San Francisco Giants 2020-21 International Signing Preview

The Giants have pumped the lower levels of their farm system full of exciting Latin American players under the watch of international director Joe Salermo in the last few years. Marco Luciano is the headliner of the group as the team’s top prospect, while outfielders Luis Matos and Alexander Canario and third baseman Luis Toribio all came into the season as top 10 prospects, with Matos in particular boosting his stock this year.

The Giants should have a deep class for the 2020-21 period that opens on Jan. 15, with an approach that seems more about spreading their bonus pool money around rather than going for one elite prospect.

The best of the group is Diego Velasquez, a shortstop from Venezuela who has grown three inches over the past couple of years. He’s 6-foot-1, 162 pounds and projects to stay at shortstop, where he’s a good athlete with soft hands, slightly above-average speed and a line-drive, contact-oriented approach from both sides of the plate.

They’re also expected to add Ramon Peralta, a Dominican shortstop who sticks out for his power potential. He has quick hands to whip the barrel through the zone, incorporating a bigger lower half load and an approach geared toward driving the ball with impact. Defensively, he probably ends up at third base.

Bryan Guzman, also linked to the Giants, is another power bat, with a chance to hit and hit for power, though with more defensive limitations as a likely left fielder. Both Guzman and Peralta should be in the $500,000 to $600,000 range.

The Giants signed the top catcher in Panama in 2019 with the addition of Adrian Sugastey for $525,000. They should land one of the top outfielders in the country, Mauricio Pierre, for a comparable bonus on Jan. 15. Pierre was teammates with Padres shortstop Reggie Preciado and Indians center fielder Luis Durango on the Panamanian team that went 7-1 and won a silver medal at the U-15 World Cup on their home turf in Panama in 2018. He stands out for his lively build, athleticism and plus arm with a chance to hit for power.

Carlos Rosario, a Dominican outfielder with an easy lefty swing, a good approach, and a chance to hit for power, is another Giants target, as is Samuel Rodriguez, a Venezuelan shortstop from the same program as Guzman with a good glove, speed and contact skills.

Dominican outfielder Elian Sandoval, Venezuelan infielder Derwin Laya, Venezuelan shortstop Jose Astudillo, Venezuelan outfielder Fabio Villadiego, Venezuelan righthander Jeremy Maldonado, Dominican righthander Jean Caraballo, Venezuelan lefty Daniel Espinoza, Dominican shortstop Juanel Urena and Curacao outfielder Jediel Maduro are among the other players expected to be in the Giants’ class.