Pitchers and catchers are set to report in a few weeks, with all the other positions shortly after. That said, it’s time to look at five international players to look out for during upcoming spring training.
Jasson Dominguez:
After the loss of Juan Soto, the Yankees need a corner outfielder. This opens up the door for long-time top prospect Jasson Dominguez to get his chance to shine. During his limited stints in the majors, Dominguez has been unable to display his talent and has often struggled. While there is no guarantee that he will break camp with the team, a strong showing in the spring would leave the Yankees with no choice but to give the Martian his shot to take over.
Luisangel Acuna:
The story of the Mets for 2025 will be the addition of Juan Soto, but looking past that, fans must keep an eye out on Luisangel Acuna this spring. With the reported move of Mark Vientos to first base, the Mets have a spot open in the infield. In his limited time up in 2024, Acuna was able to showcase his potential with a slash line of .308/.325/.641 with an OPS of .966. Acuna’s good glove and above-average bat skills will undoubtedly help the Mets. Acuna will have a great opportunity to break camp and perform strongly during Spring Training.
Travis Bazzana:
Another name to watch is the 2024 number-one pick in Travis Bazzana. The Guardians top prospect could be in line to get some at-bats in Major League Spring training this year. In his first year in the minor (A+), Bazzana put together a good season where he slashed .238/.369/.396 with a .765 OPS. While those numbers aren’t the greatest, Bazzana is considered a more polished prospect as he was drafted out of college, where all he did was hit. It would be doubtful that Bazzana would break camp with the team, but he will almost certainly get a chance to show what he can do in Major League camp.
Kevin Alcantara:
Kevin Alcantara is another player that fans should pay attention to this spring. The Cubs acquired him in a trade with the Yankees that sent Anthony Rizzo to New York. The six-foot-six, 22-year-old outfielder made his MLB debut last season and got one hit in 10 at-bats. Alcantara is considered a well-rounded prospect, and with all of his tools, he received grades over 50 on the 20-80 scale. Before his call-up last year, Alcantara had his best professional season. In triple-A, he had a slash line of .292/.378/.469 and an OPS of .847. The Cubs will be looking for a center fielder following the trade of Cody Bellinger, and with a strong Spring, Alcantara could claim that spot.
Samuel Basallo:
The Baltimore Orioles again have a top prospect to keep an eye on this spring; his name is Samuel Basallo. The 20-year-old catcher had a very strong season in Double-A, where he slashed .289/.355/.465 for an OPS of .820. While the Orioles have a franchise catcher in Adley Rutchman, Basallo is still poised to get a shot in Spring Training as Adley played more games at DH last season than any other season. Basallo is an all-around catcher who can get on base at a high rate while slugging the ball.
