Braves linked to top prospect infielder Jose Perdomo in international free agency.

The Atlanta Braves haven’t had much success in international free agency in recent history.

The IFA realm, where Atlanta’s found such gems as Ronald Acuña Jr out of Venezuela (2014) and Ozzie Albies of Curaçao (2013), was largely unavailable for several years as the Braves suffered through punishments relating to former Braves GM John Coppolella’s violations of international signing rules.

(Here’s where we wrote more about what happened, if you’re interested.)

The penalties, which lingered through 2021, caused a lack of depth in the organization that’s been a contributing factor to Atlanta’s farm system being one of the lower-rated systems in recent seasons.

But now Atlanta’s back to a full bonus pool, the third straight season they have one, and they’re following up the 2022 signing of Diego Benitez and the 2023 signing of Luis Guanipa with another splash.

On January 15th, per Ben Badler of Baseball America, the Braves are expected to sign the #1 rated international prospect on their board, SS Jose Perdomo. Here’s what Badler said about Perdomo:

It’s important to remember that international signings are some of the riskiest acquisitions a team can make – these are literal teenagers, in a foreign country, with a lot of physical and skill development in front of them before they could conceivably contribute at the major league level.

As such, most international free agents don’t even make it to the United States until the year after they sign, spending that first year competing in the Dominican Summer League, before coming to the states for rookie ball in their 2nd season.