A's land 3 of MLB Pipeline's Top 50 int'l prospects, led by SS Colome

The A’s acquired one of the most hyped international prospects this century when they landed Leo De Vries (MLB’s No. 3 prospect) last July as part of the Mason Miller Trade Deadline blockbuster. Now they’re adding another highly touted shortstop from the Dominican Republic to their ranks in Johenssy Colome, the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2026 international class.

Joining Colome as top-tier signings as the period opens will be fellow Dominican shortstop Ricky Duran (No. 33) and Venezuelan catcher Jose Perdomo (No. 45). That marks the first time since 2016 that the Athletics have signed at least three members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 Prospects list, continuing their recent strong run under Steve Sharpe, the club’s director of international scouting.

The Athletics received $7,357,100, the second-highest bonus pool allotment this year, with Colome expected to command a sizable chunk, according to a source who also said Duran will receive north of $1 million and Perdomo will command $675,000.

Talent evaluation -- specifically of 16- and 17-year-olds -- can oftentimes break down into hyperbole. But Colome’s all-around skill set is so exciting and his continued development since landing on scouting radars is so immense that he’s earned high marks for the ability to leverage the ball in the box like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and display a defensive silky smoothness like Manny Machado.

A right-handed hitter, Colome does something unique for a teenage prospect: crush home runs. His hands are dynamic, and though he’s aggressive at the dish, he routinely barrels the ball up. The son of former MLB reliever Jesus Colome, who pitched for four different clubs across 10 seasons, Johenssy comes from a baseball-loving family, counting his cousin, former big league reliever Alex Colome, and two Minor League prospects who are uncles on his mom’s side as veterans of the game.

At No. 5 overall, Colome becomes the highest-ranked A’s player signed on the international market since 2023, when they landed former Top 100 overall prospect Luis Morales.

Duran features a skill set that’s more solid across the board. One evaluator noted he might pan out at a similar rate to Willy Adames, who never put up huge numbers in the Minors before blossoming into a three-time 30-plus-home run hitter in the big leagues as he reached his prime. Duran has tons of bat speed and presently sprays the ball from gap to gap, working with the whippy type of swing that excites evaluators.

Known as a tremendously hard worker, Duran has improved significantly on the defensive side of the ball over the past few years. There’s a chance he sticks at shortstop, but if competition forces him around the infield, he has the tools and stick-to-it-iveness to adapt.

Perdomo is the younger brother of 2024’s No. 4 international prospect, also named Jose. While his brother joined the Braves' organization, Jose comes aboard with the A’s having drawn rave reviews for his instincts behind the dish and ability to work with pitchers. His hit tool will need some polish as he enters pro ball, but there’s tons of raw power coiled up in his right-handed swing and the baseball pedigree will likely work in his favor.

Another candidate for the Top 50 list was left-handed-hitting Dominican infielder Edward Suazo, who will reportedly land a $600,000 signing bonus, according to a source. Equipped with an extreme contact-first profile from the left side of the plate, Suazo almost never swings and misses and is known for his tremendous ability to hit a variety of pitches in all counts. He’s likely to see some time at second base as well as shortstop, with his 5-foot-11 frame and smooth defensive actions helping him fit the mold as a young player who can impact the game on both sides of the diamond.

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All of the above players are expected to make their professional debuts in the Dominican Summer League, a club that made a run to the DSL Cup last summer. Edgar Montero (A’s No. 23 prospect) was one of the circuit’s premier hitters after repeating the level, bumping him onto the club’s Top 30 Prospects list. Also signed during the 2024 international class was left-hander Franco Zabaleta, who won DSL Pitcher of the Year honors after posting an 0.51 ERA across 11 outings.

After landing a pair of the Top 20 international prospects in 2025, in addition to the surprise blockbuster signing of two-way standout Shotaro Morii, 10 of the Athletics’ top 30 prospects are from that market. The organization has also made significant in-roads in Asia, further strengthening what is shaping up as one of the game’s most balanced farm systems.

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.