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Baltimore Orioles make major splash on international signing day

By David Hill

Sep 30, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; The Baltimore Orioles mascot celelrbets a win after a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Layton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; The Baltimore Orioles mascot celelrbets a win after a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Layton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles‘ presence in the international prospect community was nonexistent for years. They would trade away their signing bonus allotment every year as they ignored Latin America. It is not a surprise that, as the years passed by, their success at the major league level began to fade away.

That changed with the hiring of Mike Elias. He was determined to make the Orioles a factor in the international prospect market, adding talent that the franchise had previously ignored. The fruit of his efforts were evident on Saturday, as the Orioles signed 24 international prospects.

Baltimore Orioles changing ways in international market

Those signings included two players on the MLB.com international top 50 prospect list in outfielder Braylin Tevara and shortstop Leandro Arias. Tevara also received the largest bonus that the Orioles have ever handed to an international prospect as he has signed for a $1.7 million bonus.

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No one can expect these efforts to make a difference in the short term. It is going to take years for these players to reach the majors, if any of them end up developing to that point. But it is a clear sign that the Orioles are determined to improve the talent level of their farm system, something that is especially important as they look to come out of their rebuilding process.

It is also clear how much Elias himself values the talent in Latin America. He had personally headed down to scout some of these players himself, joining in the recruiting process. That presence helped land some of these players, and will also make a difference in the future.

And that difference will extend to the major league level. Even if these players do not make a difference, they will help set the stage for others that will. It is also possible that their impact will be felt in other ways, such as in trades to land players to help the Orioles contend when the time is right.

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The Baltimore Orioles have been working to improve their status in Latin America. Saturday showed how far they have come already.

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