No strangers to making a splash on the opening day of the international signing period, the Rockies have agreed to a deal with infielder Larry Suero, MLB Pipeline’s No. 34 prospect in the 2025 class.
Suero received a $425,000 signing bonus while Colorado, which received $6.9 million in pool money, inked five players between $425-850k.
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The Rockies have long prioritized athletic players who possess offensive upside when scouring the international prospect market. Suero fits that mold, having established himself on the Dominican scene, training with Domingo Ramirez.
Suero boasts a sweet left-handed swing that features minimal moving parts and a slight front-foot toe tap reminiscent of All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley. Having played for the national team ahead of the U15 Caribbean Baseball Cup, there is already significant experience under Suero’s belt, even at 16 years old.
Equipped with solid hands and quick actions along with average speed, Suero has been getting extended looks at second and third base. Reps at shortstop in pro ball are precious, and the club believes that Suero can be a quick mover if his bat acclimates as they anticipate, which means he’ll likely garner some defensive flexibility along the way.
The Rockies are also high on shortstop Kamuel Villar, who received a $750,000 signing bonus. It marks yet another sizable financial commitment to a talented shortstop, following in the footsteps of Ezequiel Tovar (2017), Dyan Jorge (2022, COL No. 15) and Ashly Andujar (2024, COL No. 26).
Similarly left-handed-hitting at 6-foot-2 to Suero, Villar has a short swing with quick hands which allows him to pepper balls to the gap.
While he is likely to move to the keystone as his body continues to fill out, the offensive potential has been there from a young age and is something the Rockies hope can move him up the organizational ladder as he acclimates to pro ball.
For all of the excitement of the signing period opening, it’s a reminder that the developmental leash can often be long: Yanquiel Fernandez, the Rockies’ No. 4 prospect, was signed for $295,000 in July 2019 and is just now knocking on the big league door at age 21, having moved somewhat swiftly through the club’s system. Adael Amador (No. 5 prospect) was Colorado’s jewel of that class, making his MLB debut this past summer after skipping Triple-A entirely, nearly five years shy of when he first signed.
Nine of the club's current Top 30 prospects have come from the international market, a testament to the work done under Rolando Fernandez, the Rockies’ longtime vice president of international scouting and player development.
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, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2008, 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.
Other notable Rockies signees and their bonuses:
Wandi Feliz, OF, Dominican Republic -- $850,000
Rosniell De Paula, SS, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Kamuel Villar, SS, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Sebastian Blanco, INF, Venezuela -- $600,000
Brian Tiburco, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $425,000
Pedro Núñez, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $400,000
Melky Ventura, RHP, Dominican Republic -- $350,000