The new IFA signing period begins tomorrow, and as @Snake Diggit mentioned, the Astros are linked to two Cubans (big surprise there), outfielders Luis Rives and Cesar Yanquiel Hernandez. Per Fangraphs, they are the #27 and #47 ranked prospects in the class. Baseball America is a bit higher on Hernandez, ranking him #22. Ben Badler also notes that Houston is linked to Dominican OF Anderson Paula, Dominican SS Francheli Silverio, and Dominican-American OF Amauri Ramirez. Paula is described as a power-over-hit outfielder. Silverio has a quick swing with some present gap power. Ramirez moved to the Dominican Republic from Pennsylvania and he would've been eligible for the 2025 draft had he stayed in the US. Pedro Leon's brother, Luis, is also eligible to sign, although he's probably not expected to sign at the beginning of the period. Like Pedro, Luis is also a shortstop/outfielder.
Juan Soto was #22 in his class. Then he was in the major leagues at age 19. Crazy that even with all the advanced analytics and everything it's still such an inexact science.
Astros pool is $5.925M this year. I’m hoping for 3 big bonus guys in the $1M-$2M range then another 4-6 guys in the $300k-$700k range.
I forget, how does the international signing bonus pool work? What is the threshold where you can still sign guys beyond (or excluded from) the bonus pool limit?
I just read somewhere you can still sign guys for up to $10,000 without it counting against the bonus pool.
From the BA tracker: Cesar Yanquiel Hernandez, OF, Cuba (Scouting report here) Anderson Paula, OF, Dominican Republic Francheli Silverio, SS, Dominican Republic Amauri Ramirez, OF, USA/Dominican Republic Samuel Brito, SS/OF, Venezuela
Pic in tweet got cut off C Alexi Quiroz, Venezuela OF Amauri Ramirez, Dominican Republic (by way of Lancaster, PA) RHP Angel Peralta, DR OF Yanquiel Cesar Hernandez, Cuba RHP Cristian Navarro, Panama IF Eduardito Lopez, DR IF Franchely Silvero, DR RHP Kevin Santana, DR OF Luis Rives, Cuba
Well we are going to know how good Astros international scouting director Brian Rodgers is the next couple of years. This draft was entirely his baby, and so have the last couple been. It will be sink or swim for him, as he is running the show.
