SS Osorio tops Tigers' international signings

The Tigers have emerged as one of the most active teams on the international market in recent years, and that trend has continued into 2022.

The club has signed 6-foot shortstop Javier Osorio, who ranks No. 13 on MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects list. According to industry sources, the deal is for $2.2 million. Detroit also signed shortstop Samuel Gil for $1.25 million, and catcher Josue Breceno and shortstop Heison Sanchez for $800,000 apiece.

The Tigers have $5,721,500 in bonus pool money.

Overall, the athletic Osorio projects to be an average defender with a plus arm. He has a chance to stay at shortstop for a long time because of his instincts, good footwork and soft hands.

He also projects to be an above-average runner with good instincts and base-stealing potential.

At the plate, Osorio has a chance to be a run producer because of his power potential.

The 16-year-old trains with Wilfredo Polidor, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the Dominican Republic.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association finalized a deal in March 2020 that addressed the international signing period during the pandemic. The 2022 international signing period runs through Dec. 15, the second year in a row the period -- which previously began July 2 -- started in January.

The current rules also state that teams are not allowed to trade any of their international pool money. Signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count toward a club's bonus pool, and foreign professional players who are at least 25 years old and have played in a foreign league for at least six seasons are also exempt.

Here are the prospects who have agreed to deals with the Tigers in the 2022 international signing period:

Javier Osorio, SS, Venezuela -- $2,200,000
Samuel Gil, SS, Venezuela -- $1,250,000
Heison Sanchez, IF, Dominican Republic -- $800,000
Josue Briceno, C, Venezuela -- $800,000
Franyerber Montilla, SS, Venezuela -- $500,000
Reylin Perez, SS, Dominican Republic -- $60,000
Delvis Matos, OF, Dominican Republic -- $50,000
Junior Quezada, OF, Dominican Republic -- $20,000
Manuel Santana, C, Dominican Republic -- $10,000
Jose Florian, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $10,000
Edwin Moreno, RHS, Venezuela -- $10,000
Jorger Petri, LHS, Venezuela -- $10,000
Gabriel Torres, RHS, Venezuela -- $10,000