It\u2019s time for Prospect Christmas, aka the official opening of MLB\u2019s international signing period for the year. While most of the deals are worked out ahead of time and only made official on this day, there are occasionally surprises once the period actually opens, and players will continue to sign over the coming weeks and months. The top prospect in this year\u2019s class is generally regarded as Venezuelan shortstop Luis Hernandez, who is signing with the Giants. Hernandez is expected to sign for around $5M, taking up basically all of the Giants\u2019 relatively meager bonus pool of $5.44M.<\/p>\n
Like the US-based draft, teams have different bonus pools based on a variety of factors that they can spend on players. The Mariners are in the second-highest tier for bonus pools, at $7.35M, along with the A\u2019s. The rest of the AL West is in lower tiers, with the Rangers and Angels having about $6.7M; the Astros have the least to spend, in the $5.44 tier.<\/p>\n
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Last year, the Mariners spent the largest chunk of their bonus pool to sign outfielder Yorger Bautista, who struggled some in his DSL debut (a wRC+ of 91). While that\u2019s not uncommon for young players experiencing their first taste of pro baseball, it follows an unfortunate trend. The Mariners\u2019 top 2024 prospect, infielder Dawel Joseph, signed for about $3M, has struggled so far in pro ball (a wRC+ of 42 in his debut year, and 91 in his sophomore season). 2023\u2019s marquee signing, shortstop Felnin Celesten, has suffered injuries that have kept him off the field early in his young career. Hopefully this crop of signings can help re-enforce what potentially looms as a weak point in Seattle\u2019s otherwise impressive system. As you\u2019ll see in the tracker, the Mariners switched tactics this year, spreading around their large bonus pool rather than spend big on a single player at the top of the class. These are the more major signings as announced by the club; we will update with smaller deals as those trickle in.<\/p>\n
2026 Mariners International Signings Tracker<\/p>\n
OF Gregory Pio (Dominican Republic) \u2013 $2.9M<\/p>\n
While Pio is expected to sign the largest bonus of the M\u2019s class, it doesn\u2019t seem as though scouting appraisals of him quite match that expectation. Seattle reportedly had a bigger under-the-table agreement with Pio, but the teenager\u2019s projection has slipped some, leading to a lesser signing sum. Still, he\u2019s a speedy outfielder with quality range and reactions, whose question marks lie at the plate. There\u2019ve been listings anywhere from 5\u201911 to 6\u20191 on the 16 year old, who will be particularly young on signing day even for this pool of players. Mariners international scouting director Frankie Thon Jr. describes Pio as a toolsy player, highlighting his speed and raw strength; the Mariners are excited about his ceiling.<\/p>\n
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View Link<\/a><\/p>\n OF Juan Rijo (Dominican Republic) \u2013 $2.2M<\/p>\n If Pio is projectable, Rijo is polished. The most well-regarded signee by scouts in Seattle\u2019s class, he\u2019s a 6\u20191 lefty-hitting outfielder. Known for his smooth swing mechanics and ability to hit for contact as a younger prospect, a growth spurt and the addition of some lean muscle has pushed up Rijo\u2019s power tool to stand level with his hit tool. There is an ease to Rijo\u2019s bat path that is geared for line drives that\u2019s made his in-game numbers and raw profile continue to move in the right direction. The Mariners\u2019 Thon Jr. praised Rijo as a \u201cuniquely advanced\u201d player with a \u201cwell-rounded\u201d skillset. Rijo also gets high marks off the field, showing the same maturity and patience he brings in the box through a plus work ethic and high baseball acumen.<\/p>\n OF Ambeiro Recio (Dominican Republic) \u2013 $400,000<\/p>\n Recio is a strong, 6\u20191\u201d, right-handed hitter who swings for damage and has a strength-over-accuracy arm in the outfield. His calling card will be plus power and he profiles as a corner outfielder. Recio trained at the elite JD Ozuna baseball academy in the DR, the same academy Celesten trained at. If you understand Spanish, here\u2019s<\/a> a sweet video the academy did of him when he told his parents he was going to sign with the Mariners; he gives a brief inspirational speech to his fellow prospects thanking Seattle for recognizing him at the three minute mark and the parent phone call is at the five minute mark\u2014no second language skills necessary to translate proud parent tears. Reporter Francys Romero listed him as one of his \u201cdark horse\u201d prospects from this signing period<\/a>. Bold prediction: Recio becomes the fan favorite from this class.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n SS Leonardo Reynoso (Dominican Republic)<\/p>\n Seattle\u2019s most well-regarded infielder in this year\u2019s class, Reynoso is a switch-hitter with a more polished lefty swing that may end up being a full-time fit, although the Mariners will give him opportunities to develop both, as his right-handed swing is the more power-driven. It is the left-handed swing, though, that Thon Jr. called \u201csweet\u201d and \u201cgeared for using the whole field.\u201d The strong-armed righty gets great backspin on his throws across the diamond, and quality strength throughout his frame looks promising for the young Dominican. Although he has the athleticism to play anywhere on the diamond, Thon Jr. and the Mariners see him as a third baseman with a plus arm. His foot speed is solid, but not blistering. Reynoso has extensive experience playing in international showcases and tournaments, showing well in high-pressure environments even as a young teenager.<\/p>\n