The D-backs have agreed to terms with outfielder Elian De La Cruz (MLB Pipeline’s No. 27 international prospect) at Wednesday’s opening of the 2025 international signing period.
De La Cruz’s deal nets him $1.1 million. The club received just north of $6.9 million in pool money this season.
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Signing bonuses aren’t always the end all be all when it comes to these agreements, particularly when projecting 16- and 17-year-olds. The D-backs’ top-ranked pitching prospect, Yilber Diaz, was signed for just $10,000 out of Venezuela in February 2021. But the club currently features nine of its Top 30 Prospects as international signings, a testament to the inroads the club has made globally.
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Take one look at De La Cruz’s right-handed swing that’s geared for extra-base power and one immediate Major League comp comes to mind: Marcell Ozuna. De La Cruz similarly profiles long term as a middle-of-the-order hitter whose bat will be his carrying tool. He will continue to fill out as he matures, putting an up arrow particularly next to his offensive potential with further reps under his belt.
It marks the third consecutive year that Arizona’s top-ranked international signee is an outfielder from the Dominican Republic. De La Cruz’s hometown of La Vega, the country’s fourth-largest city, has produced former big leaguers Jonathan Villar and Ronald Guzmán, among others, but De La Cruz would be the first from the city to suit up for the D-backs.
The team’s top international signing from 2024, Adriel Radney, currently ranks as Arizona’s No. 15 prospect after getting his feet wet in the Dominican Summer League in 2024, a traditional first step for many signees.
While De La Cruz is more than capable of manning center field, more polished defenders and glove-first options will likely get looks on the club’s DSL and Arizona Complex League clubs. Looking up the organizational ladder, the polish of Druw Jones — one of just eight ranked prospects in all of baseball with a 70-grade field tool — is likely to push many talented youngsters toward a corner on the grass. De La Cruz is a viable basestealing threat as well, an instinctive runner who uses his lower half to his advantage.
An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.
That means players born between Sept. 1, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2008, will be eligible to sign in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.
Additional notable D-backs international signees and their bonuses:
Alam Bruno, SS (Dominican Republic) — $950,000
Ronny Suarez, OF (Venezuela) — $550,000
Juan Brima, SS (Dominican Republic) — $500,000
Mayki De La Rosa, OF (Dominican Republic) — $500,000
Feliz Genao, 3B (Dominican Republic) — $300,000
Eybert Sanchez, SS (Venezuela) — $300,000
Victor Sanchez, 3B (Dominican Republic) — $300,000
