Last year the Dodgers international signing period was dominated by the signing for Roki Sasaki, the pitching sensation from Japan who signed for $6.5 million and started his career in the major leagues. Their 2026 international signing period is more traditional in the sense that they have spread things around to several prospects.
“He gets his swing started with a leg kick, cranks his back elbow up high and unleashes a fast swing with the bat speed to drive the ball over the fence to his pull side,” Badler wrote about Arias at Baseball America. “Scouts highest on Arias praised his feel for hitting, as well—some scouts think it will be a hit-over-power profile—and given the physical projection remaining in his lean, high-waist frame, there should be more power still in the tank.”
Ezequiel Melbourne, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic, signed for $750,000 per Romero and Badler. Melbourne was ranked the 29th-best international prospect by MLB Pipeline, and was 75th at Baseball America.
Borek at MLB.com said of Arias, “A switch-hitter with a quality eye and a smooth stroke from both sides of the dish, he’s presently focused on line drives, but scouts believe there will be plenty of pop to come as he enters the professional environment.”
The other Dodgers signee ranked among the top-100 prospects was shortstop Ariel Reynoso, also from the Dominican Republic, rated 86th by Baseball America. He signed for $600,000, per Borek at MLB.com.
Other reported bonuses are Dominican infielder Jose Victorino at $550,000, per MLB.com, and Dominican pitcher Luis Ricart signing for $50,000, per Romero.
We’ll update this with more signings as they are reported.