40 Standout Hitting Prospects From The 2025 International Signing Class

With a few exceptions, the first stop for nearly every Latin American prospect these days is the Dominican Summer League.

So, who are the prospects from the 2025 international class who could be the next Top 100 Prospects or players who will become more prominent names in their organization’s Top 30 prospects in the coming years?

Million-Dollar Signings Who Delivered

Josuar Gonzalez, SS, Giants

For some evaluators, Gonzalez was the best Latin American prospect in the 2025 class when the Giants signed him out of the Dominican Republic for $2,997,500. Since then, he has looked as advertised— if not better—and has already become a Top 100 Prospect. Heâ€s a bouncy, quick-twitch athlete with explosiveness to his tools at the plate and in the field.

At 6 feet, 170 pounds, Gonzalez is a switch-hitter with fast hands and big bat speed from both sides of the plate, and he produces hard contact for his age with what projects to be average-or-better raw power. The maturity of Gonzalezâ€s at-bats have been impressive, with the 17-year-old showing a good sense of the strike zone and an accurate barrel. He hit .288/.404/.455 with four home runs, 37 walks and 36 strikeouts, with another level of power he could unlock if heâ€s able to drive the ball in the air with more frequency.

Heâ€s a plus-plus runner who stole 33 bases in 38 attempts and has the quickness, hands, range and above-average arm strength to stick at shortstop.Â

Elian Peña, SS, Mets

Peña signed out of the Dominican Republic for $5 million—the largest bonus for any Latin American prospect this year—but his season started horribly. Through his first nine games, Peña hit .000/.182/.000 in 34 plate appearances. It was a small sample but still a worrisome sign for a player of Peñaâ€s pedigree to be hitless that deep into the season.

After that, Peña rebounded to finish at .292/.421/.528 with 36 walks, 36 strikeouts and nine home runs in 242 plate appearances, looking more like the hitter the Mets were projecting him to be.

Peña has an impressive mix of hitting ability and power. Itâ€s a compact lefthanded swing, and he has been a high-contact hitter. hHs swing can get steep at times, though, which is something that could cut into his bat-to-ball skills at higher levels.

Peña is an offensive-minded shortstop who could continue to get a chance to develop at the position but much more likely is a third baseman in the majors.

Kevin Alvarez, OF, Astros

The Astros paid $2 million to sign Alvarez, a lefthanded outfielder from Cuba who drew praise as an amateur for his offensive polish. His advanced skill set in the batterâ€s box showed in the DSL, where he hit .301/.419/.455 in 192 plate appearances with more walks (23) than strikeouts (19).

At 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Alvarez has strong bat-to-ball skills and, while itâ€s a hit-over-power game right now, thereâ€s lots of room left to fill out to project bigger power to come.

Gabriel Davalillo, C, Angels

Davalilloâ€s $2 million bonus was the highest among international catchers in 2025, and he looks like the top catcher in the 2025 class after he hit .302/.408/.518 with seven homers, 23 walks and 21 strikeouts in 169 plate appearances in the DSL.

Davalillo is an aggressive hitter with plenty of strength and righthanded bat speed coming out of his 5-foot-11, 210-pound build. He has the hand-eye coordination to deliver both high contact and high impact and grow into being a 20-plus home run threat.

Davalillo has the arm strength, hands and game awareness to catch, but he will need to clean up his blocking and improve his mobility to stay behind the plate.Â

Juan Sanchez, SS, Blue Jays

While technically not a seven-figure signing—Sanchez signed for $997,500—weâ€re going to cheat and count him in this group. Sanchez sticks out right away for his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame at shortstop. As an amateur, he drew praise for his raw power and defensive skill set—especially for a bigger player—though it came with questions about how much contact he would make against live pitching.

The early returns with the bat have been excellent, however, as Sanchez hit .341/.439/.565 in 253 plate appearances with eight home runs, 26 walks and 41 strikeouts. While Sanchez will expand the zone at times, he doesnâ€t miss much when heâ€s swinging at strikes, and he drives the ball with impact, showing the potential to be a 20-25 home run hitter.Â

Diego Tornes, OF, Braves

The headliner of the Braves†international signing class, Tornes signed for $2,497,500—the highest bonus of the year for a Cuban player. On the surface, Tornes†numbers donâ€t look like a top tier prospect in the DSL. He hit .279/.395/.402 in 147 plate appearances and didnâ€t hit any home runs.

From a scouting perspective in projecting Tornes long term, though, he was one of the leagueâ€s most talented prospects. He turned 17 on July 3, so he was one of the younger players in the DSL, and despite not hitting any home runs, his 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.4 mph ranked fourth in the league among 2025 signings.

Between his bat speed, youth and room left to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame, the switch-hitting Tornes could grow into plus-plus raw power. Thereâ€s some risk his swing-and-miss rate could elevate against better pitching, but he does recognize spin and has a solid sense of the strike zone for his age.

Heâ€s an above-average runner with an average arm who played exclusively in center field this year, showing improvements from early in his amateur days when he looked more like a left fielder.Â

Up-Arrow Signings

Luis Arana, SS, Marlins

We tabbed Arana as a sleeper of Miamiâ€s signing class coming into the season, and his stock has continued to climb after he hit .297/.419/.476 in 227 plate appearances with 30 walks, 18 strikeouts and stole 28 bases in 37 attempts.

Signed from Venezuela for just $30,000, Arana is a switch-hitter who packs a lot of tools and explosive athleticism into his 5-foot-10 frame with plus speed and a plus-plus arm. He showed some sneaky power with five home runs, though his offensive game is more about his high-end contact skills.Â

Hector Ramos, SS, Red Sox

Ramos does a lot of things well. A switch-hitter, he batted .254/.384/.441 in 151 trips to the plate after signing out of the Dominican Republic for $500,000. Heâ€s 6-foot-1, 175-pound with a knack for being on time at the plate to make contact at a high clip and shows a sound sense of the strike zone for his age. He hit four home runs in his pro debut and could grow into average power.

Ramos has the actions, body control and above-average arm strength that give him a good chance to stick at shortstop.Â

Angel De Los Santos, SS, Tigers

De Los Santos, signed out of the Dominican Republic for $387,500, checks a lot of boxes teams look for in a young shortstop. He has the tools to stick at the position with his athleticism, range and arm strength. He was also one of the strongest offensive performers among 2025 signings in the DSL, hitting .370/.465/.543 in 99 plate appearances.

De Los Santos has a promising foundation of strike-zone judgment and bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate. He generates good bat speed from his wiry 6-foot-1 frame, and while heâ€s not a huge slugger right now, he drives the ball with surprising authority with a chance for bigger power to come once he layers on more strength.Â

Miguel Hernandez, SS, Cardinals

In 2024, the Cardinals signed Yairo Padilla, who quickly became one of the top prospects in their system and one of the better shortstops they had signed out of Latin America in several years. Hernandez might end up a better prospect.

Signed out of Venezuela for $500,000, Hernandez is young for the 2025 class—he turned 17 on June 2—and hit .281/.408/.444 with five home runs, 25 walks and 35 strikeouts in 169 plate appearances. Heâ€s an athletic shortstop with plus speed, good footwork and soft hands at shortstop, projecting to stick in the middle infield. Arm strength is the biggest question when it comes to whether that will be at shortstop or second base.

A wiry 6-foot righthanded hitter, Hernandez showed some sneaky pop in the DSL but will need to get stronger. That said, he already has a strong offensive foundation between his swing, plate discipline and plate coverage.Â

Teilon Serrano, OF, Twins

After signing for $847,500 out of the Dominican Republic, Serrano looks like a player who would fit comfortably with the seven-figure signings of the 2025 class. Serrano generates whippy, explosive bat speed from the left side of the plate. Itâ€s a strong, athletic 6-foot, 200-pound build that should continue to get bulkier, giving him the look of a future 25-plus home run threat.

Thereâ€s swing-and-miss to Serranoâ€s game—he ran a 25% strikeout rate while hitting .258/.386/.426 in 189 plate appearances—but heâ€s not a free swinger. Heâ€s a plus runner who mostly played center field but could ultimately slide to a corner.Â

Prospects To Watch

Elorky Rodriguez, CF/2B, Rangers

The Rangers†top bonus ($1,097,500) for a Latin American signing this year went to Rodriguez, who hit .337/.473/.506 with six home runs, 39 walks and 38 strikeouts in 226 plate appearances.

Rodriguez has a medium build (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) and a short lefthanded stroke. His ability to recognize pitches, make good swing decisions and maneuver the barrel to make frequent contact are all advanced for his age. While he doesnâ€t project to be a big home run threat, he showed surprising juice in the DSL and could end up a 15-plus home run hitter.

Heâ€s an average runner to a tick better underway. While he doesnâ€t have typical speed for center field, the Rangers also got him exposure at second base, so he could move between second and multiple outfield spots at higher levels.Â

Cris Rodriguez, OF, Tigers

Rodriguez has massive strengths that come with significant holes he will have to address.

The recipient of a $3,197,500 bonus—third-highest among Latin American signings this year—Rodriguez is 6-foot-4, 205 pounds with electric bat speed and raw power that stack up with any hitter in the DSL, including a 90th percentile exit velocity of 108 mph that was higher than any 17-year-old in the league. It translated in games, with Rodriguez hitting .308/.340/.564 in 188 plate appearances with 10 home runs, the most among 2025 signings. Rodriguez can annihilate fastballs and he didnâ€t strike out excessively, but he is a free-swinger who walked at just a 6% clip and will need to improve his pitch recognition and strike-zone discipline to continue his success at higher levels.

Heâ€s a center fielder who has plus speed and an average arm, good enough to stay in the middle of the field for now but with a chance he could slide to a corner given how big he projects to get.Â

Harold Rivas, OF, Red Sox

The Red Sox signed Rivas for $950,000 and got one of the best defensive center fielders in Venezuela. Heâ€s a lean, lively 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with plus speed, a plus arm and the mix of first-step quickness, instincts and range that make him a potentially plus to plus-plus defender.

Rivas had a solid offensive campaign in the DSL, hitting .258/.393/.384 with 35 walks and 35 strikeouts in 196 plate appearances. While his slash line doesnâ€t jump out as much as some other players listed here, he registered consistent quality at-bats without much swing-and-miss and has the space on his frame to grow into more power.Â

Ramcell Medina, SS, Royals

While righthander Kendry Chourio was the star of Kansas Cityâ€s 2025 class on the mound, Medina led the way for their position players, signing out of the Dominican Republic for $947,500 and showing an advanced offensive foundation in his pro debut.

Medina hit .260/.398/.404 with 31 walks and 26 strikeouts in 186 plate appearances, consistently stringing together quality at-bats with good swing decisions and a knack for finding the sweet spot. Medina didnâ€t show much power this year, but his lean 6-foot-2 frame has lots of space left to fill out.Â

Marconi German, SS, Nationals

Signed for $400,000 out of the Dominican Republic, German had the most exciting debut of any Nationals signing this year. He batted .283/.479/.513 with 43 walks and 42 strikeouts in 213 plate appearances, along with 16 hit by pitches that helped bolster his OBP.

From the same program (El Niche) where the Nationals signed Juan Soto, Marconi is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound switch-hitter. He doesnâ€t have one standout carrying tool but shows advanced instincts and a high baseball IQ on both sides of the ball. Itâ€s solid, though not elite contact skills from both sides of the plate with a line-drive approach and mostly gap power. He did, however, show sneaky pop with eight home runs and exit velocities up to 107 mph.

German is an above-average runner with an above-average arm who split time between shortstop and second base.

Liberts Aponte, SS, Reds

Aponte signed for $1.9 million after impressing scouts in Venezuela for his quick-twitch, fluid actions at shortstop and ability to make acrobatic, highlight-reel plays. Aponte projects as a true shortstop who is light on his feet with soft hands, a quick release—albeit without elite arm strength—and a good internal clock.

Aponte’s potentially plus defense was his calling card as an amateur, but there were concerns about his bat coming into the season. He helped answer some of those questions after batting .247/.368/.461 in 193 plate appearances without excessive swing-and-miss and hitting a surprising seven home runs for a player with a slender 6-foot frame.

Juan Cabada, 2B/3B, Cubs

The Cubs signed Cabada out of the Dominican Republic for $1.5 million because of their belief in his bat. He showed a knack for barreling balls to all fields in his pro debut, batting .287/.429/.426 with 20 walks and 31 strikeouts in 170 trips to the plate, including 14 hit by pitches that helped boost his OBP.

A thicker 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Cabada doesnâ€t have a plus tool or anything that jumps out defensively—heâ€s an offensive-minded player who split time between second and third base—but his bat control and ability to produce consistent quality contact is advanced for his age.Â

Darell Morel, SS, Pirates

Morel is easy to dream on at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds. He’s an ultra-long, lean shortstop with broad shoulders, plus speed underway and the potential to grow into 60 or 70 raw power from the left side once heâ€s physically mature. His pro debut was more solid than spectacular, as he hit .287/.425/.414 in 202 plate appearances with 37 walks, 45 strikeouts and only one home run. He showed a good sense of the strike zone for his age, but he can be susceptible to spin that led to swing-and-miss—something that will probably always be part of his game given his length.

Morel spent all of his time at shortstop. While some scouts look at a player his size and think heâ€s destined for either third base or the outfield, his athleticism and body control give him a chance to continue at shortstop.Â

Dorian Soto, SS, Red Sox

Sotoâ€s $1.4 million bonus was the highest for a Red Sox international signing this year. He hit .307/.362/.428 in 186 plate appearances in the DSL, drawing 16 walks with 28 strikeouts and two home runs.

Soto has significant physical upside at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, and he can whistle the barrel through the zone with impressive bat speed, giving him a chance to grow into big power. He is a switch-hitter who uses his hands well and is able to keep his long limbs under control to limit his swing-and-miss, though he is also an aggressive hitter who will have to reign his approach and make better swing decisions.

Soto mostly played shortstop this season, but third base or an outfield corner seem more likely landing spots as he gets closer to the majors.Â

Wilfri De La Cruz, SS, Orioles

The Cubs signed De La Cruz out of the Dominican Republic for $2.3 million—their biggest bonus of 2025—then sent him to the Orioles at the trade deadline for righthander Andrew Kittredge. He hit a combined .258/.465/.400 with more walks (46) than strikeouts (36) in 170 plate appearances.

At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, De La Cruz stands out for his broad-shouldered frame with lots of room left to add good weight. While he didnâ€t hit any home runs in his pro debut, thereâ€s obvious projection to grow into big power to complement his already-sharp eye for recognizing spin and patient approach, which allows him to draw walks and work himself into favorable counts. A switch-hitter who is more advanced from the left side, De La Cruz also swung and missed less than some scouts had expected for a young, long-limbed hitter.

Heâ€s an above-average runner with a plus arm who mostly played shortstop, though third base could be a landing spot for him higher up.Â

Maykel Coret, OF, Rays

Coret has standout athleticism, tools and physical upside that drew the Rays to sign him out of the Dominican Republic for $1.6 million. He hit .273/.394/.370 in 188 plate appearances with 24 walks, 42 strikeouts and two home runs. It was a debut that wasnâ€t as loud as some of the other players listed here, but thereâ€s still big potential if everything clicks.

Coret is 6-foot-4, 190 pounds with plus speed and strong defensive instincts for his age in center field. His reads, routes and range all give him a good chance to stay in center field, where his plus arm is another weapon.

Heâ€s a potential power/speed threat who makes hard contact—his exit velocities have already been up to 111 mph—and he could end up with plus or plus-plus raw power. Coret did a better job of managing the strike zone than some scouts were expecting, but heâ€s still a long-levered hitter who can still get fooled by breaking stuff. He struck out in 22% of his trips to the plate—an elevated but not egregious rate.Â

Jostin Ogando, 1B/OF, Red Sox

Ogando was a late addition to Bostonâ€s class a couple weeks before the DSL season opened. He ended up one of the more impressive power bats in the league, producing exit velocities up to 114 mph as a 17-year-old.

Ogando is a hulking physical presence at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, and while he doesnâ€t swing and miss much for a player with his power, the lack of loft in his swing limits his game power. When he does get off his “A” swing, he can obliterate baseballs, finishing at .283/.433/.427 with four home runs, 25 walks and 26 strikeouts in 134 plate appearances.

Ogando mostly played first base with some exposure to the outfield corners, so itâ€s his offensive game that will have to carry him.Â

Sami Manzueta, INF, Astros

Manzueta was a later addition to Houstonâ€s 2025 class when they signed him for $847,500 in April. One of the youngest players in the league—he turned 17 on Aug. 21—Manzueta hit .224/.405/.392 in 195 plate appearances. The slash line doesnâ€t leap out, but he walked (42) more than he struck out (36), hit five home runs and put together quality at-bats throughout the season even when hits werenâ€t always falling.

Manzueta isnâ€t that big (5-foot-10, 165 pounds), but he makes good swing decisions and is consistently on the barrel from a simple, balanced righthanded swing. His offensive game will likely lean more on his on-base skills than his power, but he showed some surprising juice in his pro debut, especially for a player who was 16 all season.

Manzueta is a below-average runner with an above-average arm. He played a little bit of shortstop but got most of his reps at second and third base, which are the positions heâ€s most likely to play at higher levels.Â

Kenly Hunter, OF, Cardinals

Hunter was the top prospect out of Nicaragua this year when the Cardinals signed him for $700,000. A former shortstop, he moved to center field before signing and has the tools to stick there with plus speed, a plus arm and good range.

While Hunter didnâ€t face the same level of pitching in Nicaragua prior to signing compared to his peers in the Dominican Republic, he looked comfortable at the plate in the DSL, where he hit .314/.442/.400 in 173 plate appearances with 24 walks and 20 strikeouts.

A lean 6-foot, 175-pound righthanded hitter, Hunter is the best pure contact hitter among the teamâ€s 2025 signings with little swing-and-miss to his game and a good sense of the strike zone. He will need to add significant strength to start driving the ball with any impact after delivering just nine extra-base hits without any home runs this season.

Anthony Millan, OF, Astros

When the Astros signed Millan out of Venezuela for $472,500, he had hit well in games and shown strong defensive attributes. Heâ€s an athletic center fielder who gets quick reads off the bat, moves around with ease, good range and an above-average arm.

Millan hit .279/.409/.419 in 167 plate appearances with 26 walks and 34 strikeouts, using a quick righthanded stroke and typically staying within the strike zone to get on base at a high clip. At 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Millan isnâ€t that big. However, while he hit just two home runs, he made consistent hard, quality contact with the highest average exit velocity among Houstonâ€s 2025 signings.Â

Breyson Guedez, OF, Athletics

Guedez, signed out of Venezuela for $1.5 million, has a bit of a tweener profile, but he had a strong track record of being able to put the ball in play as an amateur and that continued in the DSL.

Guedez hit .359/.395/.490 in 210 plate appearances with 14 walks and 20 strikeouts. He struck out in just 9.5% of his plate appearances thanks to his compact lefthanded swing and excellent hand-eye coordination. He showed the ability to make contact at pitches both in and out of the zone, a skill thatâ€s both an asset and a potential liability at higher levels because of how often he will swing at pitches off the plate.

Guedez walked in just 6.7% of his trips to the plate, and for a 5-foot-11, 170-pound hitter who doesnâ€t have huge power and is an average runner who spent all of his time in the outfield corners this year, making better swing decisions will be key for his development.Â

Jhon Simon, 3B/OF, Rangers

At 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, Simon has a blocky, physically-mature frame without much projection remaining. He is getting a chance to develop at third base, though he also played left field this season and could end up a left fielder long term. Thatâ€s not typically the most exciting profile for a 17-year-old righthanded hitter, but Simonâ€s combination of hitting ability and power make him a prospect.

Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $497,500, Simon packs a lot of strength and bat speed into a short swing. That mix produced some of the better raw power of any hitter in the DSL. It came without much swing-and-miss, though because of Simonâ€s swing path, he hit just one home run in 105 plate appearances while slashing .315/.419/.427 with 14 walks and 18 strikeouts.

Thereâ€s another level of game power in there for Simon to unlock if he can add more loft to his swing.Â

Sebastian Dos Santos, SS, Cardinals

We labeled Dos Santos as the sleeper of the Cardinals†2025 class coming into the year after he signed for $75,000. He ended up leading their DSL team in OPS by hitting .313/.452/.570 with four home runs, 30 walks and 29 strikeouts in 166 plate appearances.

Part of what made Dos Santos stand out coming into the season was his glove—heâ€s not fast, but heâ€s quick and instinctive with good hands and a knack for playing under control. His offensive game proved to be advanced, as well, with Dos Santos showing excellent plate discipline, recognizing spin well and showing good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate.

There isnâ€t much weight yet on his skinny 6-foot frame, so packing on more strength will be key for his development.Â

Warel Solano, 3B, Rays

There are a wide range of outcomes for Solano, who got $1.05 million out of the Dominican Republic. Heâ€s 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with a lean, high-waist build and wide shoulders. He works with good bat speed to drive the ball with raw power that rivals Maykel Coret for the best among the teamâ€s 2025 signing class.

Solano hit .319/.391/.418 in 207 plate appearances, and while he logged just one home run, he has more present power than the surface-level numbers suggest because heâ€s still learning to maintain his balance and make consistent quality contact. Solano doesnâ€t swing and miss that much—he had a 16.4% strikeout rate—and given how much room he has left to fill out, he could grow into plus raw power.

Solano signed as a shortstop but moved to third base this season. While his offense is ahead of his defense, he has the tools to potentially stick either there or at second base.Â

Haritzon Castillo, SS, Twins

Castillo was a big signing ($947,500) for the Twins out of Venezuela, and he showed excellent barrel accuracy from both sides of the plate in his pro debut. He slashed .283/.395/.428 in 167 plate appearances with 24 walks, 22 strikeouts and had a minute 5.4% swinging strike rate on pitches in the zone—one of the lowest marks in the league.

Castillo is 5-foot-10, 175 pounds with a hit-over-power profile and an offensive game that will lean more on his on-base skills. He spent most of his time at shortstop at second base, with a chance he could move all around the infield at higher levels.Â

Nauris De La Cruz, OF, Nationals

De La Cruz, a $500,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic, batted .294/.448/.450 with nearly twice as many walks (30) as strikeouts (17) in 143 plate appearances.

As an amateur, De La Cruz stood out for his quick-twitch actions in the batterâ€s box and ability to drive the ball well from his 6-foot, 160-pound frame thanks to his bat speed. But in his pro debut, it was his discerning approach and contact skills that stood out more than his power.

Heâ€s an average runner who spent most of his time in center field but likely gravitates to a corner at higher levels.Â

Angel Salio, 3B/SS, Reds

Salio netted a $500,000 bonus from the Reds out of the Dominican Republic and led his team in OPS, hitting .331/.402/.507 in 169 plate appearances with 19 walks and 17 strikeouts.

A lean 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Salio has a fluid lefthanded swing, an aggressive approach and power that ticked up this year. He has more strength projection left for the potential to start driving the ball with more authority once he fills out.

Salio did get some time at shortstop but mostly played third base, which could end up his long-term home, though he could move around the infield and outfield down the road.Â

Skills & Instincts… But Will Power Come?

Elaineiker Coronado, INF, Blue Jays

Coronado impressed scouts more with his game savvy than his raw tools when the Blue Jays signed him out of Venezuela for $797,500. He regularly registered quality at-bats in the DSL, batting .346/.504/.383 with 57 walks and 27 strikeouts in 248 plate appearances.

Coronado is 5-foot-10, 160 pounds with excellent strike-zone discipline and an accurate barrel from the left side, albeit with minimal power. Heâ€s an instinctive defender who primarily played second base but got time at shortstop and third base too. Second or a utility role are his most likely fits at higher levels.Â

Emmanuel Cedeño, INF, Rays

Cedeño drew four times as many walks (48) as strikeouts (12) in the DSL, hitting .304/.466/.361 in 212 plate appearances after signing for $500,000 out of the Dominican Republic.

At 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, Cedeño has a small strike zone, and he uses it to his advantage by rarely swinging at pitches off the plate. He has a patient approach and a high-contact bat from both sides of the plate, though he will have to get stronger to start to deliver any extra-base impact.

He spent most of his time at second base with a bit of exposure to shortstop and third base long term, likely fitting best at second base, where he has easy actions, good hands and a quick first step.Â

Brayan Cortesia, SS, Nationals

Cortesia isnâ€t a sleeper—the Nationals paid him $1.92 million, their highest bonus of the year—but he fits into this group of high-contact, skillful players who havenâ€t shown the ability to drive the ball with any impact yet.

A righthanded hitter from Venezuela, Cortesia is 6-foot-1, 165 pounds with a short, quick, simple swing and the ability to manipulate the barrel to get to pitches throughout the strike zone. He hit .317/.440/.358 with 25 walks and 25 strikeouts in 150 plate appearances.

Cortesia is a plus runner with the hands, feet and arm strength to handle shortstop, but he will need to get stronger to develop enough power to play at higher levels.Â

Sebastian Blanco, SS, Rockies

Signed out of Venezuela for $600,000, Blanco doesnâ€t have one plus tool, but his instincts both offensively and defensively are advanced for a 17-year-old shortstop. Heâ€s 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with a short righthanded stroke that produced an in-zone swinging strike rate of 6.9% that ranked among the best in the league. Overall, Blanco hit .345/.449/.453 in 248 plate appearances with 33 walks, 34 strikeouts and three home runs.

An average runner and a good athlete, Blanco got nearly all of his playing time at shortstop, where he has a chance to stick, though he could fit at either middle infield spot.Â

Dayber Cruceta, OF, Phillies

At 6-foot-1, 150 pounds, Cruceta has a skinny frame without much power, but he controls the strike zone and makes frequent contact with good bat-to-ball skills from a handsy lefthanded stroke. Cruceta routinely registers quality at-bats, though he lacks the strength to drive the ball with much impact, finishing the DSL with a .291/.438/.373 line with 30 walks and 32 strikeouts.

Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $300,000, Cruceta is an above-average runner who spent most of his time in center field but got exposure to right field, as well.Â

Eybert Sanchez, SS, Diamondbacks

Sanchez showed a high baseball IQ with instincts and savvy both at the plate and in the field when the D-backs signed him out of Venezuela for $300,000. Heâ€s a fundamentally-sound defender at shortstop—he made just six errors in 54 games—and combines impressive athleticism and quickness with a good internal clock, along with above-average speed and arm strength.

Sanchez is 6 foot, 160 pounds without much strength—he delivered just four extra-base hits all season—but his hand-eye coordination leads to a low swing-and-miss rate from the left side of the plate. He finished at .287/.432/.316 in 221 plate appearances with 43 walks and 27 strikeouts.Â

Ricardo Romero, INF, Guardians

Is there a more fun player in the league than Romero?

At 5-foot-5, 160 pounds, he’s a Ronald Torreyes-type player as a smaller Venezuelan infielder who raked in the DSL, batting .312/.415/.476 with more walks (28) than strikeouts (21) in 205 plate appearances after signing for $110,000.

Romero has a sound lefthanded swing with a knack for barreling balls for consistent quality contact in games. He doesnâ€t project to ever hit for big power, but his pitch recognition and contact skills are both advanced for his age.

Romero mostly played second and third base this season with a bit of exposure to left field and shortstop, as well, to get him into the lineup every day. Second is likely his best defensive fit.

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