Mariners' 2026 international signing class includes long-shot heirs to Cal Raleigh

The window for MLB teams to formally sign international prospects opened on Thursday, and it could prove to be a critical moment for the Seattle Mariners several years down the line.

The club has a solid track record of digging up international talent under Jerry Dipoto, whether we're talking Julio Rodríguez in 2017 or recent signees that occupy prominent places in the farm system today — Lazaro Montes, Michael Arroyo and Felnin Celesten are among Seattle's top 10 prospects as ranked by Baseball America.

We've already covered how the Mariners were set to use this signing period to add two outfielders to their organizational depth chart. Yet those are just two signings among many, and the others include at least one potential heir for Cal Raleigh.

Leonardo Reynoso and Daniel Alaña could become prominent catcher prospects for Mariners

As reported by Ben Badler of Baseball America, one of the Mariners' newcomers is Daniel Alaña, a catcher out of Venezuela.

Signed for a $600,000 bonus, Alaña projects as a power hitter from the right side of the plate, owing to an uppercut swing geared to get the ball in the air to his pull side. He also has a strong throwing arm and an ideal build (i.e., 5-foot-11 and sturdy) for work behind the plate.

There's also Leonardo Reynoso out of the Dominican Republic, who signed for a $750,000 bonus. He's technically billed as an infielder… but with a twist.

Described by Badler as "a stocky, 5-foot-10 switch hitter," Reynoso has the arm to play anywhere on the infield but a build that probably works best at third base. And that might not even be his best potential position, as Badler thinks he's an "intriguing catching conversion candidate."

Now, a team converting a prospect to catcher isn't very common, much less a high-probability avenue to success. Whereas there are plenty of players who found success elsewhere after starting out at catcher — i.e., Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Daulton Varsho and Kenley Jansen — Jorge Posada is really the only player who comes to mind as a guy who found stardom at catcher after starting his career at another position.

Even so, you do wonder if the Mariners will consider such a change for Reynoso. He doesn't sound like a proper middle infielder, after all, and his bat might not play at the hot corner long term. Badler sees him as more of a line-drive hitter with gap power than as a home run masher.

Besides, it never hurts to have catching upside in the farm system. And right now, it's something the Mariners are light on after trading Harry Ford in December. Luke Stevenson is the only full-time catching prospect in the club's top 30, and he's more likely to become a backup to Cal Raleigh than he is to replace "Big Dumper" as Seattle's everyday backstop — if he isn't also traded, of course.

With both Alaña and Reynoso, the Mariners can't make anything other than long-term plans either way right now. They're both in their teens, and thus likely at least five years away from being candidates to break through in Seattle.

As he's 29 years old with a contract that is guaranteed through 2030, that is right around when the Mariners could be staring their post-Raleigh era in the face. If even one of Alaña and Reynoso is his heir apparent by then, the Mariners will have done well.