Rays 2025 international prospects signing tracker

The 2025 IFA period is now open. Who have the Rays added to their farm system?

The 2025 IFA period opened on January 15, and while some finalists for star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki have not been able to spend, the Rays have spent nearly their entire $7,555,500 allotment in the first 24 hours.

Interestingly, the Rays thought they would be a top contender to sign Sasaki, but according to Marc Topkin, the front office believes, “the stadium issues put the team in a “difficult spot.””

“We have a good relationship with Roki’s agent (Joel Wolfe), and Roki is a very big fan of (pitching coach) Kyle Snyder,” Rays international scouting director Steve Miller said Wednesday. “I know that the conversations with (manager Kevin) Cash and Kyle and (baseball operations president) Erik (Neander), the conversations went great.

“The hurricane, I think, put us in a really difficult spot. Losing the Trop, not knowing where we’re going to be, put us in a difficult spot with Roki. But I do think that (Sasaki) really appreciated the conversations that (they) had here.”

[Tampa Bay Times]

You can read more about the Rays pitch at the link, which notes if Roki has a change of heart the Rays could trade for 60% of their bonus pool to open up $4.5 million in spending, but that seems unlikely.

Instead the Rays focused on twelve key signings, which we will detail below, descending by the dollar amount agreed. The group is led by Coret, who the organization views as their top signing and a five-tool centerfielder. He signed for just under the $1.75 million the Rays gave to last year’s top signee RF Leonardo Pineda, but none compare to 2023’s leader LF Brailer Guerrero.

Let’s dive in.

CF Maykel Coret - $1.6M
Dominican Republic

6-foot-4, 185 pounds with immense physical upside. It’s a strong but still lean, long-limbed frame with big bat speed to put on an impressive show in batting practice, showing the potential for 60 or 70 raw power in the future. Coret’s long arms create swing-and-miss risk, but he’s not a raw, all-or-nothing hitter either.

[Baseball America]

Coret is one of the most physically impressive prototypes in the entire class, featuring an explosive swing that generates hard contact with exit velocities over 100 mph.

[Francis Romero]

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 65 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

A hard-nosed player who earns considerable praise for his makeup off the field, the long and lean Coret also receives praise for his passion and dedication to the sport. Cerebral in his on-field actions, nearly everything about his overall game jumps off the page for a player yet to enter pro ball.

A right-handed hitter who possesses above-average bat speed and power, Coret has shown an ability to get to that extra-base pop in games, while also discerning which pitches he should lay off. Already 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Coret has room to continue filling out his physique. He ranks in the top 94th percentile among his class with a max exit velocity of 104 mph and has been clocked at 6.6 seconds on the 60-yard dash.

Like most young outfield standouts, Coret gets the majority of his reps in center field, where he has a quick first step, gets good reads and is able to track the ball with efficiency. Couple that with an arm that has already been clocked at 96 mph on throws from the grass – with the accuracy to pair with it – and there’s reason to believe he’ll get every opportunity to remain up the middle as his pro career gets underway.

[MLB Pipeline]

“He’s the guy we would consider having as high, if not the highest, ceiling in the class,” Miller said. “We think eventually he has a chance to have top-of-the-scale-type power. He’s a plus defender in centerfield; he covers a lot of ground. And he can really throw. … He’s one we’re really excited about.”

[...] a cousin of Rays minor-league pitcher Roberto Medina.

[Tampa Bay Times]

SS Eliomar Garces - $1.6M
Venezuela

while he’s not that physical, his defense and bat-to-ball skills continue to stand out. He’s a switch-hitter with a contact-oriented approach from his short swing and he doesn’t expand the strike zone often.

[Baseball America]

it’s Garces whom some club evaluators believe could be the best defensive shortstop of the bunch, if not in the entire 2025 class. A bit undersized at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, the Venezuela native has the look of a long-term shortstop defensively.

A switch-hitter, Garces has top-of-the-line contact skills from both sides of the dish. Equipped with a level swing — particularly from the left side — and modest leg kick that allows him to tap into some blossoming extra-base pop, there’s ample room for his all-around offensive profile to grow as he joins pro ball. He’s also a tick above average on the basepaths, which will help him carve out an early niche as a speedy slick-fielding infielder.

[Adam Berry, mlb.com]

SS Raymer Medina - $1.1M
Dominican Republic
nephew of former big-leaguer Cristian Guzman

Medina is “just a really well-rounded shortstop who can hit from both sides of the plate, has some power from both sides, is going to be really steady defensively and has defensive versatility to play anywhere,”

[Tampa Bay Times]

good body control and a quick transfer with the arm for shortstop. He’s a switch-hitter with a loose, fluid swing from both sides and an aggressive approach looking to drive the ball for damage

[Baseball America]

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50

A switch-hitter often considered undersized on the circuit in his younger years, Medina has an aggressive swing from both sides of the dish. He always played bigger than his stature, and with a compact build, the ball jumps off his bat equally well right- and left-handed. He will be 17 years old when the international signing period opens and is already showing signs of solid-to-average power as he continues to garner in-game reps.

Evaluators steadfastly believe Medina is a surefire shortstop in the long term. Even as he has added size, his above-average hands, feet and actions all bode well for longevity at the position. He catches the ball extremely well and boasts an above-average arm that has been clocked at 92 mph across the infield. He makes the defensive side of the game look easy.

[MLB Pipeline]

He’ll play his entire first pro season as a 17-year-old, with his frame having filled out significantly over the past few years.

Medina boasts an aggressive swing and the ball jumps off his bat equally well right- and left-handed. He’s already showing signs of solid-to-average power as he continues to garner in-game reps.

But up the middle with the glove is where evaluators are most excited about Medina. Drawing one of the few 60 fielding grades in the 2025 international class, the native of Baní is a surefire shortstop as he gets his pro career underway. With hands and actions that make playing the position easy, he’s also ripped off throws clocked as high as 92 mph across the infield.

[Adam Berry, mlb.com]

IF Warel Solano - $1.05M
Dominican Republic

Solano is generally considered an offense-first shortstop with above-average bat speed. While his selectivity will need to increase as he faces better pitching, the raw tools are there with exit velocities at 102 mph and blossoming power coming into his 6-foot right-handed-hitting frame.

[Adam Berry, mlb.com]

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

Equipped with a slightly uppercut swing path, there is optimism that the blossoming power he has shown will rise as he continues to add weight and experience. He has shown an above-average ability to make contact, and while selectivity will need to be refined as he enters the pro ranks, the ball jumps off his bat when he gets his barrel through the zone.

[...] above-average arm, and already standing at 6 feet tall, there is reason to believe he may be suited for the hot corner long term as he stacks up within an organization’s farm system. He still has better-than-average hands and catches everything well, lending credence to the thought he’s an infielder, albeit one whose bat is the primary tool to watch.

[MLB Pipeline]

unorthodox components to the swing, but he’s typically on time and drives the ball well now with potential average power. Solano has a strong arm and should stick in the infield but isn’t a lock to stick at shortstop

[Baseball America]

above-average bat speed and the potential to hit 25 home runs.

[Tampa Bay Times]

SS Emmanuel Cedeno - $500K
Dominican Republic

Cedeno is “an extremely high-energy player” who will be a staff and fan favorite, and is nicknamed “Gatin,” which means “little cat”

[Tampa Bay Times]

Not to be confused with Yankees signee Manny Cedeno, who should command a bonus 7x what Emmanuel Cedeno signed.

C Brainerh Palacios - $350K
Venezuela

trained by the father of Ethan Salas, one of the game’s top catching prospects, and has “very exciting” two-way skills.

[Tampa Bay Times]

CF Emile Torres - $300K
Dominican Republic

Torres joins Coret “as probably the most tooled-up players” of the group.

[Tampa Bay Times]

CF Kadil Rubio - $160K
Cuba

C Ivan Torres - $150K
Venezuela

RHP Anderson Alvarez - $100K
Venezuela
nephew of former big-leaguer Henderson Alvarez

SS Carlos Salazar - $70K
Venezuela

LHP Jensy Duran - $10K
Dominican Republic

Others reportedly signing with the Rays

• Ezequiel Martinez, RHP, Dominican Republic
• Bladimir Figueredo, C, Venezuela
• Isaac Vegas, RHP, Venezuela
• Santiago Figueroa, C, Venezuela