The Tigers have emerged as one of the most active teams on the international market in recent years, and that trend has continued into 2022.
According to industry sources, the club has agreed to a $2.2 million deal with 6-foot-2 shortstop Javier Osorio, who ranks No. 13 on MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects list. Detroit is also expected to sign shortstop Samuel Gil for $1.2 million, catcher Josue Breceno for $800,000, and shortstop Heison Sanchez for $800,000.
The Tigers, who have $5,721,500 in bonus pool money, have not confirmed the deals.
Overall, the athletic Osorio projects to be an average defender with a plus arm. He has a chance to stay at shortstop for a long time because of his instincts, good footwork and soft hands.
He also projects to be an above-average runner with good instincts and base-stealing potential.
At the plate, Osorio has a chance to be a run producer because of his power potential.
The 16-year-old trains with Wilfredo Polidor, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the Dominican Republic.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association finalized a deal in March 2020 that addressed the international signing period during the pandemic. The 2022 international signing period runs through Dec. 15, the second year in a row the period — which previously began July 2 — started in January.
The current rules also state that teams are not allowed to trade any of their international pool money. Signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count toward a club’s bonus pool, and foreign professional players who are at least 25 years old and have played in a foreign league for at least six seasons are also exempt.