Switch-hitting SS highlights Red Sox ’25 international free agent class
The international free agent market has been good to the Red Sox over the years. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers were both signed as teenagers before developing into big league stars, and more recent Red Sox signees like Brayan Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela have earned their place in the club’s long-term vision as well.
Now, a new crop of players is set to join the Red Sox family.
Wednesday marked the first day of the new international signing period, and the Red Sox reportedly finalized numerous agreements with talented young players, many of whom have been committed to Boston for years.
This year’s class will be headlined by shortstop Dorian Soto, who according to Baseball America’s Ben Badler will be the club’s highest paid new signee at $1.4 million. Standing at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, the 17-year-old switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic is huge and athletic and has reportedly already demonstrated a natural ability to crush the ball.
“The offensive upside is the draw with Soto, a switch-hitter with explosive bat speed and big power potential,” Badler writes. “Scouts highest on Soto liked his ability to manipulate the barrel to make contact, as well.”
Another standout from the Red Sox’s new class is Harold Rivas, a 6-foot-2 outfielder from Venezuela renowned for his range, arm strength and potential offensive upside. There is also Hector Ramos, another Dominican shortstop who Badler reports is signing for $500,000, as well as Venezuelan shortstop Eliezer Alfonzo.
The top pitching prospect in the Red Sox class is Sabdiel Delzine, a right-hander from Venezuela who stands at 6-foot-5 and has reportedly already hit 94 mph as a teenager.
One international player the Red Sox won’t be signing is Japanese standout Roki Sasaki. Though the club was one of 20 teams that reached out to Sasaki’s representatives, the Red Sox were not among the clubs initially granted meetings and don’t appear to have ever been serious players in the process.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Sasaki has narrowed his choices down to the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays. Sasaki has until his posting window expires on Jan. 23 to sign with an MLB team.