2026 Prospects

[sk7326]

Keith Law's writeup of the Sox draft: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7443639/2026/07/15/al-east-draft-grades-picks-mlb-2026/

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Boston Red Sox: Schaffner a reach in the first; bat-to-ball skills front and center

The Red Sox took UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner (1) with their first pick, one of the biggest reaches in the first round, as I had him 79th on my board. I do like the bat, as he almost never misses when he swings at strikes, and there may be a little more pop in there with some swing help. He’s a plus runner but isn’t good at shortstop, so center field may be a better option. He’d have to turn into an elite hitter for average for this pick to work out.

Schaffner’s teammate Owen Hull (CBB) could turn into a 20-homer guy if he just pulls the ball in the air more. He has strength and a solid eye, with good contact skills, but puts the ball on the ground too often.

Wisconsin high school shortstop Jace Mataczynski (3) is a good athlete with great bat-to-ball skills — you may be noticing a trend here — but he’s barely filled out his frame. He could be a plus defender at shortstop. I thought he’d end up at Auburn and let his body develop, with first-round upside in three years, so that’s something.

Florida Atlantic left-hander Kide Adetuyi (7) missed the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, then barely pitched — and not that well — in 2025, but 2026 was a breakout year for him as he struck out 27.5 percent of batters he faced while walking barely over 10 percent in 13 starts. He’s heavy on the slider, which is a 55, but tops out at 92 and probably has to go to relief.

Cal Poly left-hander Josh Volmerding (8) is 6-foot-4 with a low-90s fastball, above-average slider and a pretty fast arm. He missed a chunk of the spring with a knee injury and threw only 27 2/3 innings with a 6.51 ERA, but wasn’t much better as a sophomore.

Georgia high school outfielder Martin Shelar (9) can run and has some bat speed, getting his front foot down super late with zero load in his swing. I don’t see how he’s going to drive the ball at all like this.

Right-hander Kaleb LaFavor (10) was a bit of a pop-up guy late this spring, since Iowa high schools don’t play their seasons until the summer. He’s up to 96 and is very projectable at 6-foot-7, with a body that looks like he’s all legs. It is a wild delivery, as violent as it gets, with a big head whack and a short stride. He’s committed to Iowa.

 

Shelar looks like the clear guy the Sox are scrounging away slot pool money for.

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

 

[moonslav59]

On 7/16/2026 at 8:34 AM, mvp 78 said:

I think they waive 2 or 3 SAL hitters (Fernandez/Sirvania/Barry). Waive a few FCL guys (Marin, Baker). Waive a few GRE guys (Zanetello, Anderson). They also make some moves with the WOO roster to help move guys further up the chain (Lloyd, Hickey). I think they also deal one of Brannon or Johanfran as they are basically the same guy and Rule 5 eligible. 

Other potential Rule 5 deals: Ingrassia, Wehunt, Romero, Mullins.

Sounds about right. Not as much upper level movement as I suggested, but this is a common time for promotions.

I've been higher than most on Johanfran, but to me, Brannon seems to be the better bat.

I agree on others you mentioned as being cut loose.

I am pretty sure we try to trade those Rule 5 guys, even though I don't see a major roster crunch, this winter. We do have a lot of players on thee 60 IL, and we don't have a lot of free-agents-to-be, so maybe we get proactive and clear out some space for promotions and off season acquisitions. We don't have many players at AA and AAA that look like they need to be on the 26 to start the year. We've already added so many in the last 1.5 years.

There is a glut of middle infielders when you count the ones on the IL, but I think trading Romero frees up one slot and IKF another.

[moonslav59]

Primera went 4-4 w SAL, last night!

Mason White hit his 14th for GRE as Futrell struggled.

Brannon hit his 15th as Rogers struggled badly.

Eaton, Romero & Harris homered in Woo's loss.

[mvp 78]

It's promotion season baybay...

 

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

What time is it???? Prospect promotion time!

 

[moonslav59]

Nice jump by Delzine. Wehunt was kind of expected.

I assume several more will be forthcoming, soon.

I wonder where our draftees will be placed and ranked.

[moonslav59]

Are we done with all draftee signings?

#15 Chase Frey and #18 Ethan Offing have not signed.

[moonslav59]

My updated rankings with draftees and no Bennett might look like this...

1. Arias

2. Eyanson

3. Primera

4. Witherspoon

5. Gonzales

6. Azocar

7. Valera

8. Delzine

9. Godbout

10. Soto

11. Schaffner

12. Mataczynski

13. Phillips

14. Holobetz

15. Rivas

16. Winnay

17. Heyman

18. Shelar

19. Hull

20. Jo Garcia

21. Brannon

22. Silverio

23. Wehunt

24. Cespedes

25. Rivera

[mvp 78]

On 7/21/2026 at 10:55 AM, moonslav59 said:

Are we done with all draftee signings?

#15 Chase Frey and #18 Ethan Offing have not signed.

Offing was a backup just in case one of the other HS guys didn't sign. They aren't signing him and weren't expecting to.

Bruml said "something came up" with one of the other guys. That must be Frey. Guess he's not going to sign. Don't know if it's personal preference or medical. Hasn't been disclosed. 

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Offing was a backup just in case one of the other HS guys didn't sign. They aren't signing him and weren't expecting to.

Bruml said "something came up" with one of the other guys. That must be Frey. Guess he's not going to sign. Don't know if it's personal preference or medical. Hasn't been disclosed. 

I see we've all but signed 2 non draftees. Do they count towards the bonus pool? I assume we stayed under the penalty mark.

[mvp 78]

34 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I see we've all but signed 2 non draftees. Do they count towards the bonus pool? I assume we stayed under the penalty mark.

The bonus pool is counted based on the first 10 rounds. Rounds 11 and higher can sign for up to 150k without it counting towards the pool. Only amounts over that 150k threshold goes towards the pool.

Per Mike Andrews at SoxProspects:

Cap + 5% $8,630,160

Sox spend: $8,622,500

Amount under cap: $7,660

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

The bonus pool is counted based on the first 10 rounds. Rounds 11 and higher can sign for up to 150k without it counting towards the pool. Only amounts over that 150k threshold goes towards the pool.

Per Mike Andrews at SoxProspects:

Cap + 5% $8,630,160

Sox spend: $8,622,500

Amount under cap: $7,660

Thanks. I figured they stayed under.

[mvp 78]

Arias promoted to Worcester. No biggie..

[mvp 78]

He is now suspended. 

[moonslav59]

Brannon his his 17th dinger, and maybe he'll be moved to AAA, soon. His OPS is up to .969. He can play 1B/DH. I'm not sure he offers any value as a 3rd string catcher.

[Old Red]

A shoutout to KC who has gone 12-30 in July with HR the last 2 games.👏

[moonslav59]

Woo won. Ward went 3-4. Campbell 2-3

POR lost but Winnay and MWhite homered.

GRE won as Cespedes, Gonzales & Jackson homered.

SAL is losing.

[Larry Cook]

4 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Woo won. Ward went 3-4. Campbell 2-3

POR lost but Winnay and MWhite homered.

GRE won as Cespedes, Gonzales & Jackson homered.

SAL is losing.

Gonzales with a two run walk off home run!!  And earlier in the game. He had been hit by a pitch. Ouch! 

The other day primera hit by a bat in his hand and stayed in the game a little bit, but then came out. Could be a 60 day DL stay for him 

 

[mvp 78]

10 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Gonzales with a two run walk off home run!!  

This was his first game back after being suspended for the slap. They are still playing the same team too. 

[Larry Cook]

Do we think there is any chance either of our first two draft picks gets into any games this year?? 

[mvp 78]

4 hours ago, Larry Cook said:

Do we think there is any chance either of our first two draft picks gets into any games this year?? 

The college hitters usually get into games unless there is an injury. The pitchers just do training and nobody gets eyes on them until the spring. Unsure how they'll handle the high school hitters TBH.

[moonslav59]

I wonder when soxprospects.com places the new draftees.

[mvp 78]

14 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I wonder when soxprospects.com places the new draftees.

Next update should be in about a week or so? 

[Hugh2]

On 7/28/2026 at 4:12 AM, Larry Cook said:

Do we think there is any chance either of our first two draft picks gets into any games this year?? 

I think the odds are 0.

When have the Sox ever drafted a guy who made it to the majors that year? and if they ever have it's probably not a position player. 

They might not even play this year in the minors. 

[Hugh2]

15 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

I wonder when soxprospects.com places the new draftees.

I think Schaffner & Hull be around 8 and 9 and Mataczynski & Shelar will sneak in at the 15-20 range. 

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I think the odds are 0.

When have the Sox ever drafted a guy who made it to the majors that year? and if they ever have it's probably not a position player. 

They might not even play this year in the minors. 

I don't think the question was about getting into MLB games, but MiLB games. 

In terms of getting to BOS in the year they were drafted:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hansecr01.shtml