Another Venezuelan catcher + twins: Meet the KC Royals’ international signees for 2025
The Kansas City Royals signed a new group of international prospects on Friday.
The Royals agreed to terms with 22 free agents from five different countries. Among them is top Dominican infielder Warren Calcaño. The 17-year-old is a switch-hitter who ranked No. 7 among Baseball America’s 2025 international prospects.
Calcaño has a reported $2 million bonus deal.
The Royals’ class of 2025 international signees features nine right-handed pitchers, six infielders, four catchers and three outfielders.
“We are excited to welcome such a diverse and talented group of players into our organization,” longtime Royals executive Rene Francisco said in a news release.
Calcaño is projected to be a shortstop in the majors. Scouts have raved about his defensive instincts and arm. And he brings added value with his ability to hit from both sides of the plate as a teenager.
The Royals also signed Venezuelan catcher Moises Marchán, age 17. He is MLB Pipeline’s No. 31-ranked international prospect and his cousin, Rafael, played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Marchán has a solid frame — he stands 6-foot-1 — and scouts love his tools as a hitter. The Royals hope he will develop further in their system, which produced fellow Venezuelan catcher and future Hall of Famer Salvador Perez.
The Royals’ class of 2025 international signees also includes twins Luis Steven King and Luis Ramon King from the Dominican Republic. Luis Steven signed a reported $400,000 bonus deal and Luis Ramon signed a $170,000 bonus deal, per baseball insider Francys Romero.
They are the first pair of twins to be signed by a major-league team during the international signing period.
“Daniel Guerrero (Royals’ director of international scouting) and his team did an outstanding job of identifying these players and signing them to their first professional contracts,” Francisco said in the Royals’ news release. “We look forward to watching them all grow together as both men and baseball players as they pursue their dreams of becoming major-leaguers.”
Here is a look at the Royals 22 international signees for 2025:
Pitchers
RHP Keisther Castillo | Dominican Republic
RHP Kendry Chourio | Venezuela
RHP Freddy Contreras | Dominican Republic
RHP Argenis Done | Dominican Republic
RHP Angel Garcia | Dominican Republic
RHP Kenyer Penaloza | Venezuela
RHP Reynell Ramos | Venezuela
RHP Javier Rojas | Venezuela
RHP Denis Samudio | Panama
Catchers
Moises Marchán | Venezuela
Emmanuel Martinez | Mexico
Richer Mata | Venezuela
Jose Montilla | Venezuela
Infielders
Alan Angulo | Columbia
Warren Calcaño | Dominican Republic
Luis Steven King | Dominican Republic
Ramcell Medina | Dominican Republic
Jesus Ortega | Venezuela
Roy Rivero | Venezuela
Outfielders
Lewis German | Dominican Republic
Alejandro Guerrero | Dominican Republic
Luis Ramon King | Dominican Republic
