Orioles' international signing class is official and includes top shortstop prospect

Unlike the situation under former owner Peter Angelos, the Baltimore Orioles have become real players in international free agency the last few years. The most obvious example of this change is the presence of Samuel Basallo who is both an early AL Rookie of the Year favorite and was also a big time international prospect back in 2021. Well, the fateful opening of 2026 international free agency has finally arrived and Baltimore looks primed to be even more involved in the international market than they usually are.

Given that we are dealing mostly with teenagers here, Orioles fans should not expect to see these players anytime soon unless something wild happens. Most, like Basallo, will take years to develop and only then will we see if Baltimore placed the right bets on the right players.

However, it sure does seem like they put their $8,034,900 international bonus pool to good use at first glance as they are inking five of the top 100 bonuses expected to be handed out period across MLB including one of the top shortstop prospects in the class in Jose Luis Acevedo.

Orioles international free agent class is one of the deepest in all of baseball with Jose Luis Acevedo

Acevedo is going to get a lot of attention as he is expected to sign a bonus in the $2.3 million range and there are good reasons for that. Acevedo's offensive game is already very well-rounded thanks to an easy swing that generates plenty of loud contact and he has the frame scouts love to add plenty of muscle in the years to come. He should also get a chance to stick at shortstop with his arm being his best attribute defensively, although there is a chance that he outgrows the position and has to move to third base.

After that, we have outfielders Ariel Roque, Pedro Gomez, and Gabriel Rosario. Roque is an all-World athlete who projects to be a plus hitter from the left side with a good chance to grow into considerable power with proper coaching. Gomez, on the other hand, profiles as a middle of the order slugger who is already showing big-time raw power. Rosario may be the most balanced of the three outfielders at the moment at the plate, but he is pretty much a lock to be relegated to left field, first base, or DH given his size and lack of quickness.

Finally, there is actually a pitcher in Baltimore's class! LHP Andri Hidalgo is already throwing big-time heat and scouts are already seeing paths to him routinely topping 100 mph. His slider is clearly his second-best pitch, but it still misses bats and he is currently learning a changeup. Hidalgo isn't going to be a fast mover through the minor leagues, but the upside is tremendous here especially if the changeup becomes an actual weapon.