FORT MYERS, Fla. — Miguel Bleis got here into final season as one of many quickest rising prospects in all of baseball. The Red Sox high worldwide free agent signing in 2021, the teenage outfielder established himself as the highest place participant within the Florida Complex League in 2022 and started drawing comparisons to five-tool superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr.
Then late final spring he suffered a left shoulder sublexation that required surgical procedure, and identical to that his season was over.
“You come into the season with your goals and your expectations about how you want things to go for you, then out of nowhere they tell you you can’t play anymore,” Bleis stated this week by way of translator Daveson Perez.
Now on the mend and nearing a return to motion, the gifted outfielder is happy to get again on monitor.
“I’m limiting my expectations this year. I went into last year with a lot of expectations and then look what happened,” stated Bleis, who turns 20 on Friday. “So this year I’m going in just focused on staying healthy and playing well and spending the whole year hoping to show people what I can do.”
Signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic, Bleis spent his first 12 months as an expert on the Red Sox Dominican Academy. He got here stateside in 2022 and dominated the FCL, batting .301 with 5 dwelling runs, 27 RBI, an .896 OPS and 18 stolen bases in solely 40 video games. He additionally demonstrated nice vary and an excellent arm in heart discipline, and coming into 2023 he ranked as excessive as No. 72 total on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects listing.
After lacking many of the season resulting from harm Bleis has since fallen out of the Top 100 however continues to be considered because the consensus No. 5 prospect within the Red Sox group. Though he nonetheless isn’t cleared for recreation motion, Bleis has taken half in exercises and reside batting follow since camp opened and is predicted to be prepared for Opening Day.
“He looks great. Obviously it’s been a long rehab process but he’s spent a lot of time in Fort Myers, he’s spent a lot of time at the academy,” stated Red Sox director of participant improvement Brian Abraham. “He’s put on some really good weight, he’s strong, he’s swinging the bat fast, playing good defense, but he’s ready to go and in a really good spot.”
Born a month earlier than the Red Sox started their historic 2004 World Series championship marketing campaign, Bleis is described by these across the group as a low-key and hard-working child who’s rising more and more snug in his personal pores and skin.
He stated his two favourite gamers are Acuña and San Diego Padres famous person Fernando Tatis Jr., and whereas he doesn’t have the identical model of play, Bleis stated he follows them carefully and research what they do.
“The way that they play, they’re five-tool players and I see myself as a five-tool player too,” Bleis stated.
Within the Red Sox group Bleis stated the participant he most appears as much as is Rafael Devers, who was equally well-regarded as a global prospect after receiving an similar $1.5 million bonus in 2013. Though his publicity to the massive league membership has been restricted, Bleis stated he’s gotten the possibility to speak to Devers a handful of instances.
“We’ve done a lot of fundamental work this spring and I’ve gotten the chance to talk to Devers once or twice, but I haven’t had that chance to practice with a lot of them,” Bleis stated, including of Devers, “excellent person, excellent baseball player, just looks like a really good teammate.”
Though Bleis is thought to be a terrific all-around participant, he’s nonetheless a great distance from the majors and nonetheless has to enhance at the whole lot if he hopes to achieve his sky-high potential. Beyond staying wholesome, Abraham stated he’d wish to see Bleis proceed hitting the ball exhausting, refine his swing choices and use his athleticism to play extra aggressively within the discipline and on the basepaths.
“He has plus speed, range, just being aggressive towards the ball and being able to make some plays that some other players can’t would be good,” Abraham stated. “He does have all-around talent, he’s an all-around player, so improving in all aspects of the game will be vital for him to have success in the upper levels.”
Barring any extra setbacks, Bleis will more than likely begin the season again at Low-A Salem, the place he performed 31 video games final season and batted .230 with a house run, 16 RBI, 11 stolen bases and an underwhelming .607 OPS. Abraham wouldn’t rule out the likelihood he might both begin the 12 months again within the Florida Complex League and even earn a promotion to High-A Greenville. It will all rely upon how he completes his restoration and performs as soon as he’s totally cleared.
Either method, the gifted outfielder’s future continues to be vivid, and Bleis needs followers to know he’s doing the whole lot he can to grow to be the participant everybody hopes he could be.
“(I want) them to know I’m working hard,” Bleis stated. “We lost a very important year last year, but I want them to know I’m working hard on a very good comeback.”
Romero on the mend
Abraham additionally offered an encouraging harm replace on shortstop Mikey Romero, the Red Sox first-round decide in 2022 who missed most of final season resulting from a again harm.
“He’s doing good, rehabbing, we’re hopeful he’ll be ready to break camp and be ready to compete to go to an affiliate,” Abraham stated. “So he’s in a good spot.”
Abraham additionally stated high prospect Marcelo Mayer, whose season was derailed by a shoulder harm final summer season, is nice to go as nicely and took reside batting follow in Fort Myers on Tuesday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com