Breaking Down the Cardinals’ 2026 International Free Agent Class
Credit: @emanuelluna_09 on Instagram
As we begin another year, the first big milestone date of 2026 is the international period opening up, which happened on Thursday. The Cardinals have signed multiple top prospects in the 2026 class, including one in the top 10 who received the second-largest bonus in the history of the Cardinals franchise.
Before I begin, I want to note that most of the lower-ranked prospects listed here are based on my own scouting reports from video I’ve watched. Some of these players only have 2-5 videos available, which makes it difficult to fully project who they truly are until we see DSL action and beyond. I tried my best, but I’m not perfect. Also, all of these prospects are very raw, and many of them won’t make it past the DSL. Just remember that before you get too excited.
OF - Emanuel Luna ($2.3 million signing bonus)
Luna is the diamond of the Cardinals' 2026 international class, as the 17-year-old is a consensus top-10 prospect in the class. Luna has been dubbed the Dominican “Aaron Judge” by scouts in the Dominican Republic due to his tremendous raw power, as evidenced by hitting multiple balls over 110 mph at the age of 16.
When you look at Luna’s physique, he looks more like a middle linebacker than a baseball player, and he instantly reminded me of fellow Dominican Joshua Baez’s build, though Luna is an inch shorter. It’s a fluid stroke from the right side, with a ton of torque and power generated from his legs and lightning-quick hips. Both BA and Pipeline refer to Luna’s plus approach at the plate — being selective, taking his walks, and waiting for pitches in his zone, while also noting his ability to hit the ball to all fields.
Luna is also a plus runner who should stick in center field and steal a fair amount of bases with his speed. His arm might be the weakest part of his profile, although scouts have noted it to be very accurate, which is a plus. Luna should instantly rank inside the Cardinals' top 10, and could quickly rise to the top based on how he performs in 2026.
SS - Carlos “Carrion” Antonio ($1.1 million signing bonus)
Antonio was originally set to sign with the Padres before the Cardinals came in with a seven-figure paycheck to lure him away, and it was for good reason. Antonio is one of the best athletes in the 2026 class, with scouts noting his ultra-athletic build and excellent running ability, which has earned him comparisons to the Mariners’ Felnin Celesten.
Antonio used to be exclusively a right-handed hitter but started switch-hitting in recent years. To most scouts’ surprise, he actually looks more proficient from the left side than the right, though both swings feature some unnecessary clunky movement that will need to be addressed if he wants to be a complete hitter. He has plus bat speed and power, which have helped him overcome the longer mechanics, but that won’t necessarily hold up against tougher competition.
Defensively, Antonio has the arm strength, movements, and speed to be a plus defender and stick at shortstop long term. He has a chance to land on the back end of the Cardinals’ top 30.
C – Sebastian Rojas ($450,000 signing bonus)
Sebastian Rojas comes from the renowned Roberto Vahlis Academy, located on the island of Margarita in Venezuela, which has produced notable talents such as Brayan Rocchio and Ezequiel Tovar in recent years. Rojas was one of the earliest pre-agreements I could find in the 2026 class, dating back to mid-to-late 2023, when he was only 13-14 years old.
Because of how early he signed, there isn’t much new video available on Rojas, aside from a few throwdowns. From those alone, you can see why the Cardinals have had an agreement with him for such a long time. His pop time is extremely quick, combined with a plus arm that is both strong and accurate, making it easy to project him sticking behind the plate long term.
I was only able to find a single hitting video, dating back to 2022, but even as a 13-year-old, the talent was evident. In that session, he was regularly hitting balls north of 80 mph, topping out at 83 mph with a wood bat on a line. According to Perfect Game, that’s elite territory for that age. Rojas is more of a wildcard due to the lack of recent video, but the length of the pre-agreement and the signing bonus suggest real talent.
RHP - Rafeli Moronta ($450,000 signing bonus)
Moronta will be the second-youngest player in the class, turning 16 on August 15th, making him just a year older than Franganten. Moronta stands at a towering 6’6” and weighs 150 pounds, according to Perfect Game. He currently sits in the low 90s and touches 93, with obvious physical projection to add velocity as he matures and adds muscle.
Unlike many of his counterparts, Moronta has significant experience on the mainland, having trained in Kissimmee, Florida until 2024, when he returned to the Dominican Republic. He shows good spin capacity for his age, getting his fastball up to 2,600 RPM, along with a plus changeup according to DDLASports. He also features a solid slider based on the video I’ve watched.
As expected, the mechanics could use some cleanup, but overall his operation is smooth considering his size and age. In the PG tournaments he competed in, Moronta earned a PG score of 9 and is the top pitcher in terms of signing bonus in the Cardinals' 2026 class so far.
OF - Jhon Franganten ($350,000 signing bonus)
Franganten comes out of the TPA Academy, the same academy that Cristofer Lebron came from in 2024. From a build standpoint, Franganten is one of the most intriguing prospects in the class. He already stands at 6’3” at just 16 years old (he turned 16 on August 25th, making him one of the youngest players in the entire class).
His build reminds me of a young Oneil Cruz or Elly De La Cruz, with long arms and legs that allow for a whippy swing and long, fast strides on the basepaths. What impressed me most from the video I watched is that, despite his long limbs, Franganten has great control of his body. His swing looks smooth for his size, which makes me optimistic that he may outperform his signing bonus.
Based on pictures I’ve seen, Franganten was already on the Cardinals’ campus this fall and hit a home run in one of his first scrimmages. Defensively, he profiles more as a corner outfielder with a strong arm, potentially fitting better in right field than left.
OF - Christopher Vargas ($300,000 signing bonus)
Now that we’re outside the top 100 in terms of signing bonuses, information and video become a bit more sparse. Vargas comes from the well-known JC Baseball Academy in Santo Domingo, which has produced players such as Ketel Marte and Amed Rosario. Vargas is a 6’2” outfielder known for his powerful bat and excellent arm, according to academy director John Carmona.
From the video I’ve watched, Vargas gets on time by using an aggressive leg stab, allowing him to rotate well and use his quick hands to pull the ball. What stood out most is his willingness and ability to pull the ball in the air against high-level Dominican competition, tapping into what appears to be plus power.
The fielding video I found is older (from 2024), but he looks like a plus defender, moving well and tracking balls effectively in the outfield. He has filled out since then and may not have the same speed and grace, but he still projects as at least a solid corner outfielder. His arm looked a bit weaker in older clips, but it has likely progressed since.
1B/OF - Luis Angel Estrella ($300,000 signing bonus)
Luis Estrella, out of LF Martinez Academy in the Dominican Republic, looks like a potential power-hitting first baseman as he moves up the ranks. He’s tall with a lot of mass, which lends itself to a power-driven offensive profile. Estrella features a leg kick and quick hands that allow him to access plenty of pull-side power.
Defensively, he’s listed as an outfielder by his academy and may get some time there during the DSL thanks to his extremely strong arm, though his range is limited. The Cardinals have already given him opportunities at first base in scrimmages, where he appears to profile better defensively.
RHP - Jordan Beltran ($250,000 signing bonus)
From the Los Bauti Academy, Beltran is a converted middle infielder. At this point, I can tell you more about Beltran’s hitting background than his pitching. He stands at 6’1”, 165 pounds according to MLB, and features a very smooth delivery, sitting in the high 80s to low 90s with good fastball shape from a high arm slot, according to Jesse Borek.
I have yet to find video of Beltran pitching, but it appears he converted to the mound sometime during the 2024 season. Beltran is older at 18, but given his infield background, he should be a very athletic pitcher and an interesting developmental project to watch.
OF/1B - Misael Sanchez
We’re now in the range where video is extremely limited. That said, I do have a few notes on Sanchez, who played for Team Venezuela in the U-18 World Cup Qualifier. Sanchez hit .250 with four singles and a walk, good for a .544 OPS, while driving in two runs and scoring three times.
Defensively, he played center field, left field, and first base, recording 15 of his 16 putouts, with his lone error coming in the outfield. He’s a 5’11”, 191-pound right-handed hitter and thrower, and from the few pictures I’ve seen, he looks lean and athletic. That’s all I have at this time.
INF - Roberth Castillo
I have very little information on Roberth Castillo. Currently, I know he is a 17-year-old middle infielder who bats from both sides of the plate and stands at 5’9”, 155 pounds according to MLB. He trained at Summit Academy, which is run by MLB legend Bobby Abreu.
RHP - Emilio Jimenez
I have very little information on Jimenez beyond the fact that he is a 16-year-old right-hander standing at 6’7”, 190 pounds from the Dominican Republic. He trained at Blanco Academy in Santiago de los Caballeros, which has produced top prospects like Angel Genao in recent years.
RHP - Javier Martinez
Martinez is the Cardinals' fourth prospect from Venezuela in this class, joining Rojas, Sanchez, and Castillo. Martinez stands at 6’2”, 180 pounds according to MLB.
