The 2025 MLB international free agent signing period opens on Jan. 15. The Philadelphia Phillies have a few international prospects that MLB Pipeline ranks in their Top 30 prospect list.
Former Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz is one of the team's top international signings, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The David, Panama native, played from 2006 to 2017 including over 10 seasons with Philadelphia after signing with the organization as a free agent in 1998. He was a member of the 2008 World Series-winning club and the 2009 team that won the National League pennant.
Center fielder Johan Rojas is a more recent international signing. He signed with the Phillies in January 2018 and debuted with the big league club during the 2023 season. While the 24-year-old has demonstrated inconsistency on offense, he has shown his value defensively. He will be looking to compete for playing time in center field in 2025, beginning in spring training, due to commence in mid-February.
Which young international free agent signings in Philadelphia's farm system are worth watching this year? While the team has seven players who are international signings currently in their Top 30 prospect rankings, there are two young players that the Phillies signed in the two previous international signings that will be focused on.
Let's look at the Phillies' most recent top international free agent signings.
Jalvin Arias and Eduardo Tait headline the Phillies' most recent international free agent signings
The Phillies had two international free agent signings in their Top 30 prospect rankings from the 2023 and 2024 signing periods: shortstop Starlyn Caba and second baseman/shortstop William Bergolla. Philadelphia acquired reliever Tanner Banks from the Chicago White Sox for Bergolla at last season's trade deadline.
Last season, Bergolla spent the year in High-A with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and the Winston-Salem Dash. He improved offensively from 2023, as his overall slash line between the two teams was .300/.359/.381, and he had an OPS of .740 in 89 contests.
Caba, who signed with Philadelphia in January 2023, spent 2024 with the Florida Complex League Phillies in the Rookie league and the Clearwater Threshers in High-A. His slash line was .228/.385/.284, with a .669 OPS in 78 games. He was Philly's No. 4 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The franchise traded him and prospect outfielder Emaarion Boyd to the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo and prospect catcher/outfielder Paul McIntosh in December.
Outfielder Jalvin Arias signed with the Phillies in January 2024. The 18-year-old ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 20 international prospect last year. His 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame will help provide him strength at the plate, although he has only average arm strength.
Arias spent last year with the Dominican Summer League Phillies Red. He had 10 hits, nine RBI and 12 walks in 14 games. He looks to begin 2025 with the FCL club. The outfielder will aim to work on improving his swing and arm strength.
Eduardo Tait is the Phillies' No. 4 prospect and looks to be a strong candidate to be the team's future catcher. A recent MLB.com piece by Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo lists each MLB team's top international prospect. They write that the catcher is Philadelphia's best international young player.
Tait, a native of Panama City, Panama, signed with the Phillies in January 2023. Due to sharing the same position and country of origin as Ruiz, the 18-year-old is drawing comparisons to the retired catcher.
He spent 2024 with the FCL Phillies and the Threshers. Tait played 51 games in the Rookie league and finished with a .321/.377/.500 line and a .877 OPS. The catcher had 13 doubles and 49 RBI. He played 28 games in Clearwater and compiled a slash line of .269/.316/.462 and an OPS of .778. The prospect's 2025 season is one of the most anticipated among Philadelphia's prospects.