The Cincinnati Reds have begun the 2025 international signing period for amateur players by signing 16 players, with more expected in the coming days and weeks. The signing period runs until December 15th for players who are at least 16 years old and eligible to sign. The Reds’ standout acquisition today is shortstop Liberts Aponte from Venezuela, who reportedly received a signing bonus of $1,900,000, the highest among the team’s signings so far.
Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline ranked Aponte as the #18 prospect in their respective rankings (Baseball America listed 100 players, while MLB Pipeline listed 50). It’s important to note that many of these players have likely been in discussions with their current teams for one or two years, having stopped working out for other organizations as they awaited their official signing day. As a result, player evaluations can sometimes change between the time they were last scouted and when they sign.
Aponte, who recently turned 17, is highly regarded for his potential as an elite defensive shortstop. He boasts excellent range, outstanding hands and footwork, and the athleticism to make spectacular plays appear effortless. His arm strength is also more than sufficient to remain at shortstop.
Offensively, Aponte has plus speed and is known for a solid contact rate and the ability to use the entire field. His power, however, is not expected to be a standout feature, although it could improve depending on how much strength he gains as his body matures. Currently standing at 6′ 0″ and 170 lbs, there is room for him to grow stronger. If his development progresses as expected, he could emerge as a starting-caliber shortstop in the major leagues in the years to come.
While the Reds signed 18 players today, additional signings are anticipated soon. More detailed scouting reports on all the signings will be available later this week on RedsMinorLeagues.com.
The days of unrestricted spending on international amateurs are behind us. For example, Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels for $2,315,000, and Roki Sasaki will likely sign for less than $10 million. MLB has implemented a hard cap on international signing bonuses, meaning teams cannot exceed their bonus pool. However, teams can trade portions of their pool, acquiring up to 60% more space.
In 2025, the Reds’ bonus pool is $7,555,500, the largest in baseball, tied with seven other teams. The smallest pools belong to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, with $5,146,200 each before any trades.
