Meet the Marlins' 2024 international free agent signings

[Guest Kommenter]

Lot's of hype on signing day, but how do they turn out? Would love to see a story on where Victor Victor Mesa is now and what he's doing. And what of our 2023 and 2022 and 2021 international signings? How many did we sign and how many are still with the organization, what is the average hitter batting average and what is the average pitcher ERA?

This is the first of the Bendix era international signings. Will take five years to start to judge, maybe more like ten. Probably more fair to judge him over multiple years international signings. Jeter lectured us on the importance of patience, but it was just a ruse to cover up his incompetence. I challenge FoF to come up with some meaningful way to track and report the progress of this and every other class.

[Ely Sussman]

The Marlins have added teenage talent from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico.

An 11-month window has officially opened for the Miami Marlins to sign new international amateurs via free agency. The majority of those signings took place on Monday.

Players outside of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico who were born before September 1, 2007 and have registered with Major League Baseball are eligible to sign. The Marlins have a bonus pool of $6.52M to use and signings of $10k or less do not count against that total.

Following the departure of Adrian Lorenzo as senior director of international operations, Marlins assistant general manager Oz Ocampo is temporarily overseeing the signing process. However, most/all of these signings were agreed to in principle far in advance (when Lorenzo was still with the organization).

The Marlins announced 21 total signings on Monday.

More updates to come with further details about bonuses and biographical information.

Name	Country	Bonus	Position	Age	B/T
Luis Cova	Venezuela	$1.4M	OF	16	Right/Right
José Castro	Dominican Republic	$450k	OF	17	Right/Right
Alejandro De La Cruz	Dominican Republic	$105k	RHP	16	Right/Right
Gerinton Mendez	Dominican Republic	$200k	RHP	17	Right/Right
Angel García	Dominican Republic	$225k	RHP	16	Right/Right
Kifraidy Encarnación	Dominican Republic	$165k	LHP	18	Left/Left
Yordani Martínez	Dominican Republic	$150k	2B	17	Right/Right
Alex Cruz	Dominican Republic	$170k	1B/OF	17	Left/Right
Robert Puente	Dominican Republic	$115k	LHP	16	Left/Left
Almen Tolentino	Dominican Republic	$145k	C	17	Left/Right
Gregori Arias	Dominican Republic	$180k	SS	17	Both/Right
Estarlin Francisco	Dominican Republic	$170k	RHP	17	Right/Right
José Paulino	Dominican Republic	$350k	RHP	17	Right/Right
Jonathan Rosario	Dominican Republic	$85k	LHP	17	Left/Left
Eric Gutierrez	Dominican Republic	$160k	LHP	18	Left/Left
Abraham Hernández	Venezuela	$250k	LHP	16	Left/Left
Kevin Robledo	Mexico	$75k	C	17	Right/Right
Eiver Mosquera	Venezuela	$150k	RHP	17	Right/Right
Carlos Ochoa	Venezuela	$150k	RHP	?	Right/Right
Jonfreider Torrealba	Venezuela	$50k	RHP	16	Right/Right
Maikel Rodriguez	Venezuela	$20k	RHP	17	Right/Right

OF Luis Cova (Venezuela)

https://fishonfirst.com/farm/luis-cova-marlins-signing-details/

• Listed at 6'2", 175 pounds

• From FanGraphs: "Cova is a tall, long-levered, projectable outfield prospect who seemed to last deeper into the international scouting process than most premium prospects...Scouts are split as to whether his frame will eventually cause him to outgrow center field, but there is general agreement that he is both currently fast enough to give it a try and that he has a promising enough hit/power combination to profile in a corner if he has to move."

• From Baseball America: "The center fielder on Venezuela’s U-15 World Cup team in 2022, Cova is a bouncy athlete with a lean, well-proportioned build on a high-waist frame. He has good bat speed, strong bat-to-ball skills and a line-drive approach, with his gap power growing to now clearing the fence with more frequency and indicators of significantly more power on the way given his bat speed and strength projection."

• From MLB Pipeline: "The muscular infielder-turned-outfielder was initially showcased as a shortstop but didn’t separate from the pack. He made the move to the outfield and emerged as a prospect. Despite being relatively new to the position, Cova takes good routes to fly balls and has shown solid range while patrolling center field. Overall, he sees the ball well, has good instincts and features emerging arm strength. Scouts love his makeup, tabbed him as a quick study and rave about his awareness. At the plate, he is quick to the ball and, although there is an unorthodox hand load, it works well and produces hard-hit balls. He’s a mature and serious-minded prospect."

OF José Castro (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/y9ZFEZkN?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @josemanuelcastr62/TikTok

RHP Alejandro De La Cruz (Dominican Republic)

via alejandro__0527/Instagram

RHP Gerinton Mendez (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/KgH3gGrK?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @yadielgmendez0/TikTok

• Fastball/changeup/curveball pitch mix

RHP Angel García (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/KxDJhje5?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @yandheell__/TikTok

• Fastball/changeup/curveball pitch mix

IF Yordani Martínez (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/m6kEhpvF?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @yordanimartinez101/TikTok

• Taking defensive reps at shortstop

C Almen Tolentino (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/l8LmsYSC?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @almenluistolentin/TikTok

IF Gregori Arias (Dominican Republic)

via gregori__arias_19/Instagram

https://videopress.com/v/8owrIpqW?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @gregorimanuelarias1/TikTok

• Taking defensive reps at shortstop

RHP Estarlin Francisco (Dominican Republic)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqjV_URjL0A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

• Fastball velocity up to 95 mph as of 2023

RHP José Paulino (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/wq8AzXY4?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @gabrielpaulino2448/TikTok

• From Baseball America: "Paulino generated a lot of swing-and-miss when he was pitching with a fastball up to 92 mph. His velocity has spiked higher since then, with the 6-foot-3 righthander now reaching 96 mph with the potential for more on the way. He has a strong, durable frame with good pitchability for his age and a three-pitch mix that give him a starter look, showing feel for both his curveball and changeup. "

LHP Eric Gutierrez (Dominican Republic)

https://videopress.com/v/3UTpyXfc?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

via @erickemmanuelguti6/TikTok

Venezuelan Signees

Photo courtesy of Ben Badler/Baseball America

 

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[Ely Sussman]

I like the concept on bundling together amateur acquisition classes (international and MLB Draft combined) and periodically tracking progress. Gives us a better understanding of how much/how little "homegrown hope" there is, plus who has already been traded/released.

 

Beginning in 2021, international signing day was realigned in a way that makes those players enter pro ball at a slightly older age, more comparable to draft picks. I'll brainstorm this further.