Muñoz, Morales among Dodgers’ 30 international signings in 2022 class
by Rowan Kavner
The Dodgers agreed to terms with 30 international players in the 2022 class, including top international prospects Samuel Muñoz and Accimias Morales.
Muñoz, an outfielder from Santo Cristobal, Dominican Republic, is ranked the №7 overall international prospect by MLB.com. Morales, a right-handed pitcher from Maracay, Venezuela, is ranked the №37 overall prospect and the №2 pitching prospect in this year’s international class.
Among the Dodgers’ class of international signings are 15 pitchers, three catchers, nine infielders and three outfielders.
Muñoz, a 6-foot-2-inch, 17-year-old left-handed hitter, has received high marks for his approach at the plate and power potential, according to his MLB scouting profile. Muñoz also has experience in the infield.
From his MLB scouting profile:
“Munoz has already come a long way. The teen was first showcased as an outfielder but moved back to his original spot in the infield because of his improved athleticism and quickness. He runs the 60-yard timed run in 6.6 seconds and has the potential to be a good baserunner. His high baseball IQ and makeup are also noteworthy. He shows good actions in the infield and displays solid arm strength. There’s still a chance he moves to third base because of his size, but it’s too early to tell.
Morales, a 6-foot-4-inch, 17-year-old right-hander, has received scouting grades of 55 for his fastball and changeup and 50 for his slider (55 is considered above average on the 20–80 scale).
From his MLB scouting profile:
He’s athletic, features a repeatable delivery and has a presence on the mound. Specifically, his fastball has been clocked at 93 mph, he throws a hard slider with a sharp break and throws a changeup with lots of movement. His ability to mix up his repertoire while still pounding the strike zone stands out for a prospect his age. He projects to be a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues one day.
Headlined by Morales’ signing, the Dodgers again added some of the top talent out of Venezuela. Last year, half of the Dodgers’ international signings came from Venezuela, including the top-ranked shortstop (Wilman Diaz) and catcher (Jesus Galiz) of the 2021 class. Diaz gave the Dodgers the top prospect out of Venezuela for the third straight season.
This year, 14 of the Dodgers’ 30 international signings came from Venezuela. The Dodgers also added seven prospects from the Dominican Republic, two from Colombia and one apiece from Aruba, Mexico, Spain, Nicaragua, Panama, Curacao and Russia.
