[SPEAKER_00]: Hello and welcome to future projection this episode 156 of the show on Callous Clause are joined by Ben Badler.

[SPEAKER_00]: What's up, Ben?

[SPEAKER_00]: How you doing?

[SPEAKER_02]: Very good.

[SPEAKER_02]: Very good.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's a January 14th.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're recording this the day before the start of the international signing period.

[SPEAKER_02]: And it's busy, but it's a lot less hectic than last year when we had Roki Sasaki making everything on hold for a lot of teams at players, changing teams at the last minute.

[SPEAKER_02]: So a few last minute adjustments here and there still.

[SPEAKER_02]: But [SPEAKER_02]: a lot less chaotic and a lot less stressful for for me and probably for certainly for the Dodgers and for the potteries and the blue jays and and just for a lot of other teams out there that are very very eager and obviously a lot of players and then their families very excited to have January 15th getting her and have all these players finally after [SPEAKER_02]: You know, a year or two years, three years, four years of having these agreements in place.

[SPEAKER_02]: In some cases, it's going to actually sign their contract and make it official.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's awesome.

[SPEAKER_00]: So this show is basically going to serve as our giant preview.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you guys get the download on international signing day, we're planning to go through every single team and break down their classes.

[SPEAKER_00]: Have been, give you guys a little insight into who the players are to know just more on the, on the classes to compliment all the coverage that he has on the website.

[SPEAKER_00]: So before we get into the conversation, we'll just reiterate if you're listening to this podcast and you're interested in the international classes, you definitely need to check out.

[SPEAKER_00]: Ben's work on the site at baseball america.com.

[SPEAKER_00]: We've got our international bonus board up Ben's going to have breakdowns for each team, all the players needed to know each of those signing classes, follow him on socials throughout the day if you want to see live updates on player signings and team signings throughout the day.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's always a very fun day in the world of international prospects and nobody covers it quite like Ben and I get to basically sit back and [SPEAKER_00]: A lot of him to break down all these teams.

[SPEAKER_00]: So Ben Apologies that you have to carry a little bit more on today's episode because when we do our all.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's the usual for our cards on that.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, just more of the same.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're definitely used to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, let's just hop right into.

[SPEAKER_00]: We've got a lot to cover because the central teams never seem to go first.

[SPEAKER_00]: We've heard we start with.

[SPEAKER_00]: The central division, so up first is AL central.

[SPEAKER_00]: I guess let's just start off with the guardians.

[SPEAKER_00]: They've been a pretty productive team in terms of international signings what can we look forward to in their class this year, Ben.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they have they are they have one of the biggest international or they have the biggest international bonus pool this year, you know, tied with a handful of clubs.

[SPEAKER_02]: So some years, you never really see, you know, some years even signing guys for a million plus and, you know, guys like Jason Cheerio or Welp in Francesca or on Hell Hunnau and guys they've had.

[SPEAKER_02]: I know some success with, I think Cherios gonna turn it around for them pretty soon.

[SPEAKER_02]: This year they don't have one player that they're gonna give a million dollars or more to this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're gonna spread it around have a deep class and I should caveat all of this by saying like, hey, we're recording this on the afternoon of Wednesday to 14th.

[SPEAKER_02]: So if someone ends up getting a raise or some deal changes or something, and you see on the 15th, that's why.

[SPEAKER_02]: But they definitely have a deep class.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, if you're a guardians fan, look, you know, they target it, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: It's high contact hitters.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's a lot of guys who are a lot of switch hitters or [SPEAKER_02]: Well, left handed hitters, and when you see their team in the Dominican summary every year, it's, it's never like the biggest, most physical team out there.

[SPEAKER_02]: They definitely don't shy away from smaller players, but the smaller guys, they do even like a, like, a juniper casserole, and I don't feel they sign that event as well a couple of years ago, like, [SPEAKER_02]: They can always put the bat to the ball for the most part.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're not out there taking a bunch of super-tooled up guys who are swinging a miss and a ton.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that's the case for their class this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: So they're big as bonus guys going to be as Vert Ray Noso, who is, I don't know if you can guess this Carlos, but a switch hitting shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: Shocker.

[SPEAKER_02]: He actually is a little bit more [SPEAKER_02]: bigger or more physical, certainly like a bigger, stronger body type than a lot of their other signings historically, you know, six foot, 200 pounds, so definitely an offensive oriented type guy, a lot of feel for hitting from both sides of the plate, and with some impact there too, it's not just like a light slap hitting guy, at least I don't expect him to be that, you know, whether he stays a short stop or not, [SPEAKER_02]: You know, to be determined could be a guy who wants to move in around second base, third base, potentially, but just a good offensive threat.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think, you know, he'll certainly be one of the top players in that in the class for them this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think the other guy who jumps out for me is Corel Naranho, who's a.

[SPEAKER_02]: another Dominican shortstop and can you guess how he hits Carlos?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna guess he's a small switch hitting contact oriented bat.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is a five foot nine, a 150 pounds switch hitter.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like we draw it up.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know I saw him play and like you look at him you're like, well that's it's kind of a little guy, but like you watch him play.

[SPEAKER_02]: a lot more or if you watch and play a lot he he he performs like he has a really good [SPEAKER_02]: really good just overall game awareness makes a lot of contact.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's it's a pretty short quick swing both sides like you're not going to get a lot of power like Rinoza's going to be more the more impact in terms of the damage that he does for extra base hits compared to Naronhobe, but you know smaller strikes own doesn't chase much so components there to get on base hopefully [SPEAKER_02]: You know, whereas Renault and some of these other guys that are in their class might end up moving around the infield.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think Naronho has a pretty good chance to stay at shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: Because this is very quick, very instinctive.

[SPEAKER_02]: He does have a strong arm like you can see and make some challenging plays over there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, like, is he going to stay at short stuff for sure?

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_02]: These guys are 16 to 17 years old.

[SPEAKER_02]: And there are very few guys.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're like, oh, no, like 100% like true short stuff.

[SPEAKER_02]: I feel like we say like slam dunk a lot of times.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like, oh, this guy's a slam dunk this or that.

[SPEAKER_02]: And like.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, slam dunk should be like 99 for like, I don't know how many dunks you make, but it's 99 point something, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think our batting averages that high on our slam dunk sometimes, but anyway, yeah, high probability short stops which it or puts the bats the ball from both sides to play.

[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, overall, and look like we have scouting reports for [SPEAKER_02]: hundreds of players in addition like our top 100 bonus board on the site does a scouting ports on you know every player signing for $500,000 or more just overall we have the report to each team so we have we have more on all these teams classes than what I'm be able to get to you on a podcast today but those those are two of the [SPEAKER_02]: I was a bigger but like not physically bigger but two two with a two with a headline or a watch from yeah from this class but it's okay for them this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it sounds like the norm for Cleveland.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right.

[SPEAKER_00]: How about the tigers?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, tigers.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they got a few guys at the top of their class this year, who are pretty interesting.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Manuel Bolivar is a Venezuelan catcher who's going to get the biggest bonus of any Venezuelan or of any catcher this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I guess all of the, [SPEAKER_02]: pretty much all of the top get you all the catch up in this way.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's come from Venezuela.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, every team has some Venezuelan catcher in their classes here that they like.

[SPEAKER_02]: Who's some different skill sets, but I think we're both of our sets himself apart is just the power that he has and the arm strength that he has.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he was playing, he's like a super early standout in this class.

[SPEAKER_02]: I like he was playing on there.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, in the U-15 World Cup, she's like three, almost 40 years ago now and you've 13 years old, so plan up like two age groups are already one of the better.

[SPEAKER_02]: catchers in Venezuela at that time, and it's big time, bad speed, big time power, you know, can you keep the swing and miss in check?

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe I don't know, like we'll have a much better sense but hand to the Dominican Summer League.

[SPEAKER_02]: I probably had some quite the same questions of like, you know, with Gabrielle Davileo, who was the top catcher signs last year?

[SPEAKER_02]: out of an overall, I should say by the angels and he made a ton of contact, so if he can follow that path, that would be outstanding, and then he has just a huge arm behind the plane, and he's been catching for [SPEAKER_02]: for a long time, he was pretty athletically back there, so I don't really have much concern about him being able to stick there, but the draw is definitely the power with him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then Oscar Teneo, another Venezuelan prospect who's like the opposite in terms of body type from him.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's, you know, six to 165 pounds.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's just like really thin, slender player where you're just waiting on strength to come with him.

[SPEAKER_02]: But if you look at the actions on both sides of the ball, it's pretty good.

[SPEAKER_02]: I like the way that he moves at short stop.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's got good hands, good body control.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's he's got good footwork there too, so I think he's even a guy who I mean he runs well now he's in above average runner [SPEAKER_02]: But it's always hard to say with speed in terms of protecting that going up, but I would not be shot to be able to get in the tick faster, just when he gets stronger.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then the swaying is is pretty pretty interesting to switch hitter and get better from the right side.

[SPEAKER_02]: Just not a lot of like pat speed or power right now, but somebody were like, [SPEAKER_02]: you know, you put another 20, 30 pounds on him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I think you could see the tools take a jump up.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, please don't drink every time you hear Ben talk about switching shortstop on this podcast because you might die before it ends.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, at least we're done with the Guardian.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, all right, any others on the Tigers are sure we move on to the Royals.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, the Royals, so I'll give as we go through the pod, I'll get, I got like five classes that really jump out for me, like a target to say, like, oh, this team has the best class or that team has the, like every team has players that they're you're excited about.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I think the Royals in particular jump out for me.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I thought they had a good class last year, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: They signed Kendry Churio right in a picture out of Venezuela.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, we said coming into your head like, yeah, maybe a smaller bonus, but this guy's one of the best pictures in the classics stuff just kept going up and up and up and he's always a good control and I think you'll see him in our top 100 when it comes out next week.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's he's really, really good.

[SPEAKER_02]: And as good as he is and they got some other good players in that class to Freddie contraris really good right in a picture I like and [SPEAKER_02]: Ramsel Medina and Warren Calcanyo who got her a couple of short stops, but this year I think it's going to be even better I don't think they're going to have an arm as good as Kendrick Cheerio because that's just rare doesn't happen every year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, or every decade for for a team, but [SPEAKER_02]: But this year's class is really, really good for the royals.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that's a lot of it is just because of the top guy that they're signing, but there's some depth there as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: And the top guy they're getting is, and, and Jibel Gomez, who is a outfielder from Venezuela.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm sure as we go through the Dominican Summer League season, and we start to play in games, like we'll be able to start to poke more holes in all of these guys games.

[SPEAKER_02]: with him.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's it's it's pretty good.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like when he signs right away.

[SPEAKER_02]: I have an idea where I would rank him in their top 10 prospects.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's definitely in their top 10, and it's going to be pretty high up their top 10, because this guy's really exciting.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I thought Yandelle Ricardo, a couple of years back, was a good sign.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think this guy is even better, and I've seen him on multiple trips to the DRX.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's been training in the DR.

[SPEAKER_02]: But, I mean, six foot to like 180 pounds is always performed offensively at a really high level in games with a lot of bat speed driving the ball for extra base damage like the power now is there and you could see more coming where he could be a 25 plus home run guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: And every time I've seen him play, he makes like multiple defensive, highlight, type catches, it's, it's a really strong instincts in center field, he's a well above average runner, he's got a strong arm.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like, you know, we're always looking for, you know, just like well rounded players who can play premium positions who are athletes who have good tools and who can [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, maybe he goes out and like does hit 200 or something.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I look silly, but like, and I don't think that's going to happen.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's he's every just like well-rounded blend of, you know, tools, skills, athleticism, premium position.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he's not going to, I mean, he's going to get one of the biggest bonuses this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, Luis Hernandez from Venezuela is going to be the biggest bonus from the giants.

[SPEAKER_02]: If you want to make the case that he's the best player in Venezuela this year, [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: Every time you talk about him, I get more excited about him and I'll also just highlight the video that you have of him on the site is a must watch.

[SPEAKER_00]: So if you're a Royals fan and you want to know more, see more, Ben's got a really good clip up there to go with his scouting reports.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's definitely check that out.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so they got, I mean, they got him, they got Jayder Swara as who's a Cuban shortstop who's just like a really good player.

[SPEAKER_02]: Whereas if he was the number one player that you were signing, you'd be like, hey, yeah, all right.

[SPEAKER_01]: Good spot, super.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: Really good player.

[SPEAKER_02]: Shortstop was a good track record in Cuba has continued to hit pretty well in games in the Dominican Republic since he's been trained there.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if he's going to stay at shortstop, but I've seen guys who are much worse or were much worse than him at that age, at shortstop, go on to play a shortstop in the major leagues.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I think he does have pretty good feel for what he's doing.

[SPEAKER_02]: At the position, I just don't know, like body type wise, and then obviously like, [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_02]: Bobby, what you knew is going to be in Kansas City for a while, obviously it's going to be these guys are always away, but just a good player, and it just feels a little unfair to talk about him after going home as, but it's, there's like a good depth in this class to like, you know, if you've got to wear our scouting reports on their old class, like there's other good hitters in this class too, but obviously going as is the big [SPEAKER_00]: The headliner.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so Royals, one of your favorite classes this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move on to the twins.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, twins.

[SPEAKER_02]: They had, uh, I thought they had a good class last year too.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you had San Diego, Castellanos, one of the better pictures in Dominican Somerli, Thailand, Serrano, who they signed out, fielder, one of those later.

[SPEAKER_02]: flips who's going to sign with the Dodgers couple good infielders.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, this year again pretty heavily focused on the position players do have a couple good arms that are pretty interesting.

[SPEAKER_02]: We have them in their in their exciting class report this year, but the biggest guy to watch is [SPEAKER_02]: a short stop from Venezuela and you already know Carlos switch it her is a is a switch bet He's just he's really he's really strong like he's not like big and bulky he's like 6-1 185 like strength Bats bead loft Power like I think he generally puts together [SPEAKER_02]: good at bats too.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't expect a ton of swing and miss there again with all these guys like we'll see there are guys where I was just talking like a team today and they were like frustrated about one of their big signings from recent years who just isn't hitting and like never hit you know like we track all these at bats from these guys before they sign and this guy was like [SPEAKER_02]: I remember seeing this guy swing.

[SPEAKER_02]: I was like, yeah, it's a good swing.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is why scouting hitting is just so frustrating at times, because you could literally have a hit or who always perform for you, never song and miss.

[SPEAKER_00]: This swing itself is aesthetically pleasing and then sometimes it just doesn't happen and there's not always a clear reason why.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the hit tool is endlessly confusing and frustrating and difficult to project.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and it's, you know, these guys are in the Dominican Republic in the area facing amateur pitching usually.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're still seeing like pretty good velocity and it's highly variance on.

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe the competition they're seeing based on whether it's like in their academy versus, you know, games outside their academy, but yeah, still as far away as the Dominican summary is it still is a jump from amateur pitching their compared to the Dominican summer league, but yeah, I mean, Merlot good good that strong arm.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if it's short stop necessarily a long term.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm sure I'll get a chance to prove himself to be able to stay there as long as you can, but maybe it's second base, maybe it's third base.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think it's like it's got a good arm.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, certainly the arm strength to play anywhere, but wherever it is on the infield, like if if his bad is as expected, should be fine.

[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, that's the key for for him or almost all these guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, any other notables for twins are should move on and round out the AL central with the white socks.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, the white socks, they have an interesting class this year and it's tough because, so they changed over personnel or leadership in their international departments or David Keller who had been with the meds, they hired him to run their international department.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's like a little over a year ago now.

[SPEAKER_02]: you know like you jump it it's like like if you got you know if a team hires a new scouting director this year like the national's are hiring a new scouting director okay like he's going to go in and like pick whatever players right once or whatever that scouting group wants to pick when all of their picks come up right internationally like okay you get hired it's not like the next international signing class you just go out and sign whoever right we want like you got all these deals that have been agreed to [SPEAKER_02]: those deals have been like, and other teams 29 other teams all have agreements in place.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it's not like, okay, let's go sign the best.

[SPEAKER_02]: No, you don't have access to those guys unless something falls apart, which was the case, you know, when the, when, you know, Mike Elias and then, you know, Kobe Perez who runs their, the Orioles International Parliament.

[SPEAKER_02]: When they took over there, that's what happened.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's how they ended up with Samuel Basile.

[SPEAKER_02]: Because otherwise, you're kind of like picking up these later blooming guise and you have other commitments that are already in place and generally, some teams just say, hey, if you want that deal that you're talking about, go talk to the guy you made that deal with.

[SPEAKER_02]: He doesn't work here anymore.

[SPEAKER_02]: But in this case, a lot of the deals are [SPEAKER_02]: You know, going to continue.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think if you're looking for like the biggest impact guys coming for the white stocks on this group is going to come in future years, because they also just like overall their whole international scouting department.

[SPEAKER_02]: But there's there's definitely some guys to watch.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you can see the big guys on our.

[SPEAKER_02]: bonus board, but I think some of the pitching that they were able to pick up this year later in the process is pretty interesting.

[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, most of the guys will talk about throughout this whole episode are going to be position players because those are the guys get the biggest bonuses and and just the best athletes and best players in Latin America tend to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I was just looking at your top 100 board.

[SPEAKER_00]: I believe there are six pictures listed of the hundred players you currently have in terms of just who's getting the most money as some some more context for how hitter heavy the market is.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so there's a couple of arms though.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Roderick Ramirez right hand a picture from the Dominican Republic, you know, like six three to hundred has gotten stronger, put on more weight, [SPEAKER_02]: Now he's up to 96 like I think it's already a power arm for his age.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think I'll end up throwing [SPEAKER_02]: least into the upper 90s at some point has got feel for for a slider.

[SPEAKER_02]: It sounds like as the velocity is come on maybe the strike throwing is coming gone, but but a lot of traits to like I think he's one of the best pitching prospects in the Dominican Republic this year and and so is another guy, French ale, Chris Oestemal, [SPEAKER_02]: like loose flexible up to 93, like like the throw is change up a lot more than you typically see from a picture there.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I got a lot of, you've got certainly got some interesting arms coming for, for the white sucks.

[SPEAKER_02]: I know they traded you like a, for hard a little couple, or from a couple of signing classes go.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I think these guys have like that kind of potential.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nice, it's fun to hear about a class that has some arms that may be stand out more than the haters, just because it's unusual.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, that is the American-like central, let's hop over to the NL central, maybe start with a team who, at least from my perspective, from the outside looking in, seems to be one of the best teams on the international market in recent years and the brewers.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, you like Jackson, Cheerio and Hazard's Nutty and Luis Payne and Jefferson, Kero and yeah, and on and on and on.

[SPEAKER_00]: Great system overall, too.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you fold in the domestic guys, so who are the names that are going to be added to that loaded farm system?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's interesting, too, because they're never a team where you'll see them spend like [SPEAKER_02]: you know three million dollars or four million dollars on one player like Oliotavri or an leon paña or like a joss war consol as somebody like that but they obviously have consistently had success and success with their top signings to you like all those or most of the guys have [SPEAKER_02]: you know, Jefferson Carrow, who I mentioned, we're all big bonus like top two or three signing bonuses in their class.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it's, yeah, I think it's another pretty interesting group this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: They definitely focus on guys.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can put the bat to the ball, have a good understanding of the strike zone, like a perform well in games.

[SPEAKER_02]: It got some different kind of profiles this year, [SPEAKER_02]: matches that description is Diego Frantado, who's a short-stop from Venezuelal Hill.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's the best guy in that class this year for them.

[SPEAKER_02]: Just quick twitch, athlete, right-hand a hitter, really good swings, hit well in games, good contact skills, good pitch recognition, [SPEAKER_02]: already, you know, flash some power.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think he's like a huge power guy, but I think there's certainly projection there.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, six foot one more room to fill out.

[SPEAKER_02]: I could grow into average, maybe even a little bit better power.

[SPEAKER_02]: And these are good athletes too.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he's a [SPEAKER_02]: maybe stays a short stop, maybe goes to second or third to be determined, but like a pretty well rounded player, like good balance of tools and skills with him.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then, I mean, if you're looking for a guy, you can just like, you're [SPEAKER_02]: damage the baseball, a lot of people it seems.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's not the video I posted of a rickie.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he spells it.

[SPEAKER_02]: It looks like monies, I guess it's, I guess it's pronounced like Monair, but Monair with an R.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, okay.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, we'll keep on there.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, we'll try to convince Ricky to maybe Americanized his name.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's a bet all time or not all time, but to high volume jersey sales.

[SPEAKER_02]: Mm-hmm.

[SPEAKER_02]: If you're going to be able to buy Ricky money, so.

[SPEAKER_02]: By me, he just has like really, really fast bat.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's high end bat speed.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can see there's like some bigger moving parts to generate that bat speed.

[SPEAKER_02]: We'll see if he ends up needing to tone it down if he does.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, right now, he's still going to be able to to generate a lot of bad speed.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like there's some guys who just like lack strength and like needs have these like big old like kicks and not anti-elect cake, but just like a ton of movement to get the barrel to generate that kind of bad speed and then ends up leaving them with longer swing.

[SPEAKER_02]: So we'll see if he ends up needing to cut it down, but just just huge bad speed, huge raw [SPEAKER_02]: probably more third base, I think, long-term than shortstop, just but I think if he's able to make contact at a manageable rate and get to that power, then that power fits it at their base, for sure.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, a couple interesting names of the top of the brewers.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's jump into Cubs class.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, cubs, you know, you've seen them in like last year they signed three guys for over over a million dollars this year they're not they're not doing that.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're kind of spreading their clad their money around a lot more it's going to be a much deeper class this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Sounds like the.

[SPEAKER_02]: The top guy this year will end up just like in terms of bonus will be James Martinez, shortstop from Cuba.

[SPEAKER_02]: Also, do you know what side he had from Carlos?

[SPEAKER_02]: I guess I'm guessing switch.

[SPEAKER_02]: That is correct.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is a switch editor.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm doing great at this.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, he's a smaller guy, like 510, 150 pounds, but just like really quick, really light on his feet, plus runner, he's got a chance to stick at shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: He played in a league and like the Northern part of the country and the Dominican Republic where a lot of like X minor league or his play and it sounded like he handled himself pretty well out there.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, they got a whole bunch of guys that they're signing for like, you know, mid-six figure or low-six figure bonuses this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think the one, I'm, I get the, you know, the most excited about is a short stop, [SPEAKER_02]: a lot of bad speed.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's got the potential to be a, you know, plus power guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he has got a sense for recognizing pitches and navigating the strike zone too.

[SPEAKER_02]: So strong arm, chance to stick it, at shortstop, a guy who seems like he's just trending up coming into the signing date.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you got the training up tag on him on the site and there are a number of other players who are at least on the top of the trip bonus board for the cup, so it doesn't make it pretty intriguing sort of high volume class.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move on to the reds.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, reds, so their top guy this year is gonna be on Hell, Nunez, who's a center fielder who's played for the Dominican Republic.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's some international tournaments.

[SPEAKER_02]: including the, like, the U-15 World Cup 20, 20, 24, he's, he's getting a lot of money, like three million bucks.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, like, if you compare him, maybe just like physically to some of the other players who were getting that kind of, like, top of the class type bonuses.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's a little bit smaller, a little bit thinner, just like physically behind them right now, [SPEAKER_02]: Um, but just a like a nice like well rounded ball player like just a nice left handed swing puts the bat on the ball like he'll maybe chase a little bit sometimes.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, enough enough power to juice one out to his pole side.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, sometimes like you see hitters, this age start to be able to hit the ball to the park and they want to hit the ball to the park and it gets them out of the game.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like, yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, I don't think he's ever going to be a huge power guy, but if you can put balls and play, get on base at a high clip.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then, you know, use his speed and move around well in center field like that's a nice, just like a nice solid profile for.

[SPEAKER_00]: It does look like he moves around pretty well in the video that you have on the site.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: Some guys glide.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can just see even without necessarily like knowing what their stopwatch time is home to first or in a 60 or 30 or 40 or whatever your time and a met and he's one of those guys.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think a deeper cut guy for them, who's I'm excited to see the Dominican summary this year too is Alexander Kueo, who is a short stop from the Dominican Republic.

[SPEAKER_02]: It just seems like he always [SPEAKER_02]: perform.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, same caveats we talked before performing and as an amateur versus performing even in the Dominican summer, you can be two different things that don't always translate, but it definitely makes you feel better than the alternative.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, 510, 175 left hand a hit or like nice swing stays through the middle of the field, like he's starting to learn how to [SPEAKER_02]: turn on some balls and hit the balls out of the park when he wants to, but it's not like a pull-happy guy like he's just like a very good mature hitter.

[SPEAKER_02]: Athletic like he does run well too, but probably, you know, the guys are sending a, you know, a handful of short stops in this class, so I'm sure he'll end up moving around the field, second, third, maybe just get him any [SPEAKER_00]: Okay, that is reds and let's get into the cardinals.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Cardinals, Cardinals can get some nice signings in recent years.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like, Rinyel Oradri has just has a rocket ship attached his attach to him as we continue to push him higher and higher up our rankings, just a really good hitter at a young age.

[SPEAKER_02]: I like him.

[SPEAKER_02]: guys like Miguel Hernandez, Sebastian Dos Santos, Yairo Padilla this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: This year they got a couple big signings, you know, the seven figures and the biggest one is going to be Emmanuel Ouna, who's right-handed hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic, if you're just [SPEAKER_02]: You know, to got the best power or potential to be one of the best power bats in the class, he's he's definitely a prime candidate for that.

[SPEAKER_02]: He hits long, long, home runs.

[SPEAKER_02]: He can like the ball travel to and and drive the ball with some impact to the opposite field, which is always nice to see instead of being just like a super pull happy guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: Again, like all these guys.

[SPEAKER_02]: wait and see how it translates in games, but it does sound like it's a very patient approach, so he's not just up there swinging everything.

[SPEAKER_02]: I expect him to be a guy who's going to draw walks because he is patient and because pictures in that league walk a lot of players too.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I expect him to draw a lot of walks, hit a good amount of home runs.

[SPEAKER_00]: Sounds like he can run a little bit too, not like a big statue.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, he can run, he can play center field.

[SPEAKER_02]: For now is he, you know, gonna be like Julio Rodriguez and stay in center field.

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe, I don't know, maybe he goes to a corner, maybe just depends like how the future outfield he's in is who else is there, maybe he slows down as he adds weight, would not be surprised either, but you're, yeah, maybe a power speed threat with the one tool that everybody I think has confidence in is the power.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then a later pick up for them too, [SPEAKER_02]: shortstop from Dominican Republic.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is a switchheader Carlos.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's just like a super ultra athlete like he just like watched the way he [SPEAKER_00]: like walks around he looks athletic like it's just funny when you see the players who like yeah before you even see them in game action they're just actions like before the game walking around the field you can kind of tell it's it's odd I think sometimes when the athletic system is that apparent yeah everything is just like super quick and bouncy and easy and he's a well above average runner like I expect him to be somebody who you know [SPEAKER_02]: You know, if he hits an off will be a major stolen base threat because he's he's so fast and he's so quick to accelerate.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's just got traits that you can't really teach.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, TBD on like how the bat translates.

[SPEAKER_02]: In game and I think like there's still some things he's like learning to smooth out and like slow down in the infield at shortstop, which is pretty common, but like you see all the tools that he has in the athleticism, it's it's kind of like when when filming Celestine was was that age when the when the mariners signed him for.

[SPEAKER_02]: probably like what three or four times as much money as carry on is going to get but that that's the kind of profile.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think that you're you're looking at with him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, nice.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some some players with some carrying tools here for the cardinals.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, let's round out the NL central with the parts.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, pirates there, their class or the top name in their class will be from there because we're again, we're getting another member of the Guerrero family signs this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Exciting.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that'll make about 78 or 89 or whatever it is, Guerrero's in approval, but it's it's will in Guerrero Junior.

[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously his dad was a former.

[SPEAKER_02]: big league in fielder, and his uncle is Vlad Senior, or [SPEAKER_02]: I'm John Luz, yeah, Wilton Guerrero seniors, brother is his lad.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you're right, senior year, and then obviously because of that junior.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, so and a whole bunch of other Guerrero's who signed and this guy's like, it's funny because he's, you know, he's like 5, 10, 165 pounds.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's not a Vlad juniors or seniors.

[SPEAKER_02]: size or anything like that, but you can see the same kind of like hitting actions like same kind of mechanics and mannerisms that he has that's funny at the plate like he's not he's not good up there hit the ball the way that.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, Vlad A.

Jr.

does, but, you know, his dad played in the big league.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it's look like the baseball like he was really, really, really high.

[SPEAKER_02]: He just comes from that kind of family.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he's a good athlete too.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he can he can run well.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's got a strong arm.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he'll stay a short stop.

[SPEAKER_02]: He turns 17 in May too.

[SPEAKER_02]: So not like super super young.

[SPEAKER_02]: I guess for the class, but definitely on the younger end of the scale, um, [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe someone along the lines of like a yellow on day-load Santos, who they signs last year, one of their big signings from a year ago, but I think I think your Raro's a little bit more advanced, I think he's going to be a better defender at short step like that same kind of like instinctive gamer type rather than like, you know, like the DRL Morrell who's just like a six six monster dude or something like that.

[SPEAKER_02]: So he's going to be [SPEAKER_02]: I think he'll he'll be the best guy in the class and then I think Alexander Pio who's a shortstop out of the DR's and other really really intriguing name to watch.

[SPEAKER_02]: She's you know, not signing for like their biggest bonus or probably not even like their second biggest bonus, but [SPEAKER_02]: might be, I don't know, he might end up better than he's he's a pretty good player.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's just like big physical 63 200 pounds right hand to hit her, drives a ball with some pretty big power.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he's also pretty athletic for his eye.

[SPEAKER_02]: So maybe he [SPEAKER_02]: maybe stays a short stop he runs well he can throw certainly for either spot on the left side of the infield if he grows it maybe the bad projects well at third base too but definitely one of those like you know mid range bonus type guys where you can see things moving moving in the right direction for him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_00]: That wraps up both the central divisions for us.

[SPEAKER_00]: We are a third of the way through each team's class.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's let's continue to shake up our orders here.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's go to the West.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know a lot of times we go East Central West and the Western divisions and teams kind of get the sort of the stick here, but let's hop to the AL West and start with the Mariners.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they're, they're class this year is, I mean, like they signed some good players in recent years, just, I mean, Lazaro Montez and, you know, you know, I love him.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like we talked about Montez for years now.

[SPEAKER_00]: I need him to graduate prospect status and preview right then.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, he's only 20 years old, so it's not a lot of these guys who are prominent international guys and just get on the scene early.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like you have to remind yourself just how young they come out of this market [SPEAKER_00]: their names are around for a while, but to your point, it does not make them old or anything.

[SPEAKER_00]: There are many older prospects, who are not as notable.

[SPEAKER_02]: He did get to AA last year, so he's also not super far away.

[SPEAKER_02]: Neither is Michael or Roya, I mean, they traded Gabby Gonzalez to the twins.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's a top 10 prospect for them too, so like, [SPEAKER_02]: Especially for a team that only has one Dominican summer league team, which I think really puts you at a disadvantage, just in terms of the volume of players and opportunities that you have to hit on players, the top end guys that they're signing, I've been pretty good and they got another pretty good one this year, I think the best player in their class is one Rihose and outfielder from the Dominican Republic like [SPEAKER_02]: You great out his tools.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know that there's one tool at least like right now.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're like, oh, like this is a plus tool or [SPEAKER_02]: Other than potentially the bad and then maybe the power to as he continues to get stronger but like what you like about him is he's just a good hit or like he seems to always even when he was like a smaller guy like he hit then he's gotten bigger like he's 6185 pounds now swing works well tracks pitches well makes a lot of contact performs well in games [SPEAKER_02]: Home Run Guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: And, you know, be a corner.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'll feel, there may be a chance in center field because his instincts are pretty good just all around for the game, obviously at the play, but in the field on the base path, like it's so pretty smart, high IQ player, all around, but you really, like most about him, is what he does in the batter's box, just like one of the better game hitters in the Dominican Republic, like if he, you know, I guess I'm always surprised, but I would be surprised if he went out [SPEAKER_02]: got like overmatched or something in the ESL.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to go out and be one of the better performers.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, also just looks a little bit more physical than a lot of the players who typically see from this demographic, like he's not a huge player by any means, but it's not like one of these wiery, skinny, lanky frames where like how he needs that a lot of strength before he can kind of stick in their and hold his own.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like [SPEAKER_00]: the physicality looks like an aspect of his game that is very present now.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and I think I'll just like continue to get like wider and like bulkier and stronger and be like a nice like strong physical corner outfielder who who can hit and should I think have the power to to project as a corner guy to.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, any other notables in the mirror and your system before you move on?

[SPEAKER_02]: Astros.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Astros.

[SPEAKER_02]: They had a good one.

[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, last year with with Kevin Alvarez, Cuban Alphielder, Relaysigned, Top 10.

[SPEAKER_02]: After they traded Anderson, Brito, obviously, another good international signing in Melton, and he's continues to move up there at least just as it [SPEAKER_02]: Pretty good player at the top good good hitter this year with Albert for me and who's a shortstop from from the Dominican Republic It's got some physicality to him like six foot three hundred ninety pounds like it looks like a guy [SPEAKER_02]: who will hit for for power, um, just, you know, with the way, uh, you know, the way he's built in the strength projection there, but actually like more so than the power is just a hitter that he is that stands out he's like a really good base to, uh, [SPEAKER_02]: to hit from always seems like he's on the barrel, seems like it's a good idea for the strike zone for for recognizing pitches, hitting fastballs, hitting breaking balls again, same caveats as always.

[SPEAKER_02]: you know, how good is the breaking balls that he's seeing all the time as an amateur pitcher or that any of these guys are facing as hitters before they sign or even maybe after they sign sometimes in the DSL, but just a lot of good traits to like at the plate.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then another guy is pretty good athlete, especially for for his size like he runs well he's a plus runner.

[SPEAKER_02]: maybe he slows down, probably ends up slowing down, although speed is always really tough sometimes to predict which way it's going to go at that age, but arm strength certainly for either spot on the left side of the end field.

[SPEAKER_02]: If it's a short stop, even better, but if it's a third base, like just a really good offensive profile between the hitting ability, the strike zone judgment, I think some bigger power that's going to come with him down the road.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, there's Astros, more players that you have linked them on the site.

[SPEAKER_00]: Again, for all these teams, encourage people to go check out Ben's board and all the content that's going to be up there, as you're listening to this podcast on the site.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move into the Rangers Ben.

[SPEAKER_02]: Texas this year, they're, you know, they're, they're big as signing and both in terms of bonus and among just the bigger physical players they will sign as Ellie on Rosario, who's an outfielder from the DR, just big, strong, strong body, going to be able to drive the ball [SPEAKER_02]: Impact, I mean, should be plus if not double plus raw power at some point, definitely power overhead.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I kind of keep the swing and miss to a manageable level.

[SPEAKER_02]: We'll see this here in the DSL, how that looks.

[SPEAKER_02]: But moves like well enough for his signs, like surprisingly well.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like average [SPEAKER_02]: under way, but not not somebody expect ever will be on the lower levels play center field really so I think you're you're banking on the power as a you know right hand hitting corner out fielder and I got a bunch of really interesting guys [SPEAKER_02]: From Venezuela, I don't know, do you want to hear about the Venezuelan outfield there, the catcher, do you want to hear about the Dominican pitcher that I like for them?

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's do pitcher, just because we're not going to get an opportunity to talk about as many pitchers.

[SPEAKER_02]: All right, so remember Michael Paneta, who's silent with the Mariners a while back, pitch up big leagues for the Yankees.

[SPEAKER_02]: And all the trouble staying healthy, but good arm, good prospects, especially coming up.

[SPEAKER_02]: So his nephew, friend El Paneta, I think he's one of the best pitchers in just overall this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Six foot three up to 96 already, which is pretty high in velocity for that age and you look and it's not like a ton of effort or like herky jerkyness or anything like that.

[SPEAKER_02]: He does it pretty easy.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it's kind of a starter looking.

[SPEAKER_02]: Delivery throws a slider with a lot of power to like all these guys are still like refighting the Shapes of their breaking stuff and all that like he throws his slider already into the mid 80s so he throws it hard I think there's going to be some more coming on the fastball to Obviously the arm strength runs in that family so if you're if you're looking for one of the better pictures in the DR just all of Latin America That's a good one to know [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's great to hear, not a name that I was too familiar with, so if you're ring your fan and you're kind of getting up to speed on this class name to keep in mind, okay, let's get into the athletics.

[SPEAKER_02]: This is one of my favorite classes this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: And it's mostly because of a long guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think they've signed some good arms recently.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like Luis Morales, out of Cuba, weigh in, land, the lefty of Taiwan is like a free and nish-top one hundred guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: And even, [SPEAKER_02]: You know, like, even your Don Rodriguez who didn't pitch a lot last year, because I think it just like had some arm soreness, they kind of baby him not, I mean, rightfully so like if you want to be very careful with with young.

[SPEAKER_02]: pictures.

[SPEAKER_02]: We didn't throw a lot of innings in the DSL, but I think the stuff there is is really good.

[SPEAKER_02]: They traded him to the meds to get Jeff McNeill.

[SPEAKER_02]: So they signed some good arms, but this year, I like they're signing Yohensi Colome and this guy is like, I don't remember the last time [SPEAKER_02]: There are scouts who think he's the best player in the Dominican Republic this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: There are scouts who think, you know, anti-colome, maybe he's the best player overall in Latin America.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I would say typically best player in Dominican Republic also translates to best player in the international class for any given year and it does sound like he's got a pretty compelling case for that tag if you want to give it to him.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, it's just another guy from a baseball family, like his dad is, his hazus column, a used to pitch in the big leagues.

[SPEAKER_02]: His uncle is Alex column, a used to pitch in the big leagues.

[SPEAKER_02]: This guy's career, I mean, if he wanted to pitch, as like a fallback option, which is not what the A's are paying for.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he has a great arm, he could probably do that too.

[SPEAKER_02]: But like you watch this guy swing the bat and it's just like, [SPEAKER_02]: Ultra fast, wippy, that's the barrel comes through the zone with great paths.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's explosive.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's driving the ball for a big time, power for his age.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like he's six, two, might end up six, three.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's more strength still.

[SPEAKER_02]: to come and it's not like in all or nothing type hitter either.

[SPEAKER_02]: He makes it good amount of content so you know people will compare and like junior camonero that kind of player.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if he's going to hit 45 homeruns when he's 21 or 22 years old, but it's it's pretty electric, explosive, offensive, upside.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he does, especially, you know, the arm gives him some more margin for air.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's pretty athletic.

[SPEAKER_02]: He does have a chance to stay at shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: Does he stay there long term or not?

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if not, I have worse case scenario.

[SPEAKER_02]: He goes a third base.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's got more defensive value than Junior Caminole is a better defensive player than Caminole ever was, but he has that kind of offensive impact potential.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, there's some other interesting players in the class, but that Oakland is, or excuse me, that athletics are signing, but like, this guy is far, far away.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think their best player and just one of the best players overall and one of the best players that they've signed in years.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, so so far, it sounds like A's Royals two of the classes you're most excited about for A's fans listening.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure they're apps to hear you say that and really excited about what Colomac can bring.

[SPEAKER_02]: He'll be very, he'll be very high.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, we already thought about their farm system, [SPEAKER_00]: I imagine he'll be very, very high when this signing will bring you closer to my opinion on the ASS.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's great.

[SPEAKER_00]: Another reason to like it.

[SPEAKER_00]: But let's wrap up the division with the angels.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, angels, yeah, I mentioned earlier, how they signed Gabrielle Davelio, last year, top catcher out of Venezuela.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's from Venezuela, just top catcher overall in the class.

[SPEAKER_02]: He had a great debut in the Dominican Summer League last year.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then this year, yeah, they got some, just like another mix of players who, for the most part, project to play like in the middle of the field, but some different player types.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Yase and Horton is going to be their top bonus signing smaller type guy, like five, [SPEAKER_02]: left hand a bat, you like, he can run, he's got a strong arm, he's got, you know, chance to, you know, to play shortstop, definitely middle and feel their second base, shortstop, but it's like an interesting, well-rounded type player.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's some, they've got a bunch of other guys in their class.

[SPEAKER_02]: A bunch of other hitters, I guess I'll highlight a picture for you, because it sounds like, yeah, I wanted to ask you about, I wanted to ask about Kendry Fanya, so I hope this is the name you're gonna mention, but if there's another picture, even better.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, can't really find you going to get one of the bigger bonuses this year, just for a picture, just for any picture this year, because there aren't a lot of pictures to sign for big bonuses, but you know, six to 190, just like very like a picture ish look to him, like just very smooth and and fluid and athletic on the mound and throw strikes like it's not overpowering velocity right now, like it's up to 92, just pretty good for his age.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think there's more in there, but [SPEAKER_02]: Um, you know, he's got touch and feel there to he's not just like tell me has a change up really just check all the boxes for I like my pitchers been.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be all on board for this one.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: You don't see a ton of guys who have good changeups down there at that age, but he definitely likes to throw a change up.

[SPEAKER_00]: So definitely the angel side of the street's the angels had a really fun high school pitching class in the draft and now you're telling me they've got a pitchability right hander with a change up in this international market.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I love it.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, get him, get him, get him, get him going with the Dylan Jordan in there.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm a fan.

[SPEAKER_00]: Beautiful.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's the angels unless there's someone you want to touch on before we move on.

[SPEAKER_00]: And our west is up next.

[SPEAKER_00]: Guess we'll just stay in LA.

[SPEAKER_00]: Go to the Dodgers.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Dodgers.

[SPEAKER_02]: A little less eventful for them this year compared to last year when they were navigating all the [SPEAKER_02]: stuff with Roki Sasaki and trying to hold on to the rest of their class and all that, so yeah, but they, I think they ended up coming away.

[SPEAKER_02]: They don't have like in a meal morale type player where they're just like putting a bunch of money into one player.

[SPEAKER_02]: They also have the [SPEAKER_02]: Uh, or they're actually, you know, as I said, they usually have one of the smallest bonus pools, but this year they didn't end up signing one of those, uh, or the previous year losing money for, for free agent signings for the qualifying offer players.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, um, worked out all right for them, but, um, [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think a, you know, like a Rubel Aries, who's an alpha other from the Dominican Republic, it sounds like he's going to get there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Biggest bonus.

[SPEAKER_02]: The guy, the guy who trains actually in the same program as him, who, you know, I saw them both and I liked a little bit more and I didn't really see him.

[SPEAKER_02]: in games the way I would like to, but they got like a little bit more as Ezekiel Melbourne, who is a great name.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and you know what he is, Carlos.

[SPEAKER_00]: You already make a switch hitting short stop.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is a switch hitting shrink up, drink up, and he's on the younger side for the class, like I think he's turned 16 right at the start of the DSL season, [SPEAKER_02]: You just like you watch and take ground balls and your shorts up and you're like, oh, well, it's good.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, just kind of nice light on his feet floats around at shortstop, what could like you should be able to stay at the position for for a long time, like good hands instincts knows for the ball arm strength, all that stuff like.

[SPEAKER_02]: body type where there's more physical projection there like he's six to thinner build you can see it just like everything about him looks young except for I guess the way he plays shortstop works for kid bands but and so it sounds like if this guy hits he's going to be really good that might be the question just get him and how you haven't talked about that yet.

[SPEAKER_02]: Um, yeah, I mean, I, I, like, I don't think he's like a bad hitter.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's just like, oh, like, when you see a guy who moves like that, a short stop that jumps out more than anything, but yes, switch hitter.

[SPEAKER_02]: Um, I think it's like more contact from the left side, from the right side.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you can see in the video we have on the side or on our social channels, like you can juice balls out to his pole side, certainly.

[SPEAKER_02]: from the right side of the play.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm sure it'll get stronger like he's not like he's like five foot eight five now he's six one six two he's still just like a lean guy just without a lot of strength yet so yeah I mean if everything clicks with the bat like and I think things are like trending up for him on that side I that's it's a really good player to have the other guy I'm just like intrigued [SPEAKER_02]: to see more is they're signing a left handed picture from Germany this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: We don't see any left handed pictures at all and then Germany did not expect you'd talk about a German prospect here.

[SPEAKER_00]: So that's yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: So his name is it's Tom Afelbaum.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's [SPEAKER_02]: He pitched for Germany at the U.A.

[SPEAKER_02]: team world cup last year, so I don't think he faced the U.S.

team that had like great Emerson and all those guys, and like Jacob Blumbard and Ruiz, face some other clubs, but like everybody, well, I don't know if the scouts who are all there, like stuck around to watch like Germany versus Australia or whoever he he faced, but like, [SPEAKER_02]: You know, at least from the domestic side, but definitely international scouts saw him over there.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's kind of like an unusual.

[SPEAKER_02]: Looking delivery, could add some deception there, probably and have to like smooth out maybe a little bit just to work on like repeating it and sinking everything up, cause he's also like 6, 4, 190 pounds longer.

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, him guy, but there's more physical upside and he's already up to 94, which is a really good fastball already for 17 year old lefty with probably still more.

[SPEAKER_02]: in the tank, so not like your traditional signing, but definitely an interesting background and an interesting, like you'd be interested in these from the, or like just more than interested.

[SPEAKER_02]: I was like a good prospect to use from the R of Venezuela, Cuba, Arkansas, wherever.

[SPEAKER_02]: It just happens to be from Germany.

[SPEAKER_00]: Very cool.

[SPEAKER_00]: I love that any anytime we get an usual country you need country a different profile It's fun to talk through so the fact that it's like literally good prospect on top of all that is very fun Okay, let's move on to the giants Giants so they are they are another one of my favorite classes.

[SPEAKER_02]: This is number three and it's it's mostly because of one guy so like [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, if you sign like a Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

out of the, you know, in your signing class, like you had a great signing class and it doesn't matter, like if every other player, like miss on every single other player, yeah, just release them all out of the, out of the complex league.

[SPEAKER_02]: The next year, if you signed one Vladimir, like one, one Soto, you're good.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't really know I'm not saying Luis Hernandez, you know, the short stuff from Venezuela who they're signing for 5 million bucks like I'm not saying he's Like number one on your international bonus board here been the the biggest signing in this year's class.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and it he's he's really good [SPEAKER_02]: You know, they signed Joss Morgan's olives last year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Joss War was for a lot of scouts.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're favorite international prospect last year.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's a top 100 guy already.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then the giants are here and they're at it again.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're signing.

[SPEAKER_02]: Luis Hernandez, who for a lot of scouts is their top prospects this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Very different type of player from from Josswar.

[SPEAKER_02]: Gonzalez, like Josswar is like a super quick, twitch, explosive, speedy, athlete.

[SPEAKER_02]: Hernandez doesn't run that well he's like it that's probably like his weakest tool right now but he is a really good hit or like five foot 10 like not as physical as some of these other guys like a colime or Gomez or some of the other big big names that we've talked about so far but it's just like [SPEAKER_02]: kind of like in that labor tour as tight mold of like a really good hit or like he always performs in games and like you know we talked about like how do we assess amateur hitters in Latin America when they're hitting amateur pitching in the DR and Venezuela like this guy plays and he played no league last year it's not the winner league in Venezuela but it's another professional [SPEAKER_02]: baseball, you were like a ton of X minor league players in there.

[SPEAKER_02]: So he's facing guys who were like 10 years older than him and like have played in AA or AAA.

[SPEAKER_02]: And he, I mean he hit 346 in that league and it was 114 play appearances.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like, [SPEAKER_02]: You feel good about that and then like you watch him play like the swing works really well.

[SPEAKER_02]: He recognizes spin, like I think he's going to have that labor torus type power too, where he has years where it's like 20 plus home runs, 25 plus home runs, and even though he's not that fast, he he defends his position pretty well at shortstop again, like maybe depends like who else is on his team and maybe he was a second base.

[SPEAKER_02]: long, long ways away to figure that out, but like, no, certainly no reason to move them off short stuff.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like, people like him and short stuff for right now, but he's like, if you're signed in him, like, I like your class.

[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, if it doesn't work for him, then it's tough.

[SPEAKER_02]: But they do have some other guys that I like, especially if there's like an arm in that class, if you read our report, but yeah, he's he's definitely the headliner.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like he talked about [SPEAKER_00]: a number of teams who have made conscious efforts to spread their bonus pool money around and now we've got the giants where for the last two years they've had pretty top-heavy classes and since signing some of the better prospects is that a conscious effort from them is that like a strategy that they they try and pursue or it just happened to be they sign some of the top players and back to back classes [SPEAKER_02]: I think with Gonzalez, so this year like they have like they have the smallest bonus pool because they signed their in that group the smallest bonus pool, because they signed William Domis, so they lost a, because like a million dollars from their pool, so they have a 5.44 million dollar pool and they're given a 5 million dollars to one player, so I think this year that was the case, the year before with Joshua, I think they just like.

[SPEAKER_02]: really like Joshua Gonzalez and they ended up signing a whole bunch of other players around him and some of you guys got big bonuses and I think in Joshua's case like the bonus kept like having to go up because it was like a very competitive field and rookie Sasaki like they were gonna try to sign him and a bunch of other teams that were like [SPEAKER_02]: Hmm.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's really good.

[SPEAKER_02]: What if?

[SPEAKER_02]: So they really keep him obviously, um, and uh, you know, sure there's some disappointment on losing Sasaki, but uh, right.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_02]: Chance for all looks pretty good too.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nice.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, uh, let's keep it moving in the NL West and move into the D-backs.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, D-Bax this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Signed a bunch of players from Cuba at the top of their class this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think the guy I really like, he's not getting their biggest bonus and it's tough with Cuban players.

[SPEAKER_02]: Because when they, you can't, these guys are the players from Venezuela, a DR wherever else except for Cuba.

[SPEAKER_02]: And the Asian countries as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: But these guys are reaching deals to sign with teams and they're like 13 years old, right, a 14 or sometimes even like 12, it's crazy, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: But that's just the way the system works.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can't do that with a Cuban player if you still in Cuba, because you don't know, like, is he gonna come out also, like, you know, [SPEAKER_02]: Now you're also like violating other laws.

[SPEAKER_02]: Anyway, team teams just don't do that really.

[SPEAKER_02]: You have to wait till the player comes out and they don't even know like once he comes out, what class is he going to get cleared to sign under like if he leaves when he's 16 or something, you know some of these guys are leaving it like 12 or 13 now.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, they have a little bit more runway, but when the Cuban player comes out, [SPEAKER_02]: By the time, you know, they're trying out and working out for teams, a lot of teams have already committed a big chunk of their bonus pool money elsewhere.

[SPEAKER_02]: So there, they were definitely not at disadvantage under the previous system.

[SPEAKER_02]: They were getting the most money, but under the current system, yeah, they're.

[SPEAKER_02]: They're kind of in a tough spot.

[SPEAKER_02]: But the guy I really like is Leonardo, Savilla.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's the guy I have good reports on.

[SPEAKER_02]: And a lot of teams have seen him more recently.

[SPEAKER_02]: Then a lot of these other high-profile players in this class, because [SPEAKER_02]: just because he was more of a later entrance into the system this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: But he hit well when he was playing in Cuba, like to have a national, like an 18-year national league there, he performed well there, and it sounded like a lot of places he went.

[SPEAKER_02]: In the DR, he continued to hit well.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now he is 18, so he's like older than [SPEAKER_02]: you know, the guys who were signing this year were, you know, 16, 17.

[SPEAKER_02]: Here's also, he should be more advanced and see how that translates, but [SPEAKER_02]: But it looks, right, I mean, he's 510, 180 pounds, not like a huge physical guy or anything like that, but just makes a lot of contacts, seems like he's got a pretty advanced approach, squares up fastballs, breaking balls, just good feel for, good feel for hitting.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then he can run too, like he's well above average runner, good athlete, maybe short stop, [SPEAKER_02]: the infield somewhere else like it's only a kill run around in the alfield with a speedy has if you need to but that's I mean the athleticism is appealing but really the main draw with him is the bad the ability to hit and perform in games at the plate.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nice well the Diamondbacks only had one player on your top 100 bonus board and that was not the player who is there so I was expecting to hear Ruben Gaigos name out of Cuba and you give us another [SPEAKER_00]: So if you're caught up on Ben's board, you're still getting some extra insight.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's a lot of guys in there.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think your control F is missing something there.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we might have some classified as D back.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that is we've got some as D back since I was dying back.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'll fix that so it's consistent across all of them.

[SPEAKER_00]: But okay, good deal.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, like like severe quite a bit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, let's move on to podries.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, you talk about teams that have put all their money into one player in some years.

[SPEAKER_02]: They've definitely [SPEAKER_02]: done that with the Ethan Salas and Leo DeVry and then they're not they're not doing that this year that's not the that's not the approach but they got they know they got a left hand a picture from Mexico this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: I was excited to get to this I don't know if we've yet so there you have two left hand a pictures on your top 100 board the podgers have one of them so I was excited to hear about this one.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, big, big body like six, three, two, five, like if you're a potter ace fan, I guess like and this is Diego's Sernah by the way, I don't know if you Sorry, yeah, yeah, I'm sorry.

[SPEAKER_02]: Apologies, Diego's Sernah, I say if you're a potter ace fan, think like, you know, Robbie Snelling type look, I guess, just physically, you know, big, strong build.

[SPEAKER_02]: Pitch for Mexico and [SPEAKER_02]: You know, they're U-15 national team.

[SPEAKER_02]: So he's got some international tournament experience through well, and I believe in the U-15 World Cup in 2024, just like a good starter look to him, fastball, touching the low 90s, probably going to be some more.

[SPEAKER_02]: In there, good, like, touch and feel for what he's doing on a mound, like a lot of the Mexican pictures, pitching a lot of games there, so you usually see like pretty good pitchability coming from from pitchers in that country, especially like the higher end type guys, slider that I think is going to miss some bats, like he's got feel for a change up, just like a [SPEAKER_02]: They certainly love their their lefties and, you know, in the draft, cruise school craft cash may feel They have to meet the most aggressive team in pursuing high school left-handed pictures.

[SPEAKER_00]: So South Paul, I think like them the royals are two teams to stand out to me that just really seem to target those arms historically and interesting that they're doing it on the international market as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and yeah, they're usually one of the most aggressive teams on and players from Mexico, too.

[SPEAKER_02]: So they'll see that whole true this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Some other like interesting position players athletes, like I'll feed you some more arms, because I know you like the arms, but [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they got a couple other arms like Joel de Warte from Venezuela, kind of like a later riser was playing shortstop, moved to the mound, now he's up to 98, probably made the right decision doing that.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like, [SPEAKER_02]: still pretty raw obviously like he just started pitching pretty recently, but athletic right hand of pitcher who can throw that hard that age pretty nice as our old friend Peter Flaherty, I guess would say like ball of clay to all the ball of play to mold.

[SPEAKER_02]: So him him and then Jordan Perez to like Cuban right hand of pitcher.

[SPEAKER_02]: like more more polished with him not as much like raw arm strength like low 90s fastball like more touch and feel like some good arms in this class and imagine some of these guys will rank right away in the the top 30 for them.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah the could use some reinforcements the podries and release him to load up every year after trading away a lot of a lot of pieces so some fun names to don't get too attached.

[SPEAKER_00]: Alright let's round up the NL West with the Rockies [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Rocky's class this year and other team that they are will more certainly more willing to most to pay for pitching a couple of other guys of like gotten her which has just been disappointing to see some of their arms yet injured, they got another good one this year though I think it's my all contraris is definitely one.

[SPEAKER_02]: to watch like you look at the body like 63 175 like tall lean expandable deliveries nice easy not a lot of effort is already up to 94 probably ends up throwing in the mid 90s because it looks like it could pack on a lot more weight like throws strikes or at least has so far to the [SPEAKER_02]: As an amateur, and it seems like he's got some feel for manipulating change up slider.

[SPEAKER_02]: So just like a lot of good traits to build on for like a young, projectable picture.

[SPEAKER_02]: Who's that age?

[SPEAKER_02]: And then like, you know, brand old Fernandez, another young arm.

[SPEAKER_02]: Out of the DR, they're signing.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's just like six to another guy.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's just like loose low effort.

[SPEAKER_02]: delivery probably more in the tank on the way and another guy throw a show like the rock is they're actually typically sent a lot of guys who like every year in the DSL and you're like oh that guy throw a lot of strikes that guy throw a lot of strikes like you look at their walks overall and it's usually very high for a lot of teams and they definitely stand out as like a team that nice and knows how to [SPEAKER_00]: And both contrires, both contrires and Fernandez seem to stand out for just feel for secondaries as well.

[SPEAKER_00]: So not just don't strikes over the play with the fast ball, but at least in the reports you're writing like the fact that both have changeups and a breaking ball that are either advanced in terms of their feel or just those pitches in general.

[SPEAKER_00]: So that's good to hear too.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, that wraps the NL West.

[SPEAKER_00]: We are in the home stretch.

[SPEAKER_00]: How are you feeling here?

[SPEAKER_00]: Ben, just so good to carry us the rest of the way.

[SPEAKER_02]: Could talk for a good talk for a long time, but it does actually a lot to us.

[SPEAKER_02]: We'll get done.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, let's keep him moving then.

[SPEAKER_00]: So you can get back to work.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll jump to the ALEs now.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll go to Boston.

[SPEAKER_00]: Who do the Red Sox fans have to look out for in this huge class?

[SPEAKER_02]: Hopefully another guy like my my guy Franklin areas That's that's a tough one to to repeat, but Yeah, couple certainly heavy on the position players for them this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, they are signing a Right-hand picture from Brazil Claudio Pereira who's like a very very deep projection [SPEAKER_02]: and guy six foot six you don't see that often for the international market and 190 pounds yeah is interesting it definitely an interesting guy but I might take a few more years to click which is tough in the current system of major league baseball cutting roster spots and disinsent [SPEAKER_02]: But, yeah, I mean, bats or position players or the top guys this year, Gary Elvin, Solvaryos, and Alfield are from a DRM.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's...

[SPEAKER_02]: He's very strong and like physically mature for his age, like 61210, like big present power from, from him, like a lot of bad speed, a lot of strength, and the scouts who like him the most say he hits.

[SPEAKER_02]: in games too.

[SPEAKER_02]: So you have a looks in the DSL, like if he does, great because he has like big time impact powder.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's going to have to, you know, his values in a comfort what he does in the batteries, but obviously he's a corner outfielder all the way, like no chance of of centerfielder or anything like that.

[SPEAKER_02]: And now like super mobile, now like a great athlete, you're banking on [SPEAKER_02]: translate in games were as, you know, Dauvery's Brito who's a short stop also also from the DR like he's more like [SPEAKER_02]: more athletic player like the way moves it at short stop and also just like it seems like it's more reliable than most short stops like a lot of you know short stops that age or especially good athletes tend to play out of control or they have a good arm they like to show it off make throws they shouldn't make like he seems like a just like more sound defender than a lot of guys his age and and he's pretty pretty explosive to you can see it at the plate [SPEAKER_02]: Some questions about swing and miss like we'll see you know we'll get a much better sense of that by August once once both these guys play in in the DSL but Chance for premium position maybe ends up being a power Power hitting shortstop if everything comes together for him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks Okay, um after Red sauce let's get into the Yankees [SPEAKER_02]: Well, there's not a ton to say, at least for like big signings for this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, they've, you know, Donny Rowland was their international scouting director.

[SPEAKER_02]: They switch things up.

[SPEAKER_02]: They do not currently have an international scouting director and their top signing was going to be.

[SPEAKER_02]: wanted a CN and now he's going to sign it looks like with the meds and I don't know I don't have any I don't really have any good news for Yankees fans a lot of like uncertainty as to what's what's going on I mean [SPEAKER_02]: Is it the one I think wanting to see him, you know, he's not a perfect prospect, but Yeah, I think he's one of the better prospects this year like very explosive bats speed Certainly a lot of power pretty good athlete maybe shortstop maybe somewhere else Like a lot of guys in that respect, but [SPEAKER_02]: It wasn't just like the scouting director who saw him with the rest of their scouting department saw him.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, when you're reaching agreements with players, you know, years and advance, like your player development staff, like they all saw him.

[SPEAKER_02]: A lot too.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now they're not going to sign him and it sounds like it's not really super clear like who they're big signings are going to be for this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: So you never know, like maybe somebody else comes along later in the process, somebody from some Cuba or there's a player from Korea or maybe there's some Japanese players who's not, you know, not Shilhe Otani or Roki Sasaki, but somebody who says, [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'll come over and I'd like to play in New York and have a whole bunch of money.

[SPEAKER_02]: They can throw around.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I don't know.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, that's all just total speculation on my part, but do you think they'll have like a good chunk of bonus pool money to use later?

[SPEAKER_02]: But it's hard to usually find places to spend later on the process.

[SPEAKER_00]: So Lisa in terms of information, you have now players who are committed, if it sounds like Yankee's might be one of the weaker classes this year, just because of those question marks.

[SPEAKER_02]: Certainly, certainly as of now, I mean, the signing period is open till December 15th, so they have all year to make some other moves, but right now, there are definitely drag in their feet.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's not like they haven't had time to hire somebody new.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, well, with that good news, let's move on to the BlueJays.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have better things to say to BlueJays fans, Ben.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if there's like a one Sanchez in this group because a one Sanchez was where do we rank in top five prospect in the DSL last year, top 10 already in their farm system.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, I mean, I just think he's one of the better position players.

[SPEAKER_02]: They've signed in a while.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, they signed obviously like, you know, Flattie and Alejandro Kirk and Gabby Moreno, but since those guys probably, you know, maybe since Earl Elvis Martinez, [SPEAKER_02]: Either way, I mean, [SPEAKER_02]: You know, Juan Caracote is a catcher from Venezuela.

[SPEAKER_02]: It seems like a pretty good, pretty good hitter should be able to stick behind the plate, moves around well, back there, just like a nice loose fluid swing from the left side, Michael Mesa, another good left hand to hitter, like very strong body, a lot more physical maturity [SPEAKER_02]: from the Dominican Republic, see how the contact is against, you know, arms in the DSL, but certainly got a strength and power behind his swing.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think one of the ex-factors for them is an outfielder and UD Severino, also from the DR.

[SPEAKER_02]: I guess Kirk and Marino were not very tall either, so, but I mean, this guy's super strong.

[SPEAKER_02]: Just like strength, bad speed, like he doesn't hit the ball, like your typical five foot nine teenager.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's more like, I don't know, not saying he's like Drew Burst, two pointovers, I'm not like that, but like that, most of the lines, yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, more along the lines of that kind of like, [SPEAKER_02]: strength, like really strong body, not like shorter player, I should say.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like, you know, it's the swing path doesn't have like a ton of loft to it.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I don't know like right now, like right off the bat, like what kind of power it's going to like game power it's going to show, but certainly like young enough for the swing could evolve for him to be able to elevate the ball a little bit more frequency and get to the power that he does have in games.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, that's the blue jays.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's get into the race who soon to be linked to one of the top bonus players in this class.

[SPEAKER_00]: They got another player with a training up tag.

[SPEAKER_00]: How excited about the race class are you been.

[SPEAKER_02]: This, this is definitely one of my favorite classes this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is, you said you had five, you wanted to highlight, this is number four for those who are counting Royals, A's, Giants, Rays among your favorite classes.

[SPEAKER_02]: This, this is a really, really exciting class.

[SPEAKER_02]: I, I think that the, the race of had some good classes and over the years, I think it's been a while [SPEAKER_02]: And I don't even know that the guy they're given the most money to was Victor Valdez and he's good.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't even know if he's their best player.

[SPEAKER_02]: The guy I'm probably the most excited about is Fabricio Blanco, who is a, you already know.

[SPEAKER_02]: You already know Carlos.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, drink up again.

[SPEAKER_00]: And also Fabricio Blanco is an amazing name.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe throw an 80 on that name.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, switch-shitting, short-stop, like he just watched the swing from the open side.

[SPEAKER_02]: It looks, it looks really good, both in terms of the path and the bat speed that is coming through, not a big guy, like maybe 5, 11.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he's grown, like he used to be really small, but still not like ultra-physical or anything like that, but [SPEAKER_02]: But he has a lot of bad speed, performs well.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like perform as perform really well in games.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like I expect him to go out and be one of the better performers among the 26 signings in the DSL this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Not just for the raise, but for any signing class.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like a lot of contact, a lot of maturity to his at bats and he gets the ball hard and then he's a good athlete to like above average runner, good internal clock.

[SPEAKER_02]: strong arm, like traits are there to stay at shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, I mean, well-rounded tools, skills hit, like some impact, they are to premium position.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, the race farm system has been getting deeper.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's offices, but another guy where, man, he'll rank pretty good, I would think.

[SPEAKER_02]: to start out, I think is a guy who's going to get a lot more attention by the end of the year.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it can be easy for some of these players to kind of blend together because we're talking about so many short stops and so many guys who are far away and there's a lot of projection required, but this is definitely one of the players that just hearing you talk about them, it kind of makes me [SPEAKER_00]: pay a little bit more attention and so I'm sure for people listening to the pod like this stuff like name to be aware of.

[SPEAKER_02]: Victor Valdez is getting their biggest bonus and he'll just get one of the biggest overall bonuses in the class too and I mean just good.

[SPEAKER_02]: blend of like power and and certainly the guys to are highest on him like like the hitting ability to so like hit power somewhere will play on the left side of the infield like most guys would say third base especially if they saw them earlier.

[SPEAKER_02]: In the process, I think he's gotten better to the point where I just give an opportunity to prove himself at shortstop, but if not, you know, certainly the offensive profile is there where it could handle or fit well at third base and then.

[SPEAKER_02]: Also, they're signing one of the best pitchers this year too.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, a man will Hernandez Ray and a pitcher from Columbia up to 97 already.

[SPEAKER_02]: So like really high end fastball for a guy who just turned 17, a couple months ago.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I got more on him in our report.

[SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, I mean, just a handful, there's more guys in their class too.

[SPEAKER_02]: But just those, especially that that trio is really, really exciting for me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, well, congrats to Ray's fans, probably really excited to hear you break down that class.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll round out the ALEs for the Orioles, and it looks like a lot of outfielders in this class.

[SPEAKER_00]: They also have the second left-handed pitcher that you have ranked on your top 100 board, Andre, Hidalgo.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm definitely curious here where you think about him, but just general thoughts in the Orioles.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, they have they have another class that I think is one of the better ones this year They're you know, they're signing for four position players for bonuses of North of a million dollars So I think those guys will get the most attention wrote all those guys up [SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, you mentioned, Andre Hidalgo, man, I mean, what's not to like, or I should say there's at least there's a lot to really like about him like he, you know, the arms always have more risk than position players.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's why I don't get paid as much, but he might be the best player.

[SPEAKER_02]: They end up signing and they've signed, I think they've done a really good job of signing pictures in the DR in recent years, Luis Dalyone, Wftana Pitcher, like Establon Bihia, Raidi, just two of the best pictures in all of minor league baseball among just Dominican pitching prospects.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think Hidalgo's a chance to be right.

[SPEAKER_02]: in line with that group like it's got better stuff than both of those guys had at the same age I mean he's he's 16 and he's throwing 98 miles an hour from the left side and he's 64 and 170 pounds like I don't know any 16-year-old lefty on the planet right now at least who has that kind of stuff and Connor Solerno in North Carolina is 17 now so I can knock him down check power wasn't wasn't [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm not saying he's in like the Thomas white group of like, oh my god, like it's so easy and like I'm like, I mean, it's it is a good delivery to but like I'm not saying like the best 16 year old lefty ever I'm just saying of the guys right now, you know, mostly 20 27 high school pictures, but [SPEAKER_02]: great starting package to to work from but between that the slider like yeah he's like young and got you know long arms and legs and all that like see how the strikes look this year or especially long term but Matt's it's a really really exciting package to have from a young left-handed pitcher that age nice okay any hitters you want to hit on with the oils we keep it moving [SPEAKER_02]: Uh, they're all, they're all written up there, but it's, I mean, it's a different, like they're all different types, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: Like you get the, you know, true shortstop or, you know, at least true middle and feel they're, you know, it really tooled up out filler and a couple of big, like heavy, heavy hitting outfielders, some power and and patients.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, it's a, it's a, it's a strong class and when you add, [SPEAKER_02]: You know that a lefty like head all go.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it's just hard to find like good leftane to pitching in the DR period.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's just isn't that much of it for whatever reason.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's been there's just not much pitching that's left-handed.

[SPEAKER_02]: It looks like head all go that who is that age anywhere.

[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, really, really exciting arm.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, we're entering our final division here with the NL East.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll move into the Phillies first.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm assuming the headliner is just the guy has number two on the international board, but we've also got a barotag on one parash, or sub-ed event as a wayless.

[SPEAKER_00]: So take it away for the Phillies here, Ben.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, rents are real.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was like one of the earliest standouts in in this class.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's like famous when he was 12 years old.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I'm going to sign for like $4 million is just he played in a [SPEAKER_02]: Big League guys and he made the big stadium there look quite quite small.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's going to hit for big power.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he definitely has huge power.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's like six foot three to under pounds.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's really strong.

[SPEAKER_02]: It looks for this strong.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_02]: He is and and a good athlete to he he run like he runs well enough to play center field.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now does he like, [SPEAKER_02]: end up moving like Julio Rodriguez and stay in center field and be that kind of center field or maybe so I would certainly give him that opportunity too.

[SPEAKER_02]: More likely, I would think corner outfield, but I would certainly would not rule out centerfield, but I mean, what you're banking on here is like a potential 30 plus home run type guy who's gonna be at some point hitting balls, like, you know, 115 plus type EVs.

[SPEAKER_02]: So just monster power, like, how is the breaking ball recognition and timing gonna be, [SPEAKER_02]: You know, against bitter pitching, we'll see if you can make enough contact, certainly plenty of power and impact there, whether it's center field or corner outfield spot.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then one part is an interesting guy to him.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's definitely a very Venezuelan heavy class, not just these two guys, but a lot of their like deeper depth signings too, but.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, like good athlete plus runner moves well it.

[SPEAKER_02]: at shortstop, just like the actions he has there, you already know how he hits.

[SPEAKER_02]: Carlos, you already know what kind of shortstop this is.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so chitter, drink, drink.

[SPEAKER_02]: Switch it in, switch it in, switch it in, shortstop, like good, good swing decisions, uses the whole field.

[SPEAKER_02]: A little different type swing from or approach to, from, from, from each side of the plate, but second nice [SPEAKER_02]: It's kind of go with their tecaplament, right to read at the top of this class.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, very nice.

[SPEAKER_00]: Get on to the mets here.

[SPEAKER_00]: You've already talked briefly about one of their players in this class, potentially the headliner of the class and Wondy, a C-Hen.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's forgotten this class to talk about.

[SPEAKER_02]: Mainly him.

[SPEAKER_02]: He's the big guy to a great match.

[SPEAKER_00]: Much, last minute pivot then for the mets.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, obviously he for for a long, long, long time was going to sign with the Yankees.

[SPEAKER_02]: They switch things up with their international department and now he, he's on track to sign with the Metz for just like a little under $4 million, so it will be one of the top three or four bonuses I think in the whole class this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: really fast, explosive, or left-handed bat like kind of like that.

[SPEAKER_02]: Jazz, chism, type, look to him.

[SPEAKER_02]: At the plate, like I think there will be some swing and miss in there, but with like, you know, if you can keep it to a manageable rail, like it's big time explosiveness off his barrel, like he's hitting balls out from the middle of the fields already all the way over to his pull side.

[SPEAKER_02]: You know, it could be a 20, it could be a 25 plus home run type guy, some kind of like a split camp on him at shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: I definitely think he has the athleticism.

[SPEAKER_02]: and arm strength and like tools to be able to play there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Does he end up staying there or go somewhere else to be determined?

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not 100% sure on that, but you're buying like an potential left-handed power hitting [SPEAKER_02]: infielder who ideally can stay at shortstop at at higher levels.

[SPEAKER_02]: So definitely one of the the bigger names just overall in in this class and a nice later addition to this group for them.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's just a really appealing profile overall.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, we're getting down to stretch here Ben.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're almost done.

[SPEAKER_00]: Then you can rest the voice a little bit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Marlins are next up in the NL East.

[SPEAKER_02]: It last year, it was a lot of pitching for the Marlins Rayleigh.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'd like what Kevin DeFranck, who's now in their top 10 and Pedro Montero and Adrián Pena, Adrián Amarero.

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, I mean, [SPEAKER_02]: Andrew Salas was a biggest signing but it's like a lot of really good pitching for them.

[SPEAKER_02]: Last year this year kind of beefing up more on the position player side and I think the most exciting guy to watch for them is San Diego Solarte, who's shortstop from Venezuela, who's just kind of freakish.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean [SPEAKER_02]: like he's said some of these guys can maybe blend together a little bit maybe in their descriptions not not San Diego Solarte's guys six foot six he's 210 pounds he's got gigantic power left hand a bat a lot more projection there to get to even more power like probably ends up being 70 [SPEAKER_02]: When you're when you're that tall and like you're that long, you're going to have some strikeouts that come with it, that I mean, almost you're just an absolute free, which I think he is, but not, not to that degree of like, okay, he's also going to have like elite batable.

[SPEAKER_02]: So probably has some strikeouts that come with the power, but like I don't think he's just like some crude hitter either.

[SPEAKER_02]: So.

[SPEAKER_02]: Elite power potential from the left side of the plate, especially from a player who not a lot of six foot six short stops run around out there, but like I don't know you watch him take in field.

[SPEAKER_02]: And if he was six foot two, I don't think you would say, I don't know, does this anything at all?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, he'd be like, oh, this guy can't play shortstop.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's like a really, really fluid with good body control out there.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like he moves around and in the right way out there is plenty of arm strength to play either spot on the left side of the infield.

[SPEAKER_02]: And now like, [SPEAKER_02]: You know, he's not getting any smaller and lighter.

[SPEAKER_02]: So maybe he ends up just outgrow in the position, going to third base, but just like a ton of upside to dream on.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now, sometimes these guys get released on a low-A, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: So like, yeah, I think we could say the same thing for a lot of these guys, too, but like that could happen, too.

[SPEAKER_02]: or you could end up having a monster too.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, he sounds just like one of the more unique profiles in this entire class.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we'll be interesting to follow regardless whether or not you're a marlin's fan.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, two teams to go.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move into the braves.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, braves this year.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like you've seen them put all their money or a lot of their money into [SPEAKER_02]: day go tornadoes got a lot of money last year that one is working out and looking good for them so far.

[SPEAKER_02]: And at this year, there's a couple guys who are giving their biggest bonuses to nobody for more than $2 million.

[SPEAKER_02]: But, you know, Jose Monione from the Dominican Republic is a short stop, like 62175, like plus runner, plus arm, easy mover, at short stop, pretty good.

[SPEAKER_02]: bat to ball, not a lot of power yet, but you can see some more coming in.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think that's going to be key for him, it's just like getting stronger coming into more damage, because you can see shortstop traits there, and then Starling, Dala Cruz, who's an outfielder from the DR, who's still on the smaller or shorter side.

[SPEAKER_02]: He has grown some, he's five ten now, but like a really [SPEAKER_02]: really strong and just like a really explosive move like it's 510, 180.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's not like, you know, one of these 510, 150 pound, lightweight.

[SPEAKER_02]: So he does do some impact when he gets into it, has a pretty patient approach to and, you know, you can see the explosiveness just in the way he [SPEAKER_02]: body type, but he certainly has center field type speed instincts.

[SPEAKER_02]: He throws well, so just like a shorter guy, but otherwise, like really explosive and good tools to build on with him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_00]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, we have reached team number 30.

[SPEAKER_00]: So if you are Washington National's fan and you actually listen to the whole podcast prior to hearing your team's breakdown.

[SPEAKER_00]: You have our sincerest gratitude.

[SPEAKER_02]: No, we know you fast forward.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's a.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's okay.

[SPEAKER_00]: As long as you as long as you go back and listen to everything else, Ben had to say, then we'll forgive you, but then what do we have to say about the nationals?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I think I like the most in this class is Samiel Serrano, left-handed outfielder, just like a frame to dream on like 6375 pounds, like very little.

[SPEAKER_02]: muscle on him yet, but you could see him packing on a lot more weight, a lot more strength, a lot more power, like you can already hit the ball out to his pole sign.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's going to be a lot more power coming with him.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, even though it's a pretty simple.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's like a pretty easy swing.

[SPEAKER_02]: I like it.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's like nice.

[SPEAKER_02]: loose, easy, like a lot of things that you would teach a young hitter to do, he does in his swing.

[SPEAKER_02]: Definitely more hit than power right now, but as he gets stronger as he fills out, I think you'll see a balance of the two.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then he's pretty, he's like a pretty smart, instinctive player all around.

[SPEAKER_02]: So he's not, he's not a great runner.

[SPEAKER_02]: but his instincts are good in center field.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm sure he'll get an opportunity to go out and play center field at least in the lower levels.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think you really need to run better to play center fields higher up in the big leagues, but we'll see what happens there but if [SPEAKER_02]: If he hits the way, certainly, the nationals are hoping that he hits, that's a good profile at a corner outfield, so I just like a really nice looking left-hand abat with a lot more power still on the way from just like a pretty smart, high game acumen ten player.

[SPEAKER_00]: Nice, and you don't have to go too far down the list to get to their second player in this class, is it East-I-E-Swaraz out of the DR's, I pronounce that?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yes, Suarez is another one, like I think he's, you know, like a different body type than him or then in Serrano like six to 165 like another guy with a lot of strength projection, but more of like more of like an athlete like better runner than him.

[SPEAKER_02]: T, you know, we'll see like what the bat looks like.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's definitely a lot of like bat speed and like explosiveness to like the way he swings the bat.

[SPEAKER_02]: Like I think Serrano is gonna come out and I think Serrano probably will perform better right off the bat and I'm more optimistic about him along Tarmby as certainly other different kind of player with traits to like with Swara's too.

[SPEAKER_00]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, that is 30 teams, 30 downloads for international signing day.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, Ben, for carrying us through the pod and just to quickly run down again, Ben's five teams that kind of jump out through this conversation were Royals, Athletics, Giants, Rays, Orioles.

[SPEAKER_00]: Do you have a single individual favorite of that group, Ben?

[SPEAKER_00]: Or is it kind of, those are just the top five in some order?

[SPEAKER_02]: ask me on September 1st when the DSL is done and I'll pick a different team that I didn't even pick here yet, so all right.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll just give you a chance to pitch anything you want to pitch for signing day and otherwise I'm sure you've got plenty of things you want to get back to doing so thanks for educating me and educating all the listeners because again, no one else does this like Ben does so I'm very glad to have him on the podcast and running our coverage for our national prospects over at BA.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, just to be a great day, trying to share as much signing photos and things like that as you can over on X and Instagram and on the website, obviously we have all our information on there, which is like a great day for a lot of players and their families to be able to finally sign and [SPEAKER_02]: really, I know step one is the right word.

[SPEAKER_02]: I think I was been working at this for a long time, but at least on the official time line of being a professional player day one for them.

[SPEAKER_02]: So just tap it a little bit and get as much as I can and share that information and share all the photos of people sign on the 15th.

[SPEAKER_02]: There are some players who aren't going to sign right on the 15th.

[SPEAKER_02]: So if you're like, [SPEAKER_02]: you know, some teams are going to sign the next day, that kind of thing or certain players are sign later.

[SPEAKER_02]: So if you don't see like assigning photo for your team or something like that probably the reason why, but yeah, just a great day.

[SPEAKER_02]: And even though it's not like July second anymore, like it used to be, I think it's cool in some respects that it just like gets its own day, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like nothing from nothing going on except for this.

[SPEAKER_02]: No major league games going on, no minor league games, no college, no like summer stuff or anything else.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's even if you don't want to hear about these guys, you'll probably end up hearing about them if you're following baseball accounts on anywhere.

[SPEAKER_00]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, thank you Ben.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you guys for listening.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for supporting baseball America.

[SPEAKER_00]: Lowing us to do this work.

[SPEAKER_00]: We really do appreciate it.

[SPEAKER_00]: We've got any questions.

[SPEAKER_00]: You want us to tackle on the show for future episodes.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can email us future projection at baseballmerica.com.

[SPEAKER_00]: All the socials contact information is linked below in the show notes.

[SPEAKER_00]: As always, for Ben, I'm Carlos.

[SPEAKER_00]: We will see you next time everybody.

[SPEAKER_00]: So long.