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Texas signs 3 top 50 international prospects

Texas adds three highly-ranked players to the organization and hope that one day they will be major-league contributors.

By Michael Sanders |
Little League World Series
Little League World Series / Rob Carr/GettyImages
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The Texas Rangers hit it big on J-2 international signing day as they officially added three top 50 prospects to their organization.

Texas continues to add international prospects to its organization. Texas is highly invested in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and the Caribbean countries. Their investment has led them to find players like Sebastian Walcott, Nomar Mazara, Ronald Guzman, and Jurickson Profar. Texas hopes the players signed today will perform at a similar or higher level than their predecessors. Let us break down what Texas is getting in these three players.

Number 2 ranked Paulino Santana

Santana is ranked number two by MLB.com on their list of international prospects. He is a 17-year old outfielder. He hits right-handed and is described by MLB.com as fitting, "the mold of a five-tool player". That means he can hit for average, hit for power, steal bases, play good defense, and has a strong arm. If Santana can translate those skills to the minor leagues he will move very quickly.

Santana has drawn comparisons from scouts to Julio Rodriguez. It is believed that much like Rodriguez his athleticism should allow him to stick in center field long-term. He has the potential to be a fast riser as well. He is super talented not only in the batters' box but also on the basepaths. He has the potential to be a high-end center fielder for a team that is not lacking in outfielders. I would not be surprised if fans are talking about Santana like they were talking about Walcott in 2023. Santana will be a prospect that teams will be asking for at the deadline and Texas will be saying no.

Number 29 ranked Curley Martha

Martha is ranked number 29 by MLB.com. He is a 6'1 shortstop from Curacao. He made his name known back in 2019 in the Little League World Series(LLWS). He hit three homes in Williamsport and Curacao made it to the World Championship game.

Martha has since grown into being a complete shortstop. He has already shown he can perform on the big stage. Now he will be allowed to continue to hone his craft in the minor leagues likely starting in the Dominican Summer League later this year. MLB.com describes Martha as a, "pure hitter with plus bat speed and a solid, strong build, the bat is unquestionably Martha’s leading tool". Texas will be working to improve his bat and his fielding. They also may try him at multiple positions in much the same way they did with his fellow countryman Jurickson Profar. His ability to play multiple positions well could help him make it to the majors sooner than if he just played one position.

Number 46 ranked Yolfran Castillo

Castillo is the lowest ranked MLB.com prospect of the group at 46, but he also is the most raw. He is a 6'3 and 175 pound shorstop. MLB.com describes Castillo as having, "a wide-open stance with a slight uppercut swing and lots of quickness. Castillo has a real feel for hitting and understands the strike zone. His hit tool exceeds his power tool for now, but there is a belief he will add more pop once he adds more strength".

Castillo is low-ranked it appears because scouts do not really know what to do with someone his size at this point. In the next few years as his body matures and fills out and if he does add power then he could be one of the Texas Rangers' top prospects. An infielder that can hit for power and play strong defense like he does already is very valuable. It will be on him to add muscle to his frame, develop his ability at the plate, and develop a stronger arm as MLB.com rates it as "average in the future". His arm from the description right now would be below-average.

Castillo and Martha are both being signed as shortstops and they join a bevy of middle infield prospects already in the organization. Those names include Justin Foscue, Jonathan Ornelas, Echedry Vargas, and Sebastian Walcott. That is not even including the names on the major league roster like Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Josh Smith, and Ezequiel Duran. Texas is loaded in the middle infield. That will help them in the future be able to make trades from a position of strength and not hurt the overall depth of the minor league system.

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