Which MLB Teams Are Signing The Most International Prospects?
Image credit: Josue De Paula (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
One of the biggest challenges in evaluating international signing classes is how long it takes for players to become productive major leaguers.
Teams sign players from Latin America as young as 16, so even a player who reaches the major leagues at a normal age like 23 could spend six or seven years in the minor leagues. Players like Juan Soto or Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who reach the majors by 19 or 20, are rare exceptions.
Even then, a debut is just the beginning. At that point, we still don’t know what level of production the player will provide over the next several years of team control. It can take more than a decade to fully evaluate how a team fared in a given international signing class. In the meantime, we can check the temperature of how teams have done with their recent international signings by tracking how many of their signings appear in a Top 30 Prospects list.
The chart below shows how many international signings from each team rank in a Top 30. Players are included with the team that originally signed them, whether they are still with that organization or in another team’s Top 30. So, the Phillies get credit for Starlyn Caba, who they signed out of the Dominican Republic but have since traded to the Marlins.
Obviously, this approach has limitations:
- Teams with thin farm systems that haven’t drafted well should have a higher number of international signings, whereas teams that draft well and trade for prospects from other clubs might have fewer international signings who crack their Top 30.
- Teams that frequently trade away prospects create more opportunities for international signings to rank in a Top 30.
- Players who race to the major leagues at a young age won’t appear here because they are no longer prospects. Often, it’s those players who become high impact talent. Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Eury Perez (Marlins), Junior Caminero (Guardians) and Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies) are among the best of that group.
Ultimately, the exact number of international signings a team has ranked in a Top 30 isn’t the most important factor. The Guardians aren’t particularly high up the list, but they signed Caminero and have two current top 50 prospects with shortstop Angel Genao and outfielder Jaison Chourio. But when we line up teams this way, we can look directionally at the state of international signings over the last seven or so years.
In general, the teams at the top of the list are faring well:
| Team | Top 30 | Notable Signings |
| Dodgers | 18 | Roki Sasaki, Josue De Paula, Thayron Liranzo |
| Yankees | 18 | Jasson Dominguez, Kevin Alcantara, Agustin Ramirez |
| Red Sox | 17 | Franklin Arias, Luis Perales, Yoeilin Cespedes |
| Padres | 16 | Leodalis De Vries, Ethan Salas, Jarlin Susana |
| Angels | 15 | Edgar Quero, Nelson Rada, Joswa Lugo |
| Brewers | 15 | Jesus Made, Jeferson Quero, Luis Pena |
| Rangers | 14 | Sebastian Walcott, Luisangel Acuña, Emiliano Teodo |
| Phillies | 13 | Starlyn Caba, Eduardo Tait, Hao-Yu Lee |
| Diamondbacks | 12 | Yilber Diaz, Jansel Luis, Deyvison De Los Santos |
| Braves | 12 | Didier Fuentes, John Gil, Diego Tornes |
| Royals | 12 | Yandel Ricardo, Ramon Ramirez, Warren Calcaño |
| Orioles | 11 | Samuel Basallo, Moises Chace, Keeler Morfe |
| Rockies | 11 | Yanquiel Fernandez, Robert Calaz, Juan Brito |
| Marlins | 11 | Santiago Suarez, Luis Cova, Andrew Salas |
| Pirates | 11 | Omar Alfonzo, Tsung-Che Cheng, Alessandro Ercolani |
| Giants | 10 | Marco Luciano, Josuar Gonzalez, Rayner Arias |
| Cubs | 9 | Moises Ballesteros, Jefferson Rojas, Juan Tomas |
| Guardians | 9 | Jaison Chourio, Angel Genao, Welbyn Francisca |
| Twins | 9 | Emmanuel Rodriguez, Eduardo Beltre, Ricardo Olivar |
| Cardinals | 9 | Yairo Padilla, Rainiel Rodriguez, Leonardo Bernal |
| Mets | 8 | Jesus Baez, Ronny Mauricio, Elian Pena |
| Blue Jays | 8 | Orelvis Martinez, Kendry Rojas, Fernando Perez |
| Reds | 7 | Alfredo Duno, Ricardo Cabrera, Luis Mey |
| Astros | 7 | Miguel Ullola, Anderson Brito, Kevin Alvarez |
| Mariners | 7 | Michael Arroyo, Felnin Celesten, Lazaro Montes |
| Tigers | 6 | Josue Briceno, Franyerber Montilla, Enrique Jimenez |
| Rays | 6 | Brailer Guerrero, Yoniel Curet, Jose Urbina |
| Nationals | 6 | Angel Feliz, Brayan Cortesia, Andry Lara |
| Athletics | 3 | Luis Morales, Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, Edgar Montero |
| White Sox | 2 | Cristian Mena, Bryan Ramos |
Let’s take a closer look at some of the teams at the top.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Yeah, Roki Sasaki counts, but we can set him aside for now. Outfielder Josue De Paula is a Top 100 Prospect signed out of the Dominican Republic. So is catcher Thayron Liranzo, who the Dodgers traded to the Tigers last year in the Jack Flaherty deal. Outfielder Eduardo Quintero and shortstop Emil Morales are both exciting lower-level prospects. Note that those 18 players don’t include outfielder Andy Pages, a 2018 signing from Cuba who graduated last year.
What helps stuff the Dodgers so high up this list are the nine international signings who they traded and now rank in Top 30s for other organizations. Meanwhile, there are teams that don’t have nine international signings ranked in any Top 30 at all. That’s a lot of trade value created from their international department.
New York Yankees
Outfielder Jasson Dominguez is a Top 100 Prospect. So is Cubs outfielder Kevin Alcantara, who the Yankees signed out of the Dominican Republic and traded to Chicago in 2021 for Anthony Rizzo. Catcher Agustin Ramirez, another Yankees signing from the Dominican Republic, is one of the top hitters in the upper levels of the minors with the Marlins after getting traded in the deal for Jazz Chisholm. The Yankees have a few other international signings they have used as trade chips who are Top 30 prospects in other organizations, too. Like the Dodgers, the bar should be high to play in the major leagues for a team with their payroll, and these are the types of prospects the Yankees should be trading to bolster their big league club.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have the No. 1 farm system in baseball. Most of the attention deservedly goes to the big three of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer. Before they traded for Garrett Crochet, catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery were part of the group that soaked up most of the attention among Red Sox prospects.
Beyond them, the Red Sox have plenty to be happy with from their international signings. In their 2023 class, they signed shortstops Franklin Arias and Yoeilin Cespedes. Those are now two of the game’s best Latin American infield prospects in the lower levels, with Arias becoming a Top 100 Prospect. Righthander Luis Perales joined him in the Top 100 until Tommy John surgery knocked him off the list. Outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia is another top 10 prospect in the Red Sox system. Righthander Juan Valera, a $45,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2023, has been flashing filthy stuff this spring and could join him in that top 10 soon.
Righthander Dalvinson Reyes and first baseman/outfielder Justin Gonzales were two of the better prospects in the Dominican Summer League in 2024. The 2025 international signing class hasn’t played any official games yet, but the Red Sox pulled in one of the more exciting 2025 classes, too.
San Diego Padres
The Padres signed the best international prospect in consecutive years. Now those two—shortstop Leodalis De Vries and catcher Ethan Salas—are both top 30 prospects in baseball. Righthander Jarlin Susana—traded to the Nationals in the Juan Soto deal—gives them a third international signing ranked in the Top 100, with Susana being the highest-ranked Dominican pitching prospect in baseball.
San Diego’s farm system thins out quickly because of how many prospects the team has traded. But beyond those three players, the Padres have signed a range of intriguing pitchers, including Mexican righthanders Humberto Cruz and Victor Lizarraga (both top 10 prospects in the Padres system), righthander Bradgley Rodriguez and righthander Jairo Iriarte, who they traded to the White Sox last year for righthander Dylan Cease.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers signed Chourio out of Venezuela in 2021, he made his major league debut three years later as a 20-year-old and is one of the most exciting young players in baseball. Milwaukee’s top prospect is Jesus Made, who signed out of the Dominican Republic last year and is already a top 25 prospect. Catcher Jeferson Quero is another Top 100 Prospect. The combination of impact talent and depth of prospects the Brewers have signed out of Latin America in the last seven years stacks up with any team in baseball.
Texas Rangers
Shortstop Sebastian Walcott, signed out of the Bahamas two years ago, is the best position prospect in the system and a top 20 prospect in baseball. Luisangel Acuña, who signed with the Rangers out of Venezuela, entered the year as a top 10 prospect with the Mets and is on their big league team. Among Dominican pitching prospects with the five highest BA grades, the Rangers signed two of them: righthanders Emiliano Teodo and Winston Santos, each for just $10,000.
Two DSL Teams Are Better Than One
Let’s add another column to the chart: the number of teams each organization has in the Dominican Summer League.
We’re counting how many DSL teams a club had in 2024, though it should be noted some clubs have changed the number of teams they operate over the past seven years. The Giants and Yankees, for example, added a second DSL team in 2021. The Guardians have fluctuated between one and two teams in different years but have had two teams since 2021. The Astros, Marlins and Padres expanded from one to two DSL teams starting in 2022.
| Team | Top 30 | DSL Teams |
| Dodgers | 18 | 2 |
| Yankees | 18 | 2 |
| Red Sox | 17 | 2 |
| Padres | 16 | 2 |
| Angels | 15 | 1 |
| Brewers | 15 | 2 |
| Rangers | 14 | 2 |
| Phillies | 13 | 2 |
| Diamondbacks | 12 | 2 |
| Braves | 12 | 1 |
| Royals | 12 | 2 |
| Orioles | 11 | 2 |
| Rockies | 11 | 2 |
| Marlins | 11 | 2 |
| Pirates | 11 | 2 |
| Giants | 10 | 2 |
| Cubs | 9 | 2 |
| Guardians | 9 | 2 |
| Twins | 9 | 1 |
| Cardinals | 9 | 1 |
| Mets | 8 | 2 |
| Blue Jays | 8 | 1 |
| Reds | 7 | 1 |
| Astros | 7 | 2 |
| Mariners | 7 | 1 |
| Tigers | 6 | 2 |
| Rays | 6 | 2 |
| Nationals | 6 | 1 |
| Athletics | 3 | 1 |
| White Sox | 2 | 1 |
There’s an unsurprising correlation here: Of the bottom 14 organizations, eight have only one DSL team, including five of the eight bottom organizations. Among the top 16 organizations, just two have only one DSL team.
It’s true the teams at the top have good scouting departments, but there are a lot of great scouts who work for clubs toward the bottom, too. Having two DSL teams means 35 extra roster spots. Those are 35 extra opportunities to find a big leaguer, uncover a hidden gem or simply get lucky. More shots on goal, more opportunities to score.
That’s especially true given the uncertainty in predicting the future of players who sign at 16 or 17—many of whom commit to teams much earlier—particularly when it comes to pitching. The Mariners having just one DSL team but still signing Julio Rodriguez and Noelvi Marte, plus three current Top 100 Prospects in Lazaro Montes, Michael Arroyo and Felnin Celesten, is impressive.
Some teams have only one DSL team because their facility in the Dominican Republic lacks the space to house a second team. Owners who choose to operate with one DSL team—or opt not to invest in a modern academy capable of supporting a second DSL team—are putting their organizations at a competitive disadvantage.
