Meet the Marlins' 2024 international free agent signings

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.

OF Luis Cova (Venezuela)

• 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)

RHP Alejandro De La Cruz (Dominican Republic)

RHP Gerinton Mendez (Dominican Republic)

• Fastball/changeup/curveball pitch mix

RHP Angel García (Dominican Republic)

• Fastball/changeup/curveball pitch mix

IF Yordani Martínez (Dominican Republic)

• Taking defensive reps at shortstop

C Almen Tolentino (Dominican Republic)

IF Gregori Arias (Dominican Republic)

• Taking defensive reps at shortstop

RHP Estarlin Francisco (Dominican Republic)

• Fastball velocity up to 95 mph as of 2023

RHP José Paulino (Dominican Republic)

• 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)

Venezuelan Signees

Photo courtesy of Ben Badler/Baseball America

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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.