Bryan Mata takes major leap in Boston Red Sox prospect rankings

The Boston Red Sox 2018 top-30 prospect rankings are officially out. The biggest jump from 2017 comes from Bryan Mata, who went from unranked to number four.

2018 prospect rankings are out for the Boston Red Sox. That means two things. First, we get to look at all the new faces on the list. Second, I get to overreact, as well as rant and rave about the list because I take this way too seriously.

Of course, there were some omissions, but I’m not going to get into that. If you really want to see me rant about the exclusion of Danny Mars you can check the Twitter-outburst here.

Instead, I’m here right now to celebrate the list. No one on the list deserves to be celebrated more than Bryan Mata. Last season, the pitcher wasn’t even included in the Red Sox top-30 prospects. Now, the 18-year-old sits at number four.

I followed him pretty well last year and can say without a doubt he’s earned this spot. The numbers are there but it’s everything else that did it for me. His frame, the way he attacks hitters, the control, and the pitches he has under his belt.

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Mata started his career with the Red Sox in 2016. He posted impressive numbers in Rookie Ball (2.60 earned run average over 61 innings), but didn’t receive much recognition for it. This is further proof that he was seen as a project. A 17-year-old put up those numbers and was still off the radar.

Last season however, he was given a chance in Full-A. With the Greenville Drive, Mata showed consistency. Over 17 starts, the right-hander threw 77 innings. In that time, he posted a 3.74 ERA to go with a 1.31 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).

Most impressive though is over the 138 innings professional innings Mata has thrown he has just 45 walks compared to 135 strikeouts. Oh, and he’s only allowed five home runs.

Despite his young age, he already has an intriguing repertoire of pitches that are vastly improving. His fastball has already seen a rise in velocity, and sits in the low-90s. It can get up into the mid-90s though, and has some devastating sinking action.

Mata also has a solid enough curveball, and my favorite pitch of all-time – a good changeup. There’s nothing like a good changeup to absolutely destroy a hitter’s hopes and dreams.

Remember in Little League when pitchers only had fastballs and you’d face that one guy that had other pitches. He’d throw fastballs all day, then with two strikes hit you with a curveball or changeup. It wouldn’t even come close to the plate but you’d swing because you were caught off guard. Then you’d go back to the bench with your teammates laughing and you’d try to laugh along but in reality you’re like

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That’s the potential of his changeup. It looked utterly devastating at times, and on quite a few occasions had hitters going to the bench being like Michael Scott.

Odds are Mata will start the season for Boston in Advanced-A, with the Salem Red Sox. He could move up to Double-A sometime throughout the year, but barring absolutely insane numbers that’s as far as he’ll go in 2018.

Nevertheless, he’s moving closer to the Majors – and doing it pretty fast. Although finishing the year in Full-A may not seem fast, there’s a lot to consider. Things such as him being an international free agent signing in 2016, and that he’s still just 18 for example.

Next: Breaking: Red Sox, J.D. Martinez agree to deal

Bryan Mata probably won’t reach the Majors until 2020 at the earliest. That doesn’t mean he won’t be extremely interesting to watch in 2018 though. How much more can his stock rise with another season under his belt? Is a jump to the Major League top-100 list a possible? I’ll call my shot now, look for him on that list by this time next year.

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