BREAKING: Baltimore Orioles Landed These Breakout Prospects for Less Than One Million

Every year, each Major League team spends millions procuring international talent, mostly in the Caribbean.

Some of those deals pay off, some don’t. And, sometimes, the ones that don’t cost that much really pay off.

Famously, Houston Astros slugger Jose Altuve is one of the best international signees in history. He was paid just $15,000 when he signed out of Venezuela in 2007.

Pitcher Keeler Morfe and outfielder Thomas Sosa made more when the Baltimore Orioles signed each out of Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, respectively. But Baseball America is high on the pair.

The site profiled breakouts prospects for each of MLB’s 30 teams. To be considered, the prospect had to be ranked outside the team’s Top 10 prospects. But it doesn’t mean that the pair aren’t well thought-of.

Morfe is ranked No. 14 and Sosa is ranked No. 22.

Morfe, a right-hander, made $200,000 in the O’s 2023 international signing class. He ended last season with Class-A Delmarva.

In 2023, he pitched in the Dominican Summer League, as he went 1-5 with a 7.01 ERA in nine games, all starts. He struck out 25 and walked 21 in 25.2 innings.

He greatly improved in 2024, as he started in the DSL and then moved to Delmarva to end the season. He went 0-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 11 starts, with 49 strikeouts and 17 walks in 32.2 innings. Opposing batters hit just .162 against him.

Baseball America gave him high scouting grades for his fastball (70), sweeper (60) and change-up (60) on a 20-80 scouting scale. His four-seam fastball is already clocked close to 99 mph.

Sosa was part of Baltimore’s 2022 international signing class and landed a $400,000 signing bonus. He started in the DSL in 2022 and slashed .201/.294/.302/.596 with three home runs and 18 RBI.

Those numbers greatly improved in 2023 when he moved stateside to play for the O’s Florida Complex League team. He slashed .290/.385/.492/.877 with four home runs and 25 RBI.

Last season he made his first appearances with full-season affiliates, starting with Delmarva before a promotion to High-A Aberdeen. In 93 games he slashed .230/.321/.332/.653 with four home runs and 20 RBI. He batted 60 points higher at Delmarva in 74 games than he did in Aberdeen in just 19 games.

Sosa’s best scouting attributes, per Baseball America, are his arm (60) and power (55). He’s already played all three outfield positions.

Related Posts

🚨 BIG MOVE ON THE HORIZON: The Chicago Cubs are predicted to cap off an explosive offseason by signing a $74 million All-Star and former Cy Young candidate, completing their rotation overhaul with Edward Cabrera. This move could transform the Cubs’ pitching staff, making them a force to be reckoned with in 2026.

Cubs Predicted to Complete Explosive Offseason by Signing $74 Million All-Star Zac Gallen to Finalize Rotation Overhaul with Edward Cabrera The Chicago Cubs are having an offseason…

Buster Posey Reveals Bold Take on Giants Rotation Ahead of Spring Training

IMAGE: San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey (right) greets Greg Vitello, father of new Giants manager Tony Vitello at a press conference at Oracle…

Cubs Linked To $74 Million All-Star To Cap Wild Offseason

IMAGE: Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera (27) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro /…

Astros Add Lefty Arm With Big League Upside in New Deal

IMAGE: Imagn Images The Astros are adding a little extra left-handed depth to their bullpen mix this spring, agreeing to a minor league deal with reliever Tom…

Why the St. Louis Cardinals’ Boring Slump Ends NOW: Unleash the Wild, Game-Changing Creativity That’ll Shock the League!

Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves | Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages As the offseason rolls along swimmingly, the St. Louis Cardinals still have a few glaring holes heading into…

Rangers add ex-Braves, Padres pitcher with latest signing

The Texas Rangers, intent on deepening their rotation, have re-signed right-handed starter Cal Quantrill to a minor league deal, with an invitation to spring camp accompanying the…