwide class and nonetheless managed to beat expectations in his first season, skipping over the complicated leagues fully and leaping from Single-A to Excessive-A to Double-A as a 17-year-old. He attracts sturdy critiques for his defensive work as a catcher, each with the glove and arm, and his hit and energy instruments undertaking as above-average. San Diego is infamous for getting aggressive with its prospects, typically to the staff’s detriment, nevertheless it’s seemingly doable Salas could possibly be within the bigs as a young person.
Rockies: Adael Amador, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 21)Amador was the largest acquisition for the Rockies when the 2019-20 worldwide signing interval opened, getting $1.5 million to sign up July 2019. He made his professional debut stateside in 2021, hitting .299/.394/.445 within the ACL, then adopted that up in 2022 with an .860 OPS in full-season ball. He was raking to a .304/.391/.514 line in Excessive-A when he was shelved with a damaged hamate. Amador did make it again close to the tip of the 2023 season and bought his toes moist in Double-A, a stage he may take by storm this 12 months now that he’s one hundred pc wholesome.
