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1. Chicago: The loveable losers, still seeking their first World Series title since 1908, are certainly in the best position in their history on the international scouting scene. With homegrown signs like Dominican Carlos Marmol, Venezuelan Carlos Zambrano and Puerto Rican Geovany Soto, the Cubs are firing on all cylinders.

After failing in Asia with South Korea signs like Hee-Seop Choi and Jae-Kuk Ryu, Chicago also hit it big in ’08 with the success of Japan’s Kosuke Fukudome and hopes their first South Korea success comes soon with prospects, Dae-Eun Rhee and Hak-Ju Lee. In Latin America, the Cubs are high on a pair of Dominicans, catcher Wellington Castillo and shortstop Starlin Castro. And Alessandro Maestri is an Italian-born pitcher who the Cubs are also high on.

2. St. Louis: The face of the Cardinals international scouting success is Dominican Albert Pujols, but they’ve had a lot more highs than one player going back to the days when it signed the likes of Puerto Rican’s Willie Montanez and Jose Cruz; Canadian Reggie Cleveland; Nicaraguan David Green; and Dominicans Stan Javier and Pedro Borbon.

Japan’s So Taguchi and Puerto Rico’s Yadier Molina, along with Pujols, were cornerstones on the ’06 World Series team. Mexican hurlers Jaime Garcia and Fernando Salas could be big keys for the Cards soon, and further down the road, St. Louis fans can look forward to Dominican third baseman Roberto de la Cruz. The Redbirds also have Panamanian Arquimedes Nieto in their system.

3. Houston: You don’t need to remind Astros fans, but this organization has a rich history of signing talented players born outside the U.S. only to see them have success elsewhere, namely Venezuelans Carlos Guillen, Freddy Garcia, Melvin Mora, Johan Santana and Bobby Abreu.

Only Terry Puhl (Canada) and Cesar Cedeno (Dominican) are recognizable non-U.S.-born talent to also play for the big league club, along with Dominican Willy Tavares. Venezuelan southpaw Wandy Rodriguez was also an Astros original sign, but a trio of Dominicans hurlers could bode well for the future in Houston with the likes of Felipe Paulino, Samuel Gervacio and Polin Trinidad, as well as DR outfielder Yordany Ramirez.

4. Cincinnati: The organization which originally signed the likes of Cubans Dolf Luque, Tony Gonzalez, Cookie Rojas, Leo Cardenas and Hall-of-Famer Tony Perez, not to mention Venezuelan Dave Concepcion and Dominicans Joaquin Andujar and Mario Soto, isn’t where it wants to be yet but it’s getting there.

Homegrown signs like Johnny Cueto (Dominican) and Joey Votto (Canada) should be regulars in the Queen City for some time, and they soon could be joined by the likes of Cuban Yonder Alonso, Puerto Rican Neftali Soto, Venezuelan Yorman Rodriguez, and Dominicans, Juan Francisco and Juan Duran.

5. Milwaukee: The Brewers will soon be the only MLB team without its own facility in the Dominican Republic, and fans of the Beermakers remember the glorious year of 1982 and the international impact of homegrown signs like Mexican Teddy Higuera and Puerto Rican Ed Romero.

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Since then the Brew Crew’s international success has been limited, from Puerto Rico’s Jaime Navarro to Australia’s Dave Nilsson. Milwaukee was among the first to scout South Africa, inking Paul Bell, who never reached Double-A. Fortunately, today’s Brewers are building a solid international scouting foundation, coming behind Mexican Yovani Gallardo, with Venezuelan shortstop Alcides Escobar, Canadian slugger Brett Lawrie and Dominican backstop Angel Salome.

6. Pittsburgh: One of the first organizations to reap success from international scouting, the Pirates signed Panamanian’s Manny Sanguillen, Omar Moreno and Rennie Stennett, which helped the Bucs to their last World Series title in 1979.

Since then, the Bucs have seen original international signs have success elsewhere like Dominicans Moises Alou, Aramis Ramirez and Jose Guillen, and Mexican Esteban Loaiza. These days, the Pirates have a few homegrown Latin prospects in the system such as Dominican Jose de los Santos, Venezuelan Ronald Uviedo and Mexican Luis Cruz. With nothing to lose but more losses, Pittsburgh has also extended its global reach, signing South African Mpho Ngoepe and giving a pair of India-born pitchers, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, a one-in-a-million chance. But the Pirates need more depth in original signs, especially in Latin America.

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