Baseball’s international signing period opened on Thursday, allowing young ballplayers, primarily from Latin America, to officially enter the pipeline of a major league club.
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the period with $8,034,900 in international bonus pool money, tied for the most in the league with Baltimore, Cleveland, Colorado, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Market size, revenue, free agents turning down the qualifying offer and trades all impact the size of a team’s bonus pool.
Headlining the Diamondbacks’ 2026 class is Ruben Gallego, a 17-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop from Cuba. He signed for $1.75 million, according to Baseball America.
Gallego is 6-foot-1, 160 pounds and is ranked No. 31 in this class by FanGraphs and No. 42 by MLB Pipeline.
Ruben Gallego, a shortstop and switch-hitter who left Cuba in 2022 at age 13, is considered one of the top talents in the 2025–26 international class.
The Diamondbacks are favorites to sign him for around $1.8 million this January 15. pic.twitter.com/1ATcFDuZ2x
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 13, 2026
Per MLB Pipeline:
He’ll need to add weight and muscle as he faces advanced pitching in the pros but his bat-to-ball skills rate as above average, while he can also generate a good bit of thump from a well-timed leg kick. A gifted defender, Gallego has the smooth actions to stay at the premium position for the foreseeable future. His arm slots can vary, hampering its overall strength, but he has the quick first step and lateral movement that often portends to success.
Diamondbacks 2026 international free agent class
The Diamondbacks signed 18 players on Thursday:
PLAYER
POS.
B-T
HT.
WT.
AGE
DOB
BIRTHPLACE
SIGNED
Manny Almonte
OF
R/R
6’1
160
16
4/9/2009
La Vega, D.R.
Jan. 15
Loidel Amaya
CF
R/R
5’11
190
16
1/1/2009
Bayamo, Cuba
Jan. 15
Diland Cepeda
RHP
R/R
6’4
184
16
6/8/2009
Santo Domingo, D.R.
Jan. 15
Angel Chacon
C
S/R
5’8
175
16
11/4/2008
Tinaquillo, Venezuela
Jan. 15
Jossiel Feliz
CF
L/L
6’1
165
17
9/15/2008
Herrera, D.R.
Jan. 15
Brayan Figueroa
INF
R/R
6’0
205
16
5/8/2009
Bonao, D.R.
Jan. 15
Ruben Gallego
SS
S/R
6’0
160
16
11/4/2008
La Habana, Cuba
Jan. 15
Yohendi Hernandez
OF
L/L
6’1
185
16
8/4/2009
La Romana, D.R.
Jan. 15
Joscar Hernandez
OF
R/R
6’0
174
16
12/27/2008
Barcelona, Venezuela
Jan. 15
Jesus Linares
C
R/R
5’10
180
16
9/20/2008
Maracay, Venezuela
Jan. 15
D-shawn Martina
CF
R/R
5’10
152
16
9/26/2008
Willemstad, Curacao
Jan. 15
Yamir Mendieta
OF
R/R
6’0
165
16
9/21/2008
Panama City, Panama
Jan. 15
Hector Ozuna
RHP
R/R
6’3
190
18
12/24/2006
Ramon Santana, D.R.
Jan. 15
Yohansis Peña
RHP
R/R
6’3
185
17
8/24/2008
Barahona, D.R.
Jan. 15
Leonardo Sevilla
SS
S/R
5’10
180
18
12/17/2007
Santa Clara, Cuba
Jan. 15
Jorge Silvera
SS
R/R
6’0
176
16
1/26/2009
Villa De Cura, Venezuela
Jan. 15
Jeremy Suriel
CF
S/R
5’11
184
16
11/13/2008
Bonao, D.R.
Jan. 15
Jhosep Villarroel
C
R/R
5’7
185
17
9/7/2008
Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Jan. 15
The top prospect in the class, Venezuelan shortstop Luis Hernandez, signed a $5 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.
Players have to be at least 16 years old at the time of their signing and turn 17 by the following September to be eligible.
This is a critical time of year for clubs to inject talent into their farm systems. Diamondbacks international signing success stories include Geraldo Perdomo (D.R) and Justin Martinez (D.R.). Ketel Marte (D.R.) and Gabriel Moreno (Venezuela) signed as amateur international free agents with other clubs but were traded to Arizona as young players.
The Diamondbacks opened a new Dominican academy in Boca Chico in November 2024 that many prospects will pass through on the way to the United States.
Nearly a quarter of MLB players were foreign-born last season (24%), and 78% of players born outside the United States were from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Cuba, according to a study from George Mason University.
Follow @alexjweiner
Hence then, the article about diamondbacks 2026 international signing class headlined by ss ruben gallego was published today ( ) and is available on Arizona sports ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Diamondbacks’ 2026 international signing class headlined by SS Ruben Gallego )
Also on site :
- Thunder vs Rockets Odds, (Player) Props, and More
- LIVE: Alex Bregman Introductory Press Conference (UPDATES)
- Pope’s Speech to Vatican Diplomatic Corps Sets the Basis of Leo XIV’s Diplomacy, Ambassadors Say