Astros Projected To Sign Cuban OF

The Houston Astros and the rest of Major League Baseball can start signing international free agents on Jan. 15. The Astros’ international signing bonus pool will determine just how many free agents they’re able to sign.

But Baseball America took a shot at which international free agents each team might sign. The site ranked the Top 50 international free agents and determined which MLB team was most likely to sign him.

The site determined that the Astros would sign Cesar Yanquiel Hernandez to the 21st-highest signing bonus in the class.

Hernandez, a 20-year-old from Cuba, played junior league ball there before he transferred over to the Dominican Republic so he could sign with an MLB team. The outfielder is projected as plus-plus runner and a line-drive hitter with the potential to add more power.

The Astros have one of the lowest-ranked farm systems in baseball according to both Baseball America and MLB.com. So the team is looking for any way it can add more talent, especially to the lower reaches of its organization.

Last year the Astros signed a pair of Top 25 international players in shortstop Camilo Diaz and outfielder Esmil Valencia. The Astros signed nine players total out of a bonus pool of $5.284 million.

Diaz batted .209 in the Dominican Summer League in 2023, while Valencia batted .262 in the same league.

As for the Astros, the upper reaches of its organization may be ready to bear more frut in 2024, based on its Organizational All-Stars, as named by MLB.com.

That team included the organization’s No. 1 prospect, outfielder Jacob Melton.

The rest of the team included starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti, third baseman Zach Dezenzo, outfielder Joey Loperfido, left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon, outfielder Zach Cole, second baseman Pedro León, catcher Miguel Palma, shortstop Shay Whitcomb, first baseman J.J. Matijevic and relief pitcher Cole McDonald.