The international signing period began this year on Jan. 15. International prospects 25 and under can negotiate and sign contracts with Major League Baseball organizations until Dec. 15, 2025. For international prospects, signing a professional contract is the first step to making an MLB debut.
Japanese starting pitcher Roki Sasaki was this year’s Number One ranked international prospect. He is 23 and considered an amateur because he did not accumulate nine years of Nippon Professional Baseball service time. Sasaki signed a $6.5 million bonus with the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday.
According to Francys Romero on X, as of January 17, 464 players agreed to contracts with an MLB organization. Of these, 209 are from Venezuela, and 201 are from the Dominican Republic. Of course, more players have signed contracts since last Friday and will continue throughout the remainder of the signing period.
MLB International Signing Period 2024-25 (Official signings as of January 17)
Total players signed: 464
Venezuela 🇻🇪 209
Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 201
Cuba 🇨🇺 14— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 23, 2025
Thus far, other countries from which players hail include Cuba, the Bahamas, Colombia, Mexico, and Nicaragua, among several others. However, a much smaller number of players from these countries sign deals than prospects from the D.R. and Venezuela. This bears the question: why do two countries dominate the international landscape?
First, there are a plethora of baseball academies in the D.R. and Venezuela. Teenagers can train from a young age and eventually develop enough to be recognized by international MLB scouts and sign contracts at 16 and 17 years old. Most academies run by MLB organizations provide classes that teach players multiple subjects, including basic English.
Baseball is also considered a national sport in the two countries. Players develop a love for the game at a young age and often take the sport seriously, whether playing for a team or doing individual training. Other sports like soccer and basketball are popular in the D.R. and Venezuela, but those do not have the same cultural impact as baseball.
Money is also a driving factor. Players look to provide their families with a more stable financial situation and put pen to paper on a signing bonus with a professional baseball team. International prospects can earn anywhere from $10,000 to millions of dollars.
Elian Pena, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, agreed to a $5 million signing bonus with the New York Mets on the opening day of the 2025 international signing period. It was the largest contract on the first day of the period and the biggest bonus the Mets have ever given to an international prospect. That’s life-changing money for a 17 year-old and his family.
Lastly, prospects in Latin America are heavily scouted year-round. The Amateur Scouting League gives 15-18-year-old prospects in the Dominican Republic the opportunity to show off their talent in front of MLB scouts. MLB.com’s Sam Dykstra reported in 2023 that more than 500 players play in the league yearly. The regular season runs from the beginning of May to the end of June, giving players ample time to develop their game and play in front of MLB scouts.
For now, players from the D.R. and Venezuela dominate the international signing period. However, the everlasting growth of international baseball could increase the number of players signing contracts from various countries around the world.
WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Bench coach Ramon Vazquez of the Boston Red Sox board the bus at jetBlue Park at Fenway South before the 2024 Dominican Republic Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Estadio Quisqueya on March 8, 2024 in Santon Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
