The most difficult thing for a prospect geek like me is to gauge the talent and potential of recent international signees. It is so hard to judge the results from the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League. Also, without direct access to the Fall Instructional League it is hard to get a handle on the buzz around Latin American prospects participating there.
So, with limited information, here is a list of 10 recent international free agents who I think may show out this year. Remember, there are many more guys with intriguing tools who could have been on this list and it is in no way a slight to their abilities if they didn't make it onto this list.
1. Jaison Chourio - OF - The most exciting international signing from last year in terms of current, visible potential there is a lot of hype surrounding him. Statistically, it is hard to separate his performance in the DSL from everyone else as only his walk rate looked elite. Still, the hype is real and you could feel it in the minor league camp this year.
2. Angel Genao - SS - The most hyped prospect from the 2021 signing group, Genao, truth be told, is probably the jewel of the farm system when considering only recent international signees. His biggest downside, as near as I can tell, is that he is not exhibiting elite walk rates and his K rate is a little high for a SS at his level.
3. Jose Cedeno - I have loved his batting stroke since last year. I think he is taller than his listed 5'7", maybe closer to or even over 6'0" now. He played last year in the DSL so I think he will start in extended spring training but there is an outside chance he will see time in Lynchburg this year.
5. Austin Aldeano: - RHP - He spent most of last year in the DSL with a single appearnce in the ACL. He is still only 18 but I think we will find this year that he is mature beyond his years. It is not out of the question that he starts the season in the roation in Lynchburg.
5. Juan Benjamin - 2B - Benjamin doesn't have a very long track record but the fact that he hit .300 in the ACL last year with power (SLG .532) and good OB skills (OBP .462) as a middle infielder has put him on the map. He will likely start at Lynchburg.
6. Wuilfredo Antunez - OF - Antunez is an older prospect for not having played a lot on a full-season club. This is an important season for him as, despite his young age, he will be eligible for the Rule 5 this winter, another product of the lost 2020 minor league season. When I saw him in spring training you could see the talent, but he appeared a little hard on himself. Maybe that is just the way he motivates himself or maybe because he feels the pressure to make and perform on a full-season team this year. I think he should start and be a key player in Lynchburg this year.
7. Maik Collado - 1B/3B - Collado is a personal favorite of mine. He performed well last year in the ACL, although this could be a little deceiving as he was less than a year younger than the average prospect. given that he is already 20+ years old her really needs to perform this year in Lynchburg so that he can get some time in Lake County this year to, hopefully, accelerate his development. Power has not shown up yet but I expect it to show up a little more this year. With any luck he will end up 2023 with his prospect status being somewhere between Noel's and Planez's.
8. Nelson Aranguen - C/1B - This guy looks powerful when you see him in person and he shows some power in batting practice. Along with some of the other international signees (see below) and recent HS draftee Logun Clark, the catching position in the lower minors is stocked with interesting prospects.
9. Rafael Ramirez, Jr. - SS - His dad played in the majors and he was featured a couple times at the end of ST this year. He fits the bill of having a good glove and hit tool and is somone I expect to dominate in the ACL this year if his spring performance doesn't have the Guardians gamble and send him to Lynchburg this year. If any prospect can make that leap it would be more likely that it would be the son of a former major leaguer.
10. Manuel Mejias - Along with Victor Izturis and Nelso Aranguen, they make up the trio of good, young international signees whose primary position is catcher. Mejias is one class ahead of Izturis so I have included him as my 10th prospect on this 10 prospect list as Mejias is more likely to play this year at Lynchburg. But, make no mistake about it, from what I saw this spring they both can play.
Two guys who didn't make this list because they were just signed in January and have absolutely no track record in pro ball are listed below.
11. Welbyn Francisca- 2B - This is the first of two 2023 international signees. Francisca will likely spend the entire year on our Dominican Summer League team. He is a highly-rated prospect but, given this is his first year, it will be hard to determine how he is progressing toward his potential because of the low competition level in the DSL.
12. Yerlin Luis - OF - The other 2023 signee on this list, he shows a range of talents in a position, outfield, where the Guardians have had a lot of success in recent years in developing guys they have picked up as international signees. Like Francisca, his 2023 will likely be buried in the mass of players in the DSL but, like Chourio, he may stand out enough that the gets deserved hype and makes the meteoric rist that Chourio apparently has.
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