Top prospects Solarte, Muñoz head Marlins' 21 international signings

Caja Seca, Venezuela, has produced just two big leaguers. While it’s tremendously early in the development process, it looks like the third might be on his way in the form of Santiago Solarte, a 6-foot-5 left-handed-hitting shortstop with enormous raw power.

The No. 16 overall prospect in MLB Pipeline's 2026 international class headlines the Marlins’ crop of signings Thursday, while the club has also come to terms with Dominican shortstop Ronny Muñoz (No. 27), among others.

Miami tied for the second-highest bonus pool allotment this year, receiving $7,357,100 to spread around to its class. Muñoz is anticipated to land around $1.45 million, with Solarte receiving in the $1 million range, per a source.

Carlos Guillén played 14 years in the Majors from 1998-2011 and made three All-Star teams, but he faced the Marlins just three times during regular-season action. Now a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program in his native Venezuela, he’s helped mold the next generation of talent, which includes Solarte among his 2026 class.

"We think his ceiling is very high," said director of international scouting David Hernandez-Beayne. "He fits everything that we look for in terms of raw explosiveness, ability to be impactful defensively, and, on top of that, he comes from a really good program being with Carlos Guillén in Venezuela."

Solarte is 16 years old and 6-foot-5, with near top-of-the-scale raw power. He delivers exit velocities that have already exceeded 110+ mph. Add it all up, and Solarte boasts a potential impact package. As is often the case with players of his size (and age), he’ll need to work on getting his levers timed up as he faces pro pitching, but he has natural gifts and talents that are nearly unmatched by his peers.

• Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Newsletter

“To us, we think, in comparison to what's out there, he's one of the better players available,” Hernandez-Beayne said. “We're incredibly excited to add him here. ... Undoubtedly the guy with the highest ceiling in this class, and one that has superstar potential.”

At 6-foot-7, the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz became the tallest player to man shortstop in the big leagues in 2022, but there is a belief that Solarte could stick at the spot, and he’ll get reps there as his pro career begins. The Reds are still utilizing Elly De La Cruz (6-foot-5) every day at the six, with the Marlins hoping Solarte’s ceiling will one day approach that of the two-time All-Star.

Whereas Solarte offers oodles of future projection, Muñoz offers present excitement. One evaluator hung an 80 grade on Muñoz's hand and bat speed, which, when coupled with his penchant for line drives, should lead to the Dominican native to be an immediate contributor as he gets his pro career underway.

Added to Muñoz’s offensive ability is his likelihood of impacting the game on the basepaths. He joins the perfect organization for it, as last season, DSL Miami led the Dominican Summer League with 191 stolen bases in 56 games. The organization’s second club -- DSL Marlins -- ranked fifth with 168.

“Ronny is, pound for pound, one of the more talented players that I've seen,” Hernandez-Beayne said. “He's probably the most talented player in this class. Very tooled up, very explosive, very athletic, very strong within his frame. He's a plus runner, he's got a plus arm, he's got plus hand speed. ... He has it all."

The club also added a pair of $200,000 signees it believes could be key pieces of those same DSL clubs: shortstop Maikel Acosta and outfielder Ezequiel Jaime.

Acosta is a 6-foot-2 left-handed hitter who’s presently a contact machine and a sound bet to remain at shortstop as he makes his way up the Minor League ladder. Miami is excited about getting him into its player development program, and he’ll play in the DSL this summer as a 16-year-old, giving him ample time to maximize his all-around skill set.

Jaime also stands in from the left side, but he is much more of a power threat, boasting a graceful swing and a strong understanding of how to leverage his limbs to drive the ball for extra-base pop. He has a solid track record of success in his native D.R. and profiles as a slugging corner outfielder, having already routinely ripped off triple-digit exit velocities.

One year ago, the Marlins pulled in an absolute haul as the international signing period opened. Andrew Salas was the No. 5 overall talent and slots in at No. 7 on the club’s Top 30 Prospects list after beginning his pro career with Single-A Jupiter. Right-handed pitcher Kevin Defrank was one of the highest upside signs in the 2025 class, and he zoomed up to No. 9 on Miami’s list after posting a 3.15 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 30 innings as a 16-year-old in the DSL.

“Our perspective internally is we want every single class to be better than the previous,” Hernandez-Beayne said. “Obviously, the one last year was pretty impressive when it came to the pitching side, and again, we're excited about the players coming in [this year].”

An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.

That means players born between Sept. 1, 2008, and Aug. 31, 2009, will be eligible to sign during the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.