MLB International signing period (2025-2026)
In-Depth Guide: top talents and teams signings bonus, budget
This is the second edition of the MLB International Signing Period guide, a comprehensive publication that covers the most significant developments of the signing period, an initiative I first ventured into in January 2025. I was truly encouraged by the acceptance of the 2024–25 edition, and I hope this upcoming version surpasses all expectations.
This Top 50 prospects list is not based on signing bonuses, but rather on the evaluations of numerous organizations, scouts, international directors, and industry sources who believe these players have the strongest chance to develop and ultimately contribute at the Major League level.
Unlike the previous year, this guide will feature only the Top 50 talents and team signings. Next week, a separate list highlighting 20 dark horses, as well as the top five players by offensive tools, will be released.
Talent acquisition, regardless of context, remains one of the most complex and challenging aspects of the game. Within the current international system, most talents reach agreements approximately two years before the official signing, as mandated by the existing structural framework. During this interim period, skills and tools may develop and improve significantly; however, they may also decline or even disappear altogether.
Top 50 talents 2025–2026
All prospects on this list fall within a bonus value range of $350,000 to $5 million. Many of these agreements are variable and were reached over a time frame ranging from one to three years, meaning that in some cases the assigned value and the player’s tools are directly aligned, while in others they may not be.
A significant number of players who do not appear on this list but are included in the team signings section also possess the talent to advance in professional baseball and potentially reach the Major League level. These are simply 50 names that scouts from all 30 MLB organizations believe will have an impact, whether in the short or long term, within professional baseball.