by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
January 15, 2025
On the first day of the international signing period on Wednesday, the A’s signed nine international free agents. The team snagged three of Baseball America’s top 30 ranked prospects, and four of the top 50, including the top Japanese prospect not named Roki Sasaki in the person of two-way player Shotaro Morii.
Morii, along with Bahamian shortstop Ayden Johnson and Venezuelan outfielder Breyson Guedez, each reportedly signed for approximately $1.5 million, while Dominican outfielder Darwin Ozuna reportedly signed for $1 million, and the remainder of Wednesday’s signings each reportedly signed for $250,000 or less.
The 18-year-old Morii hit 45 home runs over three high school seasons in Japan while playing shortstop and also pitching, and the current plan is to continue developing him as a two-way player. The 16-year-old Johnson is a big power-hitting shortstop with a good arm, while the 17-year-old Guedez is a smaller left-handed hitter with good contact skills, and the 16-year-old Ozuna is a big power-hitting outfielder with a strong arm.
More signings are still likely to come, but here is a list of Wednesday’s signings with Baseball America’s rankings included for those prospects in their top 100…
Shotaro Morii – Japan / SS-RHP (#25)
Ayden Johnson – Bahama / SS (#28)
Breyson Guedez – Venezuela / OF (#29)
Darwin Ozuna – Dominican Republic / OF (#45)
Carlos Salmeron – OF / Venezuela
Aiverzon Barazarte – C / Venezuela
Ricardo Osorio – RHP / Venezuela
Edwin Mendoza – RHP / Venezuela
Jesus Delgado – RHP / Venezuela
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