The New York Yankees have begun the 2026 international signing period by reaching agreements with several prospects, including two shortstops from the Dominican Republic and three catchers from Venezuela. This comes as the team transitions after the departure of longtime international scouting director Donny Rowland, whose contract was not renewed in the fall. General manager Brian Cashman is reportedly still in the process of finding a replacement for Rowland.
Despite having the smallest bonus pool in Major League Baseball this year—$5,440,000, tied for the lowest in the league—the Yankees were active on the first day of signings. The team’s bonus pool was reduced by $1 million after they signed left-handed All-Star Max Fried as a free agent last offseason.
According to multiple reports, New York has reached agreements with Dominican shortstops Germayhoni Beltre and Abrahan Pichardo, as well as Venezuelan catchers Kenneth Melendez, Poly Ojeda, and Cesar Lopez. Additional signings are expected to include Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Sebastian Rivas and outfielder Sebastian Pinto.
Kenneth Melendez is considered a notable signing among this group. “Melendez, who has a chance to be the club’s premier signing, is a right-handed hitter with some sneaky pop in his 5-foot-11 frame. He knows how to leverage the ball to tap into his extra-base power and has shown an ability to hit a variety of pitches during his time on the amateur circuit. He moves exceptionally well behind the dish and has soft hands that enhance his receiving skills.”
The Yankees’ approach follows a pattern seen across MLB teams during international signings: focusing on positions like shortstop and catcher from regions such as the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
The organization has found success in past international classes; seven members of its Top 30 Prospects list were signed through this process. For example, Carlos Lagrange (No. 2 prospect for New York and No. 74 overall) advanced to Double-A in 2025 after being signed internationally, showcasing high velocity with his fastball.
International players are eligible to sign between January 15 and December 15 if they turn 16 before signing and are at least 17 before September 1 of the following year. Only players registered with Major League Baseball can participate.
While immediate impact from these signings may take years to evaluate—as seen with Jasson DomÃnguez who took over four seasons to reach MLB—these acquisitions continue to be an important part of building organizational depth.
