Los Angeles Angels 2024 International Review
The Angels put their biggest bonus of the 2024 international signing class toward signing a potential power-hitting infielder from the Dominican Republic. They built around him with some other position players who have a chance to become power bats as well as a range of intriguing young pitchers. These are reports on nine international prospects to watch this year for the Angels in the Dominican Summer League.
Top Of The Class
The Blue Jays signed Dominican infielder Dawel Lugo for $1.3 million in 2011 and he went on to play with the Tigers in the major leagues in parts of three seasons from 2018 to 2020. His brother, 17-year-old shortstop Joswa Lugo, signed with the Angels for $2.3 million, the ninth-highest bonus for a 2024 signing. Lugo has grown to 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Lugo can hit the fastball and flashes big pull power for his age that should eventually become plus raw power once he’s physically mature.
Scouts who liked Lugo the most thought he had feel for hitting to go with his power and didn’t just have a swing-for-the-fences approach, while others had concerns about recognizing spin. An average runner, Lugo will start his development at shortstop, but with how big he has gotten, there’s a good chance he outgrows the position and slides to third base, with some scouts thinking he could end up in an outfield corner. He has the hands for the infield, he has improved his footwork since signing and has a plus arm.
Names To Know
Hayden Alvarez, OF, Dominican Republic: Alvarez is another prospect who has continue to grow, now 6-foot-3, 190 pounds at 17. He signed for $685,000 with a well-rounded skill set and a lot of physical projection remaining for his tools to still get better weight when he does get stronger. He has a good eye for the strike zone and is still growing into his body coordination from the right side of the plate but generally takes quality at-bats with flashes of power now and signs pointing to a lot more coming once he fills out.
Alvarez is athletic and an average runner whose future position will depend on his physical development. He has good defensive instincts in center field moves around the outfield with ease, so if he ends up being the type of player who gets faster as he gets stronger, he has a chance to stay in center field. If not he could slide to a corner.
Greylin De La Paz, SS, Dominican Republic: The Angels signed De La Paz for $575,000. He’s 6-foot-1, 170 pounds at 17 with the strength and fast bat speed to drive the ball well now and the chance to have above-average raw power. Scouts were mixed on his contact skills against live pitching, but it should be a power-driven offensive profile. De La Paz is an average runner with an above-average arm who signed as a shortstop but will likely head toward third or possibly second base.
Humberto Tiberi, C, Venezuela: Tiberi is 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with advanced catch-and-throw skills for 17. He’s a $450,000 signing with an average arm that could tick up and the mix of baseball IQ and leadership traits teams value behind the plate. There’s not one huge tool on his card but he’s a solid hitter for a catcher who uses the whole field with gap power from the right side and the size to develop more impact.
Dioris De La Rosa, RHP, Dominican Republic: De La Rosa had a big frame and a fastball up to 90 mph during the scouting process before he signed for $300,000. Now De La Rosa is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, a tall, strong build at 17 with a fastball that has climbed to 93 mph. De La Rosa’s fastball is his best pitch, but he shows feel for a slider that shows promise if he’s able to refine its shape, along with a changeup he’s learning. It’s power more than pitchability right now but he has the components of a solid delivery with good extension out front.
Christopher Montilla, RHP, Venezuela: Montilla, 17, signed for $225,000, showing a mix of pitchability and projection. He’s 6-foot-2, 170 pounds with easy arm action, a good delivery and the athleticism that helps him repeat his mechanics to throw strikes and pitch effectively with his fastball, which has ticked 91 mph. Montilla has a young, thin frame, so there’s potential for him to throw harder once he makes some much needed strength gains. He shows feel for a changeup that’s his best offspeed weapon, ahead of a curveball that might eventually morph into a slider.
Jhostin Betances, RHP, Dominican Republic: Betances spent time as an outfielder before converting to pitching within the last couple years and signing for $100,000. He’s a lanky, physically underdeveloped 6-foot-3 pitcher whose athleticism shows on the mound with a fastball up to 90 mph and more that should come with weight gain. He’s starting to show some feel for a curveball that’s ahead of his changeup.
Sleeper Watch
On the mound one sleeper to watch is Fabian Gallardo, a 17-year-old Venezuelan righthander signed for $20,000 who is a projectable 6-foot-3, 180 pounds and has touched 93 mph. His slider has good shape and should be his best secondary pitch ahead of his changeup.
They also picked up an intriguing catcher for $25,000 with Marlon Quintero from Panama. He’s 5-foot-9, 175 pounds at 17 with strong defensive traits, an advanced catch-and-throw guy for his age with a plus arm and a line-drive swing with occasional doubles power from the right side.
