Orioles Make Massive Splash in International Market: Team’s International Signings Headline Thrilling New Chapter
The Orioles signed 22 players on Wednesday as the International Signing Period began. They were allotted $6,908,800 to sign international players and can use that money until December 15th. The Orioles did not use their entire allotment.
“I’m extremely excited about this class. We spread out our dollars,” Koby Perez, the Orioles’ vice president for international scouting, said in a video conference call from the team’s Dominican Republic Academy. “This process to get to today takes three years … We feel that our talent within those 22 players is going be really good and should show its way up our line, hopefully in the near future.”
The biggest name signed was 16-year-old shortstop José Luis Peña, the 47th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, from the Dominican Republic. Peña, who signed for a reported $1 million, was born on August 16th, 2008.
“He is very, very young for the class. Had he been born a few days later he’d be signing the following year,” Perez said. “We’ve had success, not only in this organization, but in others where these kids end up being much stronger and ahead of the game.
