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It's international signing day! Follow along here
For talented amateur ballplayers from across the globe, there is no day on the calendar quite like Jan. 15. Signaling the opening of the international signing period, it’s the day in which years of hard work and perseverance make dreams come true.
Most often, it’s the first step on a journey toward the big leagues. The majority of players signing deals as the period opens are still U.S. high school-aged, indicative of the long developmental path they still have to travel.
International signing coverage:
• Everything you need to know
• Top 50 Prospects list
• Each team's top international prospect
• Latest news on Roki Sasaki
But things are different in 2025. Roki Sasaki, the No. 1 international prospect, is a unicorn in the sense that, at 23, he’ll immediately be Major League-ready at the time of his signing, something not in play even for the most advanced 16- and 17-year-olds who traditionally headline these classes. Sasaki figures to factor prominently atop MLB Pipeline's Top 100 overall prospects list as soon as he puts pen to paper.
With the timing of Sasaki’s negotiation window (which closes Jan. 23) carrying into the first few days of the 2025 period, three clubs reportedly are still angling to land the potential ace with a triple-digit fastball. Sasaki can only sign for as much as an organization has available in international pool money, figures you’ll find for each club in this story.
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.
- Roki Sasaki, RHP, Japan
- Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, SS, D.R.: Giants ($2,997,500) More »
- Elian Peña, SS, D.R.: Mets ($5,000,000) More »
- Cris Rodriguez, OF, D.R.: Tigers ($3,197,500) More »
- Andrew Salas, SS/OF, USA/Ven.: Marlins ($3,700,000) More »
- Yorger Bautista, OF, Ven.: Mariners
- Kevin Alvarez, OF, Cuba: Astros More »
- Dorian Soto, SS, D.R.
- Maykel Coret, OF, D.R.: Rays ($1,600,000) More »
- Juan Cabada, SS , D.R.
- Manny Cedeno, SS, D.R.
- Ayden Johnson, SS, Bah.
- Wilfri De La Cruz, SS/3B, D.R.
- Brayan Cortesia, SS, Ven.: Nationals ($1,920,000) More »
- Diego Tornes, OF, Cuba
- Darwin Ozuna, OF, D.R.
- Gabriel Davalillo, C, Ven.: Angels ($2,000,000)
- Liberts Aponte, SS, Ven.: Reds More »
- Kendry Martinez, SS, D.R.: Mariners
- Raymer Medina, SS, D.R.: Rays ($1,100,000) More »
- Jhoan De La Cruz, SS, D.R.
- Cristopher Polanco, SS, D.R.
- Johan De Los Santos, SS, D.R.: Pirates ($2,250,000) More »
- Santiago Leon, SS, Ven.: Twins ($1,697,500)
- Djean Macares, OF, Aruba: Giants More »
- Carlos Taveras, OF, D.R.
- Elian De La Cruz, OF, D.R.: D-backs ($1,100,000) More »
- Royelny Strop, OF, D.R.: Cardinals More »
- Elorky Rodriguez, OF, D.R.: Rangers ($1,100,000) More »
- Warel Solano, SS, D.R.: Rays ($1,050,000) More »
- Moises Marchan, C, Ven.
- Harold Rivas, OF, Ven.
- Alejandro Cruz, 3B, Cuba: White Sox
- Larry Suero, 2B/3B, D.R.
- Deivid Coronil, SS, Ven.
- Kenny Fenelon, OF, D.R.
- Kenly Hunter, OF, Nicaragua: Cardinals ($700,000) More »
- Warren Calcano, SS, D.R.
- Carlos Alvarez, LHP, D.R.
- Kevin DeFrank, RHP, D.R.: Marlins ($560,000) More »
- Hiverson Lopez, C, Ven.
- Braylin Antunez, OF, Ven.
- Haritzon Castillo, SS, Ven.: Twins ($947,500)
- Nieves Izaguirre, SS, Ven.
- Cristopher Acosta, SS, D.R.: Brewers (1,100,000)
- Sadbiel Del Zine, RHP, Ven.
- José Peña, SS, D.R.: Orioles More »
- Heins Brito, SS, D.R.: Guardians ($825,000)
- Ramcell Medina, SS, D.R.
- Teilon Serrano, OF, D.R.: Twins ($847,500)
Breakdown
We’ve always considered baseball a global game, but that fact has become more prominent the past few years: The world’s most remote country, Bhutan? They love baseball! The first pro ballplayer born in Siberia was drafted last summer, the same year an Australian, Travis Bazzana, was drafted No. 1 overall for the first time. What’s San Marino? The country where this Pirates prospect hails from.
With that in mind, here’s a look at how the 2025 class shakes out, globally and positionally:
Twenty-nine of the players on the 2025 Top 50 International Prospects list are from the Dominican Republic. There are 13 from Venezuela, three from Cuba, one from The Bahamas, one from Aruba, one from Japan, one from Nicaragua and one from the United States (who moved to Venezuela as a youngster). Position-wise, there are 26 infielders, 16 outfielders, one infielder/outfielder, four pitchers and three catchers.
Who is eligible?
There are guidelines for signing international prospects. A player is eligible to sign with a Major League organization 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, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2008, 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.
The international bonus pool breakdown is as follows:
$7,555,500
ATH, CIN, DET, MIA, MIL, MIN, SEA, TB
$6,908,600
ARI, BAL, CLE, COL, KC, PIT
$6,261,600
ATL, BOS, CHC, CWS, LAA, NYM, NYY, PHI, SD, TEX, TOR, WSH
$5,646,200
HOU, STL
$5,146,200
LAD, SF
How do the mechanics of the signing period work?
Each organization enters the signing period with bonus pool money to sign international amateur free agents. The size of that pool is determined by a number of factors, including market size and revenue, as well the signing of Major League free agents who declined a qualifying offer. Trades, in which international bonus money can be dealt in increments of $250,000, also affect bonus pool sizes. But a team can not spend more than its allotment, no matter what -- there is no option to exceed the limit and pay a tax, for example.
While teams are allowed to trade away as much of their pool as they so choose, they can acquire only 60 percent of their original pool. (For the clubs listed in the top tier above, that would be an additional $4,533,300. In the case of Sasaki, both the Padres and Blue Jays could add $3,756,960, feasibly giving them just over $10 million to offer the right-hander, while the Dodgers could add just over $3 million and bring their offer north of $8.2 million.)
However, signing players for a bonus of $10,000 or less does not count against a bonus pool. It's possible, therefore, that a team could spend its entire bonus pool on one player and still sign many other players in relatively small deals.
While the majority of players who sign in the immediate aftermath of the period opening are 16 or 17 years old, any international free agent under the age of 25 is permitted to sign up until Dec. 15, 2025.
Here's a look at other prospects who signed for $300,000 or more:
Angels
Yilver De Paula, SS, Dominican Republic -- $900,000
Athletics
Shotaro Morii, SS, Japan -- $1,510,500 More »
Breyson Guedez, OF, Venezuela -- $1,500,000
Brewers
Isais Chavez, C, Venezuela -- $480,000
Eryks Rivero, OF, Venezuela -- $300,000
Cardinals
Juan Rujano, INF, Panama -- $750,000
Miguel Hernandez, SS, Venezuela -- $500,000
Yeferson Portolatin, SS, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Daniel Gomez, RHP, Venezuela -- $350,000
Yostin Pena, OF, Dominican Republic -- $300,000
D-backs
Alam Bruno, SS, Dominican Republic -- $950,000
Ronny Suarez, CF, Venezuela -- $550,000
Juan Brima, SS, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Mayki De La Rosa, CF, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Feliz Genao, 3B, Dominican Republic -- $300,000
Eybert Sanchez, SS, Venezuela -- $300,000
Victor Santana, 3B, Dominican Republic -- $300,000
Guardians
Luis Garcia, SS, Dominican Republic -- $775,000
Luis Galan, SS, Dominican Republic -- $320,000
Marlins
Anthony Abreu, SS, Dominican Republic -- $550,000
Adrian Pena, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Johan Machado, INF, Venezuela -- $330,000
Nationals
Daniel Hernandez, C, Venezuela -- $1,100,000
Rony Bello, INF, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Esnaider Vargas, INF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Marconi German, INF, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Jonierbis, Garces, OF, Venezuela -- $350,000
Edgardo Figueroa, C, Venezuela -- $300,000
Phillies
Geremy Villoria, RHP, Venezuela -- $425,000
Dayber Cruceta, OF, Dominican Republic -- $300,000
Pirates
Darell Morel, INF, Dominican Republic -- $1,778,600
Gabriel Rodriguez, OF, Venezuela -- $900,000
Robinson Smith, RHP, Australia -- $400,000
Yoslaniel Hernandez, LHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Rays
Emmanuel Cedeno, INF, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Emile Torres, OF, Dominican Republic -- $300,000
Tigers
Jose Ramirez, OF, Venezuela -- $897,500
Carlos Benavides, C, Venezuela -- $797,500
Anderson Diaz, LHP, Venezuela -- $447,500
Angel De Los Santos, INF, Dominican Republic -- $387,500
Twins
Jose Barrios, INF, Venezuela -- $422,500
Jhomnardo Reyes, OF, Dominican Republic -- $322,500
Jesse Borek is a reporter/coordinator of prospect content at MLB Pipeline and MiLB. Follow him @JesseABorek.