"The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a quiet offseason thus far, considering their major league moves. However, that has been far from the case regarding filling out the rest of their roster and getting younger in key positions. LA is thinking in terms of the present and certainly the future. MLB insider Francys Romero shared that the Dodgers have signed outfielder Rubel Arias and shortstop Ezequiel Melbourne. More news: Dodgers Legend Clayton Kershaw to Represent Team USA in World Baseball Classic Arias and Melbourne are the Dodgers' top two prospects in the 2025-26 class."
"The Dodgers are no strangers to finding international talent, particularly in the Dominican Republic. Los Angeles has stamped their name there over the past few decades, and they hope they have found their next new star in Melbourne. The 6-foot-3 switch-hitter is the No. 29 prospect in the 2026 class. At only 16 years old, Melbourne has a chance to become one of the better players to come out of the Dominican Republic, and that says a lot. He's shown shades of fellow Dodgers international signees, Adrián Beltré and Carlos Santana, due to his physical projection. The switch-hitting shortstop flashes the tools to stick, and he's refining them at the Jaime Ramos Academy - an MLB Trainer Partnership Program member - as part of a deep 2026 international class. Melbourne has a signing bonus of $747,500."
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed two highly regarded international prospects from the 2025–26 class: outfielder Rubel Arias and shortstop Ezequiel Melbourne, with signing bonuses around $997,500 and $747,500 respectively. Melbourne is a 6-foot-3, 16-year-old switch-hitting shortstop ranked No. 29 in the 2026 class and is developing at the Jaime Ramos Academy. The Dodgers have a longstanding presence in the Dominican Republic and view Melbourne as a high-upside physical project with comparisons to past international signees. Arias and Melbourne have trained together and are expected to join the Dodgers' system soon as part of the club's youth-focused roster-building.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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