After closely following the 14th BFA U18 Asian Baseball Championship in Taipei, Taiwan, from September 7 to 13, 5 players stood out not only for what they showed during the tournament, but also for their potential to make an impact at the next level. All of them displayed a combination of tools, athleticism, competitiveness and projection that caught my attention and, in several cases, generated significant interest among the scouts in attendance.
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I had the opportunity to speak with more than 10 scouts who were there watching every game, and one thing became clear: there is plenty of talent in this generation, although the future path of some of these players remains uncertain. For some, decisions involving their families, schools, clubs or professional opportunities will determine what comes next. Still, each of the players below showed enough tools and projection to potentially build successful careers in baseball.
Here is my personal ranking, with one important clarification: players who have already signed with MLB organizations are not included. For example, Korean shortstop Junsang Eom, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks during this same international signing period, is not part of this ranking.
SPOILER: The tournament’s MVP is not #1 on my list