The Detroit Tigers signed four top prospects on the first day of the 2023 international signing period, which began Sunday: Venezuelan catcher Enrique Jimenez, Dominican Republic outfielder Cristian Perez, Venezuelan outfielder Anibal Salas and Venezuelan shortstop Maikol Orozco.
The highest-ranked prospect of the quartet is Jimenez. The 17-year-old switch-hitter finished at No. 32 on MLB Pipeline’s top-50 list and No. 32 on Baseball America’s top-50 list.
He received a $1.25 million signing bonus for his professional contract, according to sources. The Tigers entered the international signing period, which ends Dec. 15, with a bonus pool of $6,366,990.
They’re one of eight teams with the maximum bonus pool.
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From an all-around standpoint, Jimenez is known for his athleticism, sharp makeup and baseball instincts. He is considered an excellent game caller, even as a teenager, while his blocking, framing, receiving and footwork skills develop. Simply put, he takes advantage of the sometimes overlooked details to help his team win.
On offense, he knows how to put the ball in play and hits the ball hard. His power typically comes from the right side of the plate.
Jimenez is the fifth-best catcher in the 2023 international class, according to MLB Pipeline, behind Ethan Salas (No. 1 overall, San Diego Padres), Alfredo Duno (No. 4 overall, Cincinnati Reds), Daiverson Gutierrez (No. 27, New York Mets) and Carlos Silva (No. 31, Minnesota Twins).
The Tigers also signed Venezuelan catcher Johan Estrada, an unranked prospect, for a $158,000 signing bonus and Venezuelan catcher Nelson Marin, another unranked prospect, for an unknown bonus.
Estrada is a defense-first catcher, while Marin is an offense-first catcher.
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The Tigers signed Perez, who turns 17 in mid-August, for a $1.1 million signing bonus. He is ranked No. 48 by MLB Pipeline (No. 38 by Baseball America). The right-handed hitting outfielder has trained under Cristian “Niche” Batista in the Dominican Republic.
If Batista’s name sounds familiar, it’s because San Diego Padres star Juan Soto, as well as many other professional players, came up as an international prospect in the same program.
With Perez, the Tigers love his tools and body.
He has value on both offense and defense. He possesses raw power, above-average defense as a center fielder, average arm strength and average speed. His medium frame and compact build could allow him to stay at his primary position throughout his professional career.
His bat speed, in particular, impressed scouts.
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The Tigers signed Salas, who ranks No. 39 on Baseball America’s list (not included on MLB Pipeline’s list), for a $1 million signing bonus. As a switch-hitter, he shows more power and upside from the left side of the plate. His bat speed is considered superior to other players at his age.
Salas, 17, received the third-highest bonus of the top four prospects, behind Jimenez ($1.25 million) and Perez ($1.1 million). Defensively, Salas currently roams center field with above-average speed and above-average arm strength.
He is an aggressive player with high-ceiling tools.
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After the three million-dollar prospects, Orozco — a 17-year-old right-handed hitter — agreed to a $900,000 signing bonus. He is ranked No. 44 by MLB Pipeline (not included on Baseball America’s list) and should play shortstop or second base for the rest of his career, but he is an offense-first middle infielder.
Orozco is known for having an advanced approach at the plate and making hard contact at a consistent rate. His hit tool outweighs his power potential for now, but that’s not a bad thing for a developing prospect. As he matures, he is expected to tap into more in-game power.
In the field, Orozco projects as an average defender with above-average arm strength.
The Tigers are also excited about Venezuelan shortstop Juan Hernandez, though he isn’t ranked by MLB Pipeline or Baseball America. The 17-year-old received a $350,000 signing bonus.
He is a left-handed hitter with an advanced approach at the plate. Both his defensive skills and body suggest he could stick at shortstop. Arm strength and accuracy are strengths.
Hernandez is arguably the most polished player from the Tigers’ haul in the 2023 international class.
The Tigers signed four other players Sunday: outfielder Abelardo Medrano (Dominican Republic), outfielder Brandy Caraballo (Dominican Republic), right-hander Leonardo Leon (Venezuela) and right-hander Luis Vasquez (Dominican Republic).
On Monday, the Tigers inked outfielder Willian Berti (Venezuela), left-hander Erickson De Los Santos (Dominican Republic), right-hander Deibi Rodriguez (Venezuela), right-hander Andy Mateo (Dominican Republic), outfielder Adrian Hoyte (Venezuela), right-hander Wuilberth Mendez (Venezuela), right-hander Victor Pena (Dominican Republic) and outfielder Santiago Pinto (Venezuela).
As for last year’s class, the Tigers dished out $2.2 million to Venezuelan shortstop Javier Osorio and $1.2 million to Venezuelan shortstop Samuel Gil.
Osorio, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Tigers’ No. 30 prospect, hit .175 with one home run, 16 walks and 68 strikeouts over 46 games in the Dominican Summer League. Gil hit .260 with two homers, 25 walks and 36 strikeouts over 50 games in Dominican Summer League.
In the 2021 class, the Tigers signed Dominican shortstop Cristian Santana for $2.95 million (franchise-record bonus) and Venezulean shortstop Abel Bastidas for $1.75 million.
Both players arrived in the United States for the 2022 season.
Santana — ranked as the Tigers’ No. 12 prospect — hit .215 with nine homers, 54 walks and 88 strikeouts across 80 games in Low-A Lakeland. Bastidas, meanwhile, hit .260 with three homers, 24 walks and 33 strikeouts across 44 games in the Florida Complex League.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.