San Francisco Giants 2024 International Review
Two of the three big signings for the Giants in their 2018 class were outfielder Luis Matos and shortstop Marco Luciano. Both are now in the big leagues at 22, with Matos having graduated as a former Top 100 prospect and Luciano still in the Top 100. The next homegrown signing who could develop in that tier of prospect for the Giants is outfielder Rayner Arias, a 2023 addition who is one of the best prospects in the complex leagues. In between, shortstop Diego Velasquez and catcher Onil Perez are generating attention in High-A Eugene. This year’s class featured a deep mix of position players, as well as a power arm on the mound who has been trending way up.
Top Of The Class
The Giants two biggest signings this year came from Venezuela. One of them, 17-year-old catcher Yohendry Sanchez, signed for $1,397,500. He’s already 6 feet, 210 pounds, a strong, physically mature frame for his age. His strength and bat speed allow him to drive the ball with impact now and a chance for 20-plus home runs, though he’s an aggressive hitter who will need to tighten his plate discipline and has some swing-and-miss that comes with that power. Sanchez is big but he has the flexibility, mobility and catch-and-throw skills to stick at catcher. He’s a smart player and has an above-average arm.
The other big signing from Venezuela this year for the Giants was 17-year-old shortstop Jhonny Level, who got $997,500 and has been trending up. Listed at 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, Level drew praise from scouts for his high baseball IQ and ability to hit from both sides of the plate. He takes quality at-bats and has a short swing that’s quick to the ball with good bat control to produce frequent contact. Level has broad shoulders and added considerable upper body strength recently, so he’s showing more impact to launch balls now with a chance to be a 20-homer threat. Level is an above-average runner whose quickness and instincts are evident at shortstop. Like a lot of young shortstops he will get too quick at times, but he has a good chance to stick at the position and has a plus-plus arm.
Names To Know
Yoxander Benitez, INF/OF, Aruba: Benitez received the top bonus this year for a player from Aruba, signing for $372,500. At 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, there’s high physical upside and athleticism that stands out at 17. Coming from Aruba he doesn’t have as much experience against quality competition compared to his peers from the Dominican Republic, so he will need more reps to catch up, but he has good bat speed from the right side of the plate. Benitez has split time between the infield and outfield and figures to see time all over the field in the DSL, including center field and multiple spots in the dirt.
Santiago Camacho, C, Venezuela: A switch-hitting catcher, Camacho signed for $277,500. He’s 5-foot-11, 175 pounds at 17, standing out for his hitting ability and receiving skills. His offensive approach is advanced for his age and he uses a short, easy swing to make contact at a high clip with gap power. Camacho’s arm strength lagged behind before, but more strength and improved arm action have added more carry to his throws to where it’s closer to average now. He should stick at catcher with good hands and receiving ability.
Juan Colorado, 3B, Venezuela: Colorado has a strong 6-foot frame at 17 and does damage now from the right side of the plate with the physical upside for bigger power to come. Colorado, who signed for $272,500, doesn’t have to sell out his swing to generate that extra-base impact, though it’s probably a power-over-hit profile. Colorado spent time at shortstop as an amateur but has moved to third base, where he should be able to stick and has a plus arm.
Fernando Peña, C, Venezuela: A $247,500 signing, Peña (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) is a 17-year-old who projects to stay at catcher. He defends his position well with good catch-and-throw skills for his age and an average arm. He’s a defensive-oriented player with occasional doubles power from the right side.
Jeyson Moya, SS, Dominican Republic: Moya was born in Philadelphia but grew up in the Dominican Republic before signing with the Giants for $197,500. He’s an high-end athlete with a wiry 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame at 17, easy actions at shortstop and a plus arm. He’s an average runner with a gliding gait, with the look of a player who could get faster once he gets stronger. He’s a solid hitter for his age but it’s his athleticism and defense that’s more developed than his righthanded bat.
Albert Jimenez, SS, Dominican Republic: Jimenez (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) signed at 17 for $197,500. He has a lean build and quickness on both sides of the ball, particularly in the field, along with an above-average arm. He has a short, quick stroke from the right side, though he will need to get stronger and tighten his offensive approach against better pitching.
Oliver Tejada, OF, Dominican Republic: At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Tejada has a stocky, strong build and a power bat from the right side. Signed at 17 for $147,500, Tejada combines strength with big bat speed to produce big power that should end up at least plus, and he has shown signs of being able to tap into that power against live pitching. Tejada’s value will come from what he does in the batter’s box, with defensive tools that should have him in left field.
Evan Estevez, OF, Dominican Republic: The Giants signed Estevez for $147,500. He turns 17 on Aug. 14, so he’s one of the youngest signings of 2024, with lots of space left to fill out at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds. He has a fluid righthanded swing, though with his long limbs it does come with some length, but the strength projection is there for him to develop into a power hitter in an outfield corner.
Sleeper Watch
One of the big arrow-up pitchers from 2024 is Venezuelan righthander Argenis Cayama, who got $147,500. Cayama was an outfielder who converted to pitching around a year and a half ago and got attention as an athletic righthander who was touching 91 mph. This spring, Cayama has been up to 96 mph, big velocity for 17 with potentially more coming as he fills out his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame with broad shoulders. He throws a curveball and changeup, with more feel for his changeup.
