Texas Rangers sign 22 players on first day of international signing period

Elorky Rodriguez is the headliner of the Texas Rangers’ 2025 international class, but they also signed the son of a former MLB All-Star.

This year’s international signing class is unlike any other, turned on its head by Roki Sasaki. He won’t be signing with the Texas Rangers, so they turned their attention Wednesday to the 22 players with whom they had previously reached agreements.

Topping the list is 17-year-old Elorky Hernandez, a lefty-hitting center fielder from the Dominican Republic who signed for $1.1 million. He was rated as high as the 29th-best international prospect this season.

He has a quick swing and hits to all fields, and he has a chance to grow into some power. He also has a high baseball IQ, which could help accelerate his path to the major leagues.

The Rangers doled out $500,000 to Dominican third baseman Jhon Simon and $400,000 to Dominican outfielder Oliver Guerrero. Among other players signed was Hansel Ramirez, a Dominican shortstop who is the son of three-time MLB All-Star Hanley Ramirez.

Among the 21 players signed are eight outfielders, seven infielders, five pitchers and one catcher, and the Rangers might not be finished.

They have some $2 million remaining of their $6,261,600 international pool, and that money could be used to sign prospects whose agreements fall apart with the Sasaki winner.

The Rangers have agreed to terms with the following 22 International Free Agents. pic.twitter.com/rOEi8PGOoz

— Rangers Player Development (@TEXPlayerDev) January 15, 2025

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com