Braves Sign Jose Perdomo To Highest Bonus In 2024 International Class
The Braves signed infielder Jose Perdomo to a $5 million bonus at the start of the 2024 international signing period on Jan. 15. It’s the largest bonus for any player in the class and will command almost all of the Braves’ international bonus pool for the 2024 class.
Perdomo’s deal is the largest bonus ever for a player born in Venezuela. Ethan Salas, who signed out of Venezuela but was born and raised in Florida, signed the largest bonus in the 2023 class at $5.6 million as the top-ranked player before rocketing through the lower levels of the minors.
Baseball America’s international bonus board sorts the top 100 players in terms of signing bonus, complete with scouting reports, video and players trending up. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Perdomo tops the board, along with Dominican shortstops Leodalis De Vries (Padres) and Fernando Cruz (Cubs). Perdomo should arrive in pro ball with strong hitting ability that should translate quickly in his debut.
Here’s a full scouting report on Perdomo:
Early in the scouting process for this international signing class, Perdomo established himself as one of the premier players available, with a big showcase in Florida focused on him and 2023 catcher Ethan Salas that generated major buzz for both players. Salas was the top player in his class when he signed with the Padres for $5.6 million, with Perdomo in line to sign for similar money.
Perdomo’s bat has been his calling card, with a skill set that draws comparisons to Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres. He’s an aggressive hitter who has performed well in games with a simple, direct swing and good hand-eye coordination, enabling him to barrel both fastballs and breaking stuff. Perdomo doesn’t have the physical upside of some of the other prominent players in the class, but as he’s gotten stronger, he has gotten more explosive, giving him more power to go with his hitting ability.
While a lot of scouts who saw Perdomo early thought he was ticketed for third base or possibly second base, the improvements he has made defensively give him a greater chance to continue at shortstop. He’s a plus runner with good actions and a strong arm.
For years, the Braves were hindered on the international market stemming from rules violations in 2017. They were forced to release 12 prospects from that class, GM John Coppolella resigned and was banned for life—he was later reinstated in January of 2023—and were limited from spending their full bonus pool allotment until 2022. Signing Perdomo is yet another significant decision as they attempt to rebuild talent in their system via the international ranks and put those sanctions in the rearview.
