Where top int'l prospects are signing

The international signing period, which runs through Dec. 15, is officially underway.

Hundreds of international prospects are taking the next step in their development when they sign with big league clubs and there will be hundreds more who will follow them until the middle of December.

• Keep an eye on these 12 Cuban free agents

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. Roderick Arias, SS, Dominican Republic – Yankees ($4,000,000) More »
2. Cristhian Vaquero, OF, Cuba – Nationals ($4,925,000) More »
3. Ricardo Cabrera, SS, Venezuela – Reds More »
4. William Bergolla, SS, Venezuela – Phillies ($2,050,000) More »
5. Oscar Colas, OF, Cuba – White Sox ($2,700,000) More »
6. Anthony Gutierrez, OF, Dominican Republic – Rangers ($1,997,500) More »
7. Samuel Munoz, OF, Dominican Republic – Dodgers More »
8. Lazaro Montes, OF, Dominican Republic – Mariners ($2,500,000) More »
9. Ryan Reckley, SS, Bahamas – Giants ($2,200,000) More »
10. Diego Benitez, SS, Venezuela – Braves ($2,500,000) More »
11. Tony Blanco Jr., OF, Dominican Republic – Pirates ($900,000) More »
12. Yordany De Los Santos, SS, Dominican Republic – Pirates ($1,200,000) More »
13. Javier Osorio, SS, Venezuela – Tigers ($2,200,000) More »
14. Jonathan Mejia, SS, Venezuela – Cardinals More »
15. Dyan Jorge, SS, Cuba – Rockies ($2,800,000) More »
16. Simon Juan, OF, Dominican Republic – Mets ($1,900,000) More »
17. Yasser Mercedes, OF, Dominican Republic – Twins ($1,700,000) More »
18. Alexis Hernandez, SS, Dominican Republic – Cubs ($1,300,000) More »
19. Freili Encarnacion, SS, Dominican Republic – Red Sox ($1,100,000) More »
20. Jaison Chourio, OF, Venezuela – Guardians ($1,200,000) More »
21. Jhonny Severino, SS, Dominican Republic – Brewers ($1,230,000) More »
22. Braylin Tavera, OF, Dominican Republic – Orioles ($1,700,000) More »
23. Johan Barrios, OF, Venezuela – Brewers ($1,385,000) More »
24. Yendry Rojas, SS, Cuba – Padres ($1,300,000) More »
25. Juan Olmos, C, Colombia – Royals ($797,500) More »
26. Luis Rodriguez, C, Venezuela – Cardinals More »
27. Jose De Jesus, OF, Dominican Republic – Rangers ($1,197,500) More »
28. Erick Hernandez, OF, Dominican Republic – White Sox ($1,000,000) More »
29. Nelson Rada, OF, Venezuela – Angels ($1,850,000) More »
30. Juan Perez, C, Venezuela – Giants ($1,100,000) More »
31. Jarlin Susana, RHP, Dominican Republic – Padres ($1,700,000) More »
32. Anthuan Valencia, SS, Venezuela – Reds More »
33. Luis Meza, C, Venezuela – Blue Jays ($2,050,000) More »
34. Johanfran Garcia, C, Venezuela – Red Sox ($850,000) More »
35. Yilber Herrera, SS, Dominican Republic – Twins ($700,000) More »
36. Abdidas De La Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic – D-backs ($1,100,000) More »
37. Accimias Morales, RHP, Venezuela – Dodgers More »
38. Randy De Jesus, OF, Dominican Republic – Angels ($1,200,000) More »
39. Bryan Acuña , SS, Venezuela – Twins ($650,000) More »
40. Victor Izturis, C, Venezuela – Guardians ($1,150,000) More »
41. Michael Arroyo, SS, Colombia – Mariners ($1,375,000) More »
42. Kenni Gomez, OF, Cuba – Astros ($775,000) More »
43. Adan Sanchez, INF, Panama – Cubs ($1,500,000) More »
44. Yoffry Solano, SS, Dominican Republic – Marlins ($750,000) More »
45. Henry Ramos, OF, Dominican Republic – Royals ($797,500) More »
46. Leandro Arias, SS, Dominican Republic – Orioles ($600,000) More »
47. Rosman Verdugo, SS, Mexico – Padres ($700,000) More »
48. Martin Gonzales, INF, Dominican Republic – Mariners ($1,300,000) More »
49. Esmith Pineda, OF, Panama – Reds More »
50. Fraymi De Leon, SS, Dominican Republic – Red Sox ($1,200,000) More »

Breakdown

Twenty-five of the players on the 2021 Top 50 International Prospects list are from the Dominican Republic. There are 15 prospects from Venezuela, four from Cuba, two from Colombia, two from Panama and one each from the Bahamas and Mexico. Position-wise, there are 26 infielders, 16 outfielders, two pitchers and six catchers. Athletes who play up the middle, more specifically either at shortstop or in center, are generally the most coveted prospects on the international market. However, there has been an increase in pitching prospects and catching prospects, especially from Venezuela, in recent years.

International signing rules, spending

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association finalized a deal in March 2020 that addressed the international signing period during the pandemic. The 2021-2022 international signing period began on Jan. 15, 2022, and runs through Dec. 15, 2022. It’s the second year in a row the period started in January.

These are the international bonus pools for the 2021-22 signing period:

Clubs that received a Competitive Balance Pick in Round B of the Draft (Cardinals, D-backs, Indians, Orioles, Padres, Pirates, Rockies and Royals) received a pool of $6,262,600, while clubs with a Competitive Balance Pick in Round A (Brewers, Marlins, Rays, Reds, Tigers, and Twins) received $5,721,500.

The base signing pool for the Angels, Astros, Athletics, Braves, Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, White Sox and Yankees is $5,179,700. The Dodgers and Blue Jays forfeited $500,000 from their pools for signing players who had rejected qualifying offers -- Trevor Bauer and George Springer, respectively -- last offseason, so each has a pool of $4,644,000.

Teams will also not be allowed to trade international bonus slots during this signing period.

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, 2004, and Aug. 31, 2005, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming 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:

American League East

Blue Jays
Railin Tejada, OF, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Jean Joseph, C, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Raudy Gomez, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $300,000

Orioles
Cesar Prieto, INF, Cuba -- $650,000
Edwin Amparo, INF, Dominican Republic -- $647,500
Thomas Sosa, OF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000

Rays
Jose Contreras, OF, Cuba -- $1,000,050
Felix Cotes, INF, Dominican Republic -- $730,000
Jose Sanabria, OF, Venezuela -- $480,000
Nicandro Aybar, INF, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Rodrigo Romero, INF, Venezuela -- $300,000

Red Sox
Jancel Santana, SS, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Natanael Yuten, CF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000

Yankees
Yank Jean-Baptiste, SS, Dominican Republic -- $750,000

American League Central

Guardians
Rafael Ramirez, SS, Dominican Republic -- $800,000
Yank Jean-Baptiste, SS, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Yorfran John, SS, Venezuela -- $425,000
Alberto Mendes, SS, Venezuela -- $320,000

Royals
Erick Torres, OF, Dominican Republic -- $497,500
Ivan Sosa, INF, Dominican Republic -- $497,500

Tigers
Samuel Gil, SS, Venezuela -- $1,250,000
Josue Breceno, C, Venezuela -- $800,000
Heison Sanchez, INF, Dominican Republic -- $800,000
Franyerber Montilla, SS, Venezuela -- $500,000

Twins
Jose Rodriguez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $650,000
Harold Grant, INF, Spain -- $400,000
Ricardo Pena, C, Venezuela -- $300,000

American League West

Angels
Nixon Encarnacion, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Luis Rodriguez, SS, Venezuela -- $500,000
Dario Laverde, C, Venezuela -- $350,000

Astros
Luis Baez, OF, Dominican Republic -- $1,300,000
Alberto Hernandez, SS, Cuba -- $950,000
Samuel Capellan, SS, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Carlos Espinosa, RHP, Cuba -- $480,000
Rafael Ramirez, SS, Dominican Republic -- $360,000
Axell De Paula, OF, Dominican Republic -- $300,000

Athletics
Carlos Pacheco, OF, Venezuela -- $1,200,000
Cesar Gonzalez, C, Venezuela -- $800,000
Kevin, Dume, 1B, Dominican Republic -- $600,000
Byran Andrade, SS, Venezuela -- $525,000

Rangers
Daniel Bruzal, C, Venezuela -- $397,500
Jesus Lopez, C, Venezuela -- $347,500

National League East

Braves
Douglas Glod, OF, Venezuela -- $1,300,000
Alexander Martinez, C, Venezuela -- $400,000

Marlins
Antony Peguero, OF, Dominican Republic -- $575,000
Jhon Cabral, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Santiago Suarez, RHP, Venezuela -- $385,000

Mets
Willy Fañas, OF, Dominican Republic -- $1,500,000
Dangelo Sarmiento, SS, Venezuela -- $700,000

Phillies
Aroon Escobar, INF, Venezuela -- $450,000
Romel Mendez, OF, Venezuela -- $450,000
Neify Rosario, OF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Leny Carela, SS, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Nolan Beltran, SS, Colombia -- $350,000
Manolfi Jimeneze, OF, Dominican Republic -- $300,000

National League Central

Brewers
Luis Lara, OF, Venezuela -- $1,100,000
Gery Holguin, SS, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Fabricio Valera, OF, Venezuela -- $400,000

Cubs
Jefferson Rojas, SS, Dominican Republic -- $1,000,000
Josefrailin Alcantara, OF, Dominican Republic -- $500,000

Cardinals
Yordalin Pena, CF, Dominican Republic
Arfeni Batista, SS, Dominican Republic
Leonel Sequera, RHP, Venezuela

Pirates
Pitterson Rosa, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $700,000
Huang-Leng Chang, RHP, Taiwan -- $500,000
Eduardo Oviedo, OF, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Axiel Plaz, C, Venezuela -- $350,000
Carlos Tirado, 1B, Mexico -- $350,000
Roinny Aguiar, SS, Venezuela -- $315,000

Reds
Jesus Correa, SS, Colombia

National League West

D-backs
Abdias De La Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic -- $1,100,000
Yerald Nin, SS, Dominican Republic -- $900,000
Ruben Santana, 3B, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Andy Encarnacion, OF, Dominican Republic -- $605,000
Jansel Luis, SS, Dominican Republic -- $525,000
Abel Fuerte, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Omar Moya, C, Venezuela -- $350,000

Dodgers
Luciano Romero, RHP, Venezuela
Jeral Perez, SS, Dominican Republic
Raynerd Ortego, SS, Venezuela
Javier Pena, C, Dominican Republic
Mairo Martinus, SS, Curacao
Josue De Paula, OF, Dominican Republic

Giants
Dennys Riera, SS, Venezuela -- $700,000
Alessandro Duran, C, Venezuela -- $397,500
Erick Arosemena, OF, Panama -- $369,700

Padres
Maikol Munoz, INF, Venezuela -- $900,000
Oliver Cedeno, INF, Venezuela -- $500,000
Braian Salazar, LHP, Venezuela -- $500,000
Estuar Suero, OF, Dominican Republic -- $325,000

Rockies
Cesar Vargas, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Kevin Hidalgo, SS, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Ervin Torres, LHP, Venezuela -- $400,000