Julio Rodr¨ªguez in 2017. Noelvi Marte in 2018. Lazaro Montes in 2022. Felnin Celesten in 2023.

The Mariners are back at it again, having landed a potential aircraft carrier signee on the first day of the international signing period.

Yorger Bautista, a left-handed-hitting Venezuelan outfielder nicknamed ¡°La Bestia¡± (The Beast), ranks as the No. 6 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, the second-highest-ranked player Seattle has landed in the past 13 years (behind only Celesten, No. 2 in 2024). He is joined by left-handed-hitting Dominican shortstop Kendry Mart¨ªnez (No. 19) in headlining the club¡¯s 2025 class.

Both Bautista and Mart¨ªnez¡¯s deals are worth just north of $2 million each, according to industry sources. The club received $7.56 million in pool money, tied for the highest allotment in the 2025 period.

Hyped as one of the biggest signings to come from Venezuela in years, Bautista has an extensive track record of success versus older competition on the amateur tournament scene. Some evaluators have said that his raw power -- which already receives a 65 grade on the 20-80 scale -- is the best on the international scene in half a decade.

There¡¯s double plus power at the dish and curled up in his throwing arm. A true howitzer, Bautista has one of the strongest and most accurate arms in the 2025 class, leading some to think right field is his long-term home on the basis of its strength alone. But having popped 60-yard dash times as quick as a 6.4 seconds, there¡¯s reason to believe he could see some run in center field as he begins his climb through the Seattle farm system.

Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic, is well regarded for its ability to churn out a plethora of talented ballplayers. Next up in that group could be Mart¨ªnez, who has impressed international evaluators from a young age. He trains with Mejia Top 10, a member of MLB¡¯s trainer partnership program.

Mart¨ªnez is much more hit-over-power at this stage of his development, boasting a flatter bat path with an up-the-middle approach. That said, his left-handed swing is one of the cleaner ones in the class, with a short stroke to the ball and quickness in his hands.

Viewed as a solid defender with good instincts as a middle infielder, there¡¯s optimism that Mart¨ªnez remains there as he acclimates to pro ball. But competition will be fierce at the lower levels: both Celesten and Dawel Joseph (SEA No. 20, 2024¡¯s No. 8 international prospect) will likely push him for reps at the six. Mart¨ªnez boasts a sum-greater-than-the-parts prospect package and his upward mobility -- particularly in an organization flush with up-the-middle talent -- will be based upon how quickly he can acclimate offensively.

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.