The international signing period opened with a bang, and the Oakland A’s wasted no time making noise. With teams across the league diving into their bonus pools to scoop up the next wave of international talent, the A’s came out swinging-landing one of the biggest names in this year’s class and adding a few more intriguing prospects to a steadily improving farm system.
Let’s start with the headliner: Johenssy Colome. The 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic came into the signing period ranked as the No. 5 overall international prospect, and the A’s locked him up with a $4 million deal-more than half of their $7.3 million international signing budget. That’s a big commitment, and for good reason.
Colome isn’t just another high-upside teenager. He’s got serious pedigree-he’s the son of former MLB pitcher Jesus Colome and cousin of longtime reliever Alex Colome-and he’s already showing the kind of raw tools that get scouts excited.
He’s a right-handed hitter with explosive bat speed and real power potential, especially for someone his age. One evaluator even compared his ability to consistently get to his launch point to a young Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
That’s high praise in scouting circles.
Of course, Colome’s still raw. He’s known to be a bit aggressive at the plate, sometimes selling out for that power, but that’s not uncommon for power-hitting teens.
The A’s plan to keep him at shortstop for now, though some believe he may eventually shift to another position as he fills out physically. Regardless, this is a big-time talent with a big-league bloodline and a swing that already flashes star potential.
This marks the highest-ranked international signing for Oakland since 2023, when they landed right-handed pitcher Luis Morales-also ranked No. 5 at the time. That move has paid off well so far, and the A’s are hoping Colome can follow a similar trajectory.
But Colome wasn’t the only notable addition.
The A’s also signed another Dominican shortstop, Ricky Duran, who came in at No. 33 on MLB Pipeline’s international prospect rankings. Duran doesn’t have the same loud tools as Colome, but he’s a more well-rounded player.
He’s got a compact, right-handed swing geared for line drives, and scouts love his ability to spray the ball from gap to gap. There’s room for him to grow into more power as he matures-his swing has some natural loft, and his frame looks like it can handle some added strength.
Defensively, Duran projects to stick at shortstop, though his athleticism and baseball instincts give him the versatility to move around the infield if needed. He’s drawn comparisons to Willy Adames, a steady everyday big leaguer-and if Duran can reach that level, the A’s will be thrilled with the return on investment.
The third top-50 prospect Oakland added is Venezuelan catcher Jose Perdomo, ranked No. 45.
If the name sounds familiar, it should-he’s the younger brother of last year’s No. 4 international prospect, also named Jose. This Perdomo is still developing at the plate, but there’s power in his bat and a chance for offensive growth.
What really stands out, though, is his glove. Scouts are already raving about his defensive skills behind the plate, which is rare for a 17-year-old.
With professional coaching now in the mix, his defensive game could become elite.
In total, the A’s signed seven players on the first day of the international signing period. The group includes three shortstops, a third baseman, a catcher, an outfielder, and one left-handed pitcher.
It’s a diverse class with an emphasis on up-the-middle talent, though the single pitching addition does stand out. Pitching depth is always at a premium, and the A’s may look to address that further as the signing period continues.
This class likely won’t vault the A’s farm system into the top tier nationally, but it does add more talent and upside to a pipeline that’s quietly becoming more interesting. Most of these players will make their pro debuts in the Dominican Summer League this June, and from there, it’s a long climb toward the big leagues.
Still, this is the kind of international haul that can pay big dividends down the road. Colome, Duran, and Perdomo all bring different skill sets to the table, but they share one key trait: they’re young, talented, and just getting started.
For A’s fans looking toward the future, this is another encouraging step. The rebuild continues, and the international market just gave it a little more fuel.