New York Mets 2025 International Class Scouting Report
With the MLB international signing period opening today, teams can officially begin to sign players in their 2025 class.
For Baseball America subscribers, we have scouting reports and player notes on the classes for all 30 teams, providing information on the big names to know in each class, as well as deeper cut players to watch.
In his first year as Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns made changes throughout the organization, including the club’s international operations, hiring James Kang as international scouting director in October last year.
The highest bonus for a Latin American prospect this year is going to Elian Peña, who is signing for $5 million. The Dominican shortstop is an advanced lefthanded hitter, both in terms of his ability to hit and drive the ball with power. He’s 5-foot-11, 170 pounds and checks a lot of boxes scouts look for in a young hitter. It’s a loose, fluid swing that takes a tight turn of the barrel into the hitting zone to stay on plane for a long time. There’s explosive bat speed too, allowing to drive the ball with what should be at least power without having to sell out his swing. Peña does a good job discerning balls from strikes to make good swing decisions, drawing comparisons to Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. Like Devers, Peña might also end up at third base, though he has worked hard to improve his athleticism and mobility at shortstop. He has a plus arm to play on the left side of the infield and should get an opportunity to prove himself at shortstop, but long term his range and defensive actions likely will fit at third.
Peña’s signing leaves the Mets with roughly $1 million to spread around the rest of their class, so most of their other players this year will likely be lower bonus players. Dominican righthander Yobanny Sanchez is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with a fastball up to 92 mph with good movement and a chance to start with flashes of feel for a breaking ball and changeup. Dominican outfielder Jhoanel Cuello is a lefty who stands out for his bat, consistently performing well in games with good bat-to-ball skills and gap power.
