Minnesota Twins Sign Boatload of 2025 International Free Agents
Although the Minnesota Twins have done next to nothing this offseason, and that is expected to be the theme this winter. On Wednesday, however, the International Free Agent Signing Period began, and that brought a flurry of activity.
Minnesota was never going to be a real player in the Roki Sasaski sweepstakes, but their front office took advantage of Sasaki’s delayed decision by swooping in on another top-50 international prospect who planned to sign for the Dodgers but wasn’t willing to wait for LA, while they wait for Sasaki.
Minnesota Twins international free agents are piling up
We won’t know for sure until a decade from now, but when the dust settled on day one of MLB international free agency, new Twins president Derek Falvey and his small army of international scouts have to feel good about their haul of 17 international free agents… even if they won’t see the payoff for years to come.
So, without further ado, here is the entire list of Minnesota Twins international free agents for 2025 (per Baseball America). If more are added today, or in the future, this list will be updated.
| Name | Position | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago Leon | SS | Venezuela |
| Carlos Taveras | OF | Dominican Republic |
| Haritzon Castillo | SS | Venezuela |
| Teilon Serrano | OF | Dominican Republic |
| Santiago Castellanos | RHP | Venezuela |
| Jose Barrios | SS | Venezuela |
| Joyner Perez | OF | Dominican Republic |
| Jhomnardo Reyes | OF | Dominican Republic |
| Aaron Salazar | C | Venezuela |
| Juan Quinones | LHP | Venezuela |
| Darwin Almanzar | SS | Dominican Republic |
| Cristian Bonifacio | OF | Dominican Republic |
| Jamesson Val | 3B | Haiti |
| Daniel De La Valle | C | Colombia |
| Eliezer Lucena | RHP | Venezuela |
| Rainer Marin | RHP | Venezuela |
| Eli Urena | RHP | Dominican Republic |
Minnesota Twins signings today to start the 2025 signing period.
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2025
A breakdown of the players in the Twins class: https://t.co/uA9gWvhA7C pic.twitter.com/PRPoxjZBbS
Minnesota’s international bonus pool was the largest of any team in the big leagues, at $7,555,500, money the Twins are able to allocate across their international free agent signings, at their own discretion.
Leon (24th ranked), a shortstop from Venezuela, generated the largest bonus at $1,697,500. Taveras (26th), should land a bonus above $1 million. Castillo (43rd) signed for $947,500 and Serrano (50th) is reported to have gotten around $1 million.
Related: Minnesota Twins Steal Top-50 International Prospect From Dodgers
What to know about the Twins new international prospects
Last season Minnesota signed just two top 50 international prospects in the form of Daiber De Los Santos and Eduardo Beltre. Each debuted in the organization this year for the Dominican Summer League team. That is also where this crop should be expected to head.
With four top 50 prospects in their class, the Twins did well to bring in talent. None rank quite as highly as De Los Santos (9th) in 2024, but the group shows quality and quantity as a whole.
Santiago Leon, SS
The top of the class is represented by Santiago Leon. His father, Jose, previously worked as a scout for Minnesota. Power is the carrying tool here, and he does have a chance to stick at shortstop. Even if he moves to third base, his arm strength should play enough to be dangerous.
Santiago Leon, one of the top shortstops in Venezuela, signs with the Minnesota Twinshttps://t.co/aCRAKA5LSP pic.twitter.com/yGDHcliIKT
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2025
Carlos Taveras, OF
At just 16 years old, Taveras is already six foot and 185 pounds. He is an above-average runner, but not necessarily a burner. Right now there is hope he can stick in centerfield, but the totality of tools make him dangerous if things click even after moving to a corner.
Haritzon Castillo, SS
One of eight prospects to sign with Minnesota from Venezuella, Castillo joins Leon among the top 50 grouping. Castillo is a switch-hitting infielder that stands six feet tall. There isn’t a significant ceiling to drew on here, but the bat plays well already and he has a set of tools that should set him up for success as he progresses.
Venezuelan shortstop Haritzon Castillo signs with the Minnesota Twins. One of their top 2025 signings.https://t.co/aCRAKA5LSP pic.twitter.com/AQ2YsCWI2t
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2025
Teilon Serrano, OF
Flipped to the Twins with Los Angeles pursuing the Roki Sasaki move, Serrano is a nice get to round out the ranked prospects. His speed is plus-plus and already grades out at 65. The bat will need help if everything is going to work, but he can track the baseball all over an expansive outfield. Even if he winds up being just a defender, those wheels should play.
Other highlights on 2025 Minnesota Twins international free agents
Infielder Jose Barrios — no not the former top pitching prospect who developed into an underwhelming starter who eventually got traded to Toronto — got a sizable signing bonus, as well, which means the Twins must believe in his upside. Pitcher Santiago Castellanos is already flirting with triple-digit velocity, at just 16 years old.
Related: Former Minnesota Twins Player Retires from Broadcast Booth
The practice of scouting international free agents is a difficult beast. A veteran scout named Roman Barinas now handles Latin America scouting for the Minnesota Twins. He was brought in from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, where Serrano was originally supposed to land. No doubt Barinas fingerprints are all over the Minnesota Twins international free agent class of 2025.
Of course there are lots of dart throws in international free agency. Not everyone is a well-polished Shohei Ohtani, and not everyone turns into Juan Soto. Still the Twins wouldn’t mind another Emmanuel Rodriguez or two panning out from this group.
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