For the primary time in about half a decade, the Red Sox farm system is veering into plentiful territory.
The kindest analysis got here from Baseball America, which ranks Boston No. 10 this 12 months.
While the pitching depth is considerably of a combined bag, with Keith Law questioning whether or not there’s a single authentic beginning pitcher on your complete farm, the infield expertise is indeniable. The group’s Top 30 is chock-full, with 16 infielders and two catching prospects.
The one who knocks
In phrases of expertise and proximity to big-league readiness if there’s simply “one to watch,” it’s Ceddanne Rafaela.
The infielder-turned-outfielder broke out in an enormous method in 2022, when he moved from shortstop and have become a defensive sensation in Double-A Portland. The group’s 2022 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year evokes reminiscences of Mookie Betts, who made an identical change on the identical stage virtually a decade in the past.
The 22-year-old from Curacao may very effectively be Boston’s centerfielder of the longer term, although he’s additionally a robust defender at shortstop. He’s thought-about a Gold Glove winner-to-be, and brings a strong bat and severe pace to the desk, as effectively. He collected 144 hits, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 21 dwelling runs, and 28 stolen bases in 116 video games final 12 months. What the Red Sox have been on the lookout for this spring is improved plate self-discipline; in 2022, he struck out 113 instances and solely drew 26 walks.
Rafaela is presently the No. 3 prospect within the system, although No. 2 Triston Casas will exceed his rookie limits virtually instantly, as he’s slated to be the big-league membership’s on a regular basis first baseman. But Rafaela may be part of him earlier than lengthy; MLB Pipeline predicts his ETA within the Majors this 12 months, and Kiké Hernández and Adam Duvall are solely signed to one-year offers.
The slugger
Keep an eye fixed on Enmanuel Valdez, too. One of the 2 prospects acquired from the Houston Astros within the Christian Vázquez commerce, the No. 18 prospect is an infielder who swings a mighty bat. He hit .296/.376/.542 final 12 months with 35 doubles, two triples, 28 dwelling runs, 92 runs scored, and 107 RBI in 126 video games. If the Red Sox want an influence increase, he’ll solely be a brief drive away in Triple-A Worcester.
The speedster
Infielder David Hamilton stole 70 bases with Double-A Portland final 12 months (and 52 within the Brewers group the 12 months earlier than). How is he going to high that?
The arms
From a pitching standpoint, righty Bryan Mata and lefties Brandon Walter and Chris Murphy are the trio of promising beginning pitching prospects with probabilities to debut and contribute this season.
After the pandemic compelled the cancellation of the 2020 MiLB season, Mata missed your complete 2021 marketing campaign recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure. He seemed dominant in his work final 12 months, posting a 1.85 ERA and 58 strikeouts throughout 48 2/3 innings in Double-A, and a 3.47 ERA and 30 Ks in 23 1/3 innings with Triple-A. Limiting walks might be key for the 23-year-old, who’s now the group’s No. 7 prospect.
Walter ranks just under Mata. A 26-year-old who limits walks, he posted a 3.60 ERA, zero dwelling runs, 68 strikeouts, and solely three walks throughout 9 begins (50 innings) with Double-A final 12 months, however acquired knocked round a bit in his two begins with Triple-A. Likewise this spring.
No. 15 prospect Murphy has been on a speedy rise by way of the farm because the Red Sox chosen him within the sixth spherical in 2019. He threw 76 2/3 innings in Double-A Portland and 75 1/3 innings in Triple-A Worcester final 12 months, however with very totally different outcomes. With Portland, he compiled a 2.58 ERA and 91 strikeouts, however completed his time in Worcester with a 5.50 ERA and 58 Ks. Command is his key difficulty; he walked 72 batters throughout the 2 ranges final 12 months.
The high kids
The new child on the block is Miguel Bleis, the 19-year-old outfielder who aspires to be like Ronald Acuña Jr. and attracts comparisons to Rafael Devers, although they hit from reverse sides of the plate.
Bleis’ five-tool potential is excessive sufficient that Red Sox deemed him worthy of a $1.5 million signing bonus, the very best quantity of anybody of their 2020-21 worldwide class.
The speedy, hard-hitting outfielder is now the No. 4 prospect within the system, however his big-league ETA isn’t till 2026.
Last however definitely not least, Marcelo Mayer.
In addition to being the group’s No. 1 total prospect, Mayer is now inheritor obvious to some of the revered gamers in franchise historical past. Xander Bogaerts’ agent, Scott Boras, even strongly steered that Mayer’s potential factored into the group’s negotiations, or lack thereof, along with his consumer.
With Bogaerts gone, it’s inevitable that the highlight on the 20-year-old shortstop will crank as much as a blinding mild. He’s nonetheless decrease within the farm, although. He spent the season going forwards and backwards between Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville. In 66 video games on the decrease stage, he hit .286/.406/.504 with 72 hits. The then-19-year-old acquired in 25 video games with Greenville, however his numbers took a little bit of a dive, .265/.379/.449, 26 hits, 4 doubles, a triple, and 4 dwelling runs,
Source: www.bostonherald.com