Caracas.- Never before, the two main Venezuelan prospects of any period of international firms had combined for an amount of bonuses as high as that registered by Luis Hernández and Francisco Rentería in the Class of 2026.
Shortstop Hernández, the main promise of the process, according to Baseball America and MLBPipelinereceived 5 million dollars from the San Francisco Giants, the largest bonus of the year and the second highest in history for a representative of the tricolor embassy. Only catcher Ethan Salas ($5.6 million) surpasses him, after his 2023 signing with the San Diego Padres.
Renteria, meanwhile, is an outfielder considered the third best prospect of the period. He signed his signature for $4.0 million with the Philadelphia Phillies, equaling the franchise record set in 2015 by Dominican outfielder Jhaylin Ortiz.
The combined $9 million reported by MLB.com between Luis Hernández and Francisco Rentería, both 17 years old, leaves behind the $8.7 million distributed between Salas and catcher Alfredo Duno ($3.1 million), who signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2023.
A VERY MARACAYERO GUARIQUEÑO
Hernández was born in San Juan de los Morros, but when he was only 11 days old he put down roots in Maracay, until he became a samán from Aragua. In the Major League of Professional Baseball he had his first great demonstrations between 2024 and 2025, to such an extent that he won the Youth of the Year in the recent campaign.
“I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I feel that everything that has happened has been for something positive,” Luis Hernández told Listín Diario, after the signing ceremony in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. “Today I’m fine, I will continue to give my 100%. I think I will be much better than I am now.”
The right-handed hitter, trained at the Carlos Guillén Academy, is projected to be a potential hitter of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, according to the scouts’ report. His bat speed and ability to hit extra bases stand out. While, on the field, they only point out doubts about the power of the arm.
“We have been with the academy for 16 years and we have never had a child with that maturity,” said Guillén, who played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues. “He has clung to a discipline, to a perseverance and that is why we are here today.”
The Giants’ confidence in Luis Hernández is such that they allocated 93% of their total budget ($5 million 440 thousand) to sign him. Only Lucius Fox ($6 million), in 2015, received a larger bonus in the entire history of the organization.
“He is a very mature player for his age,” replied Joe Salermo, senior director of international scouting for San Francisco, in statements to NBC Sports. “He can play shortstop with excellent skills and is an extraordinary hitter. Our scouts did a very good job with him.”
POTENTIAL SLUGGER
Francisco Rentería, for his part, born and raised in Maracaibo, is the best-rated pick by the various rankings, in the annals of the international signing period for the Phillies. The Quakers, in fact, presented him at Citizens Bank Park wearing the number 28 on his uniform, in honor of José Pirela.
The Zulian does not go unnoticed. He is 1.90 meters tall and weighs 90 kilograms, despite his young age. Already in December he gave a first small-scale exhibition of his power at bat, when he participated in the Home Run Derby and he grew on stage, with 18 home runs.
In 2025 he made his debut in professional baseball with Senators of Caracas, in the Major League. He consumed only 28 at-bats, but did not shine, with an offensive line of .286/.333/.393.
“Currently he is a contact monster, which, added to his excellent command of the strike zone and his excellent raw power, makes him one of the players with the greatest offensive potential of the international generation of 2026,” the MLB Pipeline scout report defines him. “One evaluator compared Francisco Renteria to Konnor Griffin, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick, who rose to the top spot in his first year as a pro prospect.”
The outfielder was developed at CJ Baseball Academy and soon attracted attention for his slugger potential. But he’s also viewed as an above-average defender in the outfield.
OTHER MILLIONAIRE SIGNATURES OF VENEZUELANS
- $2 million 900 thousand: Angeibel GomezOF, Royals
- $1 million 600 thousand: Diego FrontadoSS, Brewers
- $1 million 600 thousand: Fernando GraterolC, White Sox
- $1 million 500 thousand: Jose RodriguezBrewers
- $1 million 500 thousand: Emmanuel MerloSS, Twins
- $1 million 372 thousand 500: Cleiner RamirezOF, Mets
- $1 million: Santiago SolarteSS, Marlins
- $1 million: Adrian LunarC, Reals
- $1 million: Fabricio BlancoSS, Rays
Fuente: MLB.com
MORE FEATURED COVENANTS
- $ 800 mil: Diego Pacheco, C, Reds
- $ 600 mil: Jose PerdomoC, Athletics
- $ 550 mil: Juan Parra, SS, Philly
Fuente: MLB.com
THE DATA
Before Francisco Renteriathe record among Venezuelans for the highest signing bonus with the Phillies was the outfielder Jhoswar García ($2.5 million) in 2020. Meanwhile, the record among Creoles in the Giants was the receiver Juan Perez (1.2 million) in 2022, a figure that Luis Hernandez shattered.
