While most of the attention with the Atlanta Braves is on the big league roster and what it will look like for the 2025 season and beyond, the offseason is also a very important time for Atlanta's minor league talent pipeline. In addition to the team needing to make minor league deals to fill out their depth in the high minors and decide how to handle the Rule 5 Draft, but the offseason also brings the start of the next international free agency period.
The international market has been a crucial part of the Braves' success in recent years. Atlanta was extremely fortunate to sign Ronald Acuna Jr. back in 2014 for just $100,000 out of Venezuela and Ozzie Albies for $350,000 out of 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 ended up setting the franchise back significantly when they didn't play by the rules.
On January 15, 2025, the new international signing period opens up and the Braves will have an international bonus pool of $6,261,600 to sign their next wave of international talent. According to multiple sources including Baseball America, Atlanta's biggest signing will be Diego Tornes, an outfielder out of Cuba that has some big time 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.
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) August 16, 2024
Full story here: https://t.co/37FxZJgEs0
Braves expected to sign Baseball America's #5 international prospect Diego Tornes in January
As is the case with most international signees, Tornes' scouting report is very much subject to change given that he will be just 16 years old when he signs for a bonus rumored to be close to $3 million. At the end of the day, these guys are still just teenagers who are still growing into their bodies and whose projections can change dramatically over the next couple of years.
That said, Tornes currently looks like a legitimately exciting hitting prospect. An outfielder out of Cuba, Tornes is currently listed as a 6'4 switch-hitter who projects to have plus raw power, tremendous bat speed, and a chance to be able to play all three outfield positions. With that kind of frame, sticking in center field may be a bit optimistic as he fills out, but being relegated to an outfield corner is more than fine if his power plays like scouts thinks it could.
For the Braves, they need a win on the international market. Atlanta spent a lot on Diego Benitez and Ambioris Tavarez with little to show for it thus far and their most recent signings, Luis Guanipa and Jose Perdomo, are off to slow starts as well. The Braves' lack of position player prospect depth is a direct result of their struggles in the international market and one hopes that Tornes will help get them back on track.