2023 Prospects

[mvp 78]

@tylermilliken_

.

@keithlaw

dropped his Top 60 prospects list and the Red Sox have 4 names on it.

 

3. Marcelo Mayer

45. Roman Anthony

48. Ceddanne Rafaela

50. Kyle Teel

[moonslav59]

@tylermilliken_

.

@keithlaw

dropped his Top 60 prospects list and the Red Sox have 4 names on it.

 

3. Marcelo Mayer

45. Roman Anthony

48. Ceddanne Rafaela

50. Kyle Teel

 

Too bad, our farm is so weak.

[mvp 78]

This guy can't stop hitting right now.

 

@SoxProspects

Johanfran Garcia went 2-for-4 with a home run (4) and three RBI (26) in today's 9-4 FCL Red Sox win. The 18-year-old catcher is currently slashing .333/.429/.571 over 126 PA.

[mvp 78]

Perales will finally make his GRE debut today in the first game of the double header.

[Hugh2]

This guy can't stop hitting right now.

 

@SoxProspects

Johanfran Garcia went 2-for-4 with a home run (4) and three RBI (26) in today's 9-4 FCL Red Sox win. The 18-year-old catcher is currently slashing .333/.429/.571 over 126 PA.

 

That's my boy. I hope he continues to impress, would be really nice to have two stud catchers in the system.

[Larry Cook]

Anthony continues to be pitched around at high A! Another three walk game!

 

At some point, he needs to go up to Portland if opposing teams are not going to pitch to him!

[Hugh2]

Anthony continues to be pitched around at high A! Another three walk game!

 

At some point, he needs to go up to Portland if opposing teams are not going to pitch to him!

 

The only way Anthony sniffs Portland this year is if he’s still raking and Portland has better playoff opportunities. In which case it’s still September baseball. I don’t think it happens, the Sox brass have criteria they like to see at every level and it’s not all about stats, at all.

 

Anthony has some holes in his swing, and very bad splits right now. The Sox aren’t going to push him to Portland right after pushing him to Greenville.

[moonslav59]

Woo won 10-2.

2-2 w HR, 2B, BB Kavadas

1-2 w 2BBs Abreu

1-5 w 2B Rafaela

1-3 w 2BBs Sogard

 

Rafaela homered in the completion game loss.

 

POR won their completion game as Dobbins was bashed. Kluber went 2 IP with 1H, 0ER, oBB and 1K.

They lost the full game 6-4, but Gambrell pitched well: 6IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 9K

Hickey (2-4) HR'd

Binelas (2-4) homered

Meidroth 2-4

Mayer 1-3 w 2B

Rosier 1-3 w 3B

[moonslav59]

GRE lost 5-3

Bonaci 3-5

Decker 1-4 w HR

Anthony 1-4 w 2B and BB (1.199 OPS)

 

SAL won 5-1.

Paez 5IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB, 7K (4.13 ERA)

Coffey 3-4 (up to .696)

 

FCL won

Yuten 2-3

Jimenez 2-3

 

DSL Teams split

de los Santos 2-6

Cespedes 1-4 w 3B and BB

Salazar 3 run 2B (1-3)

GRodriguez 5-5 w HR & 2B

Noria 4-5 w 3B, 2B

Linarez 3-5 w 2B

 

[moonslav59]

From SP's:

 

Player of the Day: Gerardo Rodriguez isn't ranked in the SoxProspects Top 60. With more performances like today, that might change. His 5-for-5 night with four runs scored raised his batting average to .370, with a .952 OPS. Never heard of him? Don't worry, you've got time -- he's only 17 years old. Signed as an international free agent in January, Rodriguez is showing flashes that he might be a force to be reckoned with. Keep an eye on this young rising catcher.

[sk7326]

The law writeups on the 4 ... https://theathletic.com/4703833/2023/07/21/mlb-top-prospects-2023-minor-leaguers/

 

3. Marcelo Mayer (#11 preseason)

 

Mayer also moved up to Double A this year at a decrepit 20 years of age, after hitting .290/.366/.524 for High-A Greenville in 35 games to start the season. He’s a true shortstop who’s a plus defender there already and could end up more than that depending on how his body develops. I’d be shocked if he wound up moving to another position, although I know some scouts think he might end up at third base, which could be a Gunnar Henderson situation (very good at short, elite at third). Wherever he plays, Mayer can hit and already is showing close to plus power, with everything better this year now that the wrist injuries from 2022 are in the rearview mirror. It’s a beautiful left-handed swing with excellent bat speed, and he is driving the ball better to all fields this year as well. He projects as a 25-30 homer guy with strong OBPs, which will play regardless of where he is on the dirt.[/quote

 

45. Roman Anthony (preseason unranked)

 

The Red Sox took Anthony in the second round in 2022 out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, moving him to Low A to start 2023. He hit just .220/.376/.317 at that level, but the Red Sox were so pleased with his batted-ball data that they promoted him to High A, where he’s hitting .338/.484/.770 in 21 games with 8 homers already, so I’m going to say that promotion was probably a good call. Anthony has a great baseball body and a powerful swing that, as you might have inferred, produces strong exit velocities even though he hasn’t filled out physically yet, and he’s shown much better pitch recognition and zone awareness in pro ball than it seemed like he had in showcases and tournaments as an amateur. I wrote in January that “if he’s that much more advanced a hitter than the industry thought, the Red Sox got a steal.” Guess what? The Red Sox got a steal.

 

48. Ceddane Rafaela (preseason #37)

 

Rafaela is one of the best defensive center fielders anywhere in the minors, a plus runner with superb instincts who continues to show sneaky 55 power even though he’s pretty slight for a 22-year-old. He’s overly aggressive at the plate, and that’s burned him in his brief time so far this year in Triple A, where he’s walked once with 18 Ks in 72 plate appearances because he’s chasing stuff out of the zone that he could hit at lower levels but not there. There’s such a high floor here with the defense and power; Kevin Kiermaier has played 11 years and been worth over 30 rWAR with a career .310 OBP because of his defense and has no more power than Rafaela does. If the Curaçao native can focus on swinging at strikes, that kind of career is within reach.

 

50. Kyle Teel (new)

 

Teel was the best catcher in this year’s loaded draft class, a very athletic backstop who caught and hit well for UVA this spring in one of the best conferences in college baseball. He has outstanding bat speed and pitch recognition, rarely striking out for the Cavs in 2023 (12 percent), making line-drive contact and hitting for power against right-handers. He’s very agile behind the plate with a 60 arm and good hands, needing work on framing and handling pitches below the zone, although there’s no doubt he stays at catcher for the long term. He doesn’t hit lefties for any power, at least not so far in a small sample, which is probably his one area for work as a hitter. I think he’s at least a regular with a chance to be a Jason Kendall type of hitter, with high contact rates and some value from speed along with modest power.

 

....

 

And of course, Nazzan Zanetello is definitely in the Roman Anthony camp of a guy who can make a major leap ... depending on how what seems to be rare athleticism and twitch turns into baseball stuff.

[moonslav59]

The law writeups on the 4 ... https://theathletic.com/4703833/2023/07/21/mlb-top-prospects-2023-minor-leaguers/

 

3. Marcelo Mayer (#11 preseason)

 

Mayer also moved up to Double A this year at a decrepit 20 years of age, after hitting .290/.366/.524 for High-A Greenville in 35 games to start the season. He’s a true shortstop who’s a plus defender there already and could end up more than that depending on how his body develops. I’d be shocked if he wound up moving to another position, although I know some scouts think he might end up at third base, which could be a Gunnar Henderson situation (very good at short, elite at third). Wherever he plays, Mayer can hit and already is showing close to plus power, with everything better this year now that the wrist injuries from 2022 are in the rearview mirror. It’s a beautiful left-handed swing with excellent bat speed, and he is driving the ball better to all fields this year as well. He projects as a 25-30 homer guy with strong OBPs, which will play regardless of where he is on the dirt.[/quote

 

45. Roman Anthony (preseason unranked)

 

 

 

48. Ceddane Rafaela (preseason #37)

 

 

 

50. Kyle Teel (new)

 

 

 

....

 

And of course, Nazzan Zanetello is definitely in the Roman Anthony camp of a guy who can make a major leap ... depending on how what seems to be rare athleticism and twitch turns into baseball stuff.

 

For Law to like 4 Red Sox players, this much, they must be pretty good.

 

With 30 teams in MLB, each team should have about 1-2 players on the list of 50 (1.67 by the numbers.)

 

Having 4 is a good sign we are headed in the right direction. I'm liking what I am seeing.

[Larry Cook]

Winkleman with a no hitter through 5 innings today!

He struck out 10, but walked 4 and one of those 4 scored!

 

The control, or lack thereof is frustrating, but the raw stuff is amazing

[sk7326]

The law writeups on the 4 ... https://theathletic.com/4703833/2023/07/21/mlb-top-prospects-2023-minor-leaguers/

 

3. Marcelo Mayer (#11 preseason)

 

 

 

For Law to like 4 Red Sox players, this much, they must be pretty good.

 

With 30 teams in MLB, each team should have about 1-2 players on the list of 50 (1.67 by the numbers.)

 

Having 4 is a good sign we are headed in the right direction. I'm liking what I am seeing.

 

It's been the most since Cherington was GM for sure. That said, pretty much the only team that has seemed immune to the ups and downs of prospect graduations and trades is the Dodgers.

[Hugh2]

Winkleman with a no hitter through 5 innings today!

He struck out 10, but walked 4 and one of those 4 scored!

 

The control, or lack thereof is frustrating, but the raw stuff is amazing

 

It’s frustrating but not all to uncommon for a young pitcher. He’s an exciting guy

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

From SP's:

 

Player of the Day: Gerardo Rodriguez isn't ranked in the SoxProspects Top 60. With more performances like today, that might change. His 5-for-5 night with four runs scored raised his batting average to .370, with a .952 OPS. Never heard of him? Don't worry, you've got time -- he's only 17 years old. Signed as an international free agent in January, Rodriguez is showing flashes that he might be a force to be reckoned with. Keep an eye on this young rising catcher.

 

This is the kind of recruit that can define a GM and his staff, finding and signing talent beyond just selecting the best player available when it's their turn in the amateur draft.

[moonslav59]

 

It's been the most since Cherington was GM for sure. That said, pretty much the only team that has seemed immune to the ups and downs of prospect graduations and trades is the Dodgers.

 

The Braves, Astros and maybe the Rays have kept a flow of good young players pretty constant, while winning. The O'd were helped by losing for so long.

[moonslav59]

The no hitter is the talk on the farm. Wikelman dropped his ERA to 0.75. His BB issue is still alive. He walks about one very 2 innings, but he's got nasty stuff.

Kavadas 2 BBs

 

GRE won 4-3

Castro, Bonaci and Ferguson all had 2 hits

 

SAL won 6-4

Asigen 3-4 (.874, now)

Jh Garcia 1-5 w 3 rbi

Ravelo 2-4

 

[mvp 78]

Roman Anthony through 26 Games GRE:

1152 OPS

9 HR

23 R

21 RBI

24 BB

16 2B

[mvp 78]

Cutter Coffey OPS by month:

April 634

May 589

June 794

July 844

 

Nice to see him start to get into the groove.

[Hugh2]

If even one of Coffey and Romero get going that draft looks really good with Anthony blowing up.

 

Curious to see the new Soxprospects.com rankings. I'm sure I don't have their right order but I feel the top 10 will be:

 

1. Marcelo Mayer

2. Roman Anthony

3. Miguel Bleis

4. Ceddanne Rafaela

5. Kyle Teel

6. Nazzan Zanatello

7. Luis Perales

8. Nick Yorke

9. Shane Drohan

10. Mickey Romero

 

Yes, most teams get a nice new shiny silver toy after a draft but our system will look/will be stacked.

[moonslav59]

If even one of Coffey and Romero get going that draft looks really good with Anthony blowing up.

 

Curious to see the new Soxprospects.com rankings. I'm sure I don't have their right order but I feel the top 10 will be:

 

1. Marcelo Mayer

2. Roman Anthony

3. Miguel Bleis

4. Ceddanne Rafaela

5. Kyle Teel

6. Nazzan Zanatello

7. Luis Perales

8. Nick Yorke

9. Shane Drohan

10. Mickey Romero

 

Yes, most teams get a nice new shiny silver toy after a draft but our system will look/will be stacked.

 

I might not have the draftees so highly ranked, and I'd have Wikelman 8th or 9th and Drohan lower.

 

[Hugh2]

I might not have the draftees so highly ranked, and I'd have Wikelman 8th or 9th and Drohan lower.

 

 

Maybe Zanatello will be lower, maybe more in the 7-10 range, but I think Teel will be up there. Listening to the last Soxprospects podcast, they didn't say where they were ranking them but did elude to what range they were thinking. Callis who was on for an interview would have him top 3. I think soxprospects will have him in the 5-7 range, MAYBE 4. They tend to be biased towards guys they've had eyes on, although, all rankers are.

[mvp 78]

Maybe Zanatello will be lower, maybe more in the 7-10 range, but I think Teel will be up there. Listening to the last Soxprospects podcast, they didn't say where they were ranking them but did elude to what range they were thinking. Callis who was on for an interview would have him top 3. I think soxprospects will have him in the 5-7 range, MAYBE 4. They tend to be biased towards guys they've had eyes on, although, all rankers are.

 

Unsure if Nazzan will even be top 10. We'll see. He's an interesting prospect. Some rankings had him first round, others had him 2nd round.

[Bellhorn04]

Quibble on, mighty prospect rankers!

[Hugh2]

Unsure if Nazzan will even be top 10. We'll see. He's an interesting prospect. Some rankings had him first round, others had him 2nd round.

 

Maybe I should go back and relisten, I may have misheard something when they were talking about the "general range" of where they were thinking of putting these guys. A raw HS guy like that taken in the 2nd round would be strange of them to put right into the top to. He had a similar ranking to Anthony before the draft and he didn't make the top 10, however, they seem to be higher on Zannatello. We will see one way or another.

[mvp 78]

Maybe I should go back and relisten, I may have misheard something when they were talking about the "general range" of where they were thinking of putting these guys. A raw HS guy like that taken in the 2nd round would be strange of them to put right into the top to. He had a similar ranking to Anthony before the draft and he didn't make the top 10, however, they seem to be higher on Zannatello. We will see one way or another.

 

He did get a pretty massive bonus, so I wouldn't be surprised if he sneaks into the back of the top 10. I mean, is he better than Wikelman or Romero? That's the question. I would start him outside the top 10 and then see how he does in FCL/SAL at the end of this summer.

[Hugh2]

He did get a pretty massive bonus, so I wouldn't be surprised if he sneaks into the back of the top 10. I mean, is he better than Wikelman or Romero? That's the question. I would start him outside the top 10 and then see how he does in FCL/SAL at the end of this summer.

 

If I hadn't listened to the podcast and was just ranking on my own I'd probably guess he'd be in the 14-16 range. But I think they're going to sneak him into the top 10. Somehwere 7-11 is highly likely, with closer to 11 than 7 more so.

[mvp 78]

I would go:

 

Mayer

Bleis

Anthony

Rafaela

Teel

Yorke

Perales

Drohan

Wikelman

Romero

Zanetello

Valdez

Bonaci

Garcia

Murphy

Walter

Meidroth

Hickey

Rodriguez Cruz

Abreu

[moonslav59]

I would go:

 

Mayer

Bleis

Anthony

Rafaela

Teel

Yorke

Perales

Drohan

Wikelman

Romero

Zanetello

Valdez

Bonaci

Garcia

Murphy

Walter

Meidroth

Hickey

Rodriguez Cruz

Abreu

 

I’m not so high on Bonaci, but once you get down in the teens, it’s all pretty interchangeable.