The White Sox Quietly Put Together A Strong International Signing Class
As we sit with three weeks until Spring Training, there has been a bit of a lull in major league acquisitions for the White Sox, as their latest major league transaction was signing pitcher Sean Newcomb to a deal on December 23rd. However, just a few days ago, there was some significant news in the minor league and international market.
The White Sox released their initial list of international signings in the 2026 period, which opened up just a few days ago. There could be more signings over the next few weeks, but this will certainly be the bulk of it.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) January 15, 2026
This is a very solid list, as the class features two top prospects, as ranked by Baseball America. The White Sox have had prior success with international free agent classes, as some of these players could become major contributors in Chicago at some point in their careers.
Fernando Graterol is the gem of the bunch, as he is ranked as the 31st best prospect in this year’s class, according to MLB Pipeline. Graterol, just 17 years old, was given a 1.7 million dollar bonus and the scouts on MLB Pipeline are fans of his raw power and his strong arm behind the plate.
The @WhiteSox have signed MLB's No. 31 international prospect Fernando Graterol, a 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher, for a reported $1.6 million.
Follow top deals: https://t.co/vjyjymaDUh pic.twitter.com/WhNltTdzD8
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 15, 2026
This could be a big acquisition for the White Sox, as Graterol could be stateside playing minor league baseball in just a year or two. If he plays up to his potential, the White Sox could certainly have another top prospect on their hands.
Outfielder Sebastian Romero is also another great get for the White Sox, as he ranks as the 31st prospect in the international free agent class, according to Baseball America.
Venezuelan OF Sebastián Romero, the second-best prospect and signing for the Chicago White Sox in the current international class, has officially signed for $1.5 million bonus. pic.twitter.com/HIIAnkMKZb
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 15, 2026
With Romero getting a hefty bonus of 1.5 million dollars, he will also have high expectations and hopefully will turn out to be a very solid player for the White Sox, as they could use some outfield depth throughout the minor leagues.
With international free agency, it is truly a crapshoot, as you are typically signing teenagers who you hope turns into the player you think they could be. These deals could be for a ton of money, such as the White Sox gave Luis Robert Jr. back in 2017, or something a bit more modest, like they gave Lenyn Sosa back in 2016. Time will tell with this class, but as of right now, it looks like a very strong class.