2026 MLB International Signing Day

There is no day on the international baseball calendar quite like Jan. 15 -- it’s the Super Bowl, a Taylor Swift concert and a New Year’s celebration all rolled into one.

Thursday’s opening of the signing period means amateur international prospects can officially put pen to paper and call themselves professional ballplayers. It’s a testament to years of hard work not only for the players, but their families, their coaches and the extensive network of scouts and evaluators who work for all 30 Major League organizations.

While there is no Roki Sasaki-sized force at the top of the rankings this go-round, this year’s class boasts its share of potential stars. You can check out video reports, scouting grades and much more for each of 2026’s Top 50 international prospects below.

Why should you lock in on the names to know? Take one look at last year’s pennant race: from perennial All-Stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr., José Ramírez and Juan Soto to potential future MVP candidates Julio Rodríguez, Elly De La Cruz and Jackson Chourio, the imprint made by Latin American players continues to grow.

Looking to the future, three of the current top six overall prospects all came from the international market -- Leo De Vries (Athletics), Jesús Made (Brewers) and Sebastian Walcott (Rangers). Having all hit Double-A by the age of 18, the trio is a microcosm of the future of the game: young, exhilarating and supremely talented.

No. 1: Luis Hernandez, SS (Venezuela)

Hernandez is making history as the first No. 1 overall international prospect to have been born in Venezuela since our rankings began in 2012. (Ethan Salas, the No. 1 prospect in 2023, was born in Florida before moving to Venezuela as a youngster.) As a 15-year-old, Hernandez excelled in the Venezuelan Major League, hitting .346 across 104 at-bats. Gifted with immense physical projection and a laundry list of impressive tools, he also earns plus marks for his work ethic and all-around baseball IQ. More »

No. 2: Wandy Asigen, SS (Dominican Republic)

A standout performer despite consistently playing against some of the Dominican’s top talent from a young age, Asigen has been heralded as having arguably the most advanced offensive profile among his class. It’s a special left-handed swing, having posted exit velocities north of 110 mph while repeatedly finding the barrel in game action. He has a nose for the ball defensively and his wheels -- which have been clocked at 6.5 seconds on 60-yard dash times -- enable him to cover tons of ground laterally. More »

No. 3: Francisco Renteria, OF (Venezuela)

At just 15 years old, Renteria went 8-for-28 with three doubles -- collecting hits off two former big leaguers -- during a stint in the Venezuelan Major League last summer. He has earned comparisons physically and offensively to Konnor Griffin, the Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick who ascended to No. 1 overall prospect status in his first year of pro ball. Scouts think the 6-foot-3 outfielder, who also has an above-average run tool, has the actions and all-around athleticism to stick in center field long term. More »

No. 4: Angeibel Gomez, OF (Venezuela)

Gomez has a large and physical frame, leading one evaluator to believe that had he been born stateside, he would be an SEC-caliber wide receiver recruit on the football field. Equipped with a right-handed swing that repeatedly generates hard contact, Gomez won MVP of the Amateur Scouting League in 2024 by hitting .370 with a 1.216 OPS, leading the circuit with 10 RBIs and 21 total bases across eight games. He plays an excellent center field and has occasionally ripped off throws to bases nearing triple digits. More »

No. 5: Johenssy Colome, SS (Dominican Republic)

The son of former MLB reliever Jesus Colome, Johenssy is one of the most tooled-up members of the ‘26 international class. He consistently leverages his swing so well that one evaluator mentioned the most recent occasion on which he saw an international prospect continually get to his launch point in such a manner was Guerrero Jr. Defensively, Colome shows fluid movements at shortstop and a strong arm that would serve him well if he shifts over to the hot corner as his 6-foot-2 frame fills out. More »

Breakdown

We’re less two months away from the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the game’s preeminent global showcase. But look across the Major and Minor Leagues and you’ll see players from across the planet starring on the diamond. There are 10 countries other than the United States represented on the current Top 100 Prospects list alone.

While Venezuela holds down three of the top four spots in the 2026 international class, the Dominican Republic again rules the roost when it comes to sheer quantity among the Top 50. Thirty-three members of the list hail from the D.R., with 14 coming from Venezuela and three from Cuba. Position-wise, there are 26 infielders, 15 outfielders, four catchers, three pitchers and two outfielder/infielders.

Who is eligible?

There are guidelines for signing international prospects. A player is eligible to sign with a Major League organization between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year. In practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009 (and older), will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible.

How do the mechanics of the signing period work?

Each organization enters the signing period with bonus pool money to sign international amateur free agents. The size of that pool is determined by a number of factors, including market size and revenue, as well the signing of Major League free agents who declined a qualifying offer. Trades, in which international bonus money can be dealt in increments of $250,000, also affect bonus pool sizes. But a team can not spend more than its allotment, no matter what -- there is no option to exceed the limit and pay a tax, for example.

While teams are allowed to trade away as much of their pool as they choose, they can acquire only 60 percent of their original pool.

However, signing players for a bonus of $10,000 or less does not count against a bonus pool. It's possible, therefore, that a team could spend its entire bonus pool on one player and still sign many other players in relatively small deals.

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