The new international signing period opens on January 15. As a smaller-market team, the Twins are one of a handful of organizations with an upper-echelon bonus pool. They, along with seven other teams, have $7,357,100 to spend, the second-highest annual allotment in the tiered setup under the current CBA.
This year, the Twins class is headlined by Enmanuel Merlo, a Venezuelan shortstop who turned 17 in November. Merlo is slated to receive the 29th-largest bonus of any international prospect, per Baseball America. His signing bonus is expected to be about $1.5 million. Merlo is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 34th-best prospect in the 2026 class.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Merlo is a switch-hitter with a wiry frame. He’s currently better from the left side and has a well-rounded offensive profile. Merlo consistently produced above-average exit velocities relative to his peers, while also being praised for controlling the strike zone effectively and taking free passes when available.Â
Despite being an average runner, Merlo is aggressive on the base paths, and his running may become an asset in his game as he develops his reads. He has an above-average arm and a smooth first step at shortstop. While he may not stick there permanently, he certainly has the requisite skills to stick in the dirt as a professional.
We’ll have more details on the Twins’ forthcoming international crop at Twins Daily in the coming weeks. For now, Merlo leads the way, but (as is true of virtually all such signings) don’t expect imminent impact from him. Ordinarily, players like this don’t even come to the United States for a year or two after they sign, though given the state of affairs in Venezuela, Merlo could relocate either to the Twins’ academy in the Dominican Republic or to their complex in Florida sooner than is typical.
Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!