Red Sox prospects: Evaluating the future major leaguers in the minor league system
The 2022 minor league season for the Red Sox saw the development of their prospects. Ceddanne Rafaela had a breakout year. Brayan Bello and Triston Casas came to the big leagues. The farm system is getting better and better. The Red Sides used to have a lot of prospects at the corners, but now they have players with clear paths to major leagues at all positions.
Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela and Miguel Bleis are among the Red Sox prospects.
Nick Yorke and Jeter Downs are among the Red Sox prospects.
Mayer hit .280/.399/.489 with 13 homers and 45 extra-base hits in 91 games between two levels of A ball. Rafaela jumped into the top-100 conversations by playing spectacular defense in center and at short. Bleis combines speed and strong defense with the ability to hit the ball hard. Mikey Romero has a gorgeous lefthanded swing and is an 18-year-old with emerging power. Yorke had a disappointing age-20 season in Greenville. Paulino would have been in the mix for recognition as the Red Sox prospect four years ago.
Triston Casas, Niko Kavadas, Enmanuel Valdez, Blaze Jordan are the Red Sox prospects in the minor league system.
Alex Binelas has struggled in the Red Sox minor league system.
Casas solidified his place as the first baseman of the future. Kavadas was drafted in the 11th round of 2021 draft. Valdez was acquired from the Astros in Christian Vázquez trade. Binelas came to the Sox in Hunter Renfroe deal. He struggled in Double A. Jordan put up impressive numbers at two levels of A ball. He has questions about his ability to handle big velocity.
Nathan Hickey is a standout prospect in the Red Sox minor league system.
Brooks Brannon, Connor Wong, Ronaldo Hernández and Brayan Bello are the Red Sox prospects in the minor league system. Hickey is a 2021 fifth-rounder who hit .263/.415/.522 with 16 homers in 75 games. Brannon is 22 and has shoot-the-moon potential. Bella has emerged as a pitcher with an electrifying arsenal.
Bryan Mata and Brandon Walter are among the Red Sox prospects.
None of the pitching prospects will hurt their status in 2022.
Mata, 23, returned to the mound after Tommy John surgery and went 7-3 with a 2.49 ERA and 30.6 percent strikeout rate. Walter, 26, struggled in two Triple A games and was sidelined for the rest of the year with neck injury. Gonzalez, 20, got off to a rough start in Salem and finished with 2-43 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 13 walks in 37 innings over his last eight starts.
