Last week I talked about the importance of taking calculated risks in your fantasy baseball prospect drafts. I also focused on trying to uncover players with superstar upside before your competition, and the importance of that can’t be stated enough. Particularly with the influx of elite young talent taking over in recent years, some of these teenagers are not as far away from making a fantasy impact as they used to be. There is risk selecting young players who have not proven themselves yet, but the reward of landing the next great prospect will make it all worth it. The better leagues you play in the more essential this will become.
I used a few examples of players I have selected in prospect drafts before they were known commodities. There is one similarity among all those players that I did not touch on. They were all originally signed during the International signing period as teenagers. The number of promising prospects coming from that relatively small group of players is astounding. Here is a list of five noteworthy prospects that came from the international market each year between 2015-2018.
2015 – Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Fernando Tatis Jr, Cristian Pache, Brailyn Marquez
2016 – Luis Garcia, Gabriel Arias, Adrian Morejon, Freudis Nova, Jeison Rosario
2017 – Wander Franco, Julio Rodriguez, Kristian Robinson, Ronny Mauricio, George Valera
2018 – Marco Luciano, Noelvi Marte, Luisangel Acuna, Orelvis Martinez, Luis Matos
In looking over those names, we have some of the youngest stars in Major League baseball as well as some of the most intriguing fantasy prospects. 2016 sticks out as a relatively weak year, but that being said, if you had been picking strictly from the international pool for those four seasons, you would be sitting on a potential goldmine right now. I will acknowledge it takes some good scouting and a bit of luck since some of these players were not ranked at the top of their respective classes upon signing. But just the fact so many intriguing players are coming from this group deserves our attention, particularly since they are rarely valued or drafted as elite prospects after signing.
Today I want to talk about five prospects signed during the 2019 International signing period. Normally this would be the time to discuss the 2020 International signings but that has been delayed until January. I expect most of these players will be ranked conservatively entering next season, but had the 2020 season played out as normal, I suspect one or more of them would have become a consensus top prospect. There is one glaring omission from the list in Jasson Dominguez. In past seasons he would be at the top of this list, but the secret is already out. He is ranked significantly higher upon signing than any of the previous players I listed above. This is more about discussing lesser known players who have the potential to join Dominguez atop prospect lists one day.
Erick Pena, OF, Royals
After receiving a nearly $4 million signing bonus, many evaluators had him as a top 5 signing from the class, though I personally have him ranked second behind the highly touted Jasson Dominguez. Already listed at 6-foot-3. 180 pounds, he is an above-average athlete who should have no problem playing a corner outfield spot on defense. Offensively he has a good understanding of the strike zone and elite bat speed, two major components I look for in young players. Just as impressive, he has been praised for his makeup and maturity. Some members of the Royals organization have compared him to a young Carlos Beltran with the potential to become the face of the franchise. I would highly recommend using a minor league pick on Pena before his stock rises further. He shows all the necessary components to become a four-category monster who chips in 8-12 steals.
Maximo Acosta, SS, Rangers
Acosta signed as an undersized shortstop for $1.65 million. After signing, talent evaluators were able to watch him play in the Dominican Republic and came away impressed. Now listed at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, many now consider the signing bonus to be a bargain for the Rangers. Hailing from the same hometown as Gleyber Torres, there have been several comparisons made with the Yankee All-Star. He is praised for his work ethic, high baseball IQ and mental makeup. He is a solid athlete as well, with a good hit tool and enough speed to matter. Acosta seems to have the intangibles needed to become a top-level professional. With the development of his body over the last year his upside is that of an elite fantasy shortstop. With the recent influx of high-level shortstop prospects coming from the international market he profiles as one of the next in line.
Hedbert Perez, OF, Brewers
Listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, he is the son of former Major League player Roberto Perez. Signed out of Venezuela, he is strong, athletic and can already hit the ball with a lot of authority. Like Acosta, he began turning heads in the Dominican Republic after signing and evaluators began viewing him as one of the best prospects from the class. Perez does not show a glaring weakness in his game and has the potential to become a coveted 5-tool player. Still under the radar in dynasty leagues, he shows an advanced understanding of the strike zone and ultimately has all the tools and pedigree necessary to explode up prospect lists once minor league games begin again. A case can be made that he is already the best fantasy prospect in the Milwaukee system before seeing a professional plate appearance. That says a lot about his upside, as well as the current status of the Brewers farm system.
Luis Rodriguez, OF, Dodgers
Signed for nearly $2.7 million out of Venezuela. Listed at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, he has a good frame that should be able to add muscle as he matures. A right-handed hitter with elite bat speed as well as an above-average runner, though I wouldn’t expect steals to be a huge part of his game down the line. He is capable of playing centerfield but will likely move to a corner outfield spot. He seems to have a strong work ethic and good understanding of the strike zone. Considering the Dodgers organization is one of the best at developing talent, he is in an advantageous situation to reach his potential. If everything clicks, it would not be surprising to see him atop the Dodgers prospect rankings as soon as next season, with the upside of a four category stud in his prime.
Robert Puason, SS, Athletics
Anytime a cash-strapped team like Oakland gives a teenager over $5 million to sign with them it tends to grab my attention. Puason is a switch-hitting shortstop with plus speed and the potential to develop power. He is flashy with elite size for his position, listed at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds. He has an athletic and wiry frame which helps him profile as an advanced defender who should have no problem sticking at shortstop long-term. There are some concerns that his hit tool will take more time to develop than other players on this list. That being said, the upside here is through the roof if he is able to quiet his critics. The news he will be part of the Oakland 60-man player pool as a 17-year old shows the immense belief the organization has in him.
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