2026 MLB International Prospects Bonus Board

International Prospects Bonus Board

1. Luis Hernandez, SS, Venezuela
Born: Dec. 13, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 180.
Team: Giants

Several scouts consider Hernandez their top player in the 2026 international class thanks to his polish at the plate and well-rounded skill set. In 2025, Hernandez played in the Liga Mayor de Beisbol Profesional (LMBP), a pro league in Venezuela that plays during the summer and is filled with veteran former minor leaguers. Despite competing against players who are largely a decade older, Hernandez batted .346/.386/.452 with eight walks and 11 strikeouts in 114 plate appearances. Hernandez takes consistent quality at-bats with a mature offensive approach for his age. He’s on time against fastballs, recognizes spin and has a good sense of the strike zone with a compact swing to make frequent contact. He drives the ball well to both gaps, and while he’s not a tall slugger, he has good bat speed, the ability to pull the ball out of the park now and the potential to grow into a 20-plus home run threat. A fringe-average runner, Hernandez isn’t flashy, but he’s a reliable defender with good instincts, soft hands and a plus arm.

2. Francisco Renteria, OF, Venezuela
Born: Jan. 9, 2009. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200.
Team: Phillies

Renteria has played for Venezuela in multiple international tournaments, most recently the U-15 World Cup in 2024. His physicality, power and athleticism all jump out. His strength and explosive bat speed yield some of the best raw power in the class and enable him to put on a huge show during batting practice, launching balls out of the park from the middle of the field over to his pull side. When he’s on time, that power translates in games, especially against fastballs, though he has been more susceptible to quality breaking pitches. It’s likely a power-over-hit profile with the upside to become a 30-plus home run threat. While Renteria is built like a corner outfielder, he’s a plus runner underway. That speed and athleticism, along with an average arm, should allow him to continue to develop as a center fielder at least in the lower levels of the minors with a chance to stick there higher up, though it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to end up in a corner given his body type. 

3. Victor Valdez, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Sept. 12, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185.
Team: Rays

Valdez offers a good balance of hitting ability and power. He’s strong for his age with good bat speed and power, showing the strength projection to develop into a 25-plus home run hitter. He has sound swing mechanics and can tap into that power in games with his ability to control the strike zone and an approach looking to hunt pitches that he can drive for damage. Valdez stands out most for what he does in the batter’s box, but his improved defensive actions give him a chance to continue at shortstop. He’s an average runner who might still end up at third base at higher levels, but he has enhanced his lateral quickness and has good body control with an above-average arm.

4. Wandy Asigen, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Aug. 21, 2009. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 175. 
Team: Yankees

Asigen ranked second in walks at the U-15 World Cup in 2024, one of multiple international tournaments where he represented the Dominican Republic. He’s one of the youngest players in the 2026 international signing class, so he will play the entire Dominican Summer League season as a 16-year-old, but his tools are advanced beyond his years. There’s explosive bat speed from a compact lefthanded swing, allowing him to blast balls out of the park to the middle of the field already. There’s some swing-and-miss to his game against live pitching, but he has generally performed well in games and has the power potential to hit 25-plus home runs if everything clicks. The tools are there for Asigen to handle shortstop, where he’s still learning to slow the game down and play under control, but he’s a quick-burst athlete with plus speed and an above-average arm.

5. Angel Nuñez, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: April 7, 2009. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 155.
Team: Reds

Nuñez played for the Dominican Republic in multiple international tournaments, including in 2024 at the U-15 World Cup in Colombia, where he hit .350/.500/.550 in 26 plate appearances with six walks, three strikeouts and led the tournament with nine stolen bases. While Nuñez doesn’t have the size and strength of some of the other top players in the class, his in-game skills on both sides of the ball stand out for his age. He has an aggressive approach at the plate, good bat-to-ball skills and enough power to occasionally juice one out to his pull side. He should grow into more power once he fills out his skinny frame, but it’s likely a hit-over-power game that relies more on his ability to put the ball in play and take advantage of his speed. He’s a plus runner who glides around center field and has a strong arm. 

6. Angeibel Gomez, OF, Venezuela
Born: Dec. 12, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 180.
Team: Royals

Gomez for some scouts is the top prospect from Venezuela in the 2026 international class. He has a strong, lean 6-foot-2 build that’s well-proportioned with wide shoulders and significant strength projection remaining. Gomez has exciting athleticism and seems to hit everywhere he goes, including last year in MLB’s Amateur Scouting League, where he ranked third in OPS. He makes frequent contact, has a good sense of the strike zone and big raw power for his age that he has been able to tap into in games, driving balls out of the park from the middle of the field over to his pull side. Given how much room he still has to add weight, he could end up a 25-plus home run threat. Gomez is also one of the better defensive center fielders in the class. He’s a plus-plus runner with a plus arm and great instincts, reading the ball well off the bat and taking clean routes to show good range in all directions.

7. Jeancer Custodio, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Nov. 12, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 185.
Team: Pirates

Custodio as a 15-year-old played in the U-18 World Cup Americas Qualifier in 2024 in Panama, batting .333/.429/.375 to rank second on the Dominican team in OPS among qualified hitters behind current Giants shortstop Josuar Gonzalez. Custodio is strong for his age and projects to have a burly build. He has the strength to drive the ball out of the park to his pull side and could grow into 20-plus home run power. Scouts highest on Custodio liked his hand-eye coordination to be able to tap into his power in games, though there was a split camp about how his swing and pure hitting ability would translate at higher levels. Custodio is an above-average runner underway, so he could see time in center field at the lower levels, but he’s built more like a corner outfielder and probably will shift there long term. 

8. Gregory Pio, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Jan. 27, 2009. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 170. 
Team: Mariners

Pio’s athleticism and tool set at a young age made him an early standout in the 2026 international class. He’s a quick-twitch athlete with plus-plus speed, giving him the wheels and range to handle center field. At the plate, Pio’s swing can get big at times and he has some things to iron out mechanically. But he has a lean, tapered build with the bat speed to hit balls out of the park to his pull side and room to fill out to continue adding power. His speed gives him a chance to be a high stolen base threat.

9. Elian Rosario, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Oct. 5, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195.
Team: Rangers

Rosario jumps out for his size, strength and power. It’s a strong build for his age with the look of a player who will continue to get wider and more physical and add to what’s already big raw power for his age, potentially growing into plus or plus-plus raw power when he’s in his prime. Rosario’s power comes with some swing-and-miss that he will have to keep in check, but he does have the patience to draw walks and has the ability to crush mistakes that should lead to a good amount of home runs early on in the lower levels. An outfielder now with experience earlier on at shortstop and third base, Rosario is an average runner with a body type that suggests he could slow down. He’s likely a corner outfielder long term with an above-average arm that would fit in right field.

10. Emanuel Luna, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Jan. 15, 2009. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195. 
Team: Cardinals

Luna has huge raw power for a 16-year-old. He’s extremely strong and can hit towering blasts out of the park during batting practice. There are some unorthodox components to his swing, so it could end up a power-over-hit offensive game, but he has a selective approach to work his walks and wait for a pitch in his hot zone. With his lean, athletic frame that has more space to fill out, Luna could grow into plus-plus raw power and become a 30-plus home run threat if everything comes together. It’s a power/speed threat as a plus runner who moves around well in center field. 

11. Jose Luis Acevedo, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Nov. 29, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 175.
Team: Orioles

The Orioles’ franchise record for an international bonus belongs to shortstop Luis Almeyda, who signed for $2,297,500 in 2023. Acevedo is expected to top that amount. He’s skilled on both sides of the ball with a good blend of tools and instincts from a player who projects to stick at shortstop. It’s a sound righthanded swing with an advanced offensive approach for his age. He uses the middle of the field, has the bat speed to generate home run power to his pull side without having to get big with his swing and a wiry frame that points to bigger power coming once he fills out. He’s an average runner who moves around well at shortstop, where he has quick-twitch actions, a good internal clock and a plus arm. 

12. Manuel Bolivar, C, Venezuela
Born: Sept. 4, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 190.
Team: Tigers

When Bolivar was 13, he played in the U-15 World Cup in 2022 in Mexico as the youngest player on Venezuela’s team. An early standout in the 2026 international class, Bolivar performed well during that tournament and has grown into a power-hitting catcher. He’s strong for his age with the bat speed to drive balls deep out of the park to his pull side in batting practice with potential plus raw power. There have been stretches of swing-and-miss against live pitching, so it’s likely a power-over-hit offensive profile, but scouts highest on Bolivar think he will make enough contact to tap into that power in games. He’s a longtime catcher who has the tools to stick behind the plate, where he’s an athletic mover who blocks well and has a strong arm.

13. Albert Fermin, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Feb. 9, 2009. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 190.
Team: Astros

At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Fermin stands out quickly for his physicality, but it’s his feel at the plate that’s most advanced. He recognizes spin, has a good eye for the strike zone and a disciplined approach with a knack for being on time against live pitching, giving him the building blocks to get on base at a high clip. Fermin makes hard contact now and, given his physical upside, could grow into significantly more game power. Fermin is a plus runner underway, though he might lose a step as he fills out. He’s athletic enough to get a chance to start his career at shortstop, but his range long term might end up better suited at third base, with a strong arm that would play at either spot on the left side of the infield. 

14. Juan Rijo, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Sept. 3, 2008. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185.
Team: Mariners

Rijo has long stood out for his hitting ability since he was a smaller player early in the process, whether it was facing hitters his own age or barreling up pitchers several years older than him. Since then, Rijo has continued to show polished hitting ability for his age while growing to 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. He’s a lefty with sound swing mechanics, taking a tight turn of the barrel into a balanced swing. He recognizes pitches and takes a short, direct path with an approach geared to use the whole field. Rijo has the components to get on base at a high rate and has added strength to be able to drive the ball out of the park now to his pull side with the bat speed and physical upside to grow into a 20-plus home run threat. Rijo is an average runner who could slow down as he fills out and projects best as a corner outfielder.

15. Johenssy Colome, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Oct. 15, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190.
Team: Athletics

Colome’s father, Jesus, pitched 10 seasons in the major leagues from 2001-10, mostly with the Devil Rays and Nationals. His uncle, righthander Alex Colome, pitched in 11 big league seasons from 2013-23, mostly with the Rays and White Sox. Johenssy’s baseball upbringing is evident in the way he plays the game, and while he has the arm strength that runs in the family, he’s one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the 2026 international class. His barrel explodes through the zone with excellent bat speed to produce some of the biggest raw power in the class. It’s a mechanically sound swing, so he doesn’t have to sell out to generate that power in games, and he routinely puts together quality at-bats. The upside is there to develop 30-plus home run power, drawing comparisons to Rays infielder Junior Caminero. He’s an average runner who has the hands and footwork to stay in the infield and a plus-plus arm that would fit at either shortstop or third base. He should get the opportunity to continue at shortstop, though given how big he projects to be, some scouts think his future could be at third. 

16. Yeison Horton, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Feb. 16, 2009. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 170.
Team: Angels

Once expected to sign with the Yankees, Horton now is set to be the top bonus signing this year for the Angels. Horton stood out at an early age for his lefthanded hitting ability, speed, defense and arm strength. He hasn’t grown much in stature since then, so he’s smaller relative to some of the other prominent prospects for 2026, but his combination of athleticism and offensive upside stand out. Scouts highest on Horton liked both his contact skills and ability to produce hard contact for his size against live pitching. It’s a thin build with more strength projection remaining, so while he doesn’t project as a huge power threat, there should be more extra-base impact coming once he fills out. He’s an above-average runner with an average arm who has the hands and footwork to stay in the middle infield, whether it ends up being at shortstop or second base long term. 

17. Isaias Suarez, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Dec. 10, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 165.
Team: Nationals

Suarez has a lot of physical upside in his high-waist build at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds. He’s a wiry strong, quick-twitch athlete who excels defensively in center field. He’s a plus runner who reads the ball well off the bat, takes good routes and has good range to both gaps, moving around with ease and showing the potential to develop into a plus defender. Suarez is an aggressive hitter with scouts split on how his bat would translate at higher levels, but he generates good bat speed and extension with a chance to grow into a 15-20 home run threat once he’s physically mature. 

18. Juan Caricote, C, Venezuela
Born: Nov. 5, 2008. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. 
Team: Blue Jays

Caricote has a good balance of skills in the batter’s box and behind the plate. He projects to stick at catcher, where he’s an advanced receiver comfortable handling high-end velocity. He’s athletic and agile, helping him block balls in the dirt. It’s not elite raw arm strength, but he projects to have at least an average arm once he’s physically mature. Caricote has a lean build for a catcher with a loose, fluid swing from the left side and the strength projection to grow into a 15-plus home run hitter. 

19. Randy Arias, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Oct. 14, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 155. 
Team: Astros

Arias quickly draws attention for his glove at shortstop. He’s a skinny, fast-twitch athlete with above-average speed, a quick first step and bouncy actions in the field. He has quick, nimble footwork and smooth hands to go with an above-average arm that could tick up more once he gets stronger. At the plate, Arias tracks pitches well and has good bat-to-ball skills with gap power. Getting stronger will be critical for him to be able to do more damage on contact.

20. Cleiner Ramirez, OF, Venezuela
Born: Dec. 1, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-9. Wt.: 175.
Team: Mets

At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Ramirez isn’t that big, but it’s a stocky, strong build for his age with the ability to generate impressive bat speed. He rotates his hips powerfully, generating force throughout his body to whistle the barrel through the zone. Scouts were mixed on his pure hitting ability, but the ball carries well off his bat for his size when he’s on time and on the sweet spot. Ramirez is athletic with above-average speed in center field and an average arm from a compact throwing stroke. His athleticism could give him the versatility to play some in the infield, where he does have experience, though right now he’s primarily a center fielder. 

21. Wilton Guerrero Jr., SS, Dominican Republic
Born: May 29, 2009. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 165.
Team: Pirates

Another member of the Guerrero family will be one of the top signings out of the Dominican Republic in 2026. Wilton Guerrero—the brother of Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and uncle of Vlad Jr.—was primarily an infielder during his big league career from 1996 to 2004 with the Dodgers, Expos, Reds and Royals. Wilton Guerrero Jr. is built like his father, a small-to-medium frame packed with quick-twitch athleticism. He’s a plus-plus runner with hand-eye coordination that’s evident at the plate and in the field. He ranges well at shortstop, where he has good instincts and a strong arm to project to stick at the position. On the younger end of the class, Guerrero will need to get stronger to drive the ball with more impact, but the bat speed for his size is solid and he makes contact at a high clip, with a high baseball IQ that’s no surprise given his upbringing. 

22. Ariel Roque, OF, Dominican Republic
Born: Oct. 21, 2008. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 165.
Team: Orioles

Roque is one of the more tooled-out athletes in the Dominican Republic for the 2026 international class. He’s an explosive athlete with quick-twitch actions that are on display in the batter’s box and in the field. He’s still learning to translate it all with more consistency at the plate, but Roque can fire his hands into the hitting zone quickly with good bat speed and power with the projection for more damage still to come once he adds more weight to his lean, athletic frame. He’s a plus runner with a quick first step and the tools to project him to stick in center field. 

23. Jaider Suarez, SS, Cuba
Born: Dec. 23, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180.
Team: Royals

After being the youngest player on the Cuban team at the U-15 World Cup in 2022 when he was 13, Suarez in 2023 dominated in Cuba’s 15U national league. He hit .355/.495/.605 with 22 walks (including a league-high nine intentional walks) and seven strikeouts in 101 plate appearances for Ciego De Avila, leading the league with three home runs and tied for the league lead with 17 stolen bases. Suarez has broad shoulders on a strong 6-foot-1 frame and good bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate. It’s mostly gap power with occasional over-the-fence juice to his pull side that should tick up over the next few years with strength gains. A plus runner, Suarez doesn’t have the typical shortstop build, but scouts highest on him thought he could stick there and that he fielded his position well with good instincts and a plus arm.

24. Diego Frontado, SS, Venezuela
Born: Sept. 10, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 178.
Team: Brewers

Frontado offers a promising blend of quick-twitch athleticism, tools and hitting ability. He has a strong, compact build with broad shoulders and a sound righthanded swing. Frontado has a good track record of game performance, putting the ball in play at a high clip with a mature plan at the plate for his age and the ability to recognize spin. Frontado has good bat speed and drives the ball well for his age with the potential to grow into a 20-plus home run hitter. A high-energy player, Frontado is a plus runner with an average arm. He has the hands and footwork to stay in the infield, with a chance to stick at shortstop, though he could be an above-average defender if he were to move around to second or third base. 

25. Fernando Graterol, C, Venezuela
Born: Oct. 9, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 175.
Team: White Sox

Graterol has a strong, broad-shouldered frame with more physical projection remaining. He already has some of the better raw power of any catcher in the 2026 international class and could grow into more once he’s physically mature. It could end up a power-over-hit profile with the potential to develop into a 20-plus home run hitter. Graterol has a strong arm, but he will need to make strides with his blocking and receiving to prove that he can stick behind the plate. 

26. Jose Mañon, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Dec. 17, 2008. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175. 
Team: Braves

Mañon played for the Dominican Republic in the U-18 Pan American Qualifier in 2024 in Panama when he was 15. He has grown into a strong, lean 6-foot-2 shortstop who moves around with ease in the field. He’s a slightly above-average runner with a plus arm who has the tools, easy defensive actions and instincts to project to stick at shortstop at higher levels. Mañon has the hand-eye coordination to square up pitches throughout the strike zone. The bat speed is there for him to make quality contact, mostly for line drives and doubles now, though with more power that he could unlock as he gets stronger and adds more loft to his swing. 

27. Enmanuel Merlo, SS, Venezuela
Born: Nov. 22, 2008. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180.
Team: Twins

Merlo is a switch-hitter who is lean but extremely strong, enabling him to drive the ball with high-end impact. Merlo can sting the ball with some of the better raw power in the 2026 international class, hitting hard line drives with long carry and launching balls out to his pull side when he’s generating loft. Merlo typically takes quality at-bats as well with good feel for hitting and maneuvering the barrel, especially from the left side of the plate. An average runner with a plus arm, Merlo has the traits to stick in the dirt and has a chance to stick at shortstop, though if he were to move to second or third base, he has the offensive components to profile well there. 

28. Jose Rodriguez, SS, Venezuela
Born: Jan. 19, 2009. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 160.
Team: Brewers

Rodriguez is a shortstop and one of the best defensive players at the position in the 2026 international class. He’s a wiry 6-foot-1, 160-pound shortstop who shines in the field, where he’s light on his feet with good body control and has soft, secure hands. He’s able to make the acrobatic plays and is more reliable than most his age when it comes to turning the routine plays into outs and finishing plays with a plus arm. A tick above-average runner, Rodriguez is a defensive-oriented player who grabs the most attention for his smooth fielding, but he has a short swing with the hand-eye coordination to produce solid bat-to-ball skills, though he doesn’t project to be a big power threat. 

29. Angel Ramirez, SS, Dominican Republic
Born: Nov. 24, 2008. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175.
Team: Nationals

Ramirez has grown from a wiry shortstop into a stronger 6-foot-2 build and a physical switch-hitter. More advanced from the left side of the plate, Ramirez has the strength to drive the ball out of the park and the physical upside for more power in the tank as he continues to add weight. His path to the ball can get long, leading to up-and-down game performance and a likely power-over-hit offensive game, but he can drive the ball with impact when he’s on time. Ramirez is an average runner who has trained as a shortstop, though he likely will move off the position in pro ball. Third base is a possibility, though his best defensive fit could end up being in the outfield.

30. Sebastian Romero, OF, Venezuela
Born: Sept. 4, 2008. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 175.
Team: White Sox

Romero has a lean, lively 6-foot-2 frame with advanced feel for hitting from the left side of the plate. It’s a sound, fluid swing with the ability to manipulate the barrel to square up pitches with good contact skills against live pitching. Romero has mostly doubles power now but with a lot of space left to fill out and potentially develop into a 20-plus home run hitter. He’s a good athlete and an above-average runner who moves around well in center field.