2023 MLB International Prospects Bonus Board

Born: June 1, 2006. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180. B-T: L-R.

The younger brother of Marlins shortstop prospect Jose Salas, Ethan has a remarkable combination of tools, polish and game awareness for his age. He's in the conversation for the best pure hitter in the class, with a lefthanded swing that's quick, compact and adjustable, keeping his barrel through the hitting zone for a long time. He stays calm in the box with good rhythm and balance, recognizing pitches well with a mature approach that leads to frequent barrels and makes him a high on-base threat. Salas doesn't have the raw power that Francisco Alvarez or Gary Sanchez showed when they were amateurs, but as he's gotten stronger, he is showing more over-the-fence pop with the physical projection to grow into average or potentially more power. That would be a good profile for even a corner outfielder, but what makes Salas' potential even greater is that he's an excellent defensive catcher for his age. Salas is an athletic catcher whose blocking, receiving and throwing mechanics are all exemplary for his age, with a slightly above-average arm that should tick up to at least a 60 with natural strength progression. His arm already plays up because of his efficient transfer and release, leading to pop times under 1.9 seconds in games.

Team: Padres

Born: Sept. 12, 2005. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 170. B-T: R-R.

Mayea is a well-rounded player with a good blend of tools and game skills from a prospect who projects to stick at a premium position. At the plate, Mayea has a simple, efficient swing from the right side and a mature approach, using the whole field with good plate coverage. He has consistently performed well in games, routinely finding the sweet spot for frequent hard contact. Mayea isn't that big, but as he's gotten stronger, he has started to show more home run power to his pull side, though it's still his pure hitting ability that sticks out more. With more strength has also come significantly more speed, as Mayea is now a well above-average runner who moves well in center field. His arm has stood out from an early age and is now a plus tool.

Team: Yankees

Born: Sept. 15, 2005. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 178. B-T: B-R.

Celesten trained in the same program as Robert Puason and became well known among international scouts from an early age with his mechanically advanced swing from both sides of the plate. He has an aggressive approach and might need to become a more selective hitter, but he has performed at a high level against live pitching and put a strong charge into the ball for his age. Now, though, Celesten's tools have jumped significantly as well as he has grown taller and gotten stronger. Celesten now flashes plus raw power and still shows more physical projection in his lean, athletic frame. His speed and arm strength have both improved to become plus tools as well. His hands and feet work well at shortstop, where he has the athleticism and skills to stick. That combination of hitting ability, tools and athleticism at a premium position makes Celesten the top shortstop in this class for many scouts.

Team: Mariners

Born: Jan. 22, 2006. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190. B-T: R-R.

The Blue Jays have hit on international signings at the top of the market (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) down to the lower-dollar signings like Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno. For Jan. 15, 2023, Bonilla looks to be in line for a bonus in the $4 million area. Bonilla has high-end bat speed and the ability to drive the ball with impact, giving him a chance to be a 25-plus home run threat. Scouts highest on Bonilla thought he had one of the best combinations of hitting ability and power in the class, with a sound swing path and a good approach. Others thought he was a good fastball hitter who would have to make adjustments to get better against breaking stuff with a power-over-hit offensive profile. Bonilla is an above-average runner with a strong arm, so he could start off in center field, though with his physicality it's likely he ends up in right field long term.

Team: Blue Jays

Born: June 25, 2006. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 205. B-T: L-R.

Guerrero has a strong, physical frame with some of the best power potential in the class. He has a sound lefthanded stroke and flashes plus raw power, with some scouts projecting him to have anywhere from plus to plus-plus raw power in his prime. Scouts highest on him thought he showed solid plate discipline for his age as well that should help him tap into that power in games. Guerrero's strengths are in the batter's box, as he's a limited runner and athlete in an outfield corner, with a chance to play left field but some risk he ends up at first base.

Team: Rays

Born: March 14, 2006. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 190. B-T: R-R.

The Bahamas continues to be a growing source of baseball talent. This year's top player is Walcott, who looks set to sign for more than $3 million. Early in the scouting process, Walcott was athletic but skinny without much strength. Now he has grown taller and gotten stronger, helping his tools jump while staying lean and athletic with ample physical projection still there. Walcott has potential plus raw power, already driving the ball with authority with impressive bat speed. Hitters who are 6-foot-4 at 16 often have swing-and-miss issues, but Walcott drew praise from scouts for his contact skills, with good hand-eye coordination and the ability to keep his swing synced up and under control despite his long limbs. Walcott is an above-average runner underway and his arm grades out plus, with the arm action and physical projection for his arm to spike another grade as he fills out. He will probably start his career at shortstop, but he seems likely to outgrow the position and head to third base, with the outfield another potential destination.

Team: Rangers

Born: Jan. 17, 2006. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 220. B-T: R-R.

It's not easy to find a comp for Duno because there are few catchers his age who have come along with his combination of physicality and tools. Duno is tall and strong and it leads to a mature tool set for his age, with an arm that's at least a 60 and might be a 70. He gets rid of the ball well on throws to second base, with pop times in games that at times register under 1.9 seconds. Duno is big for a catcher but should have no trouble sticking behind the plate. He's athletic—he's an average runner underway, though he will likely slow down—and receives pitches well, with experience handling high-velocity arms from a young age. At the plate, Duno punishes baseballs with plus raw power that could eventually develop into a 70 tool. There are times when his upper and lower halves will get out of sync, but he has a knack for barreling the ball and the potential to be a 30-plus home run hitter if everything clicks.

Team: Reds

Born: Dec. 6, 2005. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 160. B-T: B-R.

In their previous signing class, the Phillies' top signing was William Bergolla, a slick-fielding shortstop with a slender 5-foot-10 frame. Their top player for January 2023 is Caba, another 5-foot-10 shortstop with smooth defensive actions. He's an athletic defender and a plus runner with quick feet, soft hands and a solid-average arm that should tick up to become another plus tool. For a player with a smaller frame, Caba has some sneaky pop and strength in his swing from both sides of the plate, with a chance to be a 15-20 home run hitter. His bonus could approach the $3 million mark.

Team: Phillies

Born: Sept 24, 2002. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 176. B-T: R-R.

Morales pitched for Sancti Spiritus in Cuba's 18U national league in 2020, when he posted an ERA of 0.87 with 135 strikeouts and 18 walks in 82.2 innings. He led the league in both innings and strikeouts (with 48 more strikeouts than the No. 2 pitcher in the league) and ranked fourth in ERA. Teams generally don't pay big money for young international pitchers, but Morales—who will be 20 when he signs—is older and more advanced than the 16- and 17-year-old pitchers in the 2023 class, with a bonus expected to come in the $3 million area. Morales is an athletic pitcher with a big fastball that should continue to grow. He has reached 97 mph already, with the fast arm speed and strength projection remaining in his frame that suggests he could throw harder once he packs on more weight. His best secondary pitch is his slider, which has a chance to be an out pitch for him. While some scouts projected Morales as a starter, others saw reliever risk, thinking he would need to develop a better third pitch.

Team: Athletics

Born: Dec. 5, 2005. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 170. B-T: R-R.

There are few players in this class who can match Guanipa's combination of power and speed. He has a strong, compact frame with explosive athleticism, which is evident in the way he moves in center field with plus-plus speed, albeit with a below-average arm. That explosiveness also shows up at the plate, as Guanipa generates impressive bat speed combined with significant strength gains over the last two years that has led to plus raw power. Guanipa often trains at the professional stadium in Margarita, and he shows the ability to hit balls out of the park to all fields. While his swing once had a bigger hitch to it, he has toned that down, showing more fluidity and better balance in the box.

Team: Braves

Born: March 29, 2006. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 165. B-T: R-R.

Valdez has quick-twitch actions that show up in the batter's box, where he has fast hands to snap the barrel through the zone with good bat speed. His swing comes through the zone well with a good bat path, which along with his bat speed helps him square up high-end velocity. Scouts highest on Valdez thought he had a good eye and showed the ability to square up breaking stuff, though others thought he would need to become a more selective hitter. He uses the whole field and has surprising impact for his lean, wiry frame thanks to his bat speed, driving balls out of the park in games with more power projection remaining. A plus runner with a plus arm, Valdez also has the bouncy athleticism and tools to be able to handle shortstop.

Team: Cubs

Born: April 29, 2006. Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 180. B-T: R-R.

As the son of Pablo Arias, a longtime scout in the Dominican Republic, Rayner Arias grew up around the game. It's evident in his game skills and overall feel for the game, especially at the plate. Scouts highest on Arias believe he is one of the most advanced hitters in the country. He drives the ball well already, with the size and strength projection to potentially grow into plus power as well. Arias is a good athlete who moves around well in the outfield, though he's a fringe-average runner at best, so his offensive game will have to carry him as a corner outfielder, with the arm strength that should allow him to play right field.

Team: Giants

Born: Feb. 17, 2006. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180. B-T: L-L.

The Twins paid $2.5 million in 2019 to sign Enmanuel Rodriguez, a lefthanded, power-hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic who has since developed into a Top 100 prospect. For this upcoming Jan. 15 signing period, the Twins are ready to add another lefthanded outfielder in Castro. The power upside is the calling card for Castro, who has some stiffness to his stroke with a power-over-hit offensive profile. Defensively, he fits best in a corner, so it's his offensive game that will have to carry his value.

Team: Twins

Born: Nov. 22, 2005. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 180. B-T: R-R.

Calaz has some similarities to Alexander Ramirez, the center fielder who signed with the Mets out of the Dominican Republic for $2.05 million, with Calaz in line for a similar bonus. Like Ramirez, Calaz has a long, lean frame with significant physical upside and projection remaining. He's a plus runner who should start in center field and could stick there if he retains enough of his speed. Calaz drew a split camp on his pure hitting ability, with some saying they saw good contact skills, while others had concerns about longer levers leading to length in his swing, but his size and strength projection point to big power potential.

Team: Rockies

Born: Sept. 14, 2005. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 170. B-T: R-R.

Two of the highest upside prospects in the Twins farm system are a pair of outfielders they signed out of the Dominican Republic—Emmanuel Rodriguez and Yasser Mercedes. This year, Chivilli will be one of the top paid players in the country. He has a lean, wiry build with a high waist on his athletic frame. He has a loose righthanded swing geared to lift the ball to his pull side and a lot of space to fill out, and it should translate to more power as he packs on weight. Depending on his physical development, he could outgrow shortstop, but he's an above-average runner underway with the arm strength for shortstop.

Team: Twins

Born: Nov. 8, 2005 Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 180. B-T: R-R.

Vargas is a tall, lean, athletic shortstop who moves well going to his left or right. A slightly above-average runner, Vargas has good actions, soft hands and a strong arm for the position, with some scouts considering him one of the top defensive shortstops in the class. A former switch-hitter now hitting righthanded only, Vargas drives the ball with impact too, with a chance to grow into above-average raw power. There is some swing and miss to his game, so it's a power-over-hit shape to his offensive profile, but if everything clicks he has a chance to develop into a power-hitting shortstop.

Team: Dodgers

Born: April 17, 2006. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 180. B-T: R-R.

Almeyda grew up in New Jersey, where before he even entered high school, he was getting recruiting offers from some of the top programs in college baseball. Instead of staying in the United States for the 2025 high school class, Almeyda moved to the Dominican Republic and immediately drew attention. Now he will be eligible to sign as an international free agent when the signing period opens on Jan. 15, 2023, with a bonus expected to surpass $2 million. Almeyda typically puts together quality at-bats with a good approach and impressive power for his age that has started to jump as he's filling out his long, rangy build. He's smooth and under control at shortstop, where his feet work well and he has soft hands to go with a strong arm. Almeyda has the ball skills for shortstop, though depending on his physical development, there is a chance he could slide to third base, but he should develop the power to play at either spot.

Team: Orioles

Born: Sept. 13, 2005. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 190. B-T: L-L.

Zapata has a long, lanky and athletic frame at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds and looks like he might continue growing. Scouts highest on Zapata liked his bat speed, ability to put together quality at-bats and ability to use the whole field. His long levers gave some scouts concerns about the length to his swing path, but others liked his ability to hit in games and make hard contact to the middle of the field. Zapata mostly has gap power now, though with significant strength projection with so much space to still fill out. He's an above-average runner who should begin his career in center, though at his size he might end up slowing down and sliding over to right field with his plus arm that could also tick up as he gets stronger.

Team: D-backs

Born: Sept. 5, 2005. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 165. B-T: R-R.

Diaz has some of the best raw tools in the class. He has outstanding bat speed, which allows him to drive the ball with impact and put on an impressive power display during batting practice. There should be plus raw power in there, though it comes with swing-and-miss risk, so learning to tone things down and stay under control at the plate will be key for Diaz to tap into that power against live pitching. If Diaz outgrows shortstop, he has plenty of power and arm strength for third base, but he has a chance to stick up the middle. He's a good athlete with plus speed, an easy gait and an outstanding arm that draws 70 grades on the 20-80 scale.

Team: Astros.

Born: Sept. 11, 2005. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 205. B-T: R-R.

The Mets have hit big on two of their Venezuelan signings from recent years, with Andres Gimenez developing into one of the top middle infielders in the majors this year as a 23-year-old with Cleveland and catcher Francisco Alvarez becoming a top 10 prospect in baseball. They're set to sign another offensive-minded Venezuelan catcher on Jan. 15 in Gutierrez. He's an advanced hitter for his age with a mix of both pure hitting ability and power. His swing can get hitchy at times, but he turns the barrel into the zone well and has good hand-eye coordination, leading to frequent contact. He's an aggressive hitter who looks to drive the ball for damage but also controls the strike zone well for his age. When he does square up the ball, he has the strength and bat speed to generate big power too, with a chance to develop into a 25-plus home run hitter. Behind the plate, Gutierrez will need more work to develop his blocking and receiving and prove he can stick at catcher, but his above-average arm stands out.

Team: Mets

Born: Dec. 10, 2005. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 178. B-T: B-R.

The Cubs have several siblings in their system with the Hernandez brothers (Cristian and Alexis Hernandez), the Morels (Christopher and Rafael) and the Altuves (Brayan and Carlos) They are set to add another player with family ties to the system in Ludwing Espinoza, whose older brother Leonel is a Venezuelan shortstop the Cubs signed after the 2020 season who spent 2021 in the Dominican Summer League. Ludwing does a bit of everything well with good all-around instincts for the game. He has a sound swing, a mature approach and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate with gap power, showing a little more juice from the left side. A plus runner, Espinoza has a chance to stick at shortstop, though he could end up at second base. He has good hands, at least an average arm and is a savvy, fundamentally sound player who reads hops well and shows a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Team: Cubs

Born: May 17, 2006. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 175. B-T: B-R.

Despite his smaller stature, Francisca stood out early in the scouting process for his advanced hitting mechanics, with a flowing, rhythmic swing from both sides of the plate. Francisca has good body control and hand-eye coordination, swinging hard but staying balanced to generate a high contact rate in games. It's a hit-over-power profile with one of the more advanced offensive looks in the class. As he has matured, his defense has improved as well. He's quick, athletic and light on his feet with good defensive actions. Like a lot of young shortstops, there are times where he tries to be too quick and needs to slow the game down, but he should stick in the middle infield—whether it's shortstop or second base—with a strong arm that's flashing plus and should be there more consistently in the coming years.

Team: Guardians

Born: March 1, 2006. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 165. B-T: R-R.

After the top tier of catchers this year in Ethan Salas and Alfredo Duno, Silva fits in with the second tier of prominent catchers signing in 2023. Silva has a medium build but is strong for his size, generating good bat speed and a chance for above-average raw power. He's a skilled two-way catcher, projecting to stick behind the plate with solid catch-and-throw skills and a strong arm for his age.

Team: Twins

Born: Dec. 8, 2005. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. B-T: R-R.

Ruiz stood out early on in the scouting process and looked to be in line for bonus north of $1 million, though a broken leg that required surgery in 2022 slowed him down. He could still end up signing for seven-figure bonus, though he still doing tryouts for clubs entering Jan. 15. Ruiz has premium bat speed and power for his age from a fluid swing. Ruiz can punish a fastball and has a chance to grow into at least plus or better raw power with more strength projection left in his broad-shouldered frame. He's likely a corner outfielder who should have the arm strength for right field.

Born: Jan. 10, 2006. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 190. B-T: R-R.

Larez is one of the more advanced shortstops this year in Venezuela with a good balance of tools and skills across the board. He's a mature hitter for his age, showing good contact skills against live pitching with the strength to drive the ball deep to right-center field over to his pull side and occasional home run power that could develop into average raw power. His speed and arm strength are both above-average tools. Given his body type, Larez could end up at either second or third base, though he should get the chance to develop at shortstop.

Team: Mets