During the offseason, Major League Baseball’s free agent signings capture significant public interest.
This year, the MLB free agency sees a surge of well-known talents stepping into the market.
Influential players like Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette, Dylan Cease, and Kyle Tucker, among others, are in discussions with major league teams, aiming for lucrative multi-year contracts.
However, there’s another facet of MLB free agency that often flies under the radar.
MLB teams also look to the international player market to enhance their lineups.
This international signing window kicked off on January 15, 2026.
The international signing period began January 15, 2026.
An international player may sign with a Major League Baseball organization between January 15 and December 15. The player must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before September 1 the following year.
Each MLB club enters the international signing period with a fixed amount of “bonus” pool money to spend on international players.
Each team’s pool amount is determined by factors such as market size, team revenue, and more.
Teams are permitted to trade international signing pool money, just as the Cleveland Guardians did on January 15.
The Guardians traded international pool money to the New York Mets for prospect left-handed pitcher, Franklin Gomez.
Giants Sign Shortstop Luis Hernandez:
At $5.44M, the San Francisco Giants had one of the smallest international bonus pools of any club.
As the signing period opened, the Giants signed shortstop Luis Hernandez for $5M of their pool.
Hernandez is 5-10, 180 pounds.
At the age of 17, the right-handed hitting Hernandez was widely viewed as the best overall, highest ranked international prospect available.
Hernandez won’t turn 18 until December 13, 2026.
BRADENTON, FL – 1985: Shortstop Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox smiles while talking to players in the dugout before a Major League Baseball spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field circa 1985 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
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A student and protege of Venezuelan shortstop Ozzie Guillen, MLB.com lists Hernandez as “one of the most talented players on the international scene in the past few years.”
When he was just 15-years-old, Hernandez hit .346 in 104 at-bats in the Venezuelan Major League. He was playing against much older and more advanced players.
An extremely good athlete, Hernandez flashes an outstanding hit tool, with promising power. MLB.com grades Hernandez this way in various tools:
Hit=Grade 65
Power=Grade 60
Running=Grade 60
Arm Strength/Accuracy= Grade 50
Defense=Grade 60
Overall Grade=65
A Grade 50 equates to an everyday player ability
A Grade 55 equates to a better than average, but not elite player ability
A Grade 60 equates to an occasional All Star with at least one to two outstanding tools
A Grade 65 equates to an annual All Star caliber player. A game changer. A player with more than two outstanding tools and skills.
So, based upon the MLB.com grades, the Giants may have uncovered someone very special.
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – MARCH 9: The patch is displayed on the jersey of the Boston Red Sox before the 2024 Dominican Republic Series game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Estadio Quisqueya on March 9, 2024 in Santon Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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About Shortstop Josuar Gonzalez:
In last year’s international signing period, the Giants signed Dominican shortstop Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez to a deal worth $2,997,500.
The Giants pool last year was $5.15M.
Gonzalez played his 2025 season for the Giants Black team in the Dominican League.
In 228 plate appearances in the Rookie League, Gonzalez hit .288, with 10 doubles, five triples, four home runs, and 24 RBIs in his 52 games played.
Still just 18-years-old, the switch-hitting Gonzalez is slightly built at 6-0, 167 pounds.
MLB.com gave Gonzalez the following grades in their evaluation of the shortstop:
Hit=Grade 55
Power= Grade 55
Running=Grade 60
Arm Strength/Accuracy= Grade 55
Defense= Grade 55
Overal Grade= 55
Why Sign Two International Shortstops?
Scouts, including this writer, believe the best athlete on any field is the shortstop.
The athletic requirements of the role are similar to those of a center fielder.
In essence, a player selected as a shortstop may, or may not remain in that role.
He could move to second base, or the outfield.
In two international signings in two consecutive years, the Giants have paid substantial international pool funds to obtain the service of two supreme athletes.
One Conclusion:
Both Luis Hernandez, and Josuar Gonzalez have the potential and upside to stick with the Giants and become core members of their roster for years to come.
Only their final position roles remain unknown.
