The International Signing System Remains Broken, Plus Other Notes

Ben Badler spent time in the Dominican Republic recently. Here's what he saw, top players to know and an update on a signing system that remains problematic.

Author

Mark Chiarelli
April 11, 2024

Top International Players, U-15 Tournament And A Broken Signing System | Notes From The Dominican Republic

Ben Badler recently spent time reporting in the Dominican Republic on a variety of fronts, including at the U-15 Pan American Championship, which drew hundreds of scouts, as well as trips to various trainer programs. The tournament represented the perfect environment for players to compete for their country with passion and energy, while also providing an opportunity for scouts to evaluate players against top competition.

One thing remained clear during Badler’s time in the Dominican Republic: For the most part, trainers remain unhappy with where the international system has gone. MLB teams are now frequently reaching agreements to sign players when they’re 13 or younger.

Today, Ben dives into complexities of the issue for Baseball America subscribers in a wide-ranging piece that includes…

  • Recap from the U-15 Pan American tournament

  • Prospects who impressed in the tournament

  • Cuba’s on-field struggles

  • Top players in the 2025, 26 and 27 classes he saw

  • The broken signing process

JACKSON HOLLIDAY’S DEBUT

Holliday’s Debut A Momentous Night For Family And Franchise

Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes was at Fenway Park for Jackson Holliday’s Orioles debut last night. While Holliday’s on-field results weren’t up to par, Pontes writes it was clear the moment — both for Holliday and his family, and the Orioles franchise — could be the start of something special.

Related: The Future Projection pod dives into Holliday’s debut and also discusses Paul Skenes’ domination so far in 2024

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AROUND THE HORN
REVISITING HOLLIDAY’S SELECTION IN THE 2022 DRAFT
@baseballamerica

Jackson Holliday is a big leaguer. The Orioles look pretty smart taking him 1-1 in 2022 … and no, it wasn’t a slam dunk (at the time) #mil... See more

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