At the start of the 2025 international signing period on Wednesday, the Red Sox secured an important collection of talent. The standout of the class is shortstop Dorian Soto, positioned as MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 international prospect, the team’s highest-ranked signing since Christopher Acosta (No. 6 in 2014).
Also coming aboard is a duo of highly regarded Venezuelans: outfielder Harold Rivas (No. 32 international prospect) and right-hander Sadbiel Delzine (No. 46).
2025 global recruits:
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
ALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MIN
ALW: ANA | HOU | LAA | SEA | TEX
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NLW: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SFG
Soto’s contract totals $1.4 million, whereas Rivas made $950,000 and Delzine got $500,000. The club obtained $6.26 million in pooled funds this year.
Sweet-hitting shortstops with a refined batting technique are consistently valuable on the international market, and Soto meets the criteria. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 185 pounds at just 16 years old, there is significant excitement surrounding the Dominican’s potential. His batting ability is among the rare few rated a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and he also showcases above-average power that he has utilized from both sides of the plate.
Regarded as a highly diligent individual, evaluators frequently emphasized Soto’s off-the-field character as much as his thrilling skill set on the field. He practices with Basilio “Cachaza” Vizcaino at the Lluviz Baseball Academy located in San Cristóbal, part of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
Two years prior, the Red Sox allocated almost $2 million in total to acquire shortstops Franklin Arias (No. 4 prospect for the Red Sox) and Yoeilin Cespedes (No. 5) as soon as the signing period commenced. Both athletes have thrived — Arias has already been promoted to Single-A Salem, while Cespedes excelled in the Florida Complex League at the age of 18.
The age difference will be sufficient that the group of Arias, Cespedes, and Soto won’t compete for playing time in the near future; however, when combined with top-level up-the-middle talent such as Marcelo Mayer (Red Sox No. 2 prospect/MLB No. 7) and Kristian Campbell (BOS No. 3/MLB No. 10), the outlook is promising for international scouting co-directors Todd Claus and Rolando Pino, along with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
In a time of sophisticated analytics that aid in identifying the players most capable of performing at the top level, Rivas has stood out in various ways. As a right-handed hitter, his bat speed consistently exceeds the Major League average, registering at about 75-76 mph, and he frequently generates exit velocities above 100 mph.
An evaluator compared Rivas to how George Springer appeared at a similar age. Similar to how Springer emerged as a versatile center fielder capable of chasing down balls in the gap, Rivas is at a comparable point in his growth. He has recorded 60-yard dash times as quick as 6.5 seconds, offering a preview of the potential he possesses both on the bases and in defense.
Although high school pitchers are famously hard to forecast, Delzine embodies the ideal that any team might hope for: a diverse three-pitch repertoire, mid-90s speed, and an impressive athletic build. Having recorded speeds up to 93 mph as an amateur, Delzine is merely beginning to tap into his velocity capabilities. His 6-foot-5 stature suggests that there is much more potential, especially as he accumulates experience, increases his muscle mass, and engages with more sophisticated statistics at the team’s facility in the Dominican Republic.
Delzine practices with Jonathan Melián from Sluggers Corporation in Puerto La Paz, Venezuela, part of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
The latest effective prolonged stint from a Venezuelan starter with the Red Sox was Eduardo Rodriguez, though he was obtained four years into his Minor League journey.
Dominican right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello has emerged as a remarkable talent in Boston’s international prospect development, having inked a deal for $28,000 in July 2017 and evolving into a likely top-of-the-rotation starter in the major leagues.
A player from abroad can sign with a Major League team from Jan. 15 to Dec. 15. He needs to be 16 before signing and must be 17 by Sept. 1 of the next year.
This indicates that athletes born from Sept. 1, 2007, to Aug. 31, 2008, will qualify to sign during the ongoing signing period. Players must register with Major League Baseball beforehand to qualify for signing.
