Texas Rangers Sign 23 International Prospects, Including Offspring Of Two Former Rangers
The Texas Rangers announced agreements with 23 international prospects on the first day of the signing period.
The Rangers announced the agreements through their player development account on social media on Monday.
The Rangers only have $4.652 million to spend internationally this calendar year. The Rangers surrendered $1 million as a result of signing two pitchers that received qualifying offers in free agency last offseason — Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. That money was distributed to other teams.
Even with $1 million less, the Rangers agreed to terms with three prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 50, including the No. 2 overall prospect in Dominican Republic outfielder Paulino Santana. Santana received a $1.3 million signing bonus.
The two other top 50 prospects were shortstop Curley Martha (No. 29), who received a $800,000 signing bonus, and shortstop Yolfran Castillo (No. 46), who received a $650,000 signing bonus.
The Rangers saw great progress from last year’s top international signing. Shortstop Sebastian Walcott, one of the top prospects last January who signed for more than $3 million in bonus money, progressed from the Dominican Summer League to High-A Hickory by September.
The Rangers can continue to sign international players with their bonus pool through Dec. 15.
Among the signees are Joaquin Arias Jr., the son of the former Ranger infielder, and Ulife Caraballo, the nephew of former Rangers pitcher Neftali Feliz.
Texas Rangers 2024 International Prospect Agreements
Rangers international prospect agreements, with their signing bonus in parenthesis:
- Paulino Santana, OF, Dominican Republic ($1.3 million)
- Curley Martha, SS, Curacao ($800,000)
- Yolfran Castillo, SS, Venezuela ($650,000)
- Nathaniel Palacios, SS, Venezuela ($500,000)
- Daniel Flames, SS, Venezuela ($450,000)
- Angel Arredondo, SS, Mexico ($300,000)
- Jose Marcano, C, Venezuela ($300,000)
- Manni Ramirez, OF, Dominican Republic ($200,000)
- Joaquin Arias Jr., OF, Dominican Republic
- Andry Batista, OF, Dominican Republic
- Winder Linares, OF, Venezuela
- Jovensly Hilaire, OF, Haiti
- Yeisy Celesten, SS, Dominican Republic
- Claudiel Lantigua, SS, Dominican Republic
- Johmphy De La Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic
- Ariel Yean, RHP, Dominican Republic
Jesus Lafalaise, RHP, Dominican Republic - Jose Silvestre, RHP, Dominican Republic
- Gilberto Lopez, RHP, Dominican Republic
- Ulife Caraballo, RHP, Dominican Republic
- Keiber Armas, RHP, Venezuela
- Jesus Lopez, RHP, Venezuela
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