Colorado Rockies 2025 International Signings Review

Top Of The Class

In some years, the Rockies have spent big money at the top of their class, like they did in 2023 when they signed outfielder Robert Calaz. This year, the Rockies spread their money around more, giving six-figure bonuses to nearly 20 players. The biggest bonus of the bunch went to Dominican outfielder Wandi Feliz, who signed for $850,000.

He’s 6-foot-3, 205 pounds at 17, a physical righthanded hitter with an aggressive approach he might have to reign in but with the size and strength to project to be a 20-plus home run hitter. He’s an average runner who has improved his body and athleticism over the past year but still fits best in an outfield corner with an above-average arm that should fit in right field. 

Names To Know

Rosniell De Paula, SS, Dominican Republic: De Paula doesn’t turn 17 until Aug. 24, so he will play the entire DSL season as a 16-year-old. The $750,000 signing has a smaller frame (5-foot-10, 163 pounds) but is a quick-twitch, high-energy shortstop. Some scouts think his arm strength could lead him to second base, but otherwise he looks like a shortstop with his quick feet, soft hands, swift exchange and good body control. He’s an average runner with a short righthanded swing an aggressive approach and doubles power. 

Kamuel Villar, SS, Dominican Republic: Villar, 17, signed with the Rockies for $750,000. Villar fires his hands quickly into a short lefthanded stroke with good path to make frequent contact. He’s grown taller and layered on more strength since then into a 6-foot, 170-pound frame with more room to fill out and add to flashes of over-the-fence pull power he will show on occasion. An average runner, Villar looked like a future second baseman or possibly third baseman, but the strides he has made with his defense give him a better chance to handle shortstop. 

Sebastian Blanco, SS, Venezuela: Blanco is a sum-of-the-parts type who doesn’t have one elite tool but has a well-rounded skill set with a high baseball IQ. Signed at 17 for $600,000, Blanco is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, a wiry build for a righthanded hitter with a short, quick swing and an approach geared to stay through the middle of the field. It’s mostly a line-drive approach with gap power, but he’s starting to flash more juice as he’s gotten stronger and grown taller, enhancing his physical upside. Blanco is an average runner and good athlete at shortstop. He’s an instinctive player, which should give him a chance to stick at shortstop, though second base or potentially a multi-position role that includes the outfield could be fits for him long term. 

Larry Suero, 3B, Dominican Republic: The Rockies signed Suero, a lefthanded-hitting infielder, for $425,000. Suero is an athletic 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with an easy, low-effort swing that stays through the hitting zone for a long time and a mature offensive approach for 17. It’s a hit-over-power profile right now but with the strength projection remaining for more of his doubles and triples to turn into home run power as he fills out. Suero had fringe-average speed when teams were scouting him, but he has surprised many scouts by becoming a plus runner with a loose, easy gait. An offensive-oriented player, Suero spent time at shortstop, but the Rockies have him at third base. He’s athletic enough that he might be able to handle second base or an outfield corner later on. 

Brian Tiburcio, RHP, Dominican Republic: Tiburcio has an extra-large frame at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and the look of a pitcher who should develop premium velocity. For a pitcher who just turned 17 in April, Tiburcio already has a big fastball for his age, reaching 94 mph from his high-three quarters slot, and he looks like he should throw in the upper 90s or even higher one day. There are times when his command comes and goes, but leading into the DSL season he has shown promising signs in that department, with a chance to develop a power slider that’s ahead of his changeup. Tiburcio signed with the Rockies for $425,000. 

Pedro Nuñez, RHP, Dominican Republic: Nuñez, signed for $400,000, is a 17-year-old righthander with a strong build (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) and a good fastball for his age. Nuñez can reach 94 mph, mixing in a slider and occasional changeup, with his fastball his most effective pitch. 

Melky Ventura, RHP, Dominican Republic: The Rockies signed Ventura, 17, for $350,000. Ventura is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, an athletic righthander who stands out more for his pitchability than his raw stuff. There’s projection for him to add to a fastball that touches 90 mph and he has feel to mix and match with his curveball and changeup. 

Kevin Concepcion, RHP, Dominican Republic: Concepcion is a skinny 17-year-old signed for $250,000 with a chance to throw extremely hard. He’s 6-foot-2, 155 pounds, lacking much strength now but with fast arm speed and a lively fastball that already reaches 94 mph. Once he packs on more weight, there’s potential for upper-90s velocity. He should get a chance to develop as a starter but some scouts think he could thrive in a bullpen role with a fastball/slider attack. 

Luis Morejon, OF, Cuba: A 17-year-old signed for $250,000, Morejon doesn’t have one plus tool, but he has so far hit well in games with his feel for hitting from the right side of the plate. He’s 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with solid power for his age to pull the ball over the fence and is a fringe-average runner who fits best an in outfield corner. 

Kevin Martinez, RHP, Dominican Republic: The Rockies typically rank among the best in the Dominican Summer League in walk rate because they target pitchers with good control. That should be the case again in 2025, with Martinez among the most advanced in Colorado’s class in terms of pitchability. A 17-year-old righthander signed for $200,000, Martinez is 6-foot-1, 185 pounds and pitches off a fastball that touches 91 mph. He has a good delivery that he repeats to throw a lot of strikes and work efficient innings, showing feel for both a curveball and changeup. 

Luis Centeno, RHP, Venezuela: Centeno originally trained as a shortstop, but he moved to the mound before signing with the Rockies for $200,000. Unlike a lot of conversion guys who are still crude on the mound, Centeno looks like he has been pitching for years. He’s an athletic 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with lots of space left to fill out and add to a fastball that was up to 92 mph earlier in the scouting process and has ticked up to reach 94 with more in the tank. It’s an easy arm, fast arm stroke from a balanced, repeatable delivery, which has helped him throw strikes with all of his pitches, including his curveball and changeup. 

Leudy Arache, OF, Dominican Republic: Arache is a 17-year-old lefthanded outfielder the Rockies signed for $200,000. He offers a good mix of hitting ability and athleticism, showing a sound swing, good bat-to-ball skills and the bat speed to project more power to come as he fills out his projectable 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. He’s a plus runner too and should get a chance to stick in center field. 

Jhoan Espinoza, RHP, Venezuela: Espinoza is a 17-year-old righthander the Rockies signed for $180,000. Espinoza has easy arm action and a good delivery that he repeats well to throw strikes at a high clip. He’s 6-foot-1, 160 pounds, a frame with more room to add weight and grow a fastball that has reached 90 mph, projection that will be important to come on to add more power to all his stuff, with a curveball and changeup rounding his repertoire. 

Roberto Salas, RHP, Mexico: Pitchability is the key for Salas, who signed with the Rockies for $180,000. He’s 6 feet, 160 pounds at 17 and doesn’t overpower with velocity on a fastball that touches 90 mph, but he is a high-level strike thrower with feel to locate all of his pitches, including an advanced changeup that’s ahead of his curveball. 

Daniel Meza, SS, Venezuela: Meza, 17, is a $160,000 signing with the defensive traits to stick in the middle infield, whether it’s at shortstop or second base. He’s an average runner who moves around well in the dirt with good footwork and hands. Meza is 5-foot-10, 163 pounds and lacks much strength right now, with his glove ahead of his lefthanded bat. 

Sleeper Watch

Lefthander Christopher Albuquerque was eligible to sign in 2024, but the Rockies signed him this year for $100,000 out of the Dominican Republic. Albuquerque was born on Aug. 31, the last day for a player to be eligible to have signed in 2024, so he will still pitch the entire DSL season as a 17-year-old. He’s 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with a smooth delivery and good arm action on a fastball that touches 91 mph, complemented by a slider and changeup.