Francisco Renteria, 17, signed a $4 million contract with the Phillies on January 15, 2026. He is ranked the No. 2 International Prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America (Photo credit: @PhilsPlayerDev on X)
It's been crystal clear that right-handed-hitting outfielders are hard to come by.
So the Phillies decided to invest in one for the future - in a big way.
They kicked off the 2026 international signing period by landing Francisco Renteria, a 17-year-old Venezuelan outfielder and signed him to a reported $4 million bonus, tied for the largest the club has ever paid an amateur international player.
The Phillies rarely sink that much money into one player, choosing to spend their international pool money by spreading it out over several players.
But there was something special about Renteria that made the Phillies want to commit such a large portion of their allotment.
He was rated as the No. 2 overall international prospect by Baseball America in the 2026 class.
The Phillies are signing OF Francisco Renteria for $4 million, per @BenBadler.
That's tied for the second-highest bonus for a 2026 international prospect.
He has 30+ homer upside👀
Full scouting report: https://t.co/A1Detmbaqq pic.twitter.com/QpA8LOnlTP
Scouts say he has a blend of raw power, athleticism, and advanced bat speed - which immediately distinguishes him as a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s future.
His size (around 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds) and above-average running ability give the Phillies flexibility defensively, with the potential to stick in center field or transition to a corner spot as he fills out his frame.
Some scouts have compared Renteria to Seattle's Julio Rodriguez, at the same age.
Phillies top International signee Francisco Renteria has a message for Phillies fans.
(via @PhilsPlayerDev on Instagram) pic.twitter.com/uGezQVdSC4
In addition to Renteria’s high-profile signing, Philadelphia’s 2026 class features a group of young international talents from across Latin America, including athletic infielders, strong-armed pitchers, and promising bats likely to begin their pro careers in the Dominican Summer League or other rookie circuits.
Among them are Venezuelan shortstop Juan Parra, whose athleticism and switch-hitting approach could make him an intriguing middle-infield piece, and catcher Sebastian Saenz, who pairs offensive promise with solid defensive fundamentals.
Lefthanded pitcher Samuel Ortiz and Dominican righthander Justin Burgos add depth to the organization’s pitching prospects, showcasing quality fastballs and breaking stuff that could develop into impact weapons.
The Phillies have done well in recent years with international signings. Aroon Escobar is currently rated as the Phillies No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Escobar was signed by the Phillies in 2022.
Eduardo Tait (signed in 2023) was used as a part of the trade last summer to acquire closer Jhoan Duran. Starlyn Caba (also 2023) was used to acquire Jesus Luzardo last offseason.
Other top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, in the Phillies organization that came through the international signing period include pitchers Jean Cabrera (No. 11), Wen-Hui Pan (No. 16), and Ramon Marquez (No. 26).
And don't forget, Ranger Suarez was a Phillies signee back in 2012.
An international player is eligible to sign with a major league club every year between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15 as long as he turns 16 before signing and turns 17 before Sept. 1 of the following year.
