The international prospect signing period receives only a fraction of the coverage of the MLB draft every year, but it’s every bit as important to the futures of big-league teams.

On the Twins’ current major-league roster, Luis Arraez, Jorge Polanco, Jhoan Duran (via the Diamondbacks), Max Kepler and Jorge Alcala (via the Astros) are among the players who were signed internationally as teenagers.

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And the Twins’ next wave of young talent is heavy on players signed the same way, including six of their top 20 prospects: No. 3 Emmanuel Rodriguez, No. 10 Yasser Mercedes, No. 13 Jose Rodriguez, No. 17 Ronny Henriquez (by the Rangers), No. 18 Danny De Andrade and No. 20 Bryan Acuña.

This year the Twins were one of eight teams with a maximum $6.367 million international signing bonus pool from which to spend, which enabled them to add a trio of consensus top-40 international prospects for more than $1 million apiece in Cuban outfielder Ariel Castro, Dominican shortstop Hendry Chivilli and Venezuelan catcher Carlos Silva.

In all, the Twins have finalized deals with 12 international prospects so far, with more likely to come. Here’s an early look at the three headliners.

Ariel Castro, outfielder

Widely considered one of the best, highest-upside hitters in the 2023 class, 16-year-old Cuban outfielder Ariel Castro signed with the Twins for $2.4 million, or 40 percent of their total available bonus allotment. Castro was ranked as the class’ No. 11 prospect by MLB.com and No. 13 by Baseball America, roughly equivalent to being a mid-first-round draft pick.

Castro is a big, left-handed slugger with a strong arm and above-average speed. He’s a center fielder for now, and has good athleticism for his size, but he may eventually end up sliding to a corner spot as he physically matures into what is already a 6-foot-2 frame. That sort of projection, and uncertainty, comes with the territory when signing 16-year-olds.

Described as having “huge raw power” and “a really pretty, explosive swing” by one Twins official, Castro’s bat speed stood out compared to other teenagers in the class. Praised for his work ethic and overall makeup in addition to physical tools, Castro profiles as a potential well-rounded impact bat rather than merely a power threat.

Cuban OF Ariel Castro this morning signed his $2.4 million contract with the Minnesota Twins

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 17, 2023

Hendry Chivilli, shortstop

Hendry Chivilli, much like Castro, is huge for a 16-year-old, standing 6-foot-3, but the Twins believe he has a real chance to stick at shortstop thanks largely to an exceptional arm that some evaluators feel is the strongest in the class. Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $2.1 million, Chivilli was ranked No. 15 by Baseball America and No. 38 by MLB.com.

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For most of baseball history, the prototypical shortstop was small and fast. But players like Carlos Correa have helped change the idea of what a modern MLB shortstop looks like, showing that size and arm strength can be every bit as key as quickness. That’s the defensive mold the Twins are hoping Chivilli fits someday, and if he outgrows the position a move to third base would be a natural fit.

Chivilli has shown some power at the plate already and it’s easy to project more right-handed thump onto his tall, thin frame as he fills out. His arm is strong enough to be a carrying tool, being described by a Twins official as “an absolute cannon” near the very top of the scouting scale. Chivilli looks the part of a top prospect physically, so the Twins are betting on the development of his hit tool.

Minnesota Twins this morning signed shortstop Hendry Chivilli for $2.1 million

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 17, 2023

Carlos Silva, catcher

Not to be confused with the same-named, sinker-throwing Twins pitcher from the early 2000s, this Carlos Silva is a 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher. Acquired for a $1.1 million signing bonus, he was ranked No. 23 in the class by Baseball America and No. 31 by MLB.com.

Catcher prospects tend to develop less linearly than other positions, so trying to predict how a 16-year-old will look at age 21 or 22 is particularly tough, but Silva’s arm strength behind the plate and power at the plate are considered among the best in a strong international catcher class.

Twins officials think Silva, a 5-foot-10 right-handed batter, has a chance to be an asset on both sides of the ball, with one evaluator calling him “a big, strong kid who can really throw, and hit the ball hard.”

One of the big signings today for the Minnesota Twins international class, Venezuelan catcher Carlos Silva

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2023

(Top photo of Ariel Castro courtesy Minnesota Twins)