Here's the skinny on Rays' top international signees

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ST. PETERSBURG -- Looking at the 11 young players the Rays signed on Thursday as a group, international scouting director Steve Miller suggested it could be the best class Tampa Bay has signed.

It’s a well-rounded class, Miller said, with lower-ranked prospects who have a chance to catch on. But what’s the main reason for such confidence?

“A lot of it’s just because we have, I think, five guys who could easily headline this class … and they’ve all continued to progress and improve,” Miller said by phone from the Dominican Republic.

The headliner is Dominican shortstop Victor Valdez, who was MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 international prospect. The 17-year-old received a $3.5 million signing bonus, the third-largest sum the Rays have given an international amateur, behind the bonuses of Wander Franco ($3.85 million) and Brailer Guerrero ($3.7 million).

But Miller mentioned five potential frontline players. Let’s look at each:

Victor Valdez, SS, Dominican Republic
Having scouted Valdez for years, the Rays were intrigued by his bat. He sprayed line drives to all fields with a smooth, simple right-handed swing and advanced approach. They figured he would grow into power thanks to his elite bat speed, and it started to show as he produced 100-104 mph exit velocities in games.

The 6-foot-1 Valdez has the makings of a future middle-of-the-order bat. But the “very pleasant surprise,” Miller said, is that Valdez could be a “plus” defender at shortstop, too. A move to third base seemed inevitable at one point, but the Rays believe Valdez will stick at shortstop thanks to an improved first step, good hands, above-average body control and a strong arm firing 92-94 mph across the infield.

“We truly think that he stays at shortstop, brings above-average defense at the position and has a chance to hit and hit for power,” Miller said.

Fabricio Blanco, SS, Venezuela
Every time Rays evaluators watched Blanco, they walked away thinking he was the best player on the field. That was true even when the switch-hitting shortstop was 5-foot-6, before a growth spurt brought him to 5-11. So they offered Blanco a $1 million bonus at a time other teams weren’t interested in signing him, only to see him grow into the No. 44 prospect in this year’s class.

The 17-year-old is viewed as a complete player with excellent makeup. He has a strong arm and above-average speed, which help make him a reliable defensive shortstop. The Rays view his bat speed and contact skills as “plus” traits, and he’s developing above-average power from both sides.

“He’s lived up to every single thing that we thought,” Miller said. “He’s certainly become a favorite by many of the coaches who have worked with him.”

Jean Paredes, CF, Dominican Republic
Paredes had a lot going for him when the Rays first saw him. A simple, balanced left-handed swing that is arguably the best in the class. Clean routes and actions in center field. Good instincts and athleticism. A good frame, physically. One problem: He lacked strength.

But when the 6-foot-1 outfielder started to put on muscle, he developed potentially “plus” future power to go with above-average contact skills. His arm got stronger. He became an above-average runner and potentially an above-average defender in center. The Rays rewarded Paredes with a $1 million bonus, projecting him as a potential everyday center fielder.

“Now that he’s starting to gain some strength, his arrow is really pointing up,” Miller said.

Luis Almanzar, OF, Dominican Republic
Almanzar received a $400,000 bonus. The Rays view him as the sleeper of the class, an athletic outfielder with left-handed power potential who’s moving in the right direction.

“If you ask any of our coaches and maybe the majority of our scouts, ‘Who might be the guy that is the sleeper? Who’s the one guy that no one’s really talking about now but will be a year from now?’” Miller said. “I think almost all of them would say it’s Almanzar.”

Emmanuel Hernández, RHP, Colombia
Hernández’s story echoes that of another pitcher the Rays once scouted in Colombia -- right-hander Jose Urbina, now their No. 17 prospect.

Hernández, the top pitcher in this Rays class, could be on a similar track after signing for $400,000. The 6-foot-1 righty was throwing 86-88 mph in workouts, but the Rays liked the way he pitched and his poise on the mound. Then his velocity ticked up until he was throwing 92-97 mph. Combined with a potentially “plus” breaking ball and an even better changeup, Hernández has three quality offerings he can throw in the strike zone.

“We’re looking at a guy who has a combination of stuff, command, size and the chance to be a middle-to-front, top-of-the-rotation-type starter if everything clicks,” Miller said.