Top SF Giants 2026 international signing reportedly set to skip DSL

The SF Giants had lightly considered having top 2026 international signing Luis Hernández skip the Dominican Summer League (DSL). On Wednesday, Jesús Cano of Baseball America reported that
Hernández will indeed move stateside.

Top SF Giants 2026 international signing reportedly set to skip DSL

That is a rather uncommon placement for a prospect who was just signed through the international channel, but it also reflects how advanced the Giants feel about
Hernández's development. Now that this is resolved, the next question is, at what level will he start the year?

Cano adds that the Giants are uncertain of where Hernández will start the season. That will largely depend on how he performs in minor league camp, but reaching Low-A is not out of the question.

If Hernández begins the season in the Arizona Complex League (ACL), that would become an interesting team to follow. That roster is expected to include Josuar Gonzalez, who was the Giants' top international signing during the 2025 cycle. Both prospects play shortstop, and scouts believe that they can stick at that position.

In the scenario that both Hernández and Gonzalez play on the same roster, they could split time at shortstop, with the other taking reps at second base. There are only about 60 games in an ACL season, so there would not be much lost in terms of development if either one does not see every inning at shortstop.

The Giants signed Hernández for just under $5 million out of Venezuela. It marked one of the largest investments by the organization in this channel. He was widely viewed as the top prospect in this year's class. Hernández was lauded for his advanced feel for hitting and high baseball IQ, along with his fundamental soundness at a premium position.

The Giants have typically had prospects who were signed internationally begin their career in the DSL. It is rather unprecedented for them to bypass that level with a prospect, and it bears mentioning that this front office was relatively conservative with prospect placements and promotions last year.

The closest a Giants prospect of Hernández's age came to bypassing the DSL that I can recall was Luis Matos. When he signed during the 2018 - 2019 international free agency cycle, he began his pro career in the DSL in 2019. After 55 games, Matos made the rare mid-season move from the DSL to Rookie Ball. He appeared in five games in Arizona to finish out that year.