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It’s the start of the international signing period and one of the most important dates on the baseball calendar.
The period provides all 30 clubs the opportunity to sign top-notch talent from around the globe and put those emerging prospects into their systems.
For the prospects, it’s the first step toward professional baseball and fulfilling their lifelong goals.
The international signing period runs through Dec. 15, 2024.
Below is a look at which players from MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects list have agreed to terms with clubs, and for how much. Unless otherwise noted, clubs have not confirmed the deals.
1. Leo De Vries, SS, D.R.: Padres+ ($4.2 million) More »
2. Paulino Santana, OF, D.R.: Rangers+ ($1.3 million) More »
3. Jose Perdomo, SS, Ven.: Braves ($5 million) More »
4. Fernando Cruz, SS, D.R.: Cubs ($4 million) More »
5. Adolfo Sanchez, OF, D.R.: Reds+ ($2.7 million) More »
6. Yovanny Rodriguez, C, Ven.: Mets ($2.85 million) More »
7. Dawel Joseph, SS, D.R.: Mariners ($3 million) More »
8. Daiber De Los Santos, SS, D.R.: Twins More »
9. Kennew Blanco, SS, Ven.
10. Adriel Rodney, OF, D.R.: D-backs ($1.85 million) More »
11. Eduardo Herrera, 3B, Ven.: White Sox More »
12. Jorge Quintana, SS, Ven.: Brewers More »
13. Roberto Arias, OF, D.R.: Guardians More »
14. Emil Morales, SS, Spain: Dodgers More »
15. Francisco Vilorio, OF, D.R.: Yankees ($1.75 million) More »
16. Yandel Ricardo, SS, D.R.: Royals More »
17. Ashly Andujar, SS, D.R.: Rockies More »
18. Leonardo Pineda, OF, D.R.: Rays ($1.8 million) More »
19. Jalvin Arias, OF, D.R.: Phillies ($1.4 million) More »
20. Victor Hurtado, OF, Ven.: Nationals+ ($2.8 million) More »
21. Luis Cova, OF, Ven.: Marlins ($1.4 million) More »
22. Jesus Made, SS, D.R.: Brewers More »
23. Angel Feliz, 3B, D.R.: Nationals+ ($1.7 million) More »
24. Belfi Rivera, OF, D.R.: D-backs More »
25. Branneli Franco, RHP, D.R.: Cardinals ($800K) More »
26. Raymel Ortiz, SS, D.R.
27. Franklin Rojas, C, Ven.: Blue Jays More »
28. Stiven Martinez, OF, D.R.: Orioles ($950K) More »
29. Curley Martha, SS, Cur.: Rangers+ More »
30. Emilio Sanchez, SS, D.R.: Orioles ($1.3 million) More »
31. Jensy Rivas, SS, D.R.: Mets ($500K) More »
32. Angel Guzman, SS, D.R.: Blue Jays More »
33. Vladimir Asencio, OF, D.R.: Red Sox (approx. $1 million) More »
34. Andres Arias, OF, D.R.: Blue Jays More »
35. Oscar Pujols, RHP, D.R.: Rockies More »
36. Yoendry Sanchez, C, Ven.: Giants ($1 million) More »
37. Joswa Lugo, SS, D.R.: Angels More »
38. Bralyn Brazoban, OF, D.R.: Pirates More »
39. Eduardo Beltre, OF, D.R.: Twins More »
40. Jeremy Denaud, OF, D.R.
41. Edward Lantigua, OF, D.R.: Mets ($950K) More »
42. Naibel Mariano, SS, D.R.: Reds+ ($1.65 million) More »
43. Edgar Montero, 3B, D.R.: Athletics ($1.2 million) More »
44. Jhonny Level, INF, Ven.: Giants More »
45. Nestor Miranda, 3B, D.R.: Tigers+ ($1.5 million) More »
46. Yolfran Castillo, SS, Ven.: Rangers More »
47. Jose Ramos OF, Ven., Athletics More »
48. Leandro Romero, SS, D.R.: Mariners (approx. $1 million) More »
49. Anderson Paula, OF, D.R.: Astros More »
50. Abdiel Feliz, SS, D.R.: Pirates More »
+ indicates that the club has officially announced the signing.
Breakdown
Thirty-eight of the players on the Top 50 list are from the Dominican Republic. There are 10 prospects from Venezuela, one from Curaçao and one from Spain. Position-wise, there are 26 infielders, 18 outfielders, three catchers, two pitchers and one infielder/outfielder.
International signing rules, spending
The pool breakdown is as follows:
The D-backs, Guardians, Orioles, Pirates, Rockies and Royals received a Competitive Balance Pick in Round B of the 2023 Draft and received a $7,114,800 signing pool. Teams with a Competitive Balance Pick in Round A (Athletics, Brewers, Mariners, Marlins, Rays, Reds, Tigers and Twins) each received $6.52 million.
Eight teams (Astros, Braves, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Nationals, Red Sox and White Sox) have a $5.284 million base signing pool. The Angels, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Cubs each forfeited $500,000 from their pools for signing players who had rejected qualifying offers — Tyler Anderson, Chris Bassitt, Willson Contreras, and Dansby Swanson respectively — last offseason, so each has a pool of $5.152 million.
The Rangers, Padres, Phillies and Yankees each lost $1 million for signing the following players who rejected qualifying offers — Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom (TEX), Xander Bogaerts (SD), Trea Turner (PHI) and Carlos Rodón (NYY). The base signing pool for each of those four teams is $4,652,200.
The forfeited monies are redistributed to the other clubs.
Teams will be allowed to trade international bonus slots during this signing period starting Monday.
Who is eligible?
There are guidelines for signing prospects. An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year — in practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2007, will be eligible in the current signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible to sign.
Here’s a look at other prospects who signed for $300,000 or more:
D-backs
Alfredo Benzan, SS, D.R. — $550,000
Marlins
Jose Castro, OF, D.R. — $450,000
Reds
Juan Brown, 3B, Aru. — $300,000
