Check out among the most pivotal gamers concerned within the 2025 pennant race and one factor is for positive: securing expertise on the worldwide market is a surefire strategy to set your group up for achievement.
From well-established All-Stars and perennial MVP candidates reminiscent of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Juan Soto to younger phenoms like Jackson Chourio and Julio Rodríguez, the worldwide scene is perpetually flush with premier expertise.
And that’s simply on the massive league degree. At present, three of MLB Pipeline’s prime 5 prospects have been signed as worldwide free brokers inside the previous three years. Leo De Vries (Athletics), Sebastian Walcott (Rangers) and Jesús Made (Brewers) all made it to Double-A at 18 years previous this season and have the look of future franchise cornerstones.
So who’s subsequent up? We’re slightly below 4 months away from the 2026 worldwide signing interval opening on Jan. 15, which is when proficient amateurs can formally ink skilled contracts.
There’s a little bit of historical past being made this time round — shortstop Luis Hernandez turns into the primary participant born in Venezuela to carry down the No. 1 general spot since these rankings started in 2012. (Ethan Salas, the No. 1 general prospect in 2023, was born in Florida earlier than shifting to Venezuela along with his household as a teenager.)
Beneath, you’ll discover in-depth info on every of the Prime 50 prospects on this 12 months’s class, together with scouting grades, video stories and extra.
This is a take a look at the Prime 5:
No. 1: Luis Hernandez, SS (Venezuela)Hernandez is among the most heralded gamers on the worldwide scene up to now few years. Gifted with immense bodily projection and a laundry checklist of spectacular instruments, the native of Guárico, Venezuela, additionally earns plus marks for his work ethic and all-around baseball IQ. At simply 15 years previous, Hernandez excelled throughout a stint within the Venezuelan Main League, hitting .346 throughout 104 at-bats in opposition to a lot older and extra skilled competitors, routinely showcasing preternaturally gifted bat pace and a constant skill to get to his extra-base pop.
He has tender fingers and a fast first step, which supplies him the look of a long-term up-the-middle defender. Continuously on the prowl to seize an additional base, he’s an above-average runner who ought to influence the sport each within the stolen-base division and whereas going from first to 3rd and second to dwelling. There’s official 30/30 upside — all whereas holding down a premium defensive place — if every little thing comes collectively. Extra »
No. 2: Wandy Asigen, SS (Dominican Republic)Main League All-Stars Nelson Cruz and Tony Batista are among the greatest names to name Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, dwelling. Asigen, regardless of being one of many youngest gamers within the 2026 worldwide signing class, already has the look of doubtless being subsequent in that lineage. A standout performer throughout recreation motion regardless of constantly taking part in in opposition to among the Dominican’s prime expertise from a younger age, Asigen has been heralded as having arguably probably the most superior offensive profile amongst his class.
The thrill round Asigen’s prospect profile stems primarily from his particular left-handed swing. He has ripped off 110+ mph exit velocities and is repeatedly capable of finding the barrel throughout in-game motion. The quickness of his fingers has evaluators excited in regards to the future potential influence he can have with the bat. He performs lots of the quick-twitch actions that scouts search for when projecting a younger participant’s skill to stay at shortstop. Asigen has a nostril for the ball and his wheels — which have been clocked at 6.5 seconds on 60-yard sprint occasions — permit him to cowl tons of floor laterally. Extra »
No. 3: Francisco Renteria, OF (Venezuela)Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Renteria has been a longtime participant on the journey ball scene since a younger age. At simply 15 years previous, he went 8-for-28 with three doubles — accumulating hits off two former massive leaguers — throughout a stint within the Venezuelan Main League this summer time. He earned comparisons from one evaluator to Konnor Griffin, the Pirates’ 2024 first-round decide who ascended to No. 1 general prospect standing in his first 12 months of professional ball.
He’s presently a contact monster, which when coupled along with his glorious understanding of the strike zone and his plus-plus uncooked energy, results in him having one of many highest offensive upsides within the 2026 worldwide class. Scouts suppose the 6-foot-3 outfielder has the actions and all-around athleticism to stay in middle subject long-term. An above-average runner, Renteria impacts the sport on the basepaths and makes use of these wheels and his lengthy strides to run down the ball from gap-to-gap. Extra »
No. 4: Angeibel Gomez, OF (Venezuela)Gomez garners top-of-the-charts opinions for his off-the-field acumen and make-up, which helps to boost his already spectacular device package deal. His giant, bodily body at a younger age led to at least one evaluator believing that had Gomez been born stateside, he can be an SEC-caliber broad receiver recruit on the soccer subject.
Outfitted with a right-handed swing that repeatedly generates onerous contact, Gomez has proven proficiency in attending to his extra-base energy. He received MVP of the Newbie Scouting League in 2024 by hitting .370 with a 1.216 OPS, main the circuit with 10 RBIs and 21 whole bases throughout eight video games. He additionally performs a wonderful middle subject with the prospect to stay there long-term and is a savvy runner who has each the pace and intuitiveness to know when to select his spots, as evidenced by going 11-for-11 on stolen-base makes an attempt throughout his two turns via the Newbie Scouting League. Extra »
No. 5: Johenssy Colome, SS (Dominican Republic)Jesus Colome spent 10 seasons within the massive leagues with 4 completely different golf equipment, primarily carving out a task within the Rays bullpen. Now his son, Johenssy, is ready to enter the skilled ranks as one of the crucial tooled-up members of the ‘26 worldwide class, one who has the look of a possible influence massive leaguer if every little thing comes collectively.
Colome tends to get to his jumpy pop with frequency, constantly leveraging his swing effectively — so effectively in reality, that one evaluator talked about the latest event on which he noticed a global prospect frequently get to their launch level in such a way was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. One thing of an athletic marvel at 6-foot-2 and 190 kilos at age 16, Colome is an agile athlete who reveals a whole lot of lateral quickness. The fluidity of his actions and powerful arm led to a Manny Machado comparability being held on him defensively. Extra »
BreakdownWe’re roughly simply six months away from the 2026 World Baseball Traditional, the sport’s preeminent world showcase. However look throughout the Main and Minor Leagues and also you’ll see gamers from all throughout the planet starring on the diamond; there are 9 nations apart from the US represented on the present Prime 100 Prospects checklist alone.
Whereas Venezuela holds down three of the highest 4 spots within the 2026 worldwide class, the Dominican Republic once more guidelines the roost on the subject of sheer amount among the many Prime 50. Thirty-four members of the checklist hail from the D.R., with 13 coming from Venezuela and three from Cuba. Place-wise, there are 25 infielders, 15 outfielders, 4 pitchers, 4 catchers and two outfielder/infielders.
Who’s eligible?There are tips for signing worldwide prospects. A participant is eligible to signal with a Main League group between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He should flip 16 earlier than he indicators and be 17 earlier than Sept. 1 the next 12 months — in sensible phrases, which means gamers born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009 (and older), will likely be eligible to signal within the upcoming signing interval. Gamers need to be registered with Main League Baseball prematurely with a purpose to be eligible.
How do the mechanics of the signing interval work?Every group enters the signing interval with bonus pool cash to signal worldwide novice free brokers. The scale of that pool is decided by quite a few elements, together with market dimension and income, as effectively the signing of Main League free brokers who declined a qualifying supply. Trades, wherein worldwide bonus cash will be dealt in increments of $250,000, additionally have an effect on bonus pool sizes. However a crew cannot spend greater than its allotment, it doesn’t matter what — there is no such thing as a choice to exceed the restrict and pay a tax, for instance.
Whereas groups are allowed to commerce away as a lot of their pool as they so select, they will purchase solely 60 % of their authentic pool.
Nevertheless, signing gamers for a bonus of $10,000 or much less doesn’t depend in opposition to a bonus pool. It is doable, subsequently, {that a} crew might spend its complete bonus pool on one participant and nonetheless signal many different gamers in comparatively small offers.
The worldwide bonus pool breakdown for 2026 is as follows:
$8,034,900AZ, BAL, CLE, COL, KC, PIT, STL
$7,357,100ATH, CIN, DET, MIA, MIL, MIN, SEA, TB
$6,679,200ATL, CHC, CWS, LAA, LAD, PHI, TEX, WSH
$5,440,000HOU, NYY, NYM, SF
