With the 2017 MLB Draft on Monday, here are five players that could reasonably be taken at pick 24 by the Boston Red Sox.
The MLB Draft is unlike the other three popular professional sports in the USA. First, drafting for all-around talent over the needs of your organization sets this draft apart. Also, the development of baseball players takes longer than any other of the “Big 4” sports. So the draft becomes very anti-climatic.
This seems to be a pretty talent-heavy draft, especially at the pitcher position. Also, the top of the draft is extremely talented. Brendan McKay might be the best two-way college player since Dave Winfield. Both Hunter Greene and Royce Lewis are prep-players who should become household names over the next decade.
Now, those aforementioned players have no chance of being drafted by the Red Sox. With Boston picking at 24, they will not have a chance to get one of these “super prospects”. But, that does not mean that they will not be able to get a talented player at their slot.
There are many different directions that Dave Dombrowski could go in this draft. With it being a pitcher heavy draft, maybe he decides to take a pitcher. Does he follow up the 2016 1st-round pick with another high school arm? Or does he go for the player with more immediate impact in the proven college arm?
Does the front office try to add another college bat to increase the young core that Boston has? Or do they go for the highest talent and get a prep star who could project into an elite player at the next level?
There are many questions heading into the draft, and by Tuesday morning there should be some answers. Here are some players to keep an eye out for being selected by the Red Sox.