It’s no secret that the Atlanta Braves track record with international free agents has been under scrutiny. The last decade has been defined by penalties, struggles, injuries, and also hitting some winning lottery tickets. I have decided to take a closer look at the classes of the last decade and break down what has actually happened with the players the team has signed.
This is a list of everyone of note that the Braves have signed on the international market since the infamous class with Kevin Maitan,
for which the Braves were severely punished due to former GM John Coppolella breaking rules. For the years related to the penalties I am listing just the notable players who signed, or if none will list the player who made it the furthest up the system. In years where the Braves had even half of an international bonus pool available, I will list anyone who signed for at least $100k, as well as anyone else of relevance.
The 2026 class is being skipped over, as it’s impossible to have any judgements on a group of kids who haven’t even made their pro debuts yet. I am also trying to stay very conservative on my opinions on the 2025 class, as one season in the DSL isn’t much data to go on yet.
Bonus data is from Spotrac, though I have been able to verify some of the bonus data that they had listed as N/A through additional sources. Some of the small bonus data isn’t readily available, but anyone listed as N/A would most definitely have cost $10k or less as signings for that price do not count against bonus pools.
2016-2017
Jefrey Ramos $250k
Braulio Vasquez $100k
In the first class after that Maitan class, the Braves were very limited in what they could spend, getting to spend $830k in total without being able to go over $250k to sign anyone. They gave $250k bonuses to Ramos and Charles Reyes, then $100-130k to three more guys, including Vasquez. Ramos was once seen as a bit of a prospect, especially after a .930 OPS in the then-GCL in 2017. He never quite did much more after that, with a .715 OPS in then-Low-A Rome in 2018 being his next best mark. Ramos did reach Double-A, where he spent 2021 and 2022, but in 85 games there he posted just a .549 OPS. Reyes topped out a level above the GCL/FCL, at then short season Danville, but has been out of baseball since after his 2021 season. Vasquez is the player who advanced the furthest, reaching High-A in 2022, after some Low-A success that year. That was his last time playing in the US, as he played in Japan in 2024 and had a brief stint in a Mexican independent league last year.
While the results for this class weren’t good, it’s hard to complain about them due to the limitations on the front office.
2017-2018
Roddery Munoz $30k
Daysbel Hernandez $190k
Another year with some strict limitations, and the top bonus given was $300k to Asmin Bautista. Still the Braves managed to find a pair of lottery tickets that became big leaguers. Daysbel Hernandez, who signed for $190k, has appeared in 59 big leagues games over parts of the three previous seasons, posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.47 WHIP as an up and down depth piece in the bullpen. Last year he saw the most action of his career, totaling 37 innings pitched, and seeing himself cross the rookie eligibility threshold. Roddery Munoz, who received just $30k, was once a power-armed prospect. He was waived in-season in 2023, but has since appeared in 30 big league games with Miami, St. Louis, and Houston since the start of the 2024 season. He actually made 17 starts in 2024 for the Marlins, though his results haven’t been good and he has a career 7.10 ERA.
This class is pretty much as good as you could hope for with the penalties. When you basically can’t spend money and still end up with two guys who have reached the big leagues, it is very much a positive.
2018-2019
Francisco Floyd $200k
Frankelvin Vidal $165k
Cesari Moreno $135k
Royber Salinas $35k
Geraldo Quintero N/A
Rolddy Munoz $20k
Another year with strict limitations, with three guys signing for over $100k. Francisco Floyd got the biggest bonus at $200k, though he has been out of baseball since the end of the 2023 season, and had reached Low-A. The other two guys to count against the pool were Frankelvin Vidal and Cesari Moreno, who only got as high as the GCL/FCL. Still the Braves have found some things despite the limitations on them. Roddery Munoz’s brother Rolddy received just $20k, but has pitched in four big league games between last year and this year. Royber Salinas was a part of the deal to bring Sean Murphy to the Braves in 2023, but actually re-joined the Braves in 2025. Salinas reached as high as Triple-A in the A’s organization, though injuries held him back a bit. Geraldo Quintero spent the last two seasons in Double-A, posting a .225/.330/.340 slash at that level in 196 games, though wasn’t brought back for this season.
Considering the limitations this year was a bit of a win with the small money signings. The three guys who counted against the pool didn’t do anything, but they still found a big leaguer, a piece which brought back an impact trade addition – and another potential big leaguer if not for injuries, as well as a guy who spent multiple seasons in the upper minors. To get that kind of impact for under $100k has to be a positive.
2019-2020
Elison Joseph N/A
The roughest year in the sanction years was this year, as the Braves were banned for signing anyone for more than $10k. This was the year the Braves had been expected to sign top prospect Robert Puason – who has been a bust with the A’s. Still the Braves were able to land Elison Joseph, who is now in his third season in Double-A, and is still a prospect in the system. Joseph, who is a reliever, was one of the first cuts from Battery Power’s Honorable Mention list to our Preseason Top 30 prospects after he posted a 4.31 ERA and 1.66 WHIP with a 12.9 K/9 in 39.2 innings with Columbus last year.
Not being able to spend over $10k on a prospect makes this class seem like it would be a dud, however the Braves have found a legitimate prospect anyway – and one who could potentially see the big leagues at some point this year. Joseph presently has a 1.50 ERA and 1.83 WHIP through six innings of work, though command has continued to be an issue.
2021
Ambioris Tavarez $1.5M
Jhancarlos Lara $10k
This was the Braves first time actually getting to sign a prospect of note again, though they were limited to just 50% of their pool in the final year of their sanctions. The entire pool went to Ambioris Tavarez, who was significantly thought of when he signed for $1.5M. Tavarez is in Double-A this year after getting to spend 15 games there last year. While Tavarez has become a quality defender at short, he has never posted a .700 OPS at any stop of his career heading into this season. It is worth noting that he is off to the best start to his career, slashing .214/.371/.357 – though that is only nine games into the season. The Braves also signed the guy currently ranked as our #11 prospect in the system for just $10k when they hit on a lottery ticket in Jhancarlos Lara. Lara is presently in Double-A after spending last year between there and Triple-A, but is considered to be the potential future Braves closer with some improvement in his command.
Things haven’t gone to plan with Tavarez, who was signed for his bat but is now more known for his defense. It’s too early to write Tavarez off, especially with a promising start to the season, but he has been surpassed as a prospect by Lara. Even if Tavarez does not find enough offense to make it, hitting on Lara could make that a moot point.
2022
Diego Benitez $2.5M
Douglas Glod $1.3M
Alexander Martinez $400k
Josnaider Orellana $175k
Leiker Figueroa $100k
Maximo Maria $100k
Didier Fuentes $75k
Davis Polo N/A
The Braves first year back with a full bonus pool saw them go over a million on two prospects, Diego Benitez and Douglas Glod. Unfortunately both of those players were released recently after failing to live up to expectations. Benitez got to play 38 games in Augusta, but spent the majority of his time in the complex leagues posting a career .613 OPS and seeing himself move from shortstop to eventually first base. He has not been picked up since his spring release, though probably would have been released sooner if not for the fact the team sunk $2.5M into signing him. Things went a little better for Glod who spent 85 games in Low-A last year and posted a career .706 OPS – though he also hasn’t been picked up.
Among the other six figure guys Martinez reached Low-A in 2024 and stayed in the system through 2025 – but had a .485 career OPS. Figueroa spent 100 games in Low-A between 2024 and 2025, though he had a career .562 OPS. Maria has been out of organized baseball since posting a .461 OPS with the FCL team in 2023. Orellana reached Low-A for four games last year, but his career .685 OPS is the best of the six figure guys. Two lightly heralded signings have been the key to the class. Didier Fuentes has become the top prospect in the system and a Top 100 prospect in baseball, making his big league debut at age-20 last year and cracking the Opening Day roster this year. Davis Polo has returned to Low-A thus year after missing last year due to injury, and is off to a solid start through two multi-inning relief appearances. Polo isn’t quite a Top 30 prospect, but will remain one to watch as he is still going to spend all year at the age of 21.
The Braves whiffed on their two biggest signings and didn’t have much better luck with their six figure guys this class. It will be $75k signee Fuentes’ job to save this class from being a complete disaster, especially considering this was the Braves first chance to try to add some international talent back into the system following the sanctions.
2023
Luis Guanipa $2.5M
Carlos Monteverde $600k
John Estevez $310k
Jeremy Reyes $250k
Luis Arestigueta $240k
Mario Baez $240k
Carlos Cordero $200k
John Gil $110k
Cristobal Abreu N/A
Rayven Antonio $10k
As we get to the 2023 class it is starting to get too early to judge most of these guys properly, considering the majority of them are in their age-20 seasons this year. The only guy to break a million in this class is Luis Guanipa, coming in at $2.5M. After a strong start to his pro career in 2023, Guanipa got to Low-A in 2024, though injuries wrecked his year and he posted a .577 OPS between there and the FCL in 57 games. He repeated Low-A again last year, but once again injuries limited him, and he posted a .670 OPS in 35 games between there and the FCL. This year he is in his third go round with Augusta, and off to a great start with a .325/.372/.450 slash through nine games.
Carlos Monteverde was the second most expensive guy in the class, and he reached Low-A last year, but was released this spring after posting a .655 career OPS. It’s a similar story for John Estevez, who reached Low-A last year, who has a .645 career OPS, though he remains in the FCL for this year. Carlos Cordero has been out of baseball since his time in the FCL in 2024, while Baez looks to be opening in the FCL again this year.
Things start to look better from there with a trio of six figure guys and a pair of lottery tickets. John Gil, who signed for $110k, has emerged as one of the top prospects in the system, and is off to a solid start in High-A Rome this season after seeing his power take the next step late last season. Signed for $250k, Reyes is also with Rome, and was an Honorable Mention on our Top 30 prospects list this spring. Luis Arestigueta took $240k to sign, and while he isn’t quite a Top 30 prospect he also isn’t too far off that list, and he is repeating Low-A this season. Rayven Antonio has gone from $10k signing to our #22 prospect this spring, though he is starting in extended spring training after being one of Augusta’s best starters last season. Finally Cristobal Abreu is a power armed reliever whose exact bonus can’t be found, but he is in Augusta this year for the first time after missing last year with injury.
Things haven’t gone according to plan with Guanipa, but he appears fully healthy and is off to a good start to his season. The results for the higher six figure guys have been mixed, though Reyes and Arestigueta still have a chance to help the club. It’s been the lower end guys, Gil and Antonio, who have made the most noise in the system last year, and Abreu will get a chance to join them now that he is healthy.
2024
Jose Perdomo $5M
Juan Espinal $440k
Michael Martinez $155k
Manuel Dos Passos $130k
Juan Mateo N/A
Kendy Richard N/A
The bulk of this budget went to elite prospect Jose Perdomo, and it’s not gone as planned for the $5M man. Injuries wrecked his first two seasons, where he played just eight games in the DSL in 2024, then struggled through 54 games in the GCL last year with a .544 OPS. Things were looking up this year, as he appeared in the best shape he’s ever been in and got assigned to Augusta to open the year. Unfortunately he got injured in the second game of the season, and reports on his return aren’t particularly optimistic. Still he is just age-19 all season and he was a premium prospect not long ago, so not all is lost, even if this year ends up being a wash too. The next most expensive player was slugging outfielder Juan Espinal, coming in at $440k. Espinal struggled badly in the DSL in his debut, posting a .587 OPS. He repeated the DSL last year and looked better, posting a .845 OPS, and is likely to be in the FCL this year, though swing and miss is still an issue. Michael Martinez, who received $155k, looked great in repeating the DSL last year and quickly was promoted to the FCL, where he seems likely to open the year this year. Manuel Dos Passos struggled in his DSL debut, but did post a .687 OPS in the FCL last year, and looks likely to open his year there. Juan Mateo, who received a small bonus, hit his was out of the FCL into Low-A last year and is opening this year back there. Kendy Richard opened his season in the Low-A Augusta rotation, which is where he finished last year.
The jury is still out on Perdomo and his big bonus, though things aren’t looking ideal. It is too soon to call anything with this class, but Mateo made our Honorable Mention list with the Top 30 prospects this spring and Martinez was in the next few spots after that despite being so far away still.
2025
(subtract $2,500 from all of this year’s bonuses for exact figure)
Diego Tornes $2.5M
Raudy Reyes $1.8M
Angel Carmona $450k
Elias Reyno $300k
Yassel García $250k
Arlenn Manzanillo $170k
Manuel Campos $150k
Luisberth Valdez $130k
The Braves signed two guys for over a million dollars for just the second time in this period last year, giving Diego Tornes $2.5M and Raudy Reyes $1.8M. Tornes looked good last year in the DSL, and is slated to open this year in the FCL once that season opens. Reyes has premium stuff, but command issues, and after some ups and downs in the DSL last year, he is set to miss this year with Tommy John surgery. It is important to remember he will spend the majority of his 2026 season at the age of 18, so all isn’t lost.
Among the six figure guys Carmona and his .827 OPS and Campos and his .776 OPS in the DSL stood out most, and are likely to be in the FCL this year. Reyno (.668) and Garcia (.686) both had some moments in their DSL debuts, as did Valdez (4.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP). Manzanillo struggled a bit, posting a .540 OPS, but he also had the demands of learning the catcher position.
Million Dollar Signings
Jose Perdomo $5M
Diego Tornes $2.5M
Luis Guanipa $2.5M
Diego Benitez $2.5M
Raudy Reyes $1.8M
Ambioris Tavarez $1.5M
Douglas Glod $1.3M
This list frankly has been filled with more swings and misses than hits. Perdomo, Guanipa, and Reyes have been stalled out by injury- though Guanipa has started this year strong. Tavarez is off to a decent start to his season, but is no longer looking like the guy he was hyped to be. Benitez and Glod have already been released. That leaves just Tornes as a player who hasn’t either struggled with production or injury, and he hasn’t even begun his second season yet as he is set to open in the FCL.
While top international kids are very much hit or miss for everyone, this lack of success is still concerning. However being able to find guys like Gil, Lara, Mateo, Campos, Martinez, Antonio, Fuentes, Daysbel, and both Munoz for all under $200k means that the scouting department is still doing some very good things despite missing with their biggest swings.
