International Free Agent Market (January 2025)

[Spencer Michaelis]

Fangraphs' (Eric Longenhagen) rankings were released. Kenny Fenelon at 23 with a 40 FV, Christopher Acosta at 48 with a 35+ FV.

Brief write-ups on both are available on "The Board"

[Spencer Michaelis]

BA has additional scouting reports for some of the non-T100 Bonus Board guys in this article.

One new name, that hadn't been brought up anywhere that I can find, is RHP Luis Aguayo out of Mexico. He was pitching in their winter league as a 16 year old (turned 17 in late November of 2024) and struck out more than a batter per inning, though with a WHIP of nearly 2. He's up to 94, according to the article, and has the potential for a plus changeup.

[SF70]

Yeah after ready BA’s scouting reports on our class, I’m totally stoked, especially with the OF’s and a couple of their pitchers.

[Soupbone]

Don't have Baseball America.

Who they like the most?

[Jake McKibbin]

1 hour ago, Spencer Michaelis said:

BA has additional scouting reports for some of the non-T100 Bonus Board guys in this article.

One new name, that hadn't been brought up anywhere that I can find, is RHP Luis Aguayo out of Mexico. He was pitching in their winter league as a 16 year old (turned 17 in late November of 2024) and struck out more than a batter per inning, though with a WHIP of nearly 2. He's up to 94, according to the article, and has the potential for a plus changeup.

How common is it for a 16 year old to get even nine innings of Winter league work?

[snoogans8056]

20 minutes ago, Soupbone said:

Don't have Baseball America.

Who they like the most?

Antunez.

Gerlyn Payano mentioned as a sleeper.

They have us as a top 5 class.

[Spencer Michaelis]

15 minutes ago, Jake McKibbin said:

How common is it for a 16 year old to get even nine innings of Winter league work?

Definitely not very. There are usually a few, but they often have already pitched in the DSL. He was over 12 years younger than the league average lol.

[Joseph Zarr]

46 minutes ago, Soupbone said:

Don't have Baseball America.

Who they like the most?

Here's their leading line on the class fwiw:

Quote

The Brewers have crushed the international market in recent years. Their 2025 signing class looks like another impressive group stacked with talented position players. *

* emphasis mine

SO, we should all maintain our over-zealous poise that the Brewers are continuing to crush in the International scouting realm.😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Yeah, reading BA's most recent write-up on Antunez has only fanned the fires of my unsubstantiated hype 😅. He just looked like an unreal athlete in the limited footage (as I've spoke to previously). Now, reading he has a natural ability to stay in CF with plus 'plus-plus speed' (!!) and an 'excellent arm' (!!) has me even more unnecessarily hyped. You could see in the limited clips he has an innate ability to identify and sit on off-speed offerings. This young man has the early looks of a potential super stud. There. I said it. 🤭

[nate82]

I am going to wait to board the hype train until they are in A ball at least.

[Joseph Zarr]

Getting two young pitchers already touching 94 mph is pretty wild. BA (and a $210k bonus) seem to indicate the Crew think the prize of the pitching class is Dominican Yeuri Ramirez. They describe him as tall and lanky - sitting at 94 mph already with likely room to go a few ticks higher as he matures and fills out. They say he already has feel for his change-up and breaking ball to disrupt hitters.

Here is a clip of Aguayo with Tomateros (an outside 4-seamer touching 92 mph):

1-2 K Here

BA claims, and it is likely true given how he's already pretty well built, there isn't much physical upside left in Aguayo's 5'11" frame.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, nate82 said:

I am going to wait to board the hype train until they are in A ball at least.

Well, that's no fun! 😜

[biedergb]

38 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

BA claims, and it is likely true given how he's already pretty well built, there isn't much physical upside left in Aguayo's 5'11" frame.

But can't a just turned 17 year old grow? I mean if he goes from 5-11 to 6-1 there is some potential upside right? I mean he is pretty solidly built already, but yeah if he hits 94 mph at that age I am intrigued. Both him and 6-2 Ramirez

Looking out for more names and signings over the next few days.

And would love to see a former Dodger or Padre who flips to Brew Crew as they all wait on Sasaki.

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Brewers named as one-of-five teams with 'Exciting International Signing Classes for 2025': article HERE (Baseball America Plus - sub required). Also listed: Red Sox, Royals, Marlins, and Cubs.

In this most recent article, BA cites Domincan OF Gerlyn Payano as a potential lefty breakout candidate with power and speed from that coveted left-side.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

(First glance: gives me RHP Yujanyer Herrera vibes. That's a very good thing.)

Granted, you can find this clip and more in Spencer's thread of clips entirely of pitchers in this class:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Curt Hogg has compiled a series of swing clips from the top names in the class here (a look at Acosta's smooth long swing within):

 

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Aguayo's signing day:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Frias walks to the stage with ol' Brewer and Carlos Villenueva, in his 'Special Assistant' capacity, front and center. You love to see it! I should add, Matt Arnold is also in attendance at the very center 😅. I think it's fair to opine (conversations abroad) Frias is likely one of the unsung players in this outfield class. Baseball America mentions he is the brother to the Guardians' Luis Frias. Perhaps interesting as well, they seem to think he has quite solid mound projectability. You can dream into that given his frame and size. Two-Way guy?

Here's footage of Acosta and Fenelon at the same introductory function:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

There are Ramirez clips in Spencer's X post above, fwiw. Early reports are Ramirez is possibly the crowned jewel in this pitching class for the Brewers. AND, I've heard the Brewers are quite high on several arms already at this stage. This appears to be one of the more ready classes in terms of high-end arm talent.

[nate82]

All of these signings are why the Brewers were never going to be in on Sasaki and I believe this was and is the right approach for the Brewers.

[homer]

2 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

 

For a split second I thought this was him: