The Atlanta Braves made a strong start to the international signing period, adding several young talents to their organization. Baseball reporter Francys Romero announced that the Braves signed 16-year-old Dominican pitcher Raudy Reyes, whose contract includes a $1.8 million signing bonus.
The signing, anticipated throughout Wednesday—the opening day of the MLB international signing period—features Reyes, whose full name is Raudy Manuel Reyes Abreau. At just 16, Reyes stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds. His fastball has reportedly reached an impressive 102 mph.
“The right-hander had a growth spurt last year, adjusted his mechanics, and increased his fastball velocity from the low-90s to consistently hitting 96-98 mph and topping out at 102,” The Athletic staff reported, adding that the Braves clocked him as high as 100 mph while he garnered attention from multiple MLB teams in recent months. Other sources on social media corroborated that Reyes’ fastball has been recorded at 101 mph.
Wednesday proved to be a productive day for the Braves, who also signed 16-year-old Cuban outfielder Diego Tornes to a deal that includes a $2.5 million bonus. “By signing Tornes and Reyes, two of the top 12 prospects in FanGraphs’ top 50 rankings for this year’s international class, the Braves added significant talent to their system,” noted The Athletic.
Additionally, the Braves signed Dominican shortstop Yassel Garcia, with former Braves international scout Luis Santos-Bejarán praising Garcia’s strong contact skills at the plate. Outfielder Elias Reyno also joined the Braves, and the team is expected to finalize deals with two Venezuelan shortstops, Angel Carmona and Manuel Campos.
While none of these young players are likely to appear in Atlanta’s MLB lineup for several years, the Braves’ acquisitions on the first day of the international signing period are exciting. This enthusiasm is amplified by the team’s relatively quiet offseason, making their early moves in the international market all the more noteworthy.
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