Boca Chica.– The San Francisco Giants once again shook up the international market by opening the 2026 signing period with the signing of Venezuelan shortstop Luis Hernandez, considered the number one prospect of his class, for a bonus of US$5.4 million.
You may be interested in:Leones del Escogido are approaching the final after defeating Gigantes in San Francisco
For the second consecutive year, the San Francisco organization is betting on the best amateur talent available in Latin America, despite having one of the most limited international pools in the system. Hernández will receive practically the entire fund allocated to the club, which was US$5,440,000, the lowest among all franchises, although teams can sign players for up to an additional US$10,000 without affecting their budget.
Hernández, 17, is one of the most praised talents in international baseball in recent years thanks to his combination of physical tools, game intelligence, and work ethic. In addition, he made history by becoming the “first player born in Venezuela” to be ranked as the best prospect of an international class by MLB Pipeline.
Offensive Impact and Projection
At 15 years old, the right-handed batter already made his mark in the Venezuelan Summer League, where he faced older and more experienced rivals, batting
.346 in 104 plate appearances, with notable bat speed and strong contact. Evaluators project that his power will grow with physical development and adaptation to professional pitching, which profiles him as an extra-base hitter in the future.
Additionally, Hernandez is an above-average and aggressive runner on the bases, which could make him a
30-30 threat if he reaches his full potential.
Defense and Position
Defensively, he shows quick hands and fluidity at shortstop. Although his arm is not considered elite, his solid mechanics and quick release allow him to compensate for that limitation and remain a viable option at the position in the long term.
An aggressive bet
The Giants are sticking to their high-risk, high-reward strategy in the international market. In 2025, they signed Dominican
Josuar González, the second-best global prospect of his class, who has already stood out in the Dominican Summer League and is among the top 100 baseball prospects.
With Hernández and González, San Francisco strengthens its future projection in a key position, although it also has other shortstops in development within its minor league system.
Eligibility Rules
International players can sign between January 15 and December 15, provided they are 16 years old at the time of signing and turn 17 before September 1 of the following year. In this period, those born between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009 are eligible, provided they are previously registered with MLB.
