The San Francisco Giants are signing Aruban outfielder Djean Macares as an international prospect during the international signing period. According to baseball insider Francys Romero, his $1.1 million bonus will be the largest given to an Aruban prospect ever.
Macares is the No. 25 international prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The left-handed hitter is 16 years old and has experience playing internationally.
During the U-18 European Championship in 2024, he slashed .591/.679/.955. He hit six doubles and a triple while collecting 10 RBIs. Macares will join an exclusive club if he makes it to the big leagues.
Xander Bogaerts, Radhames Dykhoff, Gene Kingsale, Calvin Maduro, Sidney Ponson, and Chadwick Tromp are the only players born in Aruba who have reached the majors. The $1.1 million given to Macares exceeds all of them. Bogaerts is the only player born in Aruba ever to reach the All-Star Game.
“Macares bucks a trend among young international prospects: oftentimes, pitch recognition and plate discipline goes by the wayside in favor of getting to power,” wrote MLB Pipeline. “Instead, he shows an advanced ability to discern offerings and a selectivity that enables him to work counts. While he is contact-over-power at this stage, he has some feel for the barrel, which, when coupled with his compact left-handed stroke, makes evaluators believe there is some sizable offensive potential to tap into.”
