How is the Dodgers' Top International Signee Progressing?

Emil Morales isn't a household name among Los Angeles Dodgers fans — yet.

According to FanGraphs, the Dodgers' top international signee from the most recent signing period is not expected to arrive in the major leagues until 2030. Morales is 17 and, like most international signees, will begin his professional journey at the team's complex in the Dominican Republic with hopes of being assigned to a full-season minor league affiliate. That might not happen until next year at the earliest.

Still, it's never too soon to keep tabs on the Dodgers' latest multi-million dollar investment. Morales was among the most highly related prospects of the most recent signing period, and was paid accordingly — $1,897,500, according to multiple reports, the most given to any individual out of the team's $5.284 million pool.

According to Baseball America's Ben Badler, the early returns on Morales are strong.

He continues to grow, now 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with a mix of contact and impact from the right side of the plate. He has continued to tighten up what was already a sound swing with good rhythm and sequence, while his offensive approach is mature with the ability to discern balls from strikes and consistently work quality at-bats. He’s strong, has fast bat speed and has been hitting home runs in preseason games with the projection to develop 25-plus home run power.via Baseball America

Morales was listed as a shortstop at the time of his signing, but as he continues to grow expect to hear many of the same opinions that surrounded Corey Seager during his minor league maturation — that someday, he'll need to be moved to a corner infield spot. That never happened for Seager and it might not happen for Morales, either.