Rays’ International Signing Class Shows Promise

For the third year in a row, the Rays’ top international signee was a young, multitooled, athletic outfielder from the Dominican Republic.

Properly projecting teenage talent is one of the most vexing challenges in the game, but the Rays could have a pretty good way to measure their success after adding 17-year-old Maykel Coret to the organization Wednesday:

Seeing him take the major-league field in a few years alongside their top signees from the past two years, Leonardo Pineda (2024) and Brailer Guerrero (2023).

Rays Future Star Outfielders

“I just saw Brailer and Pineda two days ago in the (team’s Dominican Republic) complex, and those guys are monsters,” Rays international scouting director Steve Miller said. “So, yeah, I could easily see these three guys being in the same starting outfield in the future.

“There’s a little bit of a difference between all of them. Brailer is (so) gifted, just a big, strong, physical hitter with power. Pineda is like a spark plug — a compact, stocky hitter also with power potential and hit potential. And Coret has a chance to just be a really gifted centerfielder, a five-tool type player.

“We could easily see these three guys in future years anchoring all three spots in an outfield.”

Coret the No. 9-ranked international prospect by mlbpipeline.com, was the highest of the 12 players the Rays signed Wednesday and among three in the top 30.

Talented Young Players

Though only 17, Coret already is 6-feet-3 and 187 pounds. Miller raved about his speed (he runs the 60-yard dash in 6.5 seconds), power (103 mph exit velocity) and arm strength (94 mph from the outfield), though he did acknowledge Coret has “a big strike zone to cover” and “average” contact skills that need improvement.

Exciting Prospects with Promise

“He’s the guy we would consider having as high, if not the highest, ceiling in the class,” Miller said. “We think eventually he has a chance to have top-of-the-scale-type power. He’s a plus defender in centerfield; he covers a lot of ground. And he can really throw. … He’s one we’re really excited about.”

Coret received a $1.6 million bonus, matching Venezuelan shortstop Eliomar Garces for the top amount among the signees.

Other Standout Signings

Garces, also 17, is a 5-foot-9 switch-hitter who impressed with his glovework and was ranked No. 38 by fangraphs.com.

The other notable prospects signed were Raymer Medina ($1.1 million), a 17-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop from the Dominican Republic ranked No. 20 by mlbpipeline.com; and Warel Solano ($1.05 million), a right-handed-hitting Dominican infielder ranked No. 30.

New Talents on the Horizon

The rest of the class announced Wednesday: shortstop Emmanuel Cedeno ($500,000), catcher Brainerh Palacios ($350,000), centerfielder Emile Torres ($300,000), centerfielder Kadil Rubio ($160,000), catcher Ivan Torres ($150,000), right-hander Anderson Alvarez ($100,000), shortstop Carlos Salazar ($70,000) and left-hander Jensy Duran ($10,000).

Exciting Additions to the Roster

Cedeno is “an extremely high-energy player” who will be a staff and fan favorite, and is nicknamed “Gatin,” which means “little cat,” Miller said. Palacios, a Venezuelan, is trained by the father of Ethan Salas, one of the game’s top catching prospects, and has “very exciting” two-way skills.

That group accounts for $6.99 million of the Rays major-league co-high $7,555,500 pool for the signing period that runs through December. They could have other deals lined up waiting for spots to open under the league cap of 165 minor-league players, and also could add pool money via trades.

Final Thoughts

Miller said the Rays are quite pleased with the group.

“It’s a big day for the scouts, because they work year-round and don’t get time off — it’s always sunny somewhere down here,” Miller said from the Dominican. “It’s a big day for the organization to bring in 12 players that we think have the potential to help us, either in the big-league level or trading for a big-leaguer. It’s a big day for all these guys. … The organization certainly makes us feel like it’s an important day.”

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Conclusion

The Rays have added a talented group of international prospects to their organization, with exciting potential for the future.

FAQs

1. What is the significance of signing international prospects for MLB teams?

Signing international prospects allows teams to acquire young talent with high potential at a relatively low cost compared to free agent signings or trades.

2. How do the Rays’ recent signings compare to other teams?

The Rays have focused on adding young, athletic players with diverse skill sets to their organization, setting them up for future success.