Braves expected to sign top international prospect Jose Perdomo

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Over a year ago, it was reported that the Braves were the favorites to land a top international prospect in the 2024 cycle, Jose Perdomo.

Well, the 2024 cycle is nearly here, and the Braves remain the favorites to sign Jose Perdomo when the international signing window opens on January 15th. According to Ben Badler of Baseball America, Perdomo clocks in at #1 on Baseball America’s list of international prospects that will sign for the largest bonus.

1. Jose Perdomo, SS, Venezuela

Born: Sept. 20, 2006. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-11. Wt.: 170.

Team: Braves

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.

Jose Perdomo is 17 years old, so it’s almost impossible to project what he could end up being as a professional player. With that being said, the fact that the Braves are willing to hand him a bonus of around $6 million does show their confidence in his projectability.

However, the most exciting part about all of this is the Braves even being able to spend this kind of money on international prospects. For years, the organization was hamstrung by international restrictions, stemming from a 2017 investigation under former general manager John Coppolella, who resigned and was eventually banned from baseball. Since, Coppolella has been reinstated, but the unprecedented punishment is still affecting the Braves.

The Braves currently sport one of the worst farm systems in baseball, and a primary reason for that is because they were unable to sign these kinds of international prospects for a half decade. Thankfully, that’s in the past, which should help bolster the future of their farm system.

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Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire

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