Dodgers 2021 international signing period highlighted by Wilman Diaz, Jesus Galiz

The 2020-21 international signing period is upon us, with the Dodgers signing a pair of Venezuelan teenagers to top their class on the first day of the period. The Dodger announced the signing of 22 players in all.

In a normal baseball calendar, the international signing period runs from July 2 to June 15, but with the pandemic forcing a shutdown of MLB’s infrastructure for over three months last summer, plans changed. The next two international signing periods run from Jan. 15 to Dec. 15.

The top-ranked international player signed by the Dodgers is shortstop Wilman Diaz from Venezuela. Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com has more on Diaz and the Dodgers’ international signees here.

The 6’2 shortstop turned 17 in November, and was ranked the No. 3 international prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 7 by Baseball America. From his MLB Pipeline scouting report: “Diaz shows a plus hit tool with excellent bat speed and a knack for recognizing pitches. There’s a natural loft to his pull side, but he has also shown the ability to drive the ball the other way with authority.”

Another highly-ranked Dodgers signee is catcher Jesus Galiz, adding to the Dodgers stable of Venezuelan catchers, including Keibert Ruiz (signed in 2014), who made his major league debut in 2020, and Diego Cartaya (signed in 2018), both of whom are currently consensus top-10 prospects in the organization.

Galiz, who turned 17 in December, is ranked eighth overall by MLB Pipeline and 50th by Baseball America.

The Dodgers also signed Dominican shortstop Rayne Doncon.

“Doncon is 6-foot-1, 177 pounds with long limbs, a high waist and big physical upside, with a variety of paths his future could go depending on his physical development,” wrote Ben Badler at Baseball America. “He has the body type where early on it looked like he could outgrow shortstop, but so far he has remained lean and agile enough for the position while getting stronger, showing good defensive instincts and a nose for the ball.”

The Dodgers’ total international signing bonus pool for this period is $5,348,100. The signing bonuses for these signings haven’t yet been reported, but we will update once that information comes in.

Here is the list of names announced by the team.