New York Mets 2025 International Signings Review
Image credit: Elian Pena (Photo via Ben Badler)
With a $6,263,767 bonus pool, the Mets spent $5 million to sign shortstop Elian Peña. After securing one of the elite players in the class, the Mets had a little more than $1 million remaining to spread around, which they have used to sign more than 20 other players, and still have a bit of money remaining to spend through the rest of the signing period, which runs through Dec. 15.
BA is launching its first-ever Spanish language newsletter. Sign up below to make sure you get our first issue.
Here are updated reports on Peña and other names to know this year from the Mets’ international signing class. You can find international reviews for all 30 teams here.
Top Of The Class
The Mets signed 17-year-old Dominican shortstop Elian Peña for $5 million, the top bonus for any Latin American prospect in the 2025 class. For many scouts, outside of righthander Roki Sasaki, Peña was the best international prospect available this year.
It’s an exciting offensive package that blends impressive pure hitting ability, strike-zone judgment and power from the left side at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. He has a mature offensive approach for his age, recognizes spin and lays off pitches outside the zone to get himself into hitters’ counts and draw walks. When he does swing, it’s a smooth, compact, explosive stroke that stays through the hitting zone for a long time, showing excellent hand-eye coordination to cover the plate well with a low swing-and-miss rate. It’s already big power for his age with the potential to develop into a 25-30 home run threat, drawing offensive comparisons to Rafael Devers.
Early in the scouting process, Peña looked like a future third baseman who might have a chance at second base. While he’s still an offensive-oriented player who could move off the position, he has improved his speed and defense to the point where he should get more opportunity to develop at shortstop in the lower levels. He has a strong, thick lower half and doesn’t have typical quick-twitch actions for a shortstop, but he has worked hard to improve his athleticism and speed to become an average runner who can throw from different angles with a plus arm.
Names To Know
Angel Montero, LHP, Dominican Republic: Montero had been training as an outfielder, then late in 2024 he converted to pitching. Things quickly clicked on the mound for Montero, a 17-year-old who carved up hitters during a Miami Miracles tournament in the Dominican Republic in February and signed with the Mets in April for $175,000.
An athletic mover on the mound with a high leg kick, Montero is 6-foot-4, 175 pounds, a frame that screams projection for him to add to a fastball that was up to 88 mph early in the year, has crept up into the low 90s and should be into the mid 90s or better once he fills out. His slider has been an effective pitch in the early goings, and while there’s still a lot for Montero to learn on the mound given how new he is to pitching, it’s a promising foundation with a lot more in the tank.
Giomar Ubiera, SS, Dominican Republic: Signed at 17 for $100,000, Ubiera is 6-foot-1, 170 pounds with solid bat-to-ball skills and strike-zone judgment for his age. He’s a righthanded hitter with gap power that should tick up with strength gains and has enough range to make the routine plays, whether it’s at shortstop or second base long term.
Yobanny Sanchez, RHP, Dominican Republic: Sanchez is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with advanced pitchability for a 17-year-old. Signed for $100,000, Sanchez pitches off a fastball up to 92 mph with good carry with good carry and flashes feel for a curveball and changeup.
Sleeper Watch
For $25,000, the Mets signed 17-year-old Dominican outfielder Jhonael Cuello. He’s a 6 foot, 170-pound lefty who signed for a lower bonus but produced a strong track record of hitting as an amateur. His bat control is advanced as a high-contact hitter who has a good sense of the strike zone and gap power. Cuello is an average runner with good defensive instincts, which should give him an opportunity to see time in center field and could ultimately move around all three outfield spots.
The Mets signed Mexican righthander Abner Meza for $10,000. He’s 6 feet, 175 pounds with advanced pitchability for a 17-year-old, filling the strike zone with his fastball, curveball and changeup. He has been up to 90 mph, and while it’s not a big frame, he has the arm speed to potentially reach the mid 90s as he gets stronger.
