The Reds have made a huge splash as the 2026 international signing period opens, doing what no other club has: landing a top six overall prospect in the class for the third time in the past four years.
Angel Nuñez (No. 6) has some aura about him. A supremely high-energy outfielder from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he plays with a proverbial chip on his shoulder and draws rave reviews from evaluators for his attention to detail and desire to improve in all facets.
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The club also came to terms with Venezuelan catcher Diego Pacheco, a physical beast with a rocket throwing arm who checks in at No. 50 on the list.
Nuñez is expected to receive a $3 million signing bonus and Pacheco will land $800,000, according to a source. The Reds received $7,357,100 in pool money this year.
Nuñez starred for his country during the U15 World Cup in Colombia in August 2024, when he hit .350 and recorded 11 RBIs across eight games. His power bona fides are still developing but he has an exemplary eye among his age group, showing a willingness to take his walks. A left-handed hitter, he utilizes his quick hands to propel the bat through the zone and rip line drives from gap to gap.
Defensively, Nuñez is a lock to stick in center field as he gets his pro career underway. A left-handed thrower on the shorter side, his future was always destined for the grass, but he has emerged as a legitimate defensive asset with a quick first step and nose for the ball, à la nine-year Major League veteran Ender Inciarte. A plus run tool (he’s been clocked at 6.5 seconds on a 60-yard dash) helps Nuñez cover ground in the outfield while making him a threat on the basepaths as well.
Pacheco is an all-around athlete who has impressed evaluators with his plus makeup and advanced in-game aptitude. With a right-handed swing geared for line drives, the Venezuelan backstop has been working on incorporating more loft to maximize his physical gifts. He has a plus throwing arm behind the dish and can even swipe a base or two, giving him an exciting mix of tools to work with.
Both Nuñez and Pacheco will play their first year in the system as 17-year-olds, giving them an even longer leash of development.
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The club also signed left-handed-hitting Venezuelan shortstop Carlos Hernandez, who narrowly missed making the Top 50 overall prospects list. Slated to land a $1 million signing bonus according to a source, he has the long and loose limbs that portend being a factor defensively. Hernandez presently has a line-drive singles approach in the box, but getting on the club’s weight training and nutrition regimen could help unlock some extra-base pop in time.
Just a year ago, the Reds brought Enry Torres into the fold. The Venezuelan catching prospect initially made the Top 50 list for his class before being bumped once Roki Sasaki officially declared his intention to come stateside. Three years ago, fellow Venezuelan backstop Alfredo Duno (CIN No. 2) was the No. 4 international prospect, and he’s since blossomed into the No. 48 prospect in baseball after starring in the Arizona Fall League and drawing significant praise from big leaguers.
COMPLETE REDS PROSPECT COVERAGE
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.
Here's a full list of the international players the Reds have agreed to terms with:
- Arias, Eliezer - SS - Dominican Republic
- Burgos, Daniel - RHP - Venezuela
- Colina, Jose - OF - Venezuela
- Cuello, Alexander - INF - Dominican Republic
- Delgado, Luis - RHP - Dominican Republic
- Felix, Ronny - OF - Dominican Republic
- Goncalves, Carlos - C - Venezuela
- Gutierrez, Eider - OF - Venezuela
- Hernandez, Carlos - SS - Venezuela
- Josephina, Gilventon - OF - Curacao
- Meyers, Nishentel - INF - Aruba
- Nolasco, Xander - C - Dominican Republic
- Nuñez, Angel - OF - Dominican Republic
- Pacheco, Diego - C - Venezuela
- Romero, Juandy - SS - Dominican Republic
- Saldaña, Jose - RHP - Panama