The 2019-2020 international signing period opened on Tuesday, and the Astros kicked it off by adding 13 new prospects to the organization. The crown jewel of the team’s additions was Dominican shortstop Dauri Lorenzo, ranked by MLB.com as the 14th-best international prospect in this signing period.
The signing of international prospects is governed by MLB’s collective bargaining agreement. Players who are 16 years of age or older (or who will turn 16 prior to Sept. 1) are eligible to be signed by any club. Each club has a set amount they are allowed to spend on signing bonuses for these prospects, though clubs can trade portions of their bonus allotments to other teams.