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MLB Top 50 International Prospect List for 2025 Reflects Global Expansion of Scouting and Spending

Matt TallariniMar 28, 20258 MIN READ
Roki Sasaki throws a pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2025 Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome

The MLB 2025 international signing period began January 15, with global attention centered on Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $6.5 million. Sasaki struck out three in three innings during his Tokyo Series debut against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome.

The Dodgers’ international spree, which includes Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, pushed the combined value of Dodgers and Cubs international contracts to $1.17 billion.

MLB’s international prospect rankings began with just 30 names in 2012

MLB Pipeline introduced its first international prospect rankings in 2012 with just 30 names, nearly all from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. At the time, the international signing period opened on July 2 and extended into the following year. A pandemic-related shift in 2021 moved the start date to January 15, a change later made permanent. MLB.com’s international prospect rankings cover 2012 through 2025; data from 2020 and before 2012 are unavailable.

Shortstops dominate the modern international class

26 of the Top 50 prospects in 2025 are listed as shortstops, up from 12 in 2012. Many organizations prioritize athletic infielders during development, often beginning at shortstop before transitioning to other positions. In 2025, the Cubs, Yankees, and Rays signed multiple Top 50 shortstops. San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, remains a hotbed of shortstop talent, producing Yankees signee Mani Cedeno.

Venezuelan prospects have surged in prominence since 2016

Only six Venezuelan players appeared on the 2016 list. In 2025, eight Venezuelans appear in the Top 20 alone.

Led by Mariners outfielder Yorger Bautista and Nationals shortstop Brayan Cortesia. The Angels signed top-ranked catcher Gabriel Davalillo for $2 million, and the Reds added shortstop Liberts Aponte and catcher Enry Torres. Venezuela’s rise comes despite challenged development pipelines.

The Dominican Republic remains the world’s top talent supplier

A record 29 of the Top 50 prospects in 2025 are Dominican-born. Several players trained through MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, which was formalized in 2018 to ensure oversight and improve conditions for signees. Cubs prospect Wilfri De La Cruz and Rays shortstop Raymer Medina came through affiliated academies in San Francisco de Macorís and Baní. According to Wilfri De La Cruz’s scouting report, he comes from a lineage of Dominican ballplayers dating back to “Julian Javier [who] debuted for the Cardinals in 1960, [and] became the first big leaguer to have been born in San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic. Nineteen others have followed suit (including his son, Stan), with De La Cruz the next promising prospect to emerge from the Land of Cacao.”

Bonus pool rules shifted dramatically after 2016

Before 2017, teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, and Braves routinely exceeded soft international bonus pool limits to sign massive classes. The 2017–21 collective bargaining agreement instituted a hard cap, with limited pool-trading flexibility.

In 2025, 17 of the Top 20 prospects received over $1.5 million bonuses. Ayden Johnson of The Bahamas signed with the Athletics for $1.5 million, while the Braves gave $2.497 million to Cuban switch-hitter Diego Tornes.

Teams scout height, strength, and tools earlier than ever

In 2012, few international prospects stood taller than 6-foot-1. In 2025, more than 10 Top 50 players are 6-foot-3 or taller, including outfielders Maykel Coret, Darwing Ozuna, and Kevin Alvarez. Catching prospect Gabriel Davalillo is under six feet tall but brings a power bat reminiscent of Francisco Alvarez. Metrics like bat speed, 60-yard dash times, and exit velocity are now routinely measured at age 15.

New countries continue to join traditional baseball hotbeds

While the Dominican Republic and Venezuela still dominate, 2025 brought record deals to players from Japan, Taiwan, The Bahamas, and Cuba. Oakland’s $1.51 million deal with two-way Japanese prospect Shotaro Morii is the largest ever for a Japanese amateur outside of Nippon Professional Baseball.

The Mariners signed Cuban outfielder Maikol Rodriguez for $600,000, and Tampa Bay added Cuban-born Kadil Rubio. Ayden Johnson became one of the highest-paid Bahamian signees ever.

Trainer Partnership Program helps elevate international standards

Many of the top 2025 prospects trained with certified trainers under MLB’s partnership initiative, including Cristian Batista of Niche Baseball Academy and Daniel Brito of Paulino Baseball Academy. These programs bring structure to the international development pipeline, giving teams better access to scouting and more reliable training and medical evaluations.

The path from Top 50 prospect to MLB stardom remains uncertain

Only six players from MLBPipeline’s inaugural 2012 Top 30 International Prospects list reached the Major Leagues, and just eight of the 29 prospects not named Shohei Ohtani from the 2017 class have debuted in MLB. Among the few to reach the Majors from 2012 were notable names like Nomar Mazara, Ronald Guzmán, and Jorge Alfaro. More recently, Jasson Domínguez — one of the most-hyped No. 1 international prospects ever — made his Yankees debut in 2023. Time will tell which members of the 2025 class will follow. But the volume of global success stories now in MLB — from Elly De La Cruz to Fernando Tatis Jr. — underscores why this list matters.

Complete List of MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 International Prospects and Bonuses
#1. Roki Sasaki, RHP, Japan: Los Angeles Dodgers ($6,500,000)
#2. Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, SS, Dominican Republic: San Francisco Giants ($2,997,500)
#3. Elian Peña, SS, Dominican Republic: New York Mets ($5,000,000)
#4. Cris Rodriguez, OF, Dominican Republic: Detroit Tigers ($3,197,500)
#5. Andrew Salas, SS/OF, United States/Venezuela: Miami Marlins ($3,700,000)
#6. Yorger Bautista, OF, Venezuela: Seattle Mariners ($2,100,000)
#7. Kevin Alvarez, OF, Cuba: Houston Astros ($2,000,000)
#8. Dorian Soto, SS, Dominican Republic: Boston Red Sox ($1,400,000)
#9. Maykel Coret, OF, Dominican Republic: Tampa Bay Rays ($1,600,000)
#10. Juan Cabada, SS, Dominican Republic: Chicago Cubs ($1,500,000)
#11. Mani Cedeno, SS, Dominican Republic: New York Yankees ($2,500,000)
#12. Ayden Johnson, SS, Bahamas: Athletics ($1,500,000)

#13. Wilfri De La Cruz, SS/3B, Dominican Republic: Chicago Cubs ($2,300,000)
#14. Brayan Cortesia, SS, Venezuela: Washington Nationals ($1,920,000)
#15. Diego Tornes, OF, Cuba: Atlanta Braves ($2,497,500)
#16. Darwing Ozuna, OF, Dominican Republic: Athletics ($850,000)

#17. Gabriel Davalillo, C, Venezuela: Los Angeles Angels ($2,000,000)

#18. Liberts Aponte, SS, Venezuela: Cincinnati Reds ($1,900,000)
#19. Kendry Martínez, SS, Dominican Republic: Seattle Mariners ($2,500,000)
#20. Raymer Medina, SS, Dominican Republic: Tampa Bay Rays ($1,100,000)
#21. Jhoan De La Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic: San Diego Padres ($1,000,000)
#22. Cristopher Polanco, SS, Dominican Republic: Toronto Blue Jays ($2,297,500)
#23. Johan De Los Santos, SS, Dominican Republic: Pittsburgh Pirates ($2,250,000)
#24. Santiago León, SS, Venezuela: Minnesota Twins ($1,697,500)
#25. Djean Macares, OF, Aruba: San Francisco Giants ($1,100,000)

#26. Carlos Taveras, OF, Dominican Republic: Minnesota Twins ($1,200,000)
#27. Elian De La Cruz, OF, Dominican Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks ($1,100,000)
#28. Royelny Strop, OF, Dominican Republic: St. Louis Cardinals ($1,400,000)
#29. Elorky Rodriguez, OF, Dominican Republic: Texas Rangers ($1,097,500)
#30. Warel Solano, SS, Dominican Republic: Tampa Bay Rays ($1,050,000)
#31. Moises Marchán, C, Venezuela: Kansas City Royals ($802,500)
#32. Harold Rivas, OF, Venezuela: Boston Red Sox ($950,000)
#33. Alejandro Cruz, 3B, Cuba: Chicago White Sox ($2,000,000)
#34. Larry Suero, 2B/3B, Dominican Republic: Colorado Rockies ($425,000)

#35. Deivid Coronil, SS, Venezuela: San Diego Padres ($900,000)
#36. Kenny Fenelon, OF, Dominican Republic: Milwaukee Brewers ($1,300,000)
#37. Kenly Hunter, OF, Nicaragua: St. Louis Cardinals ($700,000)

#38. Warren Calcaño, SS, Dominican Republic: Kansas City Royals ($1,847,500)
#39. Carlos Alvarez, LHP, Dominican Republic: San Diego Padres ($1,000,000)

#40. Kevin Defrank, RHP, Dominican Republic: Miami Marlins ($560,000)
#41. Hiverson López, C, Venezuela: Cleveland Guardians ($900,000)
#42. Brailyn Antunez, OF, Venezuela: Milwaukee Brewers ($900,000)
#43. Haritzon Castillo, SS, Venezuela: Minnesota Twins ($947,500)
#44. Nieves Izaguirre, SS, Venezuela: Philadelphia Phillies ($800,000)
#45. Cristopher Acosta, SS, Dominican Republic: Milwaukee Brewers ($1,100,000)
#46. Sadbiel Delzine, RHP, Venezuela: Boston Red Sox ($500,000)
#47. José Peña, SS, Dominican Republic: Baltimore Orioles ($997,500)
#48. Heins Brito, SS, Dominican Republic: Cleveland Guardians ($825,000)
#49. Ramcell Medina, SS, Dominican Republic: Kansas City Royals ($947,500)
#50. Teilon Serrano, OF, Dominican Republic: Minnesota Twins ($847,500)

 

(AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

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