For 126 games during the 1968 and '69 seasons, left-handed-hitting outfielder Vic Davalillo suited up for the Angels. A member of the inaugural Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame class in 2003, the 5-foot-7 Davalillo collected 1,122 hits across 16 big league seasons, paving the way for countless fellow countrymen in the years to come. His older brother, Pompeyo (often called Yo-Yo), was one of the first Venezuelans to appear in a Major League game back in 1953.

From 1994-98, David Davalillo was a utility infielder in the Angels’ system, making it as high as Double-A.

Now another member of the Davalillo clan -- David’s son -- is joining the Angels organization.

Gabriel Davalillo, the No. 17 international prospect per MLB Pipeline, has agreed to terms with a deal as the headliner of the club’s 2025 international class. The 17-year-old backstop also ranks as the No. 1 catching prospect in this year’s group.

Davalillo’s bonus is worth $2 million. The club received $6.26 million in pool money this year.

Davalillo fits the mold of an offense-first backstop, one who has a track record of mashing. Built with a right-handed swing that is geared for power, he is able to drive a variety of offerings to all parts of the field for extra bases. Some evaluators are reminded of fellow Venezuelan catcher Francisco Alvarez when comparing their offensive profiles, as Davalillo similarly boasts sizable pop from a sub-6-foot frame.

That Alvarez comparison is exciting for the Angels on multiple fronts: Before graduating off MLB Pipeline’s prospect lists, the Mets’ catcher had ascended to No. 1 overall prospect status. Similarly to Davalillo at this stage, Alvarez wasn’t known much for his defensive prowess; last year, he tied for eighth among all big league backstops in catcher framing runs (6).

Davalillo started all eight games for Venezuela during the 18U Baseball World Cup during the summer of 2023. He’s not a burner on the basepaths, so his defensive home may be limited, but all indications are that he’ll get a chance to go out as a backstop to begin his pro career.

The Angels are no stranger to tapping into the blossoming Venezuelan catching market, having signed No. 17 prospect Juan Flores for $280,000 out of the country in January 2023. Flores and Davalillo are mirrors of the other’s skill set, but the club still promoted the defensive-minded Flores to High-A Tri-City as an 18-year-old this past season.

Factor in that the club’s top 2022 international signing -- No. 4 prospect Nelson Rada -- spent all of his age-18 year at Double-A Rocket City this past season and it’s an indication of how aggressively the Angels are willing to push those they believe are gifted enough to handle elevated competition.

An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.

That means players born between Sept. 1, 2007, and Aug. 31, 2008, will be eligible to sign in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.

Additional notable Angels signees and their bonuses:

Yilver De Paula, SS (Dominican Republic) – $900,000