The Detroit Tigers opened the 2026 international signing period by adding three prospects on seven-figure signing bonuses: Venezuelan catcher Manuel Bolivar, Venezuelan shortstop Oscar Tineo and Dominican Republic outfielder Randy Santana.
The international signing period began Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Bolivar led the trio of seven-figure signees with a $2.3 million bonus, followed by Tineo at $1.45 million and Santana at $1.1 million, according to multiple people with knowledge of the agreements. The Tigers also signed Venezuelan outfielder Douglas Olivo for $900,000.
Only one of those four players – Santana at No. 21 – ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 50 prospects in the 2026 international class.
Bolivar secured the 12th-highest bonus in the class (and the highest bonus for a catcher in the class), but the 17-year-old – a right-handed hitter with a combination of power and swing-and-miss concerns – wasn’t ranked by MLB Pipeline.
He established himself as a top international prospect at age 13, competing in the 2022 Baseball World Cup as the youngest player on Venezuela’s under-15 national team.
Bolivar turns 18 in early September.
“He’s strong for his age with bat speed to drive balls deep out of the park to his pull side in batting practice with potential plus raw power,” wrote Ben Badler, Baseball America’s chief innovation officer who evaluates the top 100 international prospects based on signing bonus.
“There have been stretches of swing-and-miss against live pitching, so it’s likely a power-over-hit offensive profile, but scouts highest on Bolivar think he will make enough contact to tap into that power in games.
He’s a longtime catcher who has the tools to stick behind the plate, where he’s an athletic mover who blocks well and has a strong arm.”
The Tigers have a pool of $7,357,100 to spend during the 2026 international signing period, which began Thursday and ends Dec. 15. The Tigers spent $5.75 million on their four prospects with the highest bonuses: Bolivar, Tineo, Santana and Olivo.
That leaves the Tigers with about $1.6 million remaining.
Tineo secured the 30th-highest bonus in the class.
The 16-year-old is a switch-hitting shortstop from Venezuela known for his defense more than his offense, with an emphasis on his range and agility. He is all but guaranteed to maintain his status as a top-tier defender, but he needs to increase his strength to succeed at the plate.
Tineo turns 17 in late February.
“Tineo has a promising foundation of physical upside, athleticism and actions that work well on both sides of the ball,” Badler wrote in Baseball America. “He’s a slender 6-foot-2 shortstop who moves around with ease in the infield.
He’s an above-average runner who is light on his feet with smooth actions, soft hands and good body control. He’s an instinctive defender with a good internal clock and a quick release into an average arm that could tick up as he gets stronger.
Much of Tineo’s future will depend on his physical development. His present strength is behind most of the top players in the class, but he has room to easily add another 30-plus pounds, at which point his power could spike significantly.
He’s a switch-hitter with gap power who makes steady contact in games and is more advanced from the right side of the plate.”
Santana, a right-handed hitting outfielder with five-tool upside, trained under instructor Christian Batista at Niche Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic.
It’s the same academy that produced New York Mets superstar Juan Soto and Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz, along with Tigers role player Wenceel Pérez.
He projects to become a slugging right fielder with elite arm strength.
Santana turns 18 in mid-September.
“Santana packs a lot of strength and quick-twitch explosiveness into his 5-foot-11 frame,” wrote Badler, who listed Santana as the 34th-highest bonus in the class. “It’s a muscular, physically advanced build for his age, and it shows in the present tool set.
Santana has quick hands at the plate and can drive the ball with impact to be a potential 20-plus home run threat. It’s a pull-heavy approach, and he will need to sharpen his plate discipline, so it’s likely a power-over-hit offensive game that could come with some swing-and-miss. Santana’s best tool is an outstanding arm that’s already plus-plus.
He’s a good athlete who is built more like a right fielder, and he could ultimately end up there, but he’s a plus runner and should get a chance to prove himself in center field to start his career.”
Olivo, a switch-hitting outfielder from Venezuela, projects to stay in center field, thanks to above-average running and throwing skills. If he wants to advance, he needs to develop as an all-around hitter, which won’t happen unless he increases strength.
He received the 62nd-highest bonus in the class.
“Olivo has long-limbed 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame with lots of space left to fill out,” Badler wrote in Baseball America.
“He’s a plus runner who glides around with ease in center field, where he gets good reads off the bat and has a strong chance to stick.
He’s a switch-hitter who generates natural loft with gap power and could see his overall offensive game take a step forward once he adds much-needed strength.”
