Top International Prospects For Dynasty 2024
Top International Prospects For Dynasty 2024
Chris Clegg breaks down and ranks the top 40 international prospects for dynasty leagues.
It is January, which means we are approaching the beginning of the 2024 International Signing Period. On January 15, international amateur free agents are eligible to sign with MLB clubs and the signing period lasts until December 15.
For a player to be eligible to sign, they must turn 17 years old by September 1, 2024, and not live or go to school in the United States or Canada. These players are not eligible for the summer's MLB Draft; therefore, they are subject to the signing process.
While most players hail from the Dominican Republic there will also be plenty of players sing from Venezuela and Cuba. While it is unofficial and not spoken of, the majority of players who sign have had handshake agreements with teams for years.
Every team has a certain amount of money they can spend, with bonuses ranging from $7.1 million to $4.7 million. Players who sign for $10k do not count against that bonus.
Now that we understand the process, let’s talk some players. I do want to put a caveat out there and say that players that sign during the international signing period are the hardest to evaluate. People love to speak in definite terms about players, but that is nothing certain about a 16-year-old with minimal data and video to go off of.
When I am looking at and evaluating these prospects, I like to look at their body and athleticism. Obviously, a lot changes about a 16-year-old as they grow and mature, but when you have a 6’4” athlete like you had with Joendry Vargas last year, I am going to bet on that player.
I watch any film available and soak up reports from people who have seen these players live. Ben Badler of Baseball America and Jesse Sanchez of MLB Pipeline are great resources.
Top International Prospects for Dynasty
1. Leo De Vries, SS, SD, 17, 6’2”/190
De Vries has long been considered one of the top prospects in this class, and for good reasons. The 6’2” switch hitter shows a good feel to hit from both sides of the plate, a smooth swing, and good plate discipline.
His run times are plus, and many believe he could develop plus power with an average or better feel to hit. In fact, according to Eric Logenhagen of Fangraphs, some international scouts say, “Everything is at least plus.”
While the profile of many international players is volatile, De Vries has the skills to have a high floor and ceiling. He could be a fast mover in the system and could play in the states in 2024. He is expected to sign with San Diego.
2. Emil Morales, SS, LAD, 17, 6’3”/180
The Dodgers tend to do very well internationally over the years with Joendry Vargas and Eduardo Quintero being several examples from last year. This year, the player to watch is Emil Morales, who has a big power stroke and a solid feel to hit.
Standing 6’3”, Morales has a loose, athletic swing and drives the ball to all fields well. Being already well-built, Morales has broad shoulders and a strong lower half. Despite the larger frame Morales moves well and could fit in at either shortstop or third base.
Reports say he has a strong strike zone awareness and the ability to work walks. Paired with the power upside that he brings the table, Morales has the potential to make a big time impact in fantasy leagues. Even if he does need to move to third base long-term, he has a ton of upside with his bat.
3. Paulino Santana, OF, TEX, 17, 6’2”/180
Santana has a five-tool upside with a highly projectable frame. Having a hit-first approach, Santana takes walks and makes plenty of contact on pitches in the zone. With plus clock times, Santana is a thread on the base paths, but is also said to be a strong center fielder.
The power has evolved as Santana just turned 17 years old and has an impressive frame and swing. He also has shown the ability to pick up spin quite well. Santana is a well-rounded player who does a lot of things well.
It may seem like a simple thing, but the fact that Santana is bilingual speaks highly of the kind of maturity he has as both a person and a player. Santana is expected to sign with Texas.
4. Jose Perdomo, SS, 17, ATL, 6’1”/195
Perdomo was the star of the class at a young age and is expected to get the highest bonus of the 2024 class. A lot changes over the time a player makes a verbal agreement with the team and when they actually sign and Perdomo has seen significant changes with his body.
He has bulked up, but has gotten stiff in some ways. Perdomo has still made it work and has not lost his polished hit tool. The bat speed may be lagging behind some, but Perdomo’s bat path leads to consistent solid contact.
Once we see Perdomo in game action this summer, we should have a better feel about his potential hit plus power combo. He is not likely to be a big contributor on the base paths and may need to move to third base, but Perdomo is still a player to be excited about. He is expected to ink a bonus near $5 million with Atlanta.
5. Fernando Cruz, SS, 17, CHC, 6’0”/180
Cruz is a well-rounded player that you can define as an athlete. He has a smooth glove in the field at shortstop, and reports say he has a high baseball IQ, advanced beyond his age. Cruz is possibly the flashiest player in the class, especially thanks to his glove and arm at shortstop.
Cruz shows good bat speed at the plate and hits the ball to all fields well. Controlling the barrel well, Cruz makes contact in all parts of the zone despite an aggressive approach. Reports say his swing can get a bit long at times leading to a potential for some strikeouts, but overall, Cruz is a well rounded player.
Cruz is expected to sign with the Cubs and has a higher floor to move quickly through the system as a higher-floor shortstop.
6. Victor Hurtado, OF, 16, WSH, 6’4”/180
Hurtardo is a projectable 6’4” outfielder with tools for days. With a smooth swing from the left side and an explosive lower half, Hurtado looks to be one of the better power hitters in the class who also shows strong skills in the outfield.
The swing can get long at times, leading to potential for swing and miss, especially against better pitching, but has strong athleticism in the box and makes adjustments well.
The Nationals are expected to sign the toolsy outfielder. Hurtado will be a player I snag often in FYPDs.
7. Yandel Ricardo, SS, 17, KC, 6’2”/185
Being the top prospect in Cuba for this year’s class, Ricardo is expected to sign with the Royals for nearly $2.5 million. Ricardo is a natural right-handed hitter and makes better contact from that side, but is a newer switch-hitter, and seems to be serviceable
Ricardo has a short swing from the right side but generates easy power to the pull side and can drive the ball to all fields well. If the power continues to develop, Ricardo has an intriguing power/hit profile and even has some speed too. Ricardo has improved his stock around the industry pretty significantly over the last year.
8. Dawel Joseph, SS, 16, SEA, 6’2”/175
Joseph is one of the better athletes in this class, with a lean and projectable frame. He has reportedly clocked plus or better run times while also tapping into more power as he fills out. He currently has a more slender frame but moves extremely well with the potential to steal plenty of bases.
He has a simple approach and swing and makes a ton of contact while spraying the ball to all fields. Considering he is still 16 years old and has been steadily growing, we could see Joseph continue to grow in height and muscle, which would make him a highly intriguing prospect. If all clicks right, there could be an above-average fill to hit with plus speed and sneaky pop.
9. Robert Arias, OF, 17, CLE, 6’2”/180
Arias fits the mold of the kind of hitter that Cleveland loves to sign on the international market: a strong athlete with advanced bat-to-ball skills. Having a lean and projectable body, Arias could tap into more power and end up with above-average skills across the board if all clicks.
With a unique swing from the left side, Arias may not look like he would make contact consistently, but he does and has strong bat-to-ball skills. He looks to have a projectable frame with wide shoulders so there is a chance that we could see Arias grow into more power with time.
A good athlete with a strong hit-tool is Cleveland’s M.O. and is the type of player I want to invest in for fantasy purposes.
10. Adolfo Sanchez, OF, CIN, 17, 6’2”/175
Sanchez has a solid feel to hit with a slight uppercut swing that generates easy loft. He has quick hands and a strong core, which helps him get to power while still having plenty of projection.
While having average speed, Sanchez may not be a huge threat on the base paths. Despite the lack of speed, Sanchez still has plenty of dynasty appeal due to the power potential. With a sweet swing from the left-side, Sanchez may play perfectly in Great American Ballpark.
11. Adriel Radney, OF, 16, ARI, 6’3”/176
Radney is a highly projectable outfielder from the Dominican Republic. His swing does not generate a ton of movement as Radney has a short stride with minimal hand movement before exploding the barrel through the zone. His body has changed over the last year, becoming a better runner and athlete.
The power upside and projection is tremendous on a player who is already 6’3” and has shown flashes of big home run power. As the run times have ticked, up he looks like a solid power and speed threat.
One of the youngest players in the class, Radney won’t turn 17 until June 23 and already has a solid frame. Radney’s long-term outlook may depend on how much muscle and mass he adds to his frame.
12. Daiber De Los Santos, SS, MIN, 17, 6’1”/160
De Los Santos reportedly has one of the most rounded skillsets in the class with a ton of raw tools. Having explosive bat speed, De Los Santos may have some of the better power in the class. His swing creates a natural loft, and the power comes easy.
Being a plus athlete, De Los Santos moves well and has plus clock times according to reports. The hit tool will be the telling factor here, as he has an aggressive approach and risk for swing and miss. Regardless, De Los Santos has a lot of upside with power and speed if you like to bet on that kind of player.
13. Eduardo Herrera, 3B, 17, CHW, 6’2”/215
Herrera might turn out to be the best power hitter in the class. He has a mature body for someone who just turned 17: broad shoulders, a thick neck, and a lower half, which are usually traits you like to see in power bats.
Despite already being well filled out, Herrera has posted strong run times and is a solid athlete. He is a hard worker who projects as a middle of the order bat. Expected to sign with the White Sox.
14. Yovanny Rodriguez, C, NYM, 17, 5’11”/180
Advanced catchers on the international market are a dime-a-dozen, as we saw with Ethan Salas last year. Rodriguez is nowhere near that advanced level, but he shows strong skills behind the dish.
Rodriguez makes solid contact at the plate and hits hard-line drives to all fields. As he matures and more of those balls leave the yard he could end up with average or better game power to pair with his skills behind the plate.
15. Joswa Lugo, SS, LAA, 16, 6’2”/170
Lugo has a strong frame that helps him get to easy power, but he should fill out more and only add to it. The gap-to-gap hard-line drives will eventually turn into more home runs.
Reports say he has strong plate skills and posts high contact rates. As he continues to grow, if the contact skills stick, Lugo might turn out to be a solid power bat as he rises up the ranks of the Angels system.
16. Naibel Mariano, SS, CIN, 17, 6’3”/170
Mariano is tall and a highly athletic shortstop with a smooth swing. He generates easy power and has the potential for big-time power. The power comes easy and Mariano does not have to sell out for power to get to it and has strong contact skills.
Considering he is already as big as he is, Mariano could move off the position and to third base. But this kind of hitting profile could play extremely well at the hot corner as he has a good feel for hit and power.
17. Ashly Andujar, SS, COL, 16, 6’1”/160
One of the bigger knocks on Andujar is his size, but he won’t turn 17 years old until the end of July 2024. Having longer legs and a skinny frame, Andujar has room to fill out as he ages and matures.
Andujar makes solid contact from both sides of the plate as a switch hitter and while the power is mostly gap-to-gap, Andujar could move up significantly.
18. Jorge Quintana, SS, MIL, 16, 6’2”/170
Quintana is tall and lanky with room to fill out his 6’2” frame as a 16-year-old. One of the hardest players for me to evaluate, as there is no film anywhere to be found on Quinatan, so we are going strictly off reports.
A switch hitter who has shown good contact skills from both sides of the plate, reports say that he has quite a polished bat. The power has been gap power, but that is to be expected from a 16-year-old. He could be one of those question marks that turns out to be a steal on the international market and in FYPDs.
19. Francisco Vilorio, OF, NYY, 17, 6’3”/175
Vilorio really blossomed over the last year, growing and adding strength, now showing more power in his profile. Most reports say there are questions surrounding the hit tool, mostly due to lack of in-game looks, but the reports on his body are impressive.
While Vilorio has shown plus run times in the past, it is highly possible those times tick down as he has added muscle, but there is chance we are looking at a strong power/speed threat.
20. Jalvin Arias, OF, PHI, 17, 6’3”/210
Arias is a tall 6’3”/210 athlete who moves rather well for his size. Being clocked at a 6.5-second 60-yard dash. His swing creates a natural loft and controls the barrel well through the zone. Having very long legs, Arias a ton of room across his body to fill out and add power to his game.
According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, “Arias flashes plus raw power that could end up being a 70 grade.” It is possible the speed ticks down as he continued to fill out his frame, but this is an impressive body with tools to bet on.
21. Luis Cova, INF/OF, MIA, 16, 6’1”/170
Cova brings good bat speed and contact to a very athletic frame. While playing all over the board Cova could likely man centerfield for the foreseeable future due to his strong athleticism.
Having grown into more power over the last year, Cova projects to be a solid power and speed play, especially given that he is a plus runner. His skillset may play better for fantasy, making him one to watch closely in dynasty leagues.
22. Angel Feliz, 3B, WSH, 17, 6’3”/190
Feliz has a tall 6’3” frame and is highly athletic for his age. Generating easy bat speed, Feliz gets to as much pull-side power as anyone in the class and could end up having above-average or better power if he fills out his frame.
The barrel stays in the zone for a long time, giving him a solid approach and the ability to pick up spin. Scouts says that Feliz has a high Baseball IQ
23. Jhonny Level, SS, MIL, 16, 5’10”/160
Level is undersized compared to most of the players signing, but is still just 16 years old and has a chance to grow taller and add muscle. He is rather built out already, though, having plenty of strength. Some scouts say he is physically maxed out, but his hit tool and bat-to-ball skills are already strong.
24. Belfi Rivera, OF, ARI, 17, 5’11”/160
Rivera receives strong reviews for his feel to hit and athleticism, while also posting plus clock times as a runner. Currently, Rivera has a pull-heavy approach but from the left side with a smooth swing. He may never be a big power threat, but the hit and speed make him an intriguing asset.
25. Stiven Martinez, OF, BAL, 16, 6’3”/175
Martinez has a powerful swing and generates easy power all while having a projectable frame. With a profile described as power-over-hit, some holes in his swing could lead to high strikeouts. He likely plays a corner outfield spot long term. It's a more risky profile, but one that could pay off big time with power.
Why aren't these in the same order as where you have them in FYPD rankings that just dropped? Example: Yandel Ricardo is 20th here, but is 53rd overall on your FYPD rankings. What am I missing? Thanks
How do you value these guys compared to guys who “did it” in DSL/complex/A ball? Take the results from the others or the projection of these guys?