Yesterday, January 15th was the first day of the current international signing period for MLB. Players from around the world could sign with any team. It’ s not as big as the NFL and NBA drafts because the general public has never seen any of these guys play before.

Yet, many of the players taken yesterday and the coming months will have a greater impact than players selected in other professional sports. Even though every story about every guy taken is gushing, I get a little excited about their particular backstories and potential futures.

Because writers and editors are obsessed with lists, the MLB writers have created a plethora of mind-numbing lists of people we’ve never heard of or seen. There is no context even if you compare rankings. Teams typically take multiple players at the same position. Check out the descriptions and you’ll find little to differentiate the players and their skill sets.

For years, one of the benefits of following the (old) Midwest League, was the likelihood that you’d see one of these guys within months of signing. Occasionally, some of the teams would shine a spotlight on the more recent signees. It was always fun to watch them develop. While one sees a more developed player in the current MWL (Hi-A), you’re usually a couple years from seeing these guys.

I’m already looking forward to seeing, local guy, Ed Howard, play a full season with the South Bend Cubs. I’ll also enjoy following Derniche Valdez, Ludwig Espinoza, and Angel Cepeda, even if I have no idea who they are right now.

Being among the top 50 international prospects isn’t a guarantee, but it’s a nice indicator of potential.