Wilton Guerrero Jr. Signs with the Pirates
- As the 2026 international signing period opens, the Pittsburgh Pirates have considerably bolstered their farm system wiht agreements with three highly touted Dominican prospects: outfielder Jeancer Custodio (No.
- Custodio represents the highest-ranked international signing in franchise history.
- The club received a pool of $8,034,900 to spend on international signings, tied for the highest in the league, and quickly put those dollars to work, offering $1.95...
Pirates Sign Top International Prospects in 2026 Class
As the 2026 international signing period opens, the Pittsburgh Pirates have considerably bolstered their farm system wiht agreements with three highly touted Dominican prospects: outfielder Jeancer Custodio (No. 7), shortstop Wilton Guerrero Jr. (No. 17),adn shortstop/third baseman Alexander Pio (just outside the top 50).
Custodio represents the highest-ranked international signing in franchise history. Alongside Guerrero, the Pirates have secured a pair of top-20 prospects for the second time in the last five years.
The club received a pool of $8,034,900 to spend on international signings, tied for the highest in the league, and quickly put those dollars to work, offering $1.95 million to Guerrero, $900,000 to Custodio, and $500,000 to Pio.
Prospect Highlights
- Jeancer Custodio: A product of the Major League Baseball Trainer Association Program, Custodio is the standout hitter in this year’s group. He features a smooth, controlled swing with direct contact. He was the second-best hitter for the Dominican Republic at the 2024 Under-15 World Cup in Panama (behind only No. 2 international prospect Josuar González). He went 8-for-24 and successfully stole all four bases he attempted. Despite standing at 5-foot-10, evaluators believe his natural bat-to-ball ability and lift will translate into home runs as he physically develops.
- Wilton Guerrero Jr.: Guerrero comes from a highly successful baseball family, with an uncle in the Hall of Fame (Vladimir Guerrero) and a five-time All-Star cousin (Vladimir guerrero Jr.). His father, Wilton Guerrero Sr., an eight-year MLB veteran, served as his trainer through the MLB Trainer Association Program. If Guerrero were playing high school baseball in the United States, his baseball IQ and elite speed would likely attract attention from numerous Division I college programs.He’s clocked home-to-first times of 4.1 seconds and is a constant threat on the basepaths, routinely going from first to third and second to home, as well as stealing bases.
- Alexander Pio: Pio has trained alongside Custodio and possesses the physical tools – standing at 6-foot-2 – that have drawn considerable attention. He’s recorded multiple exit velocities over 105 mph at age 16, hinting at his potential power as a right-handed hitter.Currently relying heavily on strength,a third baseman with power and a strong arm is a highly coveted profile.
International players are eligible to sign with Major League teams between January 15th and December 15th. They must turn 16 before signing and be 17 by September 1st of the following year. Players born between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2009, are eligible to sign during the current signing period and must be registered with Major League Baseball to be eligible.