Track top 2019-20 international signings
Happy July 2!Tuesday marks the opening of the 2019-20 international signing period, in which 16-year-olds (or in some cases, players who will turn 16 before Sept. 1) can sign with Major League organizations. In other words, bring on the 2003 birthdates.Each Major League club has a designated signing pool that
Happy July 2!
Tuesday marks the opening of the 2019-20 international signing period, in which 16-year-olds (or in some cases, players who will turn 16 before Sept. 1) can sign with Major League organizations. In other words, bring on the 2003 birthdates.
Each Major League club has a designated signing pool that it can use toward bonuses to bring in these new prospects. The money from those pools can be traded, though a team can't acquire more than 60 percent of another club's total pool. Thanks to having a Competitive Balance Round B pick in this year's First-Year Player Draft, the D-backs, Orioles, Indians, Rockies, Royals, Pirates, Padres and Cardinals have the biggest bonus pools at $6,481,200. The Reds, Marlins, Brewers, Twins, A's and Rays are next at $5,939,800 due to having Competitive Balance Round A picks. Most other clubs have the standard pool of $5,398,300, with the exception of the Phillies ($4,821,400) and Nationals ($4,321,400), whose pools took a hit because of free-agency signings and/or luxury tax penalties. The Braves do not have a bonus pool due to international signing violations.
MLB.com ranked the top 30 international prospects here, headlined by switch-hitting outfielder Jasson Dominguez, who received above-average or plus grades on all five of his tools. The signing statuses for all 30, as reported by MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez, are included below. The table will be updated as more information becomes available.