The Cardinals signed 11 international free agents on Monday when the 2024 window to sign eligible players opened. The group of signees is comprised of five pitchers, three outfielders, two shortstops, and one first baseman.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, right-hander Branneli Franco highlights as one of the more notable signings of the group. The San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native possesses a fastball that ranges in the low 90s and can touch 94 mph, according to Baseball America’s scouting report of Franco. Franco’s velocity has trended up from the mid-80s, per the report, and could reach the upper 90s eventually with the benefit of his arm speed and increased size.
Another headliner of the group is switch-hitting, Dominican-born shortstop Yairo Padilla. Padilla has “good mix of skills†and a “plus arm,†per Baseball America. The 16-year-old is listed at 6-foot-2 and 173 pounds. He has the potential to stick at shortstop if he doesn’t outgrow the position, his scouting report says.
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Along with Franco, the rest of the pitching group includes righties Gabriel Chinchilla (Venezuela), Ryan Rodriguez (Mexico), Jesus Garcia (Venezuela), and Earle Zulueta (Cuba).
Shortstop Cristofer Lebron (Dominican Republic), first baseman Christian Saez (Cuba), and outfielders Brayan Amoroso (Venezuela), Edward Guribe (Dominican Republic), and Yaxson Lucena (Veneuzla) make up the rest of the position player group signed on Monday.
The Cardinals opened the 2024 international signing period with a bonus pool of $5,152,200, per Baseball America. The international signing period continues through Dec. 15.
International free agents signed by the Cardinals typically begin their professional careers at the club’s academy in the Dominican Republic before making their stateside minor league debuts.