Red Sox add pair of top 50 international prospects

The Red Sox may not have signed David Ortiz as an international amateur, but the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, went on to deliver a Hall of Fame career during his tenure with the organization before his No. 34 was emblazoned on the wall at Fenway Park.

The D.R.’s capital city produces dozens of ballplayers every year on the amateur market, but as the 2026 international signing period opens, Boston believes it has signed two of the best in the class: shortstop Dawvris Brito (No. 28) and outfielder Garielvin Silverio (No. 36).

In addition, the Red Sox also brought aboard right-handed pitcher Claudio Pereira, one of the most hyped Brazilian prospects in years. Boston received $5,940,000 in pool money this year, spreading those funds around in order to secure a class of diverse talents to strengthen the farm system.

Brito checks in as the club’s headliner primarily due to his exciting power/speed combo and five-tool potential. He has a short stride from the right side and has shown an ability to impact the ball with extra-base thump. He has routinely ripped triple-digit exit velocities, a byproduct of his plus bat speed, traits that will serve him well as he enters Boston’s hitting development program.

A key reason for Brito reportedly receiving a seven-figure signing bonus is the likelihood of him sticking at shortstop in pro ball. He’s extremely athletic with quick actions and smooth footwork that he honed while training with Angel Valladares, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the D.R.

Boston is banking on Silverio tapping into his considerable offensive upside, also handing the left-handed hitter a seven-figure bonus, according to a source. A physical specimen at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds as a 17-year-old, Silverio has power to all fields, a rare trait for a teenage prospect. He whips the bat through the zone and has a solid blend of contact skills and selectivity to hone in on pitches he can crush.

His current size may not indicate it, but Silverio spent time at shortstop as a kid. It gives insight into his athleticism, so even if he has the physicality of a corner-outfield/first-base type in the long run, there’s belief he could man any of those spots efficiently.

Pereira is the club’s top pitching prospect among this year’s group, a lanky 6-foot-5 right-hander who uses his size efficiently to create excellent extension down the mound. He shows feel for three pitches and can crank his heater consistently into the upper 80s, but evaluators believe he’s in line for a big jump in competition coming from Brazil. Overall, it’s an incredible raw package, one that could pay dividends down the line as Pereira dives into the nuances of the club’s pitching development group.

Take a look at the Red Sox’s Top 30 Prospects list and there’s a clear theme that emerges: They know how to find under-the-radar talent on the international market. Franklin Arias (No. 1/MLB No. 24), Justin Gonzales (No. 5), Juan Valera (No. 12), Yordanny Monegro (No. 24), Enddy Azocar (No. 26) and Jorge Rodriguez (No. 27) all received signing bonuses of $250,000 or less but have blossomed since entering pro ball.

So who could be next in that lineage? Evaluators think Colombian infielder Isaac Velasquez and Venezuelan outfielder Freyerson Vasquez could fit the bill.

Velasquez is a left-handed hitter who has an innate ability to get the bat to the ball and often sprays line drives from gap to gap. He’s made enormous strides over the past year or so, having significantly improved his bat speed to give him what is now a plus hit tool. Competition at shortstop might force him to the other side of the second-base bag, but he shows plenty of athleticism and should stick up the middle.

Vasquez’s carrying tool is his ability to track down the ball defensively in center field. He’s got a quick first step and shows genuine aptitude for the position, earning positive marks from scouts for his dedication to routes and improving his arm strength. He’s even popped a few triple-digit exit velocities from the left-handed batter’s box, giving him an exciting blend of tools to work with as he enters the system.

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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.