Rays 2025 international prospects signing tracker

The 2025 IFA interval opened on January 15, and whereas some finalists for star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki haven’t been capable of spend, the Rays have spent almost their total $7,555,500 allotment within the first 24 hours.

Curiously, the Rays thought they’d be a prime contender to signal Sasaki, however in accordance with Marc Topkin, the entrance workplace believes, “the stadium points put the staff in a “tough spot.””

“We now have a superb relationship with Roki’s agent (Joel Wolfe), and Roki is a really large fan of (pitching coach) Kyle Snyder,” Rays worldwide scouting director Steve Miller stated Wednesday. “I do know that the conversations with (supervisor Kevin) Money and Kyle and (baseball operations president) Erik (Neander), the conversations went nice.

“The hurricane, I feel, put us in a very tough spot. Dropping the Trop, not realizing the place we’re going to be, put us in a tough spot with Roki. However I do assume that (Sasaki) actually appreciated the conversations that (they) had right here.”

[Tampa Bay Times]

You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the Rays pitch on the hyperlink, which notes if Roki has a change of coronary heart the Rays might commerce for 60% of their bonus pool to open up $4.5 million in spending, however that appears unlikely.

As a substitute the Rays targeted on twelve key signings, which we’ll element under, descending by the greenback quantity agreed. The group is led by Coret, who the group views as their prime signing and a five-tool centerfielder. He signed for just below the $1.75 million the Rays gave to final yr’s prime signee RF Leonardo Pineda, however none examine to 2023’s chief LF Brailer Guerrero.

Let’s dive in.

CF Maykel Coret – $1.6MDominican Republic

6-foot-4, 185 kilos with immense bodily upside. It’s a powerful however nonetheless lean, long-limbed body with large bat pace to placed on a powerful present in batting follow, exhibiting the potential for 60 or 70 uncooked energy sooner or later. Coret’s lengthy arms create swing-and-miss danger, however he’s not a uncooked, all-or-nothing hitter both.

[Baseball America]

Coret is likely one of the most bodily spectacular prototypes in the whole class, that includes an explosive swing that generates laborious contact with exit velocities over 100 mph.

[Francis Romero]

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Energy: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 65 | Discipline: 55 | Total: 55

A tough-nosed participant who earns appreciable reward for his make-up off the sphere, the lengthy and lean Coret additionally receives reward for his ardour and dedication to the game. Cerebral in his on-field actions, almost the whole lot about his total sport jumps off the web page for a participant but to enter professional ball.

A right-handed hitter who possesses above-average bat pace and energy, Coret has proven a capability to get to that extra-base pop in video games, whereas additionally discerning which pitches he ought to lay off. Already 6-foot-4 and 190 kilos, Coret has room to proceed filling out his physique. He ranks within the prime 94th percentile amongst his class with a max exit velocity of 104 mph and has been clocked at 6.6 seconds on the 60-yard sprint.

Like most younger outfield standouts, Coret will get nearly all of his reps in heart subject, the place he has a fast first step, will get good reads and is ready to monitor the ball with effectivity. Couple that with an arm that has already been clocked at 96 mph on throws from the grass – with the accuracy to pair with it – and there’s cause to imagine he’ll get each alternative to stay up the center as his professional profession will get underway.

[MLB Pipeline]

“He’s the man we’d contemplate having as excessive, if not the best, ceiling within the class,” Miller stated. “We expect finally he has an opportunity to have top-of-the-scale-type energy. He’s a plus defender in centerfield; he covers lots of floor. And he can actually throw. … He’s one we’re actually enthusiastic about.”

[…] a cousin of Rays minor-league pitcher Roberto Medina.

[Tampa Bay Times]

SS Eliomar Garces – $1.6MVenezuela

whereas he’s not that bodily, his protection and bat-to-ball abilities proceed to face out. He’s a switch-hitter with a contact-oriented method from his quick swing and he doesn’t broaden the strike zone typically.

[Baseball America]

it’s Garces whom some membership evaluators imagine may very well be one of the best defensive shortstop of the bunch, if not in the whole 2025 class. A bit undersized at 5-foot-9 and 160 kilos, the Venezuela native has the look of a long-term shortstop defensively.

A switch-hitter, Garces has top-of-the-line contact abilities from each side of the dish. Outfitted with a degree swing — significantly from the left aspect — and modest leg kick that permits him to faucet into some blossoming extra-base pop, there’s ample room for his all-around offensive profile to develop as he joins professional ball. He’s additionally a tick above common on the basepaths, which can assist him carve out an early area of interest as a speedy slick-fielding infielder.

[Adam Berry, mlb.com]

SS Raymer Medina – $1.1MDominican Republicnephew of former big-leaguer Cristian Guzman

Medina is “only a actually well-rounded shortstop who can hit from each side of the plate, has some energy from each side, goes to be actually regular defensively and has defensive versatility to play wherever,”

[Tampa Bay Times]

good physique management and a fast switch with the arm for shortstop. He’s a switch-hitter with a unfastened, fluid swing from each side and an aggressive method seeking to drive the ball for harm

[Baseball America]

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Energy: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Discipline: 60 | Total: 50

A switch-hitter typically thought-about undersized on the circuit in his youthful years, Medina has an aggressive swing from each side of the dish. He at all times performed greater than his stature, and with a compact construct, the ball jumps off his bat equally properly right- and left-handed. He will probably be 17 years previous when the worldwide signing interval opens and is already exhibiting indicators of solid-to-average energy as he continues to garner in-game reps.

Evaluators steadfastly imagine Medina is a surefire shortstop in the long run. Whilst he has added measurement, his above-average palms, toes and actions all bode properly for longevity on the place. He catches the ball extraordinarily properly and boasts an above-average arm that has been clocked at 92 mph throughout the infield. He makes the defensive aspect of the sport look simple.

[MLB Pipeline]

He’ll play his total first professional season as a 17-year-old, along with his body having stuffed out considerably over the previous few years.

Medina boasts an aggressive swing and the ball jumps off his bat equally properly right- and left-handed. He’s already exhibiting indicators of solid-to-average energy as he continues to garner in-game reps.

However up the center with the glove is the place evaluators are most enthusiastic about Medina. Drawing one of many few 60 fielding grades within the 2025 worldwide class, the native of Baní is a surefire shortstop as he will get his professional profession underway. With palms and actions that make taking part in the place simple, he’s additionally ripped off throws clocked as excessive as 92 mph throughout the infield.

[Adam Berry, mlb.com]

IF Warel Solano – $1.05MDominican Republic

Solano is usually thought-about an offense-first shortstop with above-average bat pace. Whereas his selectivity might want to improve as he faces higher pitching, the uncooked instruments are there with exit velocities at 102 mph and blossoming energy coming into his 6-foot right-handed-hitting body.

[Adam Berry, mlb.com]

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Energy: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Discipline: 45 | Total: 45

Outfitted with a barely uppercut swing path, there’s optimism that the blossoming energy he has proven will rise as he continues so as to add weight and expertise. He has proven an above-average capacity to make contact, and whereas selectivity will have to be refined as he enters the professional ranks, the ball jumps off his bat when he will get his barrel via the zone.

[…] above-average arm, and already standing at 6 toes tall, there’s cause to imagine he could also be suited to the new nook long run as he stacks up inside a corporation’s farm system. He nonetheless has better-than-average palms and catches the whole lot properly, lending credence to the thought he’s an infielder, albeit one whose bat is the first software to look at.

[MLB Pipeline]

unorthodox parts to the swing, however he’s usually on time and drives the ball properly now with potential common energy. Solano has a powerful arm and will stick within the infield however isn’t a lock to stay at shortstop

[Baseball America]

above-average bat pace and the potential to hit 25 residence runs.

[Tampa Bay Times]

SS Emmanuel Cedeno – $500KDominican Republic

Cedeno is “a particularly high-energy participant” who will probably be a employees and fan favourite, and is nicknamed “Gatin,” which suggests “little cat”

[Tampa Bay Times]

To not be confused with Yankees signee Manny Cedeno, who ought to command a bonus 7x what Emmanuel Cedeno signed.

C Brainerh Palacios – $350KVenezuela

skilled by the daddy of Ethan Salas, one of many sport’s prime catching prospects, and has “very thrilling” two-way abilities.

[Tampa Bay Times]

CF Emile Torres – $300KDominican Republic

Torres joins Coret “as in all probability probably the most tooled-up gamers” of the group.

[Tampa Bay Times]

CF Kadil Rubio – $160KCuba

C Ivan Torres – $150KVenezuela

RHP Anderson Alvarez – $100KVenezuelanephew of former big-leaguer Henderson Alvarez

SS Carlos Salazar – $70KVenezuela

LHP Jensy Duran – $10KDominican Republic

Others reportedly signing with the Rays

Ezequiel Martinez, RHP, Dominican Republic
Bladimir Figueredo, C, Venezuela
Isaac Vegas, RHP, Venezuela
Santiago Figueroa, C, Venezuela