Cincinnati Reds 2025 International Signings Review

Top Of The Class

Cincinnati’s top bonus this year went to Venezuelan shortstop Liberts Aponte, who signed for $1.9 million. He’s 6 feet, 170 pounds at 17, a wiry, fast-twitch athlete who shines at shortstop. He’s a graceful, agile defender with quick feet and soft hands, able to make the flashy, highlight plays but with the internal clock to be able to play under control. He doesn’t have elite arm strength, but he gets rid of the ball quickly and could see his arm tick up once he fills out, with the potential to become a plus defender. A plus runner, Aponte is a defensive-oriented shortstop who has solid bat-to-ball skills from the right side. Getting stronger will be key for Aponte, a line-drive hitter with occasional doubles power who has worked to make lower half swing adjustments to better sync up his timing. 

Names To Know

Enry Torres, C, Venezuela: For $800,000, the Reds signed Torres, a 17-year-old, offensive-minded catcher. He’s 5-foot-10, 170 pounds with a strong lower half and an advanced offensive approach from the left side of the plate. Torres controls the strike zone well, works himself into favorable counts and shows a good balance of both lefthanded hitting ability and potential 15-20 home run power with natural loft and backspin. With a fringe-average arm, Torres will have to prove he can improve his receiving and blocking to stick behind the plate, with encouraging signs early in his defensive development, particularly with his footwork.

Isaac Garcia, OF, Venezuela: Garcia, 17, signed for $700,000 after he stood out for his offensive performance at multiple showcases in Colombia. He has a thicker 5-foot-11, 170-pound build with the strength to drive the ball well and home run power to his pull side that should continue to climb as he gets bigger. Given his body type, he’s probably a corner outfielder long term, but he has surprising speed and athleticism for his size as a plus runner, which gives him a chance to develop in center field. 

Angel Salio, SS, Dominican Republic: Salio, 17, was a high-profile prospect early in the process when he was linked to the Rockies before ultimately signing with the Reds for $500,000. With a long, lean frame (6-foot-2, 170 pounds), Salio stands out most for his lefthanded hitting ability. It’s a smooth stroke with good barrel control and a strong track record of offensive performance. It’s a hit-over-power game but with the projection in his high-waist frame for more impact to come once he fills out. An average runner, Salio has a right elbow issue from his amateur days that could limit how often he plays the field this year, but he could move around between shortstop, second base, third and possibly center field. 

Jealmy Frias, SS, Dominican Republic: Signed for $350,000, Frias had trained as a switch-hitter but has been hitting exclusively lefthanded for the past year. He’s 5-foot-11, 155 pounds at 17 with good contact skills from an aggressive swing with the ability to generate sneaky pop for his frame thanks to his whippy bat speed. Frias is athletic and an above-average runner with the hands, footwork and average arm for the infield, more likely at second base than shortstop. He also has gotten exposure to the outfield and could see time there as well. 

Wanderly De La Cruz, OF, Dominican Republic: De La Cruz is a wiry 5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder signed at 16 for $250,000 as a lefty with a line-drive, spray approach and gap power. He’s an average runner whose instincts and routes give him a chance to develop in center field, with a strong arm that could tick up as he gets stronger and would fit in right field if he does move off center.  

Jose Martinez, OF, Venezuela: For $200,000, the Reds signed Martinez, a smaller, speedy lefthanded-hitting outfielder. Martinez, 17, is 5-foot-8, 150 pounds with plus-plus speed and an approach geared toward slapping the ball around the field and using his speed to put pressure on the defense, with power unlikely to ever be part of his game. He has some experience at second base as well but is most valuable in the outfield, where he has good instincts and range. 

Sandor Feliciano, SS, Dominican Republic: Feliciano, another $200,000 signing at 17, stands out more for his skills and instincts than raw tools. He’s a 6-foot, 165-pound switch-hitter who puts together quality at-bats and sprays line drives around the field with gap power. He’s a high baseball IQ player who could potentially fit at shortstop, second base or possibly move all over the infield. 

Sleeper Watch

There aren’t many players who sign each year out of Nicaragua, but 17-year-old Omar Guadamuz was the top infielder in the country for 2025. Signed for $125,000, Guadamuz (5-foot-9, 170 pounds) is a standout athlete with plus speed with experience at shortstop, though he could fit at second base and get time at third base as well. A righthanded hitter, Guadamuz isn’t as advanced offensively relative to his peers from the Dominican Republic or Venezuela, but he’s one of the better athletes the Reds signed this year.