The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with 22 international amateur free agents, including four of the Top 100 international prospects in Baseball America’s rankings.
In total, the Dodgers signed seven pitchers, five catchers, five infielders and five outfielders to open the 2026 signing period. The Dodgers had $6,679,200 available to spend this year after allocating nearly all their international funds last year to sign Roki Sasaki.
The class is led by the Dominican Republic quartet of outfielder Rubel Arias, shortstop Ezequiel Melburne and infielders Ariel Reynoso and Jose Victorino.
Arias comes in as the No. 46 prospect according to Baseball America with a quality eye and a smooth stroke from the left side of the plate. Melburne follows as the No. 67 prospect in the international class according to Baseball America. The switch-hitting shortstop has a strong physical projection with the ability to hit from both sides of the plate and advance power from the right side.
Reynoso (No. 86) and Victorino (No. 93) round out the quartet as both players show tremendous offensive ability with advanced qualities to play multiple positions in the infield.
The Dodgers rounded out their class with highly touted left-handed pitching prospect Tom Apfelbaum from Cologne, Germany. Apfelbaum is regarded by many industry professionals as the best pitching prospect out of Europe, showcasing strong physical projection and an advanced three-pitch mix. Apfelbaum shined most recently representing Germany in the WBC U18 in Osaka, Japan, making three appearances, striking out seven batters in six innings
The Dodgers agreed to deals with players from nine different countries in total, with 11 players from Venezuela and four from the Dominican Republic.
An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. The player must turn 16 before he signs and 17 before Sept. 1 the following year, so players born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009 are eligible to sign in the current signing period.
Dodgers 2026 international signing class
Catchers
Oliver Chapman, Venezuela
Aaron Guzman, Venezuela
Haram HHernández, Venezuela
Ricardo Pulles, Russia
Roberto Saucedo, Mexico
Infielders
Ezequiel Melburne, Dominican Republic
Jose Victorino, Dominican Republic
Willy Bergolla, Venezuela
Adrian Del Cid, Panama
Ariel Reynoso, Dominican Republic
Outfielders
Rubel Arias, Dominican Republic
Fran-Jean Haseth, Curaçao
Helvin Mendoza, Venezuela
Jose Requena, Venezuela
Jeibert Rondon, Venezuela
Right-Handed Pitchers
Anderson Carias, Venezuela
Diego Paez, Venezuela
Luis Ricart, Cuba
Left-Handed Pitchers
Kenry Alvear, Colombia
Tom Apfelbaum, Germany
Miguel Herrera, Venezuela
Victor Tovar, Venezuela
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