The San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB) signed Vinicius Dos Santos, a 16-year-old outfielder from Indaiatuba, in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil.
Dos Santos represented Brazil at the U-18 South American Championship in Salta, Argentina. He will start his professional career at the Giants Academy in the Dominican Republic.
Five players from Brazil have played at the MLB level, making their debut from 2012 to 2017: catcher Yan Gomes, right-handed pitcher André Rienzo, outfielder Paulo Orlando, right-handed pitcher Thyago Vieira and left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara.
Rienzo spent the 2023 season in the Mexican Baseball League for the Yucatan Leones and helped Brazil finish second at the Pan American Games 2023. Orlando was also on the roster. Gomes is on the Chicago Cubs roster. Vieira, who also played for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, is on the Milwaukee Brewers roster.
Most players signed in the first days of the international signing window come from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Other baseball countries or territories in the Caribbean and Central America (Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua, Colombia, Curaçao, Aruba and Mexico) are also represented.
The Bahamas are a Caribbean island that is relatively new to professional baseball. Seven players from the island signed: outfielders Jemone Brown (Baltimore Orioles), Phillando Wilson (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Tavano Baker; right-handed pitcher Tejahari Wilson (Boston Red Sox), shortstops Bohan Adderley (New York Mets) and Javado Bain (Toronto Blue Jays).
Two players come from Haiti: Outfielders Jovensly Hilaire (Texas Rangers) and Arthur Paul (Washington Nationals).
Africa, Europe and Oceania are also represented. Catcher Allan Atoji (Los Angeles Dodgers) is from Uganda, Right-handed pitcher Paul Hoff is from Germany, and right-handed pitcher Rubens Romero (Pittsburgh Pirates) is from Australia.
