Pirates set to add pair of top Dominican bats during international signing window

If you’re looking for the next wave of offensive upside in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system, don’t just stare at Altoona or Indianapolis. Look a little farther south — like the Dominican Republic — because when the international signing period opens on Jan. 15, the Pirates are set to add two of the top-25 talents available in this year’s class.

First, there's Jeancer Custodio –– one of the purest bats in the class. His reputation starts with the hit tool, but not the kind of vague scouting fluff you sometimes hear. We’re talking quiet setup, reputable swing, direct path to the ball and real contact ability.

At just 16, Custodio already backed it up under the lights of the 18U World Cup qualifiers in 2024 — hitting .333 with a .429 OBP and going 4-for-4 in steals while playing against older talent. Scouts call his maturity and makeup elite, and there’s sneaky power waiting to be unlocked inside that 5-foot-10 frame.

Custodio probably winds up in a corner outfield spot long-term, but that’s fine — the bat is supposed to carry him. If the Pirates are betting on one offensive tool in this class, they’re betting on Custodio barreling baseballs for a long time. Think hit-first masher with room to grow — the type of player small-market clubs dream about developing in-house.

And then there’s Wilton Guerrero Jr. — baseball royalty with wheels. If the name sounds familiar, it's because Guerrero Jr. is the son of former big-leaguer Wilton Guerrero and the nephew of Vladimir Guerrero Sr. He’s been around professional baseball for essentially his whole life — and you can see it in the way he plays.

Where Custodio brings polish at the plate, Guerrero Jr. brings electric athleticism. He's a menace on the base paths and an instinctive shortstop with plus lateral movement. He’s also one of the youngest players in the class, which means there’s a lot of physical projection left. And when he fills out? That contact ability could easily grow into real power.

Pirates set to add two exciting young bats when international signing window opens

International signings are never guarantees. The attrition rate is high. The path is long. These kids are 16 — they aren’t saving the 2026 Pirates’ offense.

But here’s what is true –– the Pirates need impact bats. They can't outspend the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees, but they can win in scouting, development and international investment.

Adding two top-25 international talents in the same cycle is aggressive. It’s encouraging. And honestly? It’s the kind of thing small-market contenders do before they become contenders.

Custodio gives the system a potential hit-tool anchor, while Guerrero Jr. injects chaos, speed and projection. And both arrive at a moment when the Pirates’ big-league roster is finally starting to tilt toward competitiveness — meaning these signings could align with the Paul Skenes core in a few years.

No banners get raised for international agreements in January. But if the Pirates are lucky — and more importantly, if they develop these kids properly — January 15 could end up being one of those quietly important days we look back on later and say:

Yeah. That’s when the next wave really started.