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Blue Jays sign international catching prospect Juan Caricote for $1.95 million
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Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 15, 2026, 17:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 15, 2026, 16:43 EST
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The 2026 International Free Agency period opened on Thursday.
This year, the Toronto Blue Jays big signee was Venezuelan catcher Juan Caricote, who the team signed for a bonus of $1.95 million. Caricote, 17, ranked as Baseball America’s 17th-best prospect in their most-recent IFA rankings and didn’t rank on MLB Pipeline’s top 50 rankings.
Per Baseball America, the catcher stands at 6’1”, 185 lbs and looks to be a strong defensive catcher thanks to his athleticism. His arm is the worst of his attributes behind the plate, but he is a strong framer and good blocker.
Batting from the left-side of the plate, he has projection remaining and has what Baseball America describes as a “loose” swing. Caricote will start the 2026 season with one of the two Dominican Summer League teams and go from there.
It’s been a while since the Blue Jays had a catching prospect worth being excited about. At one point, the Jays had three promising catchers on the 40-man roster. Alejandro Kirk has gone on to be a two-time All-Star, vital on both sides of the ball for the Blue Jays in 2025. Danny Jansen was traded ahead of the 2024 trade deadline for three prospects, Gilberto Batista, Cutter Coffey, and Eddinson Paulino, the latter is a free agent, and Gabriel Moreno was traded for Daulton Varsho.
There’s a legitimate argument that Caricote has instantly become the Blue Jays best catching prospect. That mantle belonged to Edward Duran in 2025, as he slashed .275/.362/.405 with eight home runs and five triples in 431 plate appearances between Single-A and High-A last season. Not too shabby for a prospect acquired through a trade.
The other notable catching prospect in 2024 was Franklin Rojas. Signed during the 2024 IFA period, the 18-year-old slashed .255/.407/.330 with one home run in 140 plate appearances in the DSL. He walked as much as he struck out, finishing with a 15% BB% and K%.
Before the 2025 trade deadline, the Jays also acquired their future backup catcher, Brandon Valenzuela. The 25-year-old has a bit of pop in his bat, hitting a career-best 15 home runs in 479 minor league plate appearances last season, but he’s better known for his strong arm and fielding ability behind the plate.
It’ll be interesting to see how Caricote does once he turns professional. Hopefully, the Blue Jays’ catching factory can re-open.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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