Red Sox 2024 Offseason Top Prospects: #16-20

#20 RHP Juan Valera (Salem)
Juan Valera came to the Red Sox as a 2023 international free agent. Valera offers an incredibly exciting profile for a player sitting in Salem and checks a lot of the boxes that the Red Sox are looking for in a young pitcher. He features a four-pitch mix with a fastball that sits 93-96 mph but tops out at 98 mph, a slider, a sweeper, and a change-up. Currently, he lacks a reliable third pitch and features his fastball and slider more than the other two. His fastball can miss bats, and his slider shows enough movement to be a putout pitch as he continues to develop. He appeared in seven games for Low-A Salem, going 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and a 10.96 K/9. At the moment, he profiles as a bullpen arm, but should he develop a reliable third pitch, Valera could easily be in the mix for a starter role as he moves up in the farm system. 

#19 RHP Yordanny Monegro (Greenville)
The second right-handed pitcher featured on the top 20 prospect list, Yordanny Monegro, is hard to miss, standing 6’4”. He was signed as an international free agent in 2020. This season, he posted a 6-2 record over the 2024 season with a 2.73 ERA, 3.34 FIP, and an 11.18 K/9. He features a fastball that sits 92-96 mph, a slider, a curveball, and a change-up. Unfortunately, no pitch profiles as a true strikeout pitch, which limits his usability as he progresses throughout the minor leagues. Should he add another pitch to the mix and hone his fastball to be more effective, he would profile as a middle-inning reliever. 

#18 RHP Hunter Dobbins (Worcester)
Hunter Dobbins was selected in the eighth round of the 2021 draft out of Texas Tech. He began the year in Portland before being called up to Worcester towards the end of the season. Combined, he went 8-5 with a 3.08 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and an 8.59 K/9. He notched one quality start in Worcester, his only win of the season. However, during those four games in Worcester, he brought his ERA down from 3.17 to 2.61. Dobbins showcases a fastball that sits 93-96 mph and tops out at 98 mph, a split-finger sinker, cutter, slider, sweeper, curveball, and splitter. He currently profiles as a long reliever and could reach a ceiling of back-end starter if his pitch mix is reigned and he focuses on plus pitches.

#17 RHP Wikelman Gonzalez (Portland)
Wikelman Gonzalez was signed as an international free agent in 2018 and has spent the last two years at Portland. This year, he went 4-3 with a 4.73 ERA, 3.92 FIP, and 9.90 K/9. He features a fastball that sits 94-96 mph and tops out at 97 mph, a curveball, a change-up, and a slider. His curveball and change-up have a lot of potential to be true strikeout pitches when combined with a fastball that plays a bit above its speed. Both have the potential to be plus pitches with a bit of refinement. Currently, he has a ceiling of a mid-tier starter and, with a bit more success in Portland, should be in line for a promotion to Worcester during the 2025 season.

#16 C Johanfran Garcia (Salem)
Johanfran Garcia was signed in 2022 as an International Free Agent. Looking at his season in Salem, it’s clear that Garcia has potential behind the plate, but his true talent is on the offensive side of the baseball. In short, he rakes. He turned in a .385 average, .596 slug, 1.063 OPS, and a .514 BABIP this season. The sample is small, with 14 games and 52 at-bats in 2024, but it’s easy to see the potential when he swings, especially for a 19-year-old. Although the catching position focuses on Kyle Teel, and rightfully so, Garcia has a ceiling of an everyday, power-hitting catcher that could be incredibly valuable as a trade chip down the line.

(h/t TruMedia, Sox Prospects, and Baseball-Reference)

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