While the majority of the focus with the Atlanta Braves is on the big league roster and what it will look like in 2025 and beyond, the offseason is also critical for Atlanta’s minor league talent pool.
In addition to making minor league deals to fill up their depth in the high minors and deciding how to approach the Rule 5 Draft, the offseason marks the start of the next international free agency era.
In recent years, the Braves’ success has relied heavily on the international market. Atlanta was extremely fortunate to sign Ronald Acuna Jr. for $100,000 in Venezuela in 2014 and Ozzie Albies for $350,000 in Curacao in 2013, but Atlanta has made numerous international signings that have provided depth over the last several years, as well as a few moves that set the franchise back significantly when they did not follow the rules.
On January 15, 2025, the new international signing period begins, and the Braves will have an international bonus pool of $6,261,600 to sign their next generation of international talent. According to many reports, including Baseball America, Atlanta’s biggest signing will be Diego Tornes, a Cuban outfielder with impressive raw power.
Sources: Cuban OF Diego Tornes is expected to sign with the Atlanta Braves for around $3M when the next international signing period opens on January 15, 2025.
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— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) August 16, 2024
Braves expected to sign Baseball America’s #5 international prospect Diego Tornes in January
Tornes’ scouting report, like that of most foreign signees, is liable to change given that he will be only 16 years old when he contracts for a bonus estimated to be close to $3 million. At the end of the day, these guys are still teenagers who are still developing their bodies and whose projections may change substantially over the following few years.
Tornes does, however, appear to be a truly exciting hitting prospect right now. Tornes, an outfielder from Cuba, is currently classified as a 6’4 switch-hitter with excellent raw power, tremendous bat speed, and the potential to play all three outfield positions. With that kind of build, sticking in center field may be a bit ambitious as he grows, but being restricted to an outfield corner is just fine if his power plays as evaluators believe it will.
The Braves need to triumph on the world stage. Atlanta spent a lot of money on Diego Benitez and Ambioris Tavarez, but they haven’t seen much return, and their most recent acquisitions, Luis Guanipa and Jose Perdomo, are also off to sluggish beginnings. The Braves’ lack of position player prospect depth is a direct result of their troubles in the overseas market, and one hopes Tornes will help them get back on track.
