The next wave of international players is set to join the White Sox organization.
January 15 marks the first day that those from international markets can begin their journey toward the major leagues. For many of these players, their signings mark the end of a multi-year recruitment period by several major league clubs and important decision-making at the ages of just 16 or 17 years old. The signing period will remain open until December 15, though several deals are expected to be announced early on.
In recent years, the White Sox have used the international signing period to sign prospects such as Oscar Colas, Eduardo Herrera, Bryan Ramos, Lenyn Sosa, Javier Mogollon, Marcelo Alcala, and many others. During the 2026 period, the White Sox have a bonus pool of $6,679,200, which they can use towards their deals.
2026 International Bonus Pools
- $8,034,900 Pool: Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates
- $7,357,100 Pool: Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays
- $6,679,200 Pool: Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals
- $5,940,00 Pool: Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays
- Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals
- $5,440,000 Pool: Houston Astros, New York Yankees, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants
Here are all the official signings that have been announced:
- Fernando Graterol, C, Venezuela: $ TBD
- Sebastian Romero, OF, Venezuela: $ TBD
- Roderic Ramirez, RHP, Dominican Republic: $ TBD
As more signings become official, we will continue to update this tracker with the most up-to-date information.
Fernando Graterol, C, Venezuela
Agreement Amount: TBD
MLB Pipeline Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Headlining the White Sox’s 2026 International Signing Period class is Fernando Gaterol, who MLB Pipeline ranks as the top catcher and 31st-ranked overall prospect in this year’s international class.
Gaterol, 17, comes from the same city in Venezuela as MLB catchers Salvador Perez, Wilson Ramos, and Francisco Cervelli. His biggest strength as a player is his plus raw power, which he can tap into with solid control of the bat and a good eye at the plate. Defensively, he moves well and has a strong arm that can gun down base stealers.
Sebastian Romero, OF, Venezuela
Agreement Amount: TBD
While he was left off MLB Pipeline’s top 50 international prospects list, Sebastian Romero is projected by Baseball America to receive one of the top 30 signing bonuses of this year’s class. This shows that teams, specifically the White Sox, believe he is one of the premier talents available.
Romero is a toolsy prospect, showing solid power, plus athleticism, and has impressed scouts as a defender in center field. He has a 6’2 frame that should be able to add more muscle, leading to some projection to his future power potential. That projection doesn’t seem to worry scouts too much about slowing down, as he is viewed as a long-term center field prospect.
Roderic Ramirez, RHP, Dominican Republic
Agreement Amount: TBD
A 6’3 right-handed pitcher, Roderic Ramirez was originally expected to sign with the San Diego Padres. When the organization allowed him to re-enter the market, the White Sox immediately reached out and struck a deal to add the talented pitcher to their 2026 international class.
The 17-year-old right-hander has a plus fastball that is projected to hit triple digits as he matures, with advanced feel for his secondary pitches. Ramirez is expected to be the highest-paid pitcher in the White Sox 2026 international class, with the upside to eventually develop into an MLB starting pitcher.
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