The list of the 10 best Red Sox prospects is available and there is a new No. 1: Marcelo Mayer.
The fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, Mayer is described as a potential pivotal player at shortstop. “Few who explored him as a fan would be surprised if he emerged as a cornerstone of the All-Star franchise and the Red Sox,” writes BA.
Next on the list is last year’s number one first baseman, Triston Casas, a powerful hitter who led Team USA in home runs and RBIs during the Tokyo Olympics. Casas could reach the majors sometime next season after posting an .877 OPS in the minors.
They are followed by Nick Yorke, Chaim Bloom’s first term pick and a pick that was greeted with awe by an industry that viewed him as a brink of the top 100 before the Red Sox selected him 17th overall in 2020. Bloom and Yorke appear to be laughing their last laugh after the second baseman debuted at Low-A Salem by hitting .323 and winning a batting title. BA calls him “one of the best pure hitters in the minors.”
The rest of the top 10 includes some familiar names. Speedy center fielder Jarren Duran is No. 4 after an erratic major league debut, and right-hander Brayan Bello ranks fifth. The only leading prospect Jeter Downs slides into sixth place after a disappointing season in Triple-A, coming just ahead of teenage forward Blaze Jordan, whose historic derby home run power resulted in his debut at the lower echelons of the league. minors.
Rehab right-hander Bryan Mata is eighth, even though he is likely to miss most of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Ninth place goes to Josh Winckowski, who could end up being the key to the Andrew Benintendi trade, and at No. 10 is left-hander Jay Groome, himself a Tommy John survivor who hasn’t been able to regain the form he did. . the 12th overall pick in 2016.
Mayer’s addition and Yorke’s debut have transformed the system, which jumped into the Baseball America top 10 when it ranked ninth at the end of the season. Mayer, for example, was probably considered No. 1 on the overall pick before moving to the Red Sox at No. 4.
He’s a shortstop with the arm and the fluidity to stay there and make an impact, though there’s a chance the 6-foot-3, 188-pound skinny will outgrow the position as he adds muscle. His most frequent rival is Dodgers standout Corey Seager, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound fighter who has spent his entire career at shortstop.
“Mayer’s defense in a prime position and a solid swing and focus give him an easy projection of at least one above-average regular,” writes BA. “His upper limit will be determined by whether he stays at shortstop or exceeds it, as well as how his power develops on pro ball.”
This article was published originally in english by John Tomase for NBCSports.com. For more from NBC Sports Boston enter here.
.
