It’s a fool’s errand to try to project how good the White Sox’ 2026 18-person international class.
When you’re dealing with players who are teenagers, there’s ample room for error because of projection and development. Some progress faster while others lag behind. But it’s the job of international-scouting chief David Keller to discern which players the organization should bet on.
The headliners for the Sox’ international class are catcher Fernando Graterol ($1.6 million) and outfielder Sebastian Romero ($1.5 million).
Both Graterol and Romero were highly rated by Baseball America. Graterol (No. 25) has power in his bat and athleticism that is rare for a catcher. Romero (No. 29) is a 6-2 center fielder who has doubles power with the potential to add more strength to his frame as he fills out.
Identifying athletes and players with plus traits was a theme of the 18-person class.
“[Fernando Graterol] is 17 years old, he’s got a good body,” Keller said. “He’s a catcher by trade, but he’s more athletic than most catchers. We’re talking about a guy who runs a 6.8 60 (yard dash). He’s got plus bat speed, raw power is —especially for the position — is at the top of the class. We feel like he’s one of the best catchers in the 2026 international crop.
“As for Romero, we’re excited about him as well. He’s a very fluid athlete. Another guy who has a good body, has a chance to defend the position, a premium position in center field, and consistently puts together good at-bats, makes contact and we’re very excited to have him.”
Since joining the organization in September 2024, Keller has seen the international department grow and develop. From the announcement that the Sox are building a new baseball academy in the Dominican Republic to having the scouts venture out to Japan and sign slugger Munetaka Murakami, the department hopes to be a factor going forward with Keller in charge.
“For me, it’s about being the culture builder and being a guardian of the process so we are making good decisions,” Keller said. ” We spend a lot of time with our group talking about the organizational values and really putting systems in place so guys understand what it is we are looking for, what we’re trying to identify and ultimately what we’re trying to develop and grow. And I couldn’t be happier with the progress that our group has made in that time.