The Brewers have made a significant splash as the 2025 international signing period opens, signing three of the Top 50 prospects per MLB Pipeline, led by two top outfielders ¨C speedy, power-hitting Kenny Fenelon from the Dominican Republic and Brailyn Antunez from Jackson Chourio¡¯s hometown of Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Fenelon (No. 36), Antunez (No. 42) and shortstop Cristopher Acosta (No. 45) were among the 29 players who formally signed on Wednesday with Milwaukee, allowing the club to add to its considerable bonafides as a significant player in the international market.

¡°Power is the great equalizer in this game, right?¡± said Brewers director of international scouting James Armstrong. ¡°Power is as valuable as it gets at the Major League level. Obviously players have to have the hitting ability to get something from that, so where those two things intersect, you see players get the most amount of money in the international world. Fenelon¡¯s power is top of the market.¡±

Fenelon¡¯s deal is worth $1.3 million and Antunez will receive around $1 million, according to industry sources. It was announced earlier Wednesday that Acosta will land a $1.1 million bonus. The club, which received a $7.56 million pool (tied for the highest of any organization), has not confirmed the value of the deals.

In addition to possessing an immense power-speed combination, Fenelon has earned rave reviews from evaluators for his off-the-field makeup and dedication at learning English. The right-handed hitter from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, boasts a swing that is geared to drive the ball. He has easy plus raw power, though keeping him from getting too big at the dish will be paramount as he faces pro pitching.

Fenelon is also regarded as an excellent defender in center field. He utilizes his in-game instincts and savvy routes to the ball to help his overall skill set play up, and evaluators envision him holding down the spot in the long term.

¡°He¡¯s all self-taught, and so dedicated to everything he does,¡± Armstrong said. ¡°There are a lot of leadership traits there.¡±

Few clubs have been able to scout Venezuela as well as Milwaukee has over the past decade. Landing Chourio, Jeferson Quero (Brewers No. 1 prospect), Luis Lara (No. 18) and Jorge Quintana (No. 26) to name a few, the club has gone back to the well to nab the talented right-handed-hitting Antunez from Chourio¡¯s hometown of Maracaibo.

Antunez, who trains with Emiro Barboza at Go Pro Baseball, a member of MLB¡¯s Trainer Partnership Program, has a repeatable swing that has shown the ability to pepper the ball to all parts of the field. It¡¯s not often that teenagers seeking to be signed are lauded for their selectivity and ability to work an at-bat, but Antunez has been a long sought-after member of the 2025 class.

Originally an infielder during his younger years, Antunez has made the shift to the grass and taken to it with aplomb. His high-energy style fits well in center, although his overall athleticism could make him a dynamic fit at a multitude of positions as his body continues to fill out.

¡°The ¡®trending up¡¯ tag is definitely applicable here,¡± Armstrong said. ¡°There was a learning curve in the outfield. But he¡¯s such a good athlete, and we¡¯ve seen that in a recent stretch of time here. It¡¯s a really good tool package, and it was probably a matter of him getting used to it out there. The bat stood out from us from the beginning.

¡°It¡¯s really good work here by our scout, Javier Castillo. He was on him early, probably ahead of many other teams. And I remember that [Brewers director of international player evaluation] Luis Perez really rang the bell for the hit tool at an early stage, before other teams.¡±

Acosta is a right-handed-hitting dynamo from San Francisco de Macor¨ªs, Dominican Republic. His body has filled out well over the past 18 months, which only raises the excitement around his quick bat and the pop that could be there to unlock.

Evaluators rave about Acosta¡¯s defensive skill set, complimenting his excellent hands and strong throwing arm. He has the look of a full-time shortstop from a young age and his defensive upside should allow him the necessary time for his bat to catch up as he acclimates to the rigors of facing pro pitching.

¡°Defense is certainly a calling card for him,¡± Armstrong said. ¡°Probably one of the best sets of hands we¡¯ve ever signed here. On top of that, he¡¯s also very physical for a shortstop. There¡¯s this Goldilocks zone of guys who can play a nimble shortstop and get to some power; he¡¯s got a really good frame at 6-foot-1 and we think power is coming.¡±

An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.

That means players born between Sept. 1, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2008, will be eligible to sign in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.

One of Wednesday¡¯s signees, center fielder Nicolas Barrios, has family ties to the Brewers. His older brother is Gregory Barrios, who was MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 21 Brewers prospect before he was traded to the Rays in July for right-hander Aaron Civale.

Additional notable Brewers signees and their bonuses:

Isais Chavez, C (Venezuela) -- $480,000
Eryks Rivero, OF (Venezuela) -- $300,000