Los Angeles Dodgers 2025 International Signings Review
Image credit: Moises Acacio (Photo via Ben Badler)
The Dodgers had the most chaotic signing period of any team leading into Jan. 15. They ultimately landed righthander Roki Sasaki, but as Jan. 15 approached and Sasaki had yet to inform clubs of where he was planning sign, multiple players who were set to sign with the Dodgers ended up taking deals for more money with other clubs, with Dominican shortstop Darell Morel signing with the Pirates for $1,778,600, Dominican outfielder Teilon Serrano signing with the Twins for $847,500 and Venezuelan outfielder Orlando Patiño signing with the White Sox for $570,000.
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Still, the Dodgers came away from the class not just with Sasaki—who signed for $6.5 million, rather than forcing the Dodgers to max out their bonus pool—but other promising young players as well.
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Top Of The Class
After Sasaki, the top signing for the Dodgers was expected to be catcher Francisco Rivero, who had moved from Arizona to Venezuela to live and train there. Instead, Major League Baseball didn’t allow Rivero to sign as an international free agent, so Rivero didn’t sign, had an outstanding spring season with Canyon del Oro High in Oro Valley, Ariz. and will be eligible for the 2026 MLB Draft.
Arguably the best Latin American signing this year for the Dodgers was Adrian Torres, a 17-year-old lefthander from Panama who got $362,500, with some scouts considering him the best lefty signed in 2025. He was pitching in the upper 80s earlier in the scouting process, but his fastball cranked up to reach 96 mph by the time he signed and has since touched 97.
At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, there’s still more physical projection to add to what’s already an elite fastball for his age. His slider has tight break and could give him another plus pitch that’s ahead of his changeup. As he’s come into more velocity, Torres is still finding the right balance between power and pitchability, but his athleticism bodes well for his ability to make adjustments with the potential to develop into a high-end starter if he’s in the zone with more consistency.
Names To Know
Luis Tovar, INF, Venezuela: After Sasaki, the No. 2 bonus in the Dodgers’ class went to Tovar, a 17-year-old infielder who signed for $397,500. He’s 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, a thicker build without much physical projection remaining, but his righthanded bat is his calling card, in the mold of former Dodgers prospect Jeral Perez (now with the White Sox). He could see some time at shortstop but projects more as an offensive-oriented second baseman with good barrel control and consistent high quality contact from the right side of the plate.
Moises Acacio, SS, Venezuela: Acacio is a skinny 5-foot-11, 155-pound shortstop the Dodgers signed for $197,500. Acacio, 17, projects to stick at shortstop, where he stands out for his combination of quick-twitch athleticism and instincts, fielding his position well with an above-average arm. He’s a righthanded hitter with a line-drive approach who will need to get stronger to do more damage on contact.
Luis Luna, SS, Colombia: Luna is still 16, so he’s young for the class, and signed for $137,500. At 6 feet, 170 pounds, he’s a steady defender at shortstop, with more instincts than quick-twitch athleticism, showing a reliable glove to stick in the middle infield. There’s more physical projection remaining in his 6-foot, 170-pound frame, with a chance for his righthanded bat to tick up once he layers on more strength.
Sleeper Watch
One pitcher to watch for the Dodgers this year in the Dominican Summer League who signed last year but will make his pro debut this year is 6-foot-5, 235-pound righthander Shai Romero. The Dodgers signed Romero at the close of the 2024 signing period when he was touching 94 mph and he has since reached 98 mph. His fastball is his best pitch, with a short, cutter-like slider that’s ahead of his changeup. Romero was one of the youngest players in the 2024 class, turning 17 last year on Aug. 22, so he will still pitch all of the DSL season as a 17-year-old.
Another Dominican pitcher the Dodgers signed at the buzzer of the 2024 signing period who will debut this year in the DSL was Samuel Savinon, an 18-year-old who trained as a position player but moved to the mound before signing. He’s an extra-large 6-foot-6, 230 pounds with a fastball up to 96 mph and still learning his offspeed stuff with a slider and changeup.
From this year’s signing class, two lower bonus pitchers to watch from Mexico are Luis Gamez and Bryan Lara. Gamez, 18, is 6 feet, 176 pounds with a fastball that was up to 92 mph when he signed but is now reaching 96 mph, along with a slider that’s ahead of his changeup. He’s the brother of righthander Tadeo Gamez, who signed with the Cubs this year. Lara, 17, is 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with a fastball up to 92 mph and feel to manipulate both his slider and changeup.
The biggest wild card in the class is righthander Joseph Deng, who became the first player from Uganda to ever sign with a major league club. He’s 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, an extraordinary long-limbed frame with tons of space left to add weight and grow a fastball already to 95 mph that he complements with a splitter. He’s a $10,000 signing who is understandably raw given his background and experience.
