Major League Baseball teams shelled out millions of dollars today on hundreds of international free agents. History shows it usually results in money thrown away.
Roki Sasaki, the top prize in this year’s pool, has reportedly narrowed his choice to the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres or Toronto Blue Jays. His track record in Japan makes him the safest choice to succeed. The baseball world awaits his decision.
It’s tough to forecast what college players in their 20s may do in the future, tougher to see it in high school players at age 18. It is extremely difficult to project 16-year-olds, especially when you add in factors such as adjusting to an entirely new environment in America. Though international rewards can be high, the risks are higher.
Still, teams signed numerous players today. The Baltimore Orioles, who ignored the international scene a few years, signed 22 of them.
Teen-agers who have already cashed in include:
Elian Pena, SS, New York Mets, $5 million.
Andrew Salas, SS-OF, Miami Marlins, $3.7 million.
Cris Rodriguez, OF, Detroit Tigers, $3,197,500.
Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, SS, San Francisco Giants, $2,997,500.
Johan De Los Santos, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates, $2.25 million.
Pena, 17, is a rarity as a left-handed hitting shortstop. Scouts say hitting the ball to all fields with authority along and plate patience are his prime assets. Defensively, his footwork and arm strength make him a natural for the position. The Mets put most of their eggs in his basket: he got 80% of their allotted $6.261 million bonus pool.
Any player signed for $10,000 or less does not count against an allotment, however.
Salas, 16, grades highly on defense, displays good speed and the ability to put the bat on the ball. He has yet to display much power though some say the 6-foot-2, 185-pound switch hitter will add that. His older brothers Jose and Ethan are top prospects in the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres’ systems, respectively.
Rodriguez, 16, packs plenty of power at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. He has a strong arm suitable for right field but needs work on defense.
Gonzalez, 17, is a nimble switch hitter who draws comparisons to Mets all-star Francisco Lindor. Some scouts say that’s too high of a profile for the 5-foot-10 Dominican. He does have quickness with the bat and in the field and a strong arm.
De Los Santos, 16, is another lefty-hitting shortstop and won’t turn 17 until late July. He hits line drives now, scouts project he could develop power as he learns to turn on inside pitches and improve his launch angle.
Jesse Borek at MLB.com does a fabulous job of compiling all the signings.
Looking Back At 2015
Players signed 10 years ago should be entering their prime. Some have become superstars. Most are struggling in the minors or retired.
SAN DIEGO,: Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres celebrates hitting a home run against the Los … [+]
A few teams have reaped the bonanza of signing a Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto or Julio Rodriguez. Hundreds of others were given millions in signing bonuses and never played in the majors.
As pointed out a week ago, the 2015 international class was burgeoning with talent. Guerrero Jr., Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Andres Gimenez, Isaac Paredes and Jazz Chisholm Jr. became MLB all-stars.
Only eight of the 31 players who signed for $1.5 million or more ever played in the majors. And a couple of them did very little.
Not As Good In 2016
In 2016, a total of 33 players signed for $1 million or more. Yordan Alvarez and Randy Arozarena have had some great post-season highlights. Some others such as Luis Garcia Jr., Johan Oviedo, Gabriel Arias, Adrian Morejon and Cionel Perez are trying to become more consistent.
ARLINGTON, TX: Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a home run against the Los Angeles … [+]
Garcia got $1.3 million to sign. In his fifth year with the Washington Nationals in 2024, he had his best season, hitting .282 with 18 homers and 22 stolen bases.
Then there are guys like Jorge Ona, who got $7 million from San Diego. The Cuban outfielder played five games in the majors in 2021 and was released in 2023.
The Cincinnati Reds paid Cuban shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez $6 million. In seven years in the minors, he totaled 9 homers. He was released in 2022 after hitting .193 with 3 walks and 38 strikeouts in 32 Double-A games.
2017 Had Sad Stories
The Seattle Mariners paid Rodriguez $1.75 million. The silky-smooth outfielder has totaled 80 homers, 86 steals and a .277 average the past three years in the majors. He was the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year.
SEATTLE: Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners reacts after doubling home two runs against the … [+]
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar of the Colorado Rockies hit 26 homers this past season. He also had 23 walks and 200 strikeouts.
That’s the best news thus far from the class of eight years ago. The oddest story is that of Wander Franco. He may never play again and faces up to 20 years in prison.
The shortstop got $3.825 million from the Tampa Bay Rays and three years later was in their lineup at age 20. He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in 2021 and in 265 career games hit .282 as one of the rising stars in the game.
ST PETERSBURG, FLA: Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a home run against the … [+]
On Aug. 12, 2023, he was put on the restricted list while MLB investigated rumors of him being involved with a minor in the Dominican Republic. Authorities there reportedly uncovered more troubling matters.
Franco was due to stand trial in December on charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. The trial was postponed last month until June 2, 2025.
Some of the other top signings from 2017 are still trying to make it.
Saddest of all, Daniel Flores never got the chance. He signed for $3.1 million with the Boston Red Sox on July 2, 2017. The switch-hitting catcher from Venezuela trained at the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic that summer. In November 2017, he passed away from cancer.
Hopefully, the 2025 MLB international signing class will turn out much happier.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
