12 Breakout MLB Prospects In The 2026 International Signing Class

Leonardo Sevilla, SS, Cuba (D-backs)

After coming over from Cuba, Sevilla was a later entrant to the 2026 international signing class. He had performed well in Cuba and continued to barrel balls at a high clip while working out for teams in the Dominican Republic. He’s 18, so he should be more advanced than the rest of the class, but his ability to cover the plate, recognize pitches and square up both fastballs and secondary stuff should continue to translate against better arms.

At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Sevilla doesn’t jump out physically and could end up moving around the infield. But he’s a plus-plus runner whose short, adjustable swing from both sides of the plate in a hit-over-power game makes for a promising offensive package.

Moises Salazar, C, Venezuela (Brewers)

There are few players in the 2026 class who are as talented behind the plate as Salazar. He’s an athletic, nimble defender, he blocks and receives well and his arm is an elite weapon that gets 60-to-70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale.

The potential to be a plus defender stands out quickly with Salazar, but he’s not a light, glove-only catcher. Salazar is a switch-hitter who’s better from the right side, where he has a compact swing, hits to all fields and has the bat speed to project average power. 

Ezequiel Melbourne, SS, Dominican Republic (Dodgers)

Watch Melbourne take infield, and it doesn’t take long to see one aspect of his game that stands out. Melbourne is quick, light on his feet and has clean hands at shortstop, where he displays good body control and a plus arm. The tools are there for Melbourne to stick at the position, and his bat also continues to trend in the right direction.

He’s a switch-hitter with a thin 6-foot-2 frame, showing a compact swing that lends itself to a lot of contact from the left side. His righthanded stroke, meanwhile, flashes more over-the-fence pop to his pull side. He turns 16 in June, so he’s also one of the younger players in the class.

Karel Naranjo, SS, Dominican Republic (Guardians)

If Naranjo were 6-foot-2, he wouldn’t be on this list, because he probably would be in line for a seven-figure bonus. At 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, he has a smaller frame that lacks much strength, but there is a lot to like at the plate and in the field.

Naranjo has a small strike zone that he doesn’t expand much, and he gets on base at a high clip by drawing walks and making a lot of contact. It’s a quick, direct cut from both sides of the plate to shoot line drives to all fields with gap power. Naranjo has the hands, quickness, instincts and arm strength that give him a good chance to stay at shortstop. 

Johan Geraldo, SS, Dominican Republic (Cubs)

Geraldo is 6-foot, 170 pounds with a good mix of pitch recognition skills and bat speed. It’s a lean build with room to pack on more weight, but he already drives the ball with authority and could grow into plus power.

Geraldo has performed well in games, and if it continues to translate in pro ball, the upside is there for him to be a power-hitting infielder who could stick at shortstop, where he has a plus arm. 

Juan Parra, SS, Venezuela (Phillies)

Parra is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound switch-hitter with the potential to be an athletic, power-hitting shortstop with a good grasp of the strike zone. He has good bat speed from both sides of the plate. He looks to lift and pull the ball more from the left side while staying with an approach to use the whole field when hitting righthanded.

Defensively, his athleticism is on display with the way he moves at shortstop, where he has quick, easy actions, soft hands and an average arm. 

Alexander Pio, SS, Dominican Republic (Pirates)

At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Pio features a strong, physical frame for a shortstop who generates big power and leverage in his righthanded swing. He has been an up-arrow player with the look of a future 20-25 home run hitter.

Pio is built like a player who could eventually slide over to third base, but he’s athletic, has plus speed and a strong arm, so he should get a chance to continue at shortstop. His offensive upside is high enough to profile well at third, too.

Santiago Ramirez, C, Venezuela (Rangers)

The Rangers have multiple mid-range signings from Venezuela to like for 2026, including outfielder Jesus Chavez, but Ramirez is a tick more under the radar. He has trended up to become one of the better catchers for 2026 with a promising offensive skill set.

A righthanded hitter, Ramirez has good plate discipline and is typically on time and on the barrel, using quick hands with good bat speed to show a mix of both on-base skills and power. He has a bigger build he will have to stay on top of to stay at catcher, but he has a strong arm and has the traits to move up the ladder as an offensive-oriented backstop.

Adrian Lunar, C, Venezuela (Royals)

The Royals have multiple promising Venezuelan hitters in their class for under $1 million, including shortstop Maicoll Rondon. With Lunar, the calling card has long been his barrel accuracy. He’s 5-foot-10, 180 pounds with a quick, direct swing from the left side, and he seldom misses when he does swing. Lunar doesn’t project to be a big power threat, but his contact skills should translate quickly in pro ball.

Known more for his offense when he was younger, Lunar’s arm has developed into an above-average tool, and his defensive progress has enhanced his all-around value. 

Alexander Cuello, SS, Dominican Republic (Reds)

Cuello went somewhat under the radar in the Dominican Republic, but there’s a lot to like with his lefthanded bat. At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, he doesn’t have a ton of physical upside, but he has been a high-level offensive performer in games as an amateur.

Cuello has a simple, adjustable swing with a knack for barreling balls with high contact frequency. It’s a mature offensive approach for his age, and he stays through the middle of the field. He has also started to learn which pitches to take more chances on to his pull side, resulting in more flashes of power in games.

Cuello is athletic and a plus runner who could end up playing a multitude of positions. He has trained as a shortstop but could end up playing second base, third base or using his speed in the outfield. 

Maikel Acosta, SS, Dominican Republic (Marlins)

There are a lot of projection indicators pointing in the right direction with Acosta. He’s one of the younger players in the class, and it shows in his slender build at 6-foot-2, 160 pounds. That lack of strength with Acosta means it might take a little longer for everything to come together for him, but he has the look of a true shortstop with a chance to hit.

Acosta is a plus runner who’s athletic with good body control, quick feet and easy actions at shortstop. He has a strong arm that projects to be at least plus once he fills out.

The foundation of his righthanded swing works well, and he has a knack for putting the ball in play, so getting stronger will be key to do more damage on contact. 

Sebastian Mendez, SS, Venezuela (Astros)

Mendez is a strong, 6-foot-1 lefthanded hitter with a mature plan at the plate. There are parts of his swing that might need tweaking as he moves up, but he makes frequent contact, has the components to get on base at a high clip and has strength behind his swing to drive the ball well.

Mendez’s body type suggests he will have a broad build and should grow into more power. That could also push him to second or third base if he outgrows shortstop, but he’s an above-average runner with a quick first step and a plus arm, so he should get the opportunity to continue his development at shortstop.