5 Teams With Exciting International Signing Classes For 2025


My favorite team’s international signing class this year? Whoever signs Roki Sasaki.
After that, it’s hard to say yet. Let’s be honest about the difficulty involved in projecting the future of players who are mostly 16 and 17, many of whom have had signing agreements in place for years and haven’t been heavily scouted by all 30 clubs leading up to Jan. 15 the way players in the draft are evaluated. After the Dominican Summer League season is done in August, players will still be far from the big leagues, but we will have a much better picture of how each team’s signing class looks. The teams themselves will have a much better feel for their own players at that point, too.
More International Signing Day Coverage
- 2025 MLB International Signings Tracker
- Scouting Reports On 2025 International Classes For All 30 Teams
- Top 100 International Prospects Bonus Board
For some clubs, their class is heavily banking on one player, like the Mets with Dominican shortstop Elian Peña. That can be a winning strategy, like when the Blue Jays signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or the Padres signed catcher Ethan Salas.
In 2024, the Brewers signed what’s shaping up to be an outstanding international class when they brought in shortstop Jesus Made (already their No. 1 prospect), shortstop Luis Peña (also a top 10 prospect in the system), and shortstop Jorge Quintana and outfielder Jose Anderson (both top 30 prospects in the organization). Every team has at least one big player their scouts are excited about, but I’ll try to highlight teams that have a deeper mix of high-end talent.
As the 2025 international signings officially start today, these are five teams with intriguing classes that stand out.
Boston Red Sox
The big three in Boston’s farm system deservedly get the most attention. In the lower levels, it’s the international players who are the most exciting prospects deeper in the system with shortstop Franklin Arias, infielder Yoeilin Cespedes and righthander Luis Perales—all top 10 prospects in the organization.
Teams and scouts all have different philosophies, but whatever you’re looking for, the Red Sox have it in their 2025 class. Dominican shortstop Dorian Soto is a 6-foot-3 switch-hitter with ferocious bat speed and power potential. Venezuelan center fielder Harold Rivas is a dynamic, tooled up athlete in center field who could be a plus defender there and has a chance to hit for power, as well. Dominican shortstop Hector Ramos is a potential breakout prospect with his ability to handle the position and perform well in games offensively with a high contact rate. Sadbiel Delzine is a 6-foot-5 righthander from Venezuela with a power arm up to 94 mph with more in the tank, good athleticism and coordination on the mound.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have a trio of Dominican shortstops with different body types and skill sets who are all exciting in different ways. Wilfry De La Cruz has big physical upside and a patient offensive approach. Juan Cabada is an advanced pure hitter from the left side. If everything clicks for Juan Tomas, he has a chance to be a monster with his tools, athleticism and immense physical projection.
In some years, the Cubs have had smaller classes centered around one player, like when they signed shortstop Cristian Hernandez, but this year the Cubs have a deeper volume of players to complement their big three signings.
Milwaukee Brewers
It will be hard for the Brewers to top what they did with their 2021 international class when they signed Jackson Chourio. Last year’s class has provided exciting early returns, though, and their 2025 group has another wave of players who are candidates to rise up their top 30 list in the next couple years.
That’s especially true among the outfielders. Brailyn Antunez is one of the best players in Venezuela and overall in Latin America this year. Kenny Fenelon has a different profile than many of the high-contact, disciplined hitters the Brewers sign, with a chance to be a power/speed threat at a premium position. Cristopher Acosta is a promising Dominican shortstop who will be a third seven-figure signing for the Brewers. Dominican outfielder Gerlyn Payano is a potential breakout prospect with power and speed from the left side.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have a promising group of players trending in the right direction. Warren Calcaño from the Dominican Republic is a true shortstop who defends his position well and makes contact at a high clip from both sides of the plate. Dominican shortstop Ramcell Medina has shown a mix of hitting ability and power potential while growing taller, staying lean and improving both his chance to stick at shortstop and physical projection over the past couple years.
Behind the plate, the Royals have Moises Marchan, one of the top catchers for 2025 with skills that stand out both offensively and defensively. On the mound, Venezuelan righthander Kendry Chourio could be a riser with a fastball up to 96 mph and a pair of secondary pitches that could help him pile up whiffs.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins have a headliner leading their class with Andrew Salas, who was born in the United States but is signing as an international free agent for $3.7 million, the highest bonus for a player signing out of Venezuela this year. His background, maturity and talent give him a chance to move quickly.
The caliber of pitching the Marlins have in the next tier is what makes this class intriguing and differentiates them from other clubs. The Marlins in recent years have been more willing than many other teams to invest significant money into pitching in Latin America and it shows in the quality of pitchers they’re getting. Dominican righthander Kevin De Frank checks a lot of boxes scouts look for between his size, power arm and pitchability. Less famous but just as exciting is Adrian Peña, a gigantic 6-foot-7 Dominican righthander up to 94 mph and climbing with a tight curveball and starter look.