Rays land sought-after shortstop among '26 international signings

The Rays have long found success at the big league level through their thriving player development group. As the 2026 international signing period opens, a loaded farm system is set to get even more formidable.

Tampa Bay has agreed to terms with shortstop Victor Valdez, the No. 11 prospect in this year’s class. The 6-foot-1 native of the Dominican Republic features top-of-the-scale bat speed and significant power exploits and has made huge strides defensively and on the basepaths, making him one of the most sought-after players on the international scene.

The club received $7,357,100 in pool money this year, and Valdez is the headlining signee with his seven-figure bonus. But overall, there are evaluators who believe Tampa Bay’s 2026 international class might be one of the best, having spread its available funds around to high-upside prospects who offer tons of future projection.

Valdez leads that group, standing out from the pack with his advanced in-game aptitude. On the slower side during his younger years, he looked destined to move off shortstop as he entered the pro ranks. But he worked hard to improve his run tool (he’s been clocked as fast as 6.7 seconds on 60-yard dash times) and he has routinely ripped off throws in the 92-94 mph range.

Whether or not he shifts over to third base in time (à la Junior Caminero), evaluators believe the bat is going to play. A handful of scouts vouched for Valdez to be included among the top five in this year’s class as he’s continued to show above-average swing decisions while improving his pitch recognition and ability to lift the ball.

In addition to Valdez, the club reportedly added a pair of $1 million signees to their system in Venezuelan shortstop Fabricio Blanco (No. 44 overall prospect) and Dominican outfielder Jean Paredes, who finished just outside the Top 50.

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Standing just 5-foot-6 as a younger teen, Blanco popped up on scouts’ radars in Venezuela looking like one of the best players on the field with a scrappy and gritty style. A switch-hitter, he has elite contact skills and plus bat speed, traits further enhanced by the fact that he’s grown 5 inches in the past few years. An above-average defender, he’ll battle Valdez (and others) for reps at shortstop in the Dominican Summer League and as he makes his way up the system.

Paredes displays the type of projection that excites evaluators. He’s 6-foot-2 and has long limbs, which when combined with a level swing with a natural feel for loft could lead to significant power gains as he fills out and gets accustomed to pro pitching. Something of a late bloomer, he’s made a sizable jump in his defensive acumen, looking the part of a solid center fielder. Couple that with an arm that has ripped off triple-digit throws on occasion, and the comp one evaluator gave him of a younger Jesús Sánchez seems apt.

In the under-the-radar department, Dominican outfielder Luis Almanzar and his reported $400,000 signing bonus could wind up being one of the club’s gems. Training at the same academy that netted the Rays Maykel Coret (No. 9 international prospect in 2025), Almanzar has a left-handed stroke that flies through the zone. His blast metrics have impressed evaluators, as he’s already reeling off exit velocities in excess of 104 mph. The club expects to give him reps in center field during his time in the DSL, but he’s also likely to see plenty of time at the corners. He’s won over scouts with his upbeat personality, giving him a solid base as his pro career gets underway.

Colombia has produced 15 big league pitchers, including former Rays Ernesto Frieri and Luis Patiño. The country’s top arm in the 2026 class is right-hander Emmanuel Hernández, who stands 6-foot-2 and draws rave reviews for his uncanny poise on the bump at a young age. Tampa Bay is adding him to the fold, and he boasts similarities to fellow Rays prospect Jose Urbina (No. 17) in the sense of seeing some significant velocity gains just prior to signing. Hernández is up to 92-97 mph consistently and he folds in a well-spun slider and changeup, both of which he has a ton of feel for. He shows the ability to land all three offerings for strikes.

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.