Yankees Agree To Deal With International OF

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The New York Yankees have agreed to terms with a future outfielder as they build their international signing class for the 2024 calendar year.

The Yankees have a deal with Francisco Vilorio, who is MLB Pipeline’s No. 15 overall prospect in the 2024 class. The deal of the deal have not been reported nor has the deal been officially announced.

The Yankees have $4.265 million to work with in international signing bonus money, but they lost $1 million due to signing pitcher Carlos Rodon last offseason. That’s because Rodon rejected a qualifying offer from the San Francisco Giants before signing with the Yankees, requiring the Yankees to surrender $1 million.

One Yankees international signee made it to the Majors and played some outfield last season. Jasson Domínguez signed the largest bonus in Yankees history — $5.1 million in 2019 — and made his MLB debut last September. He is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery.

But that is emblematic of how long it takes some international prospects to reach the Majors. Domínguez was a highly-touted prospect and still required four years of preparation in the minors to be ready to reach the Majors.

Last January the Yankees spent a reported $4.35 million to sign another outfielder, Brando Mayea, who at the time was the No. 9 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s top 50 list. Mayea spent all of 2023 in the Dominican Summer League and batted .276 with three home runs and 18 RBI. Mayea is the Yankees’ No. 9 prospect in its system and is projected to be ready for the Majors in 2028.

Per MLB Pipeline Vilorio is “a tall, projectable outfielder with power potential and the ability to impact the game in various ways.” He also projects as a middle-of-the-order bat.