A former corner infield prospect for the San Francisco Giants has secured a new team for 2025, signing with an independent ball club. According to the league’s transaction log, Luis Toribio is now a member of the Sioux City Explorers in the American Association.
Former SF Giants corner infield prospect lands with American Association club
Independent leagues like the American Association, Atlantic League, and Frontier League have become increasingly popular destinations for professional players in recent years. This trend is largely driven by Major League Baseball’s decision to reduce minor league rosters to a maximum of 165 players per organization.
As a result, many teams have scaled back their activity in minor league free agency. For example, the San Francisco Giants have signed only a handful of minor league players this offseason, aside from the 15 international free agents they added last week. With limited roster space, there simply isn’t much room to make additional signings.
Luis Toribio, a 24-year-old infielder, is a notable example of a player affected by these changes. Originally signed by the Giants out of the Dominican Republic during the 2017 international free agency cycle, Toribio received a $300,000 signing bonus—the maximum amount the Giants could offer at the time. This restriction stemmed from penalties incurred for exceeding their 2015 international bonus pool, including a $6 million deal with Lucius Fox.
Toribio quickly gained attention thanks to his performance in the 2018 Dominican Summer League, where he slashed .270/.423/.479 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI in 274 plate appearances (160 wRC+). His standout rookie season put him on the radar as a prospect with potential.
Over six minor league seasons with the Giants, Toribio progressed steadily through the system, reaching Double-A in 2024. He posted a career .236/.353/.419 slash line, showcasing a solid 14.6% walk rate, a 29.3% strikeout rate, and a .183 ISO. Notably, he demonstrated decent power, hitting double-digit home runs in three seasons, including 38 homers across two campaigns with the Eugene Emeralds.
Despite his steady development, Toribio elected minor league free agency earlier this offseason after accruing six years of service time. He has now joined the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association, an independent club that finished the 2024 season with a 48-51 record. This move provides Toribio with a fresh opportunity to continue his professional career.
Leave a Reply