Today marked the opening of the international signing period, and the White Sox announced agreements with 18 players as David Keller completes his first full cycle as head of the team's international scouting department.
The class is headlined by the pair of ranked players long linked to the White Sox, catcher Fernando Graterol and outfielder Sebastián Romero. Both are 17-year-olds from Venezuela, and both signed for seven figures; Graterol signed for $1.6 million, and Romero $1.5 million.
Graterol ranked 25th on Baseball America's Top 100 Bonus Board, with Ben Badler noting his raw power and surprising athleticism for a catcher. Romero came in four spots later, labeled as a center fielder whose hit tool is ahead of his power, but has room to add to his 6-foot-2-inch, 175-pound frame.
This is technically Keller's second international class, but he joined the White Sox in September 2024, which more or less allowed him four months to augment the work he inherited from Marco Paddy before the first batch of 2025 signings were announced last January.
If you're looking for immediate signs of a new era, half of the 18 signings hail from the Dominican Republic, which is a higher percentage than previous years. Also, the White Sox included signing bonus amounts for every player in their press release, which is appreciated by those who are trying to set appropriate expectations for Dominican Summer League performances.
| Name | Position | Age | Country | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Graterol | C | 17 | VZ | $1.6M |
| Sebastián Romero | OF | 17 | VZ | $1.5M |
| Roderick Ramírez | RHP | 17 | DR | $400K |
| Carlos Vielma | SS | 16 | VZ | $400K |
| Ronald Cardoso | C | 16 | VZ | $375K |
| Franchel Crisóstomo | RHP | 17 | DR | $350K |
| Yordany Marté | RHP | 16 | DR | $275K |
| Félix LeBron | SS | 17 | DR | $180K |
| Luis Samuel | SS | 16 | DR | $150K |
| Stiwarts Valdez | OF | 17 | DR | $130K |
| Emmanuel Rodríguez | RHP | 16 | DR | $100K |
| Ronald Kelly | RHP | 17 | CO | $100K |
| Erlyn Lauriano | RHP | 17 | DR | $75K |
| Jefferson Timaure | RHP | 16 | VZ | $70K |
| Beinel Adón | RHP | 16 | DR | $50K |
| José Suárez | C | 16 | VZ | $40K |
| Héctor Hernández | OF | 16 | VZ | $30K |
| Ander Guzmán | RHP | 18 | MX | $10K |
Beyond the seven-figure signings, Badler identified some players worth tracking in a deeper review of the White Sox class. He calls Ramírez the best pitcher in the class, with climbing velocity and a promising slider, while Crisóstomo has the changeup that Ramírez lacks. Cardozo is more advanced than Graterol when it comes to catching, and Valdez stands out for size (6'4, 200 pounds) and strength, although the swing needs work.
Keller will likely flesh out the class in greater detail when he speaks to reporters in a matter of minutes.
