Top signing: 3B Rafael Devers, Dominican Republic, $1.5 million.

Six-figure signings: LHP Enmanuel DeJesus (Venezuela), LHP Jhonathan Diaz (Venezuela), OF Yoan Aybar (Dominican Republic), RHP Gerson Bautista (Dominican Republic).

Total players signed: 20.

Excluding Cuban righthander Dalier Hinojosa, whose $4 million bonus in October didn’t count against the team’s international bonus pool, Boston’s biggest international amateur signing last year was Dominican third baseman Rafael Devers (video), who officially signed for $1.5 million in August after playing in the International Prospect League and training with Javier Rodriguez and Rudy Santin. Several teams regarded Devers, who is around 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, as the best lefthanded hitter on the international market. With excellent bat speed and a smooth, compact swing that stays in the zone for a long time, Devers impressed scouts from other organizations for his ability to hit in games. He has a mature approach, recognizes and drives offspeed pitches, uses the whole field, controls the bat head well enough to connect on pitches in and out of the strike zone and hangs in well against lefthanded pitching. He has a level swing with average raw power, with the potential to grow into plus power.

Devers has a round, heavy body type, so the question several scouts have is whether he can stick at third base. Some scouts think he can stay there as long as he keeps his body in check and continues to improve his footwork. He’s flashed average running times in the 60-yard dash, but he’s going to slow down significantly. He’s played some at second base but he probably doesn’t have the range to play there, so if he can’t stick at third base, a move to first is his most likely option, which would place greater demands on his power.

While most teams would likely send Devers straight to the U.S, the Red Sox are still undecided about where Devers will debut. Last year they sent Dominican infielder Wendell Rijo straight to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, though in 2010 they started Xander Bogaerts in the Dominican Summer League.

The Red Sox acquired a pair of Venezuelan lefthanders on July 2, including Enmanuel DeJesus for $787,500. DeJesus, 17, came out of Jose Blasini’s program, which also produced Red Sox lefthander Felix Doubront in 2004. At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, DeJesus has some similarities to Doubront, with a loose arm and more strength and durability than Doubront had when he signed. DeJesus’ stuff requires a lot of projection, has he signed throwing around 85-87 mph. The velocity is starting to come, as he was touching 90 mph and sitting at 86-88 over the winter. His secondary pitches are inconsistent, but he’s shown the ability to spin a curveball with feel for a changeup at times.