Brewers 2025 International Free Agency: Full details, expected signings, bonus pool

The 2025 international free agency period opens on Wednesday, January 15th. This is the period where teams sign amateur free agents, mostly teenagers, from countries not subject to the MLB Draft. This is where teams can find future superstars, like the Milwaukee Brewers did with Jackson Chourio.

The players signed are not currently household names. They aren't playing in the College World Series or on any sort of televised games where fans can get a glimpse of their team's future prospects. There's very limited information out there on these teenage prospects that is publicly out there and Baseball America (subscription required) is one of those places that does great work on international free agency as well as MLB Pipeline.

Let's break down the important details for the Brewers in this international free agency period.

Details on Brewers 2025 International Free Agency: Rules, Bonus pool

Brewers bonus pool: $7,555,500

The Brewers are in the group with the largest allotment of international bonus pool money with more than $7.5 million at their disposal. They can trade for even more, up to another 60% of their original bonus pool allotment.

The signing period opens on January 15th and closes on December 15th. However, the vast majority of players will sign on January 15th as they've had deals lined up well in advance of this period opening.

In order to be eligible, players have to be at least 16 years old and reside in a country outside of the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico. Players who sign for $10,000 or less do not have their bonuses count against the pool.

International free agents expected to sign with the Brewers in 2025

Kenny Fenelon, OF, Dominican Republic

Kenny Fenelon is expected to get the largest bonus of the Brewers international class. Francys Romero of Beisbol FR reports that Fenelon is expected to get a $1.3 million signing bonus. He's an athletic center fielder with tons of raw power and great speed to make him a threat on the bases. That power/speed combination is clearly enticing to the Brewers to help him earn the biggest bonus of this year's Brewers class.

Brailyn Antunez, OF, Venezuela

The Brewers have a strong track record with Venezuelan outfielders (see Chourio, Jackson) and Brailyn Antunez is from the same city as Chourio, Maracaibo. Antunez is the cream of the crop for the Brewers this year and is regarded as one of the top talents in the country in 2025. Antunez has the potential to be a 5-tool player with an advanced approach at the plate, great bat speed, and double-plus speed on the bases. Francys Romero reports that Antunez will earn a $1.0MM signing bonus.

Christopher Acosta, SS, Dominican Republic

The third member of the big three atop the Brewers international class is Christopher Acosta. Acosta is a gifted defender at shortstop, and that glove is going to be able to take him pretty far. The bat is a little further behind in development but it's a solid hit-over-power profile and there may be some more power to come later on as the 6-foot-1 shortstop continues to fill out as he physically matures.

Isaias Chavez, C, Venezuela

Baseball America has also reported that the Brewers are expected to sign Venezuelan catcher Isaias Chavez. Per BA's report, Chavez is a very strong defender behind the plate with a plus throwing arm. The bat appears to be a work in progress still, but being a standout defender at a premium position like catcher can take you a long way. Jeferson Quero also was regarded as an elite defender when he signed and his bat improved enough to become the top prospect in the system.

When all is said and done on Wednesday, the Brewers are likely to have signed around 30 international free agents. They like to spread out their money and get as many dart throws as possible, hoping they can get one to hit. It's a strategy that has worked quite well for Milwaukee in recent years. Even players who don't sign for the largest bonus have ended up becoming big time prospects and players.

Jeferson Quero signed for just $200,000 a few years ago. Abner Uribe signed for just $10,000. You never know who among these international free agents will take off and become a big time player. Most of them probably won't even reach Low-A Carolina. Some will, but won't get much above that, and you're hoping that one or two or, if you're lucky, three can reach the upper levels and contribute to a big league roster in time. And if the Brewers are really lucky, one of these players will turn into the next superstar like Jackson Chourio.

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