The 2026 international signing period begins today, and the Royals are expected to land one of the top hitters available. The Royals have been more aggressive in international signings lately, and while the market can be very fickle, they have had success recently with All-Star infielder Maikel Garcia signed out of Venezuela, and top prospects such as Kendry Chourio, Ramon Ramirez, Luinder Avila, Felix Arronde, and Asbel Gonzalez.
The trend in this international signing class for the Royals seems to be players who show some ability to put the ball in play or control the strike zone. Here are some of the players Baseball America writes the Royals are expected to land, or have already signed.
Angeibel Gomez, outfielder
Baseball America writes that some scouts rank Gomez as the top player in this class. They ultimately rank him #7 in this class, Fangraphs ranks him #3, while MLB Pipeline ranks him as the #4 prospect in this class. Gomez already has a large, imposing frame at 6’2”, and is a five-tool athlete with high marks in power and speed. Baseball America writes the right-handed hitter “makes frequent contact, has a good sense of the strike zone and big raw power.” MLB Pipeline notes he consistently makes hard contact, has a “patient and mature approach at the plate”, and that he was MVP of the Amateur Scouting League in 2024 by hitting .370 with a 1.216 OPS
Baseball America projects him to be a 25-home run-per-year threat capable of playing centerfield and is a “plus-plus” runner. MLB Pipeline calls him a “savvy runner” with a high baseball IQ. Ben Badler of Baseball America reports Gomez signed with the Royals for a bonus of $2.9 million.
Shortstop Jaider Suarez
Jaider Suarez has been on evaluators’ radar for years, first as a precocious amateur standout in Cuba and more recently as one of the most intriguing international prospects training in the Dominican Republic. Baseball America ranks him #23 in this class, MLB Pipeline ranks him #22, and Fangraphs ranks him #49.
He was the youngest player on Cuba’s roster at the 2022 U-15 World Cup and dominated the U16 National League in Cuba in 2023 at the age of 23, leading the league in home runs. The right-handed hitter has “broad shoulders on a strong frame and good bat-to-ball skills”, according to Baseball America. He drew a fair number of walks, although that may stem from his power ability at the plate. Baseball America writes he “could end up hitting 20-plus homers.”
Suarez is a plus runner with a good arm. Some evaluators think he will end up at third, but others feel he can stick at shortstop and become a plus bat. Baseball America reports he has signed with the Royals for $1.7 million.
Catcher Adrian Lunar
Lunar continues the trend of players who have an idea of what they are doing at the plate. The left-handed hitter “has a flat, level swing that he utilizes to almost never swing and miss”, according to MLB Pipeline. They rank him #43 in this class, with Baseball America ranking him #60. He favors contact over power, and standing at 5’10”, he is unlikely to develop into a basher. His bat is ahead of his glove, but he has exhibited plus pop times and shows off a strong arm and could continue to develop behind the plate. The Venezuelan catcher has been training with former MLB catcher Miguel Montero.
Shortstop Maicoll Rondon
Baseball America ranks Rondon #72, writing the Venezuelan is a “ savvy, high-energy ballplayer with a high-contact bat”. He stands at 6’0”, and just 150 pounds, although he has plenty of time to fill out that frame. He is a “pesky” hitter who could be at the top of a lineup. He is an above-average runner and average defender that could eventually move to second base. Baseball America reports he has signed with the Royals for $700,000.
Shortstop Leandro Briceño
Briceño is ranked #77 by Baseball America in this class. They write the Venezuelan is a “smart, headsy player with a solid sense of the strike zone.” They report he has signed with the Royals for a bonus of $650,000.
Shortstop Renso Tenas
Tenas is one of the few players signed out of Panama. Baseball America notes he doesn’t have much power, but puts the ball in play and is an “instinctive” player. He has signed with the Royals for $350,000.
Pitcher Luis Garces
The Colombian stands 6’0”, 175 pounds and throws 90 mph. He has an easy delivery and throws a curve and change up.
Players in this class are eligible to be signed from now until December 15.
He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year. In practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009 (and older), will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible.
Each team is subject to a bonus pool that is determined in part, by market size. Allotments can also be traded, and teams can forfeit allotments by signing certain free agents. The Royals have a bonus pool of $8,034,900, tied with the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Guardians, Rockies, Pirates, and Cardinals for the largest in baseball.
