The 2026 international signing period opened a week ago (Jan. 15), and Detroit signed seven players. While prospects can sign any time between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15, the good ones come off the board almost
immediately. Of course, even more so with prep picks in the amateur draft, these players are a real roll of the dice and often it’s not the biggest names who work out.
Sure, these guys are as young as 16 years old, but Tigers fans should know just how important the international market is. Some of the top stars in the game were international free agents, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., José Ramírez, Julio Rodriguez and Juan Soto.
Perhaps the greatest Tiger in recent memory, Miguel Cabrera, signed at 16 years old for $1.8 million, not to mention Eugenio Suárez, Willy Adames, Fernando Rodney down to current top 100 prospect, Josue Briceño. The point is that these guys can become MLB players, even if they aren’t slam dunks like Cabrera.
So, without dragging out this preamble any longer, let’s look at what Detroit got in its 2026 haul.
Let’s start with the three headliners: Venezuelan catcher Manuel Bolívar, Dominican outfielder Randy Santana and Venezuelan infielder Oscar Tineo. Nearly 65% of Detroit’s $7,537,100 international signing pool went to these three players. They should have about $550,000 left to spend in this signing period. After the players with the big previously arranged deals sign, the rest of the signing period is about using the remainder to hunt underrated gems and late bloomers in the class throughout the spring and summer months. This is a business at the end of the day, so money matters.
Note: All signing values sourced from Spotrac
Here’s why the Tigers spent so much on these teenagers.
C Manuel Bolívar — $2,297,500
As a 13-year-old, Manuel Bolívar made a name for himself with the Venezuelan national team at the U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2022. He posted a 1.083 OPS over four games as the youngest player on the roster and has been on Detroit’s radar since. Now 17 — and turning 18 in September — Bolívar checks in at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds.
He shows signs of plus power, a plus arm and strong intangibles, albeit with some swing-and-miss concerns. While he’s able to pull the ball with power, advanced breaking balls could give him trouble throughout his pro career. His blocking ability is advanced for his age, which is a plus, and he’s got the arm strength for the position. Bolívar could end up transitioning to first base down the line, but he’s a pretty good bet to make it as at least a backup catcher.
Playing a premium position helped Bolívar earn the $2.3 million signing bonus, and Detroit has faith in his ability to develop behind the plate. He’ll play in the Dominican Summer League this year.
“This kid has a tremendous set of tools,” Tigers director of Latin American operations Miguel Garcia said to the Freep. “He’s got a good body for his position, catcher, and the ability to develop some power down the road, having a plus arm and good defensive skills. We like his makeup, the way that he handles himself on and off the baseball field. We’re pretty excited about Manuel Bolivar.”
SS Oscar Tineo — $1,447,500
Defensive shortstop Oscar Tineo earned the second-highest signing bonus from Detroit, and for good reason. He’s 6-foot-2 with good range and agility, and Garcia projects him to develop a plus arm while staying at shortstop. His tools are reminiscent of Franyerber Montilla, who has come along as one of the better shortstops in Detroit’s farm system. Maybe the speed tool isn’t as sharp, but Baseball America’s Ben Badler called Tineo “an above-average runner”.
Like Montilla, Tineo has the makings of an plus defender; however, the bat is of some concern. While he is a switch-hitter, Tineo struggles as a lefty against righties and needs to develop some pop to his swing. Montilla made the jump after going through a rough patch once arriving stateside. The Venezuela native turns 17 next month, so Detroit has some time to develop him in the DSL over the next couple of years.
CF Randy Santana — $1,097,500
The last of Detroit’s “premier” signings might have the brightest future. Randy Santana has a rocket arm, plus-power potential, good speed, and a pretty swing. This is a kid who has clocked multiple 100-mph throws from the outfield at 17 years old and comes from a proven baseball academy (Niche) from the Dominican Republic — the same academy that produced Soto and Elly De La Cruz.
There’s a world where Santana switches to the mound, but he has a ton of bat speed, albeit with a somewhat reckless approach and coming from a smaller — 5-foot-11, 180-pound — frame. The combination of speed and power could make him dangerous at the plate, particularly if he can mature as a hitter and make better swing decisions.
The goal is to keep him in center field, which he has the speed for, but a transition to right field down the line wouldn’t be surprising. Santana can also affect the game on the base path as a plus runner, too. In a farm full of left-handed hitting talent, Santana pairs nicely with last year’s top international signing, Cris Rodriguez, as a right-handed slugger. It’s hard to argue with taking a young player with a lot of atheticism and an outsized toolkit. Santana has huge upside and doesn’t need to become a great pure hitter to grow into an impactful major leaguer someday.
CF Douglas Olivo — $797,500
If Santana doesn’t work out in center field, Douglas Olivo probably will. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Venezuelan moves around the outfield with ease and reads the ball off the bat fairly well. A left-hander who can switch hit, Olivo’s better at hitting for average than power. Still, he has the frame to add plenty of weight, which could lead to more pop down the line.
“He covers a lot of ground,” Garcia said. “As we all know, it takes a lot to play center field in Comerica Park, and we all strongly believe that every time we project a kid to play center field, that’s what we think about.”
Olivo’s signing bonus is in question. While Spotrac lists him just under $800,000, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported a $900,000 signing bonus. Either way, it’s a considerable chunk compared to everyone below him on this list.
IF Eduardo Tusen — $312,500
The final signee who reeled in a deal above $300,000 — which is an arbitrary cutoff point but suggests that he’s in the top-200 range of international prospects — is Eduardo Tusen out of the Dominican Republic. A middle infielder for now, Tusen’s arm strength leads to a natural third base projection. He’s a switch hitter with good bat speed from both sides of the plate, but he looks more natural in the right-handed batter’s box. He’s 16 going on 17 and checks in at 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds.
The rest of Detroit’s international signees are getting $275,00 or less, so we’ll do this by position. Less is known about these guys and the money says it’s more of a crap shoot than anything else.
Pitchers
Signed: RHP Yeuri Ramirez (Dominican Republic), $240,000; RHP Alexander Padilla (Dominican Republic), $160,000; RHP Jesus Miranda (Colombia), $35,500
Yeuri Ramirez is the most interesting name here. He signed with Milwaukee in the 2025 cycle, but an alleged age falsification issue voided the $300,000 deal. He ends up with the Tigers this year and is already 18 years old. Does he need to spend a year in the DSL? Probably not, but Detroit might opt to keep him overseas for a year. Ramirez has run his fastball up to 94-95 mph and is quite polished. He likes to play with timings and has some feel for his secondary stuff.
There’s not much out there on Padilla or Miranda. The latter looks raw in the videos below but has been clocked in the upper-80s while showing some feel for the breaking stuff. Refining his motion could be the ticket to success.
Catchers
Signed: Roman Silgado (Venezuela), $65,000; Yojan Coronel (Venezuela), $40,000
Two more catchers signed with Detroit, albeit for not a ton of money. Silgado shows some decent hand speed as righty and there’s some plus-power potential if he can make solid contact consistently.
There’s not a ton out there on Coronel right now.
Infielders
Signed: Steve Gutierrez (Venezuela), $70,000; Edwinyer Martinez (Venezuela), N/A
Two more infielders that don’t have much film. Gutierrez and Martinez are both shortstops for now. Martinez has a smaller build at 5-foot-9, 179 pounds, so moving to second might be in his future.
Outfielders
Signed: Santiago Ventura (Venezuela), $275,000; Diego Orro (Venezuela), $100,000
Ventura stands out as a plus runner with some feel in center field, according to Baseball America. He’s more of a defender than a hitter, but he can find a gap or two. He‘s 6-foot, 175 pounds.
Orro is a left-handed hitter who stands at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds. There’s some film on his swing linked below.
