Top 10 ranked OF from Dominican highlights Cards' international class
For the first time since MLB Pipeline began ranking international prospects in 2012, the Cardinals have landed a member of the top 10 as the 2026 international signing period gets underway.
Emanuel Luna, a tooled-up right-handed-hitting outfielder from the Dominican Republic, slots in at No. 8 on the Top 50. The native of Santo Domingo celebrated his 17th birthday on Thursday by officially joining the Cardinals’ organization, which has a long history with the capital city in the form of Albert Pujols, Oscar Taveras and others.
St. Louis received $8,034,900 in pool money this year, tied for the highest allotment in the league. That financial flexibility enabled them to offer a significant chunk to Luna, who landed a $2.3 million bonus, among the highest in franchise history.
Few hitters in this year’s class can match Luna’s advanced feel for hitting or strike-zone recognition. Combine that with his plus raw power and chiseled-up 6-foot-2 physique and it's easy to understand the excitement behind his offensive profile.
Luna is built like a running back, using his strides to cover ground in the outfield and put pressure on the defense while on the basepaths. He’ll get the chance to prove himself in center field as he enters the pro ranks, but even if he has to move to a corner spot, he has legitimate 20/20 potential at the big league level if everything comes together.
St. Louis also inked Carlos Carrion, a projectable shortstop from the Dominican who can really pick it defensively. Signed for $1.1 million, there’s a ton of projectability in Carrion’s loose and lanky frame, which allows him to whip the bat through the zone from the left side. He has plenty of tools but it’s his ability to spray the ball to all fields that has evaluators excited about his upside.
The club has also brought aboard a pair of high-upside right-handers from the D.R. in Rafeli Moronta ($450,000) and Jordan Beltran ($250,000). Their reported six-figure deals are an indication of how developed they are upon entering the Cardinals’ system. Two years ago, Branneli Franco, then the highest-ranked pitcher in the 2024 international class, was the club’s headline signee and landed $800,000.
Moronta works from a high three-quarters slot and has a fastball that touched 91 mph by age 16. There’s a lot of room to fill out his tall and lanky frame, and evaluators believe there’s even more velocity gains to be had. He can really spin a breaking ball as well and scouts think that’ll ultimately make him platoon neutral, bolstering the thought he’ll be a starter long term.
Beltran also has a higher arm slot but features a super smooth and repeatable delivery. Evaluators love the shape and under-the-hood metrics on his fastball, which sits primarily in the upper 80s/low 90s. He excelled offensively during his younger days but has recently focused on the mound and shown promise for the ability to use that athleticism to his advantage.
Recent international success stories dot the Cardinals’ farm system, with catchers Rainiel Rodriguez (STL No. 3/MLB No. 55) and Leonard Bernal (No. 4/No. 92) headlining the eight players on the club’s Top 30 Prospects list who have come from that market. Outfielder Kenly Hunter (STL No. 30) ranked among the Top 50 international prospects last year before starring in the Dominican Summer League, where he hit .314 with a .442 on-base percentage and 25 steals in 37 games.
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 in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.