Red Sox top-30 prospect rankings after the 2018 season

The 2018 Major League season has officially come to a close. That means it’s time to give my official top-30 prospect rankings for the Boston Red Sox.

The Boston Red Sox having a weak minor league system is a tired narrative. Every team has plenty of diamonds that haven’t been discovered yet. Just because they don’t possess a lot of big names doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there.

You could argue that this is the case with the Red Sox, as they entered 2018 with only two top-100 prospects. At the same time, you could argue that some prospects have emerged this season, and others haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve.

MLB has their list of top-30 prospects for each team. Anyone that’s read my articles before probably knows that I have a beef with these lists though.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled my own top-30 prospect list for the Red Sox. Now, I don’t have the same resources as the MLB scouts do. I do, however, have no life – and I use that to my advantage by watching as much MiLB baseball as possible. Seriously, if you’re interested in prospects and minor league baseball in general, the MiLB.tv package is awesome.

Through my hours-upon-hours of watching minor league games for the past few years, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are quite a few glaring absences from the Red Sox top-30 list. There are also some players already ranked in the top-30 but not where they should be.

Keep in mind that this isn’t meant as a slight towards any players. I’m incredibly high on a number of minor leaguers in the Red Sox system that didn’t make my top-30 list. The problem is simply that while 30 may seem like a lot, in the grand scheme of things it’s not at all. The number of levels in the minor leagues grants for teams to carry hundreds of prospects.

This is simply the 30 best prospects in my opinion, not the only 30 that I think are good.

29. Michael Osinski

Michael Osinski is the first third base prospect that appears on this list but certainly isn’t the last. He’s also the first “Hunter Noll Guy” to find his way into the top-30 (shoutout to Paul Heyman). Just to be clear. I’m classifying a “Hunter Noll Guy” as someone who I’m extremely-high on but feel is underrated by the MLB rankings and by the Red Sox system.

Like someone who will be mentioned soon, I feel like he’s getting buried because of who else the Red Sox have at the position. Rafael Devers is in the Majors, and Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec are two of the top prospects. Due to that, a lot of people won’t pay as much attention to other names at the position.

Osinski’s definitely playing like a top prospect though.

In his first full season in the minors, Osinski slashed .296/.370/.368 while splitting time between Full-A and Advanced-A. He hit 14 doubles and one triple, as well as three homers. There isn’t much there power-wise, but he could be a fantastic doubles-hitter.

Osinski’s biggest plus at the plate is his clutch-hitting. The right-handed batter had 47 runs scored and 48 RBI – hitting .309 with runners in scoring position.

While he doesn’t have much speed, he did manage eight steals this year and could sneak a few in the Majors.

Osinski started the year at third but ended up playing more first base than anything. This is great for him because while there are some great first base prospects on the team, it’s not as loaded as third base. His defense also plays better there, masking an average arm. The range looks a lot better at first as well.

The 23-year-old can add some weight which could lead to more power. At 6’2″, 195 it’s definitely not out of the question.

While there’s no elite part of his game, Michael Osinski is a professional hitter. Both his defense and home run power have the potential to improve. Could be an impact player for the Red Sox in the future.

28. Austin Rei

“Hunter Noll Guy” number two.

Catching is the position most will say is weakest for the Red Sox when it comes to prospects. The tragic passing of Daniel Flores at 17 last November really put a damper on the position. For what it’s worth, I studied Flores and he’d probably be in my top-3. He was that good.

Personally, there are a few I’m pretty high on but Austin Rei is the only one that makes the top-30 cut.

The Red Sox also have Roldani Baldwin and Jhon Nunez have plenty of potential, and Kole Cottam has plenty of power.

This is Rei’s time though. The defense is a work in progress at the moment. Personally, I think there’s a lot of potential there as he’s got a good arm and is athletic enough to make plays behind the plate.

Rei’s offense is where the damage can be done. Injuries had slowed down his growth but these last two years have been great for the 24-year-old. 2017 saw Rei hit a career-best 30 doubles and drive in a career-high 38 runs. 2018 posted career-highs in average (.249) and homers (7), but most importantly OBP (.355).

Rei’s been great at working the count his whole career and posts solid OBPs due to it. This makes him an extremely intriguing prospect because he can always find a way to get on base.

The fact that 2018 was arguably his best season despite being his first Double-A service time is encouraging. He’s growing as a player at the right time as the Red Sox catching situation is a little confusing at the moment.

Rei’s offensive upside is elite-level. If the rest of his game can catch up with that, he’ll skyrocket up this list.

27. Garrett Benge

It’s a run on “Hunter Noll Guys”. Garrett Benge is that other third base prospect I was talking about with Osinski. He’s been phenomenal but the big-name prospects ahead of him at the position have buried his accomplishments.

Coming into this year, Benge had played all 45 games he appeared in at third base.  This year he played 14 at third and 17 at first base. It wasn’t the defense that made headlines though.

In 41 games this season, Benge was ridiculous. He slashed .333/.450/.461 with 23 runs scored and 19 RBI. The left-handed hitter’s OBP stands out but is even more impressive when you dig a little deeper.

Benge struck out 25 times this year while walking 30. You’re reading that right – he walked more times than he struck out this season.

Admittedly, Benge isn’t the best fielder and isn’t going to get many steals. The move to first could help him a lot defensively, but he hasn’t exactly looked smooth in the field.

The bat, on the other hand, is superb. The home run potential isn’t high but he can hit to all sides of the field. He makes solid contact and does it often. I’ve always been a contact-over-power guy, and Benge plays right into that narrative.

The 22-year-old is buried at the moment with all the star-power at third (and even first). That shouldn’t be the case for much longer though. Benge has done nothing but draw walks and has good at-bats since joining the Red Sox system. At some point that will get him noticed.

Things could be sped up exponentially if he improves defensively.

26. Eduard Bazardo

You’ll never guess it – we’ve got a “Hunter Noll Guy” – crazy right? Eduard Bazardo spent his first three seasons with the Red Sox in Rookie Ball. This season he made the jump to Short-A, but that didn’t last long. After just nine starts in Lowell, he was promoted to Full-A, where he made five more starts there.

The numbers were great this year, as the right-hander posted a 2.67 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. Opponents hit .217 against him and he struck out 84 batters in 77 2/3 innings. The ridiculous part was the walks though, as he allowed eight free passes all season.

There’s a lot to like about Bazardo, but it’s the command that really makes him intriguing. This is even more impressive because his best pitch is his curveball. Finding a way to not walk batters when you’re throwing curveballs isn’t exactly easy.

Bazardo also has a changeup with potential. If you’ve heard me talk about pitching before you know how I feel about changeups – a good one is the best pitch in baseball. While it’s behind his curveball, as a secondary pitch it’s still solid.

Bazardo’s fastball has plenty of movement while sitting in the low-90s. So although it’s not overpowering it’s a plus pitch at the moment.

The 23-year-old dominated this season but doesn’t have “dominating” stuff. Maybe that’s why he’s been so overlooked to this point. He seems to have a good mix of pitches though and his command in 2018 was off-the-charts. That can go a long way for pitchers. If you can put the ball where you want, it’s going to get you to the next level.

25. Pedro Castellanos

Pedro Castellanos is an interesting case. He’s graded as someone who will hit for power but had just one home run in 344 at-bats in 2018. Throughout 775 at-bats in his career in the Red Sox organization, he has six total home runs.

Now, to be fair Castellanos is 20 (turns 21 on December 11). With that in mind, there’s plenty of time for the home run power to come. For now, the rest of his stats will do. The first baseman spent 2018 in Full-A and hit .302 with 20 doubles. He drove in 34 runs and scored 39 more.

The right-handed hitter has a career .319 batting average, showing that even if the power doesn’t come there’s still plenty of value.

Castellanos isn’t great in the field but has better glove work than he’s given credit for. Speed wise there isn’t much there either.

Those two aspects are holding him back from being a much more revered prospect in the organization. However, they’ll both be overlooked if the power comes around.

Although it’s been in lower-levels, Castellanos has shown he can hit for average. That alone means he’s bringing something to the table. Listed at 6’3″, 195 lbs there’s weight to be put on as well. As with Osinski added weight could translate to more power. You don’t have to worry about sacrificing speed as that’s not part of his game anyways.

Castellanos is part of the Red Sox loaded corner infield situation when it comes to prospects. He can really separate from the pack in 2019 though if he introduces the power many are expecting from him.

24. Antoni Flores

Antoni Flores was brought to Boston as part of the same International pool as Daniel Flores. There’s no relation, but Antoni has plenty of potential as well.

Flores is a 17-year-old shortstop (turns 18 on October 14) who doesn’t excel at any one category but should be considered as above-average in each. If I had to name his biggest strength at the moment, I’d go defense – although his contact is up there.

Flores probably isn’t going to hit 20+ home runs but could give you 10-15 a year. Most importantly, the right-handed hitter has potential to do that while keeping his average near .300.

This was his first season getting reps, appearing in 15 Rookie Ball games. Flores slashed .340/.435/.528 with six extra-base hits. He drove in 14 runs and scored 10 more as well, showing solid run production ability.

Flores also showed a solid eye as he drew more walks (9) than he struck out (8) in 2018. That may not be the same sample size as Benge, but it’s still impressive regardless. Especially when you remember he’s only 17 and was in his first professional season.

2019 could be a big year for Flores as it could see his first taste of something above Rookie Ball. When that happens, we should get a much clearer view of what type of player he could be.

For now, I feel that Flores could be a solid all-around player. He’s sound defensively and will hit for average. Run production could be a massive part of his game as well. He’ll get on-base and while he isn’t going to steal a ton of bases should score a lot of runs. His ability to put the bat on the ball should lead to a lot of RBI as well.

23. Jhonathan Diaz

I’m not going to lie, I struggled with this one. I really wanted to put Jhonathan Diaz a lot higher on this list, but couldn’t bump anyone. The left-handed pitcher was intriguing entering the year and only rose his stock more.

Diaz was consistently strong all season for the Full-A Greenville Drive. He posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 153 innings for Greenville. In that time, Diaz struck out 147 batters while opponents hit .223 against him.

Those are great numbers, sure – but his last five starts showed off some ridiculous potential. In Diaz’s last five starts, the 22-year-old threw 32 innings and allowed two earned runs. For those trying to do the math, that’s a 0.56 ERA.

His overall numbers were an incredible improvement over 2017 when he spent all year in Full-A and posted a 4.57 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.

Diaz is another pitcher without any truly dominant pitches. That being said, everything he offers is a plus-pitch for the time being and project to be that way in the future as well.  This is a positive because it means Diaz has four potential Major League pitches.

At the same time, it could be seen as a negative because there’s no true “out” pitch that he can go to when in trouble. I don’t look at it that way though. Having an over-powering pitch is nice but it doesn’t mean much if it’s your only good pitch. Then teams will start to lock in on it. Having four plus-potential pitches gives Diaz options and keeps hitters on their toes.

This could be my bias towards the pitch talking, but Diaz’s best offering is his changeup.

At the moment he’s probably seen as more of a back-end rotation arm. If Diaz can build off last season’s campaign the projections will improve though. The Red Sox definitely don’t have a shortage of left-handed arms in their minors.

22. Esteban Quiroz

Pony! We’re back with another “Hunter Noll Guy”. I’m 100% convinced that if Esteban Quiroz didn’t get injured this season, he’d be in the Majors right now. The Red Sox had troubles at second base all year before and I believe he would’ve gotten a look.

Quiroz was brought over from the Mexican League this offseason, just like his friend Hector Velazquez was the year before. The second baseman is overlooked for a few reasons. First of all, he’s 5’7″, 175 lbs – so he’s already got the size bias. Then there’s the fact that he’s 26, so some might not see him as much of a “prospect”.

I look at it this way though – he still hasn’t been in the Majors, and he could still spend more than a decade there. Sounds like a prospect to me.

Quiroz slashed .299/.413/.598 in 24 games for Double-A Portland this season. He hit five doubles and seven home runs in 87 at-bats while scoring 19 runs and driving in 24 more.

The left-handed hitter’s bat is the real deal. Quiroz has the ability to hit around .300 with impressive power for someone his size and is a run production machine. He won’t steal 20 bags but has enough speed to be somewhat of a threat, and is great on the base paths.

Quiroz’s bat definitely overshadows his glove. Due to the offensive potential, I feel like his above-average defense is often left unmentioned. He’s got a great first step and good glove work. The Mexico native made his fair share of impressive plays in the field and has a good arm – especially for second base.

His best attributes do come on the offensive end though. The power (both gap and home run) is real – he could hit 50-plus extra-base hits given a full season. Meanwhile, the run production isn’t a fluke either. It’s not like he had 10-RBI one game then was quiet on that front for a while. Quiroz even boasted a streak that saw him get an RBI in seven straight games. At the same time, the worst RBI-less stretch of the season was a three-game skid. In those three games, Quiroz totaled six at-bats.

In terms of prospects who can help now, Esteban Quiroz should be on every Red Sox fan’s radar. He will be an impact player in the Majors.

21. Dedgar Jimenez

Dedgar Jimenez is part of the reason I felt the need to label being a “Hunter Noll Guy” as even a thing. Baby Bartolo enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2017 but didn’t get the recognition I thought he would for it.

In 2017, Jimenez spent most of the year in Advanced-A dominating, before moving up to Double-A and only getting better. The left-handed pitcher combined between the two leagues to post a 3.02 ERA.

2018 was a little different for Jimenez. The 22-year-old spent the entire year (sans one start in Triple-A) in Double-A. Although the numbers aren’t as good, there are a lot of positives to build off of.

Jimenez posted a 4.39 ERA in 137 1/3 innings for Double-A and a 3.00 (two runs in six innings) in Triple-A.

That Double-A ERA may not seem that great, but remember it was 5.82 heading into July 17. Over his last nine starts though, Jimenez posted a 2.06 ERA in 52 1/3 innings.

Two problems, this year were walks and home runs. Jimenez posted a career-worst in both categories with 56 walks and 18 home runs. Previously the highs for those categories were 41 and six. Now the question is whether this season was a step backward or a fluke for those two.

I’m going with fluke – for a few reasons. First off, other numbers improved. His batting average against was a career-low .242 and the 1.29 WHIP was the second best of his career. Meanwhile, 120 strikeouts were a career-high and Jimenez also threw his first complete game shutout.

Jimenez has been bashed in the past for his conditioning and work-ethic but I’ve seen nothing to support that.

The work conditioning and work ethic claims seem to just come from the fact that he doesn’t boast a Chris-Sale-like body. He seems to have a true workout routine though and is effortless on the mound. That could be part of the “work ethic” claim too – the fact that he doesn’t look like he’s doing too much on the mound.

Jimenez is another pitcher without a true “out” pitch. He does have a plus-slider and plus-changeup though. His fastball isn’t overpowering but he was starting to get weaker contact off it later in the year.

Jimenez works fast on the mound and really just goes out there and pitches. For what it’s worth, I’d put him on the short-list for prospects I’d want to use for a spot-start where I needed five-plus innings.

He’s projected as basically a Four-A starter. Someone who is used in the Majors but stays mostly in Triple-A. I don’t see that though, I truly believe Jimenez could be a fantastic middle-of-the-rotation arm in the future. Remember, he’s only 22 and still has plenty of time to continue his growth.

20. Travis Lakins

Talk about catapulting your stock in one year. Before the season, I would’ve classified Travis Lakins as a “Hunter Noll Guy”. He’s now the 15th ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization though, so I can’t say he’s not getting any love anymore.

The move up to 15th in the Red Sox system is definitely deserved. Lakins came out firing this year, and when he was moved to the bullpen he was that much more dominant.

The 24-year-old was having a good time in Double-A in 2018 – posting a 2.61 ERA over 38 innings. He also had a 1.05 WHIP and .191 BAA with 42 strikeouts. Things only got better following a promotion to Triple-A. There Lakins tossed 16 1/3 innings, accumulating a 1.65 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. Opponents hit .186 against him and struck out 15 times.

The right-hander already has two MLB-ready pitches. His four-seam could still be improved upon but the velocity is nice in the mid-90s. Meanwhile, his cutter was fantastic for him in 2018. It’s already a plus-pitch and could still get better. He also has a solid curveball and a decent-enough changeup (especially considering how sparingly he uses it).

There were talks of Lakins possibly being called up before the end of the 2018 season to help the Red Sox bullpen but that didn’t happen. He should go into Spring Training next year with a chance to win a spot though. Even if that happens, there’s a good chance he doesn’t stay in the minors too long next season.

Now that Lakins has transitioned to a relief pitcher, he seems more comfortable on the mound. His fastball has gained velocity and he struck out batters a career-high rate. This could be the perfect move for him and should make Lakins an intriguing prospect as he should only get better from here.

19. Josh Ockimey

Raw power is the name of the game for Josh Ockimey. The left-handed hitter set a new career-mark in 2018 with 20 home runs. He also had 71 RBI on the year, which was three off his career-best of 74.

Ockimey’s average was low in 2018, at .245. It was also, however, a season in which he split time between Double-A and Triple-A. Before 2018 he only had 31 games above Advanced-A.

The average isn’t what brings intrigue with Ockimey though. He can hit .250 or better, but if you’re expecting a .300 hitter you’ll more-than-likely be disappointed.

His defense at first base still isn’t spectacular, but he’s been improving steadily there over the last few years. When Ockimey was first brought into the organization, the projections were aiming more towards designated hitter. He’s improved enough to be a decent defender though which makes him a lot more valuable.

Ockimey’s home run totals aren’t indicative of the power potential he has. 30-plus home runs in the Majors would definitely be possible. It also helps that his swing would play extremely well at Fenway Park. He’s more of a pull-hitter but has the potential to hit to the opposite field and can do so for power. That means the Green Monster could be getting peppered by bullets in the near future.

The 22-year-old also has a clutch side at the plate. In 2018 he went 36-for-121 (.298) with runners in scoring position. So when given opportunities to drive in runs, Ockimey tends to capitalize.

Barring something drastic (like injuries or a massive season), don’t expect Ockimey in the Majors next year. Although he’s in Triple-A now it would be wise to be patient. He’s still 22 and there’s still more room for improvement in all areas of his game. If the Red Sox are patient with him, he could be a strong presence in their lineup for years.

18. Danny Mars

Danny Mars is right there with Jimenez as a trailblazer for the “Hunter Noll Guy” movement. For years now I’ve campaigned that he’s been underappreciated by the Red Sox. Sadly, I still feel like that’s the case.

In 2016, Mars slashed .293/.353/.401 with a career-high 10 triples and 31 steals. He also drove in a career-best 54 RBI. Then in 2017, the outfielder had career-highs in average (.304) and home runs (6), as well as doubles (21) and runs scored (62).

This season, the switch-hitter’s average dropped to .255. There were a number of positives though. That included tying his career-high in doubles (21) and runs scored (62). He also stole 19 bases in 24 attempts to have the second-best success rate of his career (79.2%). The biggest improvement was in his patience, however, as he destroyed his old career-mark of 36 walks by taking a free-pass 45 times this year.

This bodes well for Mars, as he’s expanding his game to find a way to get on base more often. He could turn into a run-scoring machine.

Two things I heavily consider when looking at prospects are production and areas of improvement. Mars has been productive for the last few seasons, and he’s improved in a lot of categories including his plate discipline and base running.

Mars has been overlooked when it comes to prospect rankings his entire career, and I feel like that has to do with the low power numbers. In 1708 minor league at-bats Muscles Marsinara has 13 home runs.

You don’t need to hit for home runs to be valuable though. Mars is a fantastic contact hitter (has never struck out 100 times in a season) and is a threat while on the bases. The RBI numbers might not seem great, but that’s more a case of not getting many opportunities. Over the last three seasons, Mars is hitting .320 (106-331) with runners in scoring position.

Although he doesn’t possess top-level elite speed, Mars definitely has above-average speed and is great on the base paths.

He also improved defensively in 2018, which is saying something because he was already solid in the field. The 24-year-old gets a good first step and as athletic enough to make the tough grabs. He also has an underrated arm.

What’s confusing about Mars not being mentioned much is the terrible depth the Red Sox have in the outfield. Their Major League roster is loaded at the position, but they don’t have much in the minors. If the Red Sox needed to call on true outfield help from the minors, Mars should be on the short-list for a shot in Boston.

If I were assessing the skill set of Danny Mars he’d get a low power rating and probably an average arm rating. Everything else would be above-average. Yet, he’s still never mentioned when talking about Red Sox prospects – that needs to change.

17. Nicholas Northcut

Nicholas Northcut is the first 2018 draftee to make the top-30. The third baseman can’t run much. I point that out because it’s the only negative you’ll really get when looking at his game.

There’s not a lot to go off when it comes to professional experience. He’s had 166 professional at-bats, only 24 of which were above Rookie ball (Low-A). This leaves the prospect status mostly up to potential.

Northcut definitely has the build of a Major League player – listed at 6’1″ and 200 lbs. While that bodes well for him, it’s not nearly as important as his game. The good news on that front is the projections there are strong.

The 19-year-old is solid defensively and has room to grow. He also has a strong arm that should play well at third base. Don’t expect Nolan Arenado type plays, making diving stops seemingly five times a night. However, he’s going to make the routine plays and can still make the flashy plays on occasion.

Offensively, the right-handed hitter has a lot going for him. Northcut will have his fair share of strikeouts but there isn’t much else wrong at the plate. The right-handed hitter sprays the ball to every part of the field – and that seems to come naturally to him. That bodes well for his average and is should help keep him out of extended slumps.

Northcut also has plenty of raw power and could definitely be a 25-plus home run bat in the future.

As I’ve mentioned before, the third base position is loaded. Northcut is still so young that this shouldn’t be as much of a problem though. You shouldn’t expect him to be with the Red Sox until at least 2021 – plenty can change between now and then.

16. Alex Scherff

2018 started off poorly for Alex Scherff for the Full-A Greenville Drive. Things reached a low point when the right-handed pitcher gave up nine hits and seven runs in two innings on June 12 before hitting the disabled list. Scherff returned to the mound on August 8 though and quickly turned the season into a massive positive.

Following his return, the 20-year-old pitched in six games, including four in Full-A. In those six games, Scherff pitched 23 innings and allowed four earned runs. He struck out 19 batters and walked three, dominating for the first extended stretch of his career.

When Scherff returned on August 8, he had a 6.32 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. By the end of the year, he had lowered those significantly. His Full-A ERA was 4.98 while his WHIP was 1.40. If you add in the two rehab starts in Rookie Ball, those numbers are 4.76 and 1.39.

One glance at those stats without any context would make someone believe the year was a bust. On the contrary, it showed growth and a dominant side. This was a positive season.

Something I’ve mentioned a lot and will mention it a lot more – I’m all about a great changeup. That being said, that’s not my favorite pitch when it comes to Scherff.

I’m in love with his curveball. There are plenty of problems with it at the moment, mostly in the consistency department. He can lose control of the pitch and struggle to locate it correctly. That can lead to hanging curves and pitches not even close to tempting. When it’s on though – wow. Sharp break, with a true 12-6 drop on it. If Scherff can improve his control of this pitch, it could take him far in his career.

Scherff is still far away from the Majors. This was his first year in the system and while he ended on a high note, he’ll probably still start in Full-A next year. However, he could take a few steps towards Boston next year in terms of what level he ends at.

With just 17 games under his belt, there’s still plenty of inexperience though. Scherff is still pretty raw with some of his pitches, so the Red Sox would be smart to take their time with him and let everything develop. When everything comes together, something special could happen.

15. Marino Campana

We’re back with another “Hunter Noll Guy” and for good reason. There’s a lot to like when it comes to Marino Campana. The right-handed hitter had a .246 batting average with 69 RBI and 54 runs scored in 2018. He wasn’t just a singles hitter either, mashing 19 doubles and seven triples, as well as 16 home runs.

The outfielder isn’t known for having speed, but that’s an underrated part of his game in my opinion. No, he’s not “fast” – but calling him slow is a stretch. His defense is in the same boat.  While they aren’t exactly highlights of his game, both Campana’s defense and arm are slightly underrated. They won’t win him any awards, but for a corner outfield spot, they’ll do.

Another thing to consider, Campana is still only 20 – meaning there’s more-than-enough time for his game to grow.

That being said, the bat already shows a ton of life. A .246 average isn’t great, but it’s an improvement over the last two seasons. There are also more improvements that can be made and his average should continue to climb as he gets more experience.

Campana’s best tool is the natural raw power. He’s shown a lot of pop in his bat despite a young age and clearly-not-filled-out frame. By that I mean he’s a solid 6’4″ but comes in at 180 lbs. As he matures, he will clearly put on more weight and muscle. The filling out of his frame should help immensely in the power department, which is already a plus.

With Campana still being young and needing time to grow, don’t expect him in Boston any time soon. When he joins the Red Sox though, he’s going to bring power numbers with him.

14. Danny Diaz

Danny Diaz is the other big international signing the Red Sox got with the Antoni and Daniel Flores. The third baseman took the field for the Red Sox organization for the first time this season – appearing in 26 games in the Dominican Summer League.

Diaz is listed at 6’1″, 170 lbs and with his young age (17) he still has time to grow and fill out his frame. This bodes well as he’s already looking like a power hitter.

In the 26 games this year, the right-handed hitter had a .238 batting average. While that’s not a great number, there’s clearly something in his swing. That’s evident by the seven doubles and six home runs he mashed in 105 at-bats.

The power isn’t surprising, as that was a big part of Diaz’s game when he was originally scouted. It’s great to see it already translating to his game, and it’s bringing with it a lot of RBI. Diaz drove in an impressive 27 runs in that short amount of time.

The bat isn’t really a question though. There’s clearly a jolt in his swing that should continue to improve. He has the ability to hit for both average and plus-power. Diaz also isn’t fast by any definition, but he’s not exactly slow. Although, as he matures and puts on more weight/muscle that could change.

At third base, Diaz is projected to be solid as well. He’s got a strong arm and solid footwork at the position. Time will tell if he can put it together. At such a young age with raw potential, this could be the biggest gap between ceiling and floor.

By that I mean his speed isn’t going to become a major factor, while his bat is already producing and progressing. So the ceiling for his speed isn’t too high, but the floor for his bat isn’t low.

The strong arm gives him a nice start, but if the rest of his game doesn’t progress, he could be a below-average defender. That being said, if everything comes together Diaz could turn into a fantastic third baseman. There’s a lot of in-between at the moment.

Diaz is still just 17 so although he’s at a loaded position for the Red Sox, there’s plenty of time for things to play out. He could take up a new position (already has experience at shortstop), but third seems perfect for him. Things could also change for the pecking order in front of him. Either way, at such a young age and with so little experience at the professional level, there’s no reason to worry about his “situation” just yet.

For the time being, just enjoy watching him develop through the minor leagues.

13. Nick Decker

Nick Decker didn’t see much playing time after getting drafted by the Red Sox in the second round in 2018. He went 1-for-4 with a double and a run in the Gulf Coast League.

That’s it though, as a left wrist fracture limited his season.

The outfielder may not have gotten a chance to prove himself yet, but the projections are there. With that in mind, there’s not much not to like about Decker. The 18-year-old is solid across the board with no glaring weaknesses in his projections.

He has enough speed that it won’t cause any problems for him. Steals aren’t ever going to be a major part of his game, but Decker could be threatening enough of the basepaths to snatch a few each year. He also has enough speed to play the outfield well.

Speaking of the outfield, Decker already looks pretty comfortable defensively. That’s only made better by a strong arm that could keep runners from advancing on him too often. Don’t expect him to turn into a perennial Gold Glover, but he could be average-to-above-average in the outfield.

Decker’s bat is the real prize here. The left-handed hitter has the ability to hit for both contact and power. As of right now, I’d say he projects to be a power hitter who can hit for average. By that, I mean he should be able to hit 30-plus home runs and drive in plenty of runs while keeping a solid enough average.

Decker definitely has raw power but also seems to not just focus on home run hitting. That’s a fantastic combination as it makes him an all-around dangerous player with the bat in his hands.

At 18 (with just four at-bats in the Red Sox organization) Decker still has a long way to go before reaching the Majors. That means a lot can happen between now and then as it pertains to him and the current situation for the Red Sox. Again, this makes it hard to project exactly what type of situation he’ll be in when the time comes. That being said, it bodes well for him.

12. Jarren Duran

Wow. I mean, wow. Jarren Duran sure burst onto the scene didn’t he? The Red Sox selected Duran in the seventh round of the 2018 draft. He hasn’t disappointed.

The 22-year-old hit .348 in 155 at-bats with Short-A then went onto Full-A where he hit .367 in 128 at-bats. That comes out to a .357 average in 283 at-bats combined.

Duran wasn’t just hitting singles either, as he had 14 doubles and three home runs – oh, and 11 triples. In that time, the left-handed hitter had 35 RBI and 52 runs scored, as well as 24 steals.

At this point, you’re probably wondering – what can’t Duran do? I’ll give you a hint – nothing.

Duran played both right and center field, as well as second base in 2018. He looked great at all of them. His arm is great for second base and solid for the outfield. Meanwhile, that elite speed that stole 24 bases is going to play very well in the outfield. It could be useful getting to balls not many could get to at second base as well.

Currently, he’s a better second baseman as he looks like a true natural at the position. Should be fine in the outfield though as that athleticism will come into play a ton.

There isn’t much of anything when it comes to home run power. Duran does have nice gap power though and his ridiculous speed could mean plenty of extra-base hits for him.

As I’ve mentioned a few times, the speed is intriguing. Duran could steal 50-plus bases when given a full season. That’s something not a lot of prospects in the Red Sox organization possess. This alone makes him someone the Red Sox should tout as a prospect. The fact that he’s so lethal at basically everything else puts him in that elite tier for the organization.

11. Darwinzon Hernandez

Darwinzon Hernandez has always had the projection of someone that could be dominant on the mound. In 2018, those projections came true for the left-handed pitcher.

Hernandez posted a 3.53 ERA on the year, throwing 101 innings in Advanced-A and another six innings in Double-A. In those 107 combined innings, Hernandez struck out 134 batters and allowed only one home run on the year.

The fantastic stats are only part of the story as Hernandez has the stuff to back it up. His fastball is his best pitch, sitting in the mid-to-high-90s with lots of life. The 21-year-old also has a slider with a nice break on it that could turn into a strong pitch as well. He also has a changeup and curveball to round out a solid repertoire.

Hernandez started in all 23 appearances he made in Advanced-A but came out of the bullpen for all five with Double-A. That is more-than-likely just due to the fact that it was the end of the season. This gave Portland a better chance to see him in multiple outings as opposed to him making just one or two starts with the team. You should expect to see him in the starting rotation for the Sea Dogs next season.

That fastball is special. I saw Hernandez pitch in person and TV really doesn’t do it justice. That type of natural movement shouldn’t be allowed on a pitch hitting the high-90s. It can take him far, and if his other pitches develop more, Hernandez could become a major problem for hitters.

So far, the fastball has translated to every level and should always lead to high strikeout totals. That’s going to keep him in the conversation when talking about the best prospects in the Red Sox system. The fact that he’s clearly improving (2018 saw his best ERA since 2015) helps his case as well.

To this point in his career, opponents are hitting .223 with 10 home runs and 389 strikeouts against Hernandez in 352 innings. He’s dominated so far, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t continue that trend moving forward.

10. C.J. Chatham

I mentioned this a lot in my prospect watch articles throughout the season, a healthy C.J. Chatham is an elite-type prospect. In 2018 he proved just that with a superb season at the plate.

Defensively, Chatham is above-average. He looks naturally comfortable at shortstop despite being 6’4″ and has a cannon for an arm that allows him to make any throw.

Sure, the defense is great, but that’s not the main attraction when it comes to Chatham. The 23-year-old feasts at the plate.

2018 saw the first “full” season of Chatham, with the shortstop appearing in 114 games (previous high was 35). With that, the right-handed hitter boasted a .314/.350/.389 slash line between Full-A and Advanced-A. He hit 20 doubles and two triples, as well as three home runs in that time.

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The run production was solid too – driving in 52 runs and scoring 55 more, while stealing 11 bases.

Power wise Chatham isn’t going to hit 30 home runs, but 10-15 home runs with an abundance of doubles could do the trick. Especially with the potential to hit .280-plus on his side.

Run production could be the crown jewel of his game. In 2018, Chatham hit .322 (39-for-121) with runners in scoring position. That kind of clutch-hitting could lead to a lot of RBI. Meanwhile, he’ll get on base enough to score runs. He doesn’t have elite speed but there’s enough there to take an extra base and add a few runs to the total. Chatham also showed some base-stealing prowess last season, swiping 11 bags.

All-in-all it comes together to create an all-around offensive machine who can more than hold his own on the defensive end.

Chatham finished the year in Advanced-A but if he stays healthy could climb the ladder fast. That’s great news as it will be interesting to see how his bat continues to handle more-and-more advanced pitching.

9. Tanner Houck

Six of the top-9 prospects on this list are pitchers. Tanner Houck kicks things off after a season that saw him dominate for the last month.

The right-handed pitcher posted a 4.24 ERA in 23 starts in 2018. He threw 119 innings, striking out 111 batters – but walking 60. The good news is the walks seemed to be coming under control towards the end of the season. Houck allowed 50 free passes through his first 71 innings but allowed just 10 in his final 48 innings.

In those same 48 innings, he lowered his ERA from 5.32 to the 4.24 that he ended the year with.

The 22-year-old had only 22 1/3 professional innings under his belt before the 2018 season. Due to that, the clear improvements he made as the year went on are that much more impressive. They’re also important when considering he’s clearly making steps in the right direction.

Houck’s already got a dangerous fastball. It sits in the mid-90s and you get the impression that if he was working out of the bullpen it would flirt with 100. His two-seamer is superb with a ton of life, while the four-seamer already flirts with 100.

He also has a wipeout slider with plenty of potential. It has a torturous break that could leave a lot of hitters swinging at pitches not even close to the zone. Especially when Houck’s feeding them fastballs before throwing the breaking pitch.

A changeup fills out his repertoire, being the pitch that needs the most work. It could be dangerous though as it shows potential of having a nice dip. It’s a high-80s pitch but still has a big enough difference from his fastball. That could become a great out pitch again when he’s feeding batters fastballs for most of the game.

Houck’s unusual because while he’s a highly-touted starting prospect, his Major League career could come to fruition in a few ways. Converting him to a reliever will allow him to cut loose with his pitches. The Red Sox would love to have a bullpen arm for the foreseeable future and his tool belt of pitches could play perfectly into that. If he stays a starter though, he could be a top-of-the-rotation guy.

8. Mike Shawaryn

Mike Shawaryn had one of the better seasons for a pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization. That led to him making his way to Triple-A and now he could head into 2019 with a chance to make a name for himself in Spring Training.

Shawaryn spent most of the year (112 2/3 innings) in Double-A, dominating to the tune of a 3.28 ERA.  The right-handed pitcher then threw 36 2/3 innings in Triple-A. Although the ERA was higher there (3.93) he did some things even better at the higher level. That included position a lower WHIP and batting average against.

The fact that he wasn’t overwhelmed by the midseason change bodes well for his prospects as – well – a prospect.

Shawaryn finished 2018 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 26 appearances (25 starts). The 24-year-old held opponents to a .233 batting average and struck out 132 batters over 149 1/3 innings.

In a lot of senses, this was the best season of his career, and that bodes well for his future.

When it comes to his pitches, Shawaryn definitely has some nice weapons.

His best offering is a sweeping slider that disappears versus both lefties and righties. It’s definitely the pitch that will produce the most strikeouts.

Shawaryn also has a fastball that’s listed as a two-seamer but when watching, it appears as a sinker. The pitch produces a lot of weak contact while sitting in the low-90s.

Finally, there’s a changeup that might be his worst pitch but is still solid. It’s deceptive in the sense that he throws it like his fastball, but there’s a drop-off in speed as well as a slight dip to the pitch.

Shawaryn’s first two seasons in the minors saw him posting K/9 rates above 9.00. 2018 was the first time he had more innings (149 1/3) than strikeouts (132). This isn’t a step back though as this was due to an improved fastball that produced a lot of weak contact. That’s why his ERA and home runs were down, as were his walks and WHIP.

It wouldn’t be surprising in the least if Shawaryn made his Major League debut at some point next season. The Red Sox will more-than-likely give him looks as a starter but a bullpen role might be in his future. This is simply due to the fact that he’s already so close to the Majors, but the Red Sox don’t have any real openings in the rotation at the moment.

7. Denyi Reyes

This is a weird situation. Denyi Reyes was one of my “clients” (again, shoutout to Paul Heyman), but is now in the Top-30 prospects list for the Red Sox. That being said, I still find him to be grossly underrated as he barely cracks the list at 30. As you can tell – I’m much higher on the right-handed pitcher.

The 21-year-old posted a 1.45 ERA in 62 innings for Short-A in 2017. He followed that up with a 1.97 ERA in 155 2/3 innings between Full-A and Advanced-A in 2018.

Two things. First, yes those numbers are as ridiculous as you think – and second, that’s not the most impressive stat.

Reyes has a career 2.12 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Yes, his career WHIP is under, 1.00. Still not the most impressive thing though.

In 327 1/3 innings, Reyes has 286 strikeouts … compared to 33 walks. THIRTY-THREE WALKS.

To put that into perspective, there’s only one pitcher with 200-plus innings this year in the Majors with fewer walks. That would be Miles Mikolas (200 2/3 innings) with 29. So he’s barely behind what Reyes has done his entire career.

The kind of command Reyes has makes him one of the most impressive prospects in the Red Sox organization. It gives him something that will translate at any level already.

As you can tell, the command has served Reyes well when it comes to his stats.

Beyond the stats, Reyes has four pitches in his repertoire. Nothing is completely dominant, but with his control, Reyes uses them all well.

He has a fastball that sits in the low-90s but has fantastic movement. His slider has a nice sharp cut to it when it’s on – so does his curveball. He doesn’t seem to have the best feel for the curveball yet though. Meanwhile, the changeup is his best pitch – showing a nice dip.

Although none of the pitches are plus-plus, they come together to be a solid repertoire. His command makes everything that much better as well.

MLB has his ceiling projected as a number five starter at best and it appears to be due to his pitches. The command plays at any level though and should make things easier on Reyes as he tries to improve his tool belt.

Any pitcher would kill to have the ridiculous career-walk rate of 0.9-per-nine-innings. That’s ace-level command. I think his ceiling is as high as that can take him, and it’s a lot more than a number five.

6. Triston Casas

The Red Sox spent their first round pick in 2018 on Triston Casas. He only got four at-bats in during 2018 thanks to an injury, but there are a number of reasons to be excited about him.

It’s hard to grade someone when the only real frame of reference is High School. That being said, Casas has a lot of the tools to be a star.

The 18-year-old is already a mammoth 6’4″, 238 lbs – and that plays right into his style. Speed is the only thing that isn’t already average or above-average for Casas. As he matures, I can’t imagine him picking up speed. It’s not part of his game now, so there’s no real reason to focus on improving it.

Casas could move forward as either a first baseman or a third baseman. Of course, those are the two most loaded positions the Red Sox have in their minors. It would be better for Casas to take up first base though, for two reasons.

First of all, the position isn’t as crowded as third base (there’s still two third base prospects on this list left to be revealed).

Second, although his strong arm plays well at third and he’s solid at the position – first base would be perfect for his frame. As mentioned before, Casas isn’t exactly light on his feet, and that will be masked more at first. He still has a strong arm and good glove work. There are also solid instincts and footwork in the mix. With all of this, he could become an above-average first baseman.

Offensively, Casas grades as a beast. The left-handed hitter looks like a professional at the plate. He has great plate discipline and doesn’t strike out at alarming rates. He should be able to hit for solid averages.

Casas also hits for power – a lot of it. He hits the ball hard and can do it to all parts of the field. There’s a lot to like about Casas, but this is clearly the crown jewel of his game. Should turn into a 30-plus home run hitter for the Red Sox within a few years. The fact that he could be above-average at nearly everything else as well is just icing.

5. Jay Groome

This was a tough one for me. Jay Groome will be an ace at some point in his career. The problem, however, is I’m big on results (stats, eye-test, and so-on). It’s hard to show results when you’re injured.

Groome was drafted in 2016 and has 62 innings to show for it. He’s one of the best left-handed pitchers in the minors. There’s nothing bad you can say about his game. His fastball and curveball are both plus-plus pitches and his changeup is a plus offering. He also has the frame (6’6″, 220 lbs) and can post massive strikeout numbers.

62 innings though. If he was given more time, he’d be the number one prospect on this list. The injuries have to be at least a little concerning though.

Besides the injuries, Groome is a stud. He slid to the Red Sox in the 2016 draft due to “character concerns”. So far they seem to be ridiculous though as there haven’t been any problems and he appears to be an extremely hard worker. He famously worked out with Chris Sale in the 2017-2018 offseason.

The left-handed pitcher has 5.37 ERA through those 62 innings in the minors. Most of the damage came during his time in Full-A (44 1/3 innings) in an injury-riddled 2017. He posted a 6.70 ERA (33 earned runs) in Greenville but nine of those came in his first 1 1/3 innings. That outing (April 10) was the last one he would make until June 19, so something might not have been right.

Groome did have a few superstar moments that season – throwing five no-hit innings in Short-A, then throwing five one-hit innings in Full-A in his next start. He had another fantastic back-to-back later in the year (both with Greenville this time), throwing six one-hit innings then five three-hit innings. All four of those outings were scoreless.

That highlights just how dominate Groome can be.

The 20-year-old has an inconsistent changeup. When it’s on it shows just how good Groome can be though. It moves like a fastball but drops suddenly, and is about 10 MPH slower.

His fastball sits in the mid-90s but it could touch 100 in time. It possesses a great combination of hair and life. He’ll get a lot of people swinging through it, as well as staring at it when he’s painting corners.

That curveball though – wow. Clearly the pitch of the hour. This pitch could be dangerous in the Majors right now. It’s scary to think Groome has more time to develop it. High-70s to low-80s,  it’s the definition of a sweeping curveball. Like the fastball, it will produce swings-and-misses as well as frozen strike threes. This is different though. The swings won’t be through the pitch, they’ll more-than-likely be at nothing as the ball is buried in the dirt. Meanwhile, the caught-lookings will probably be knee-bucklers.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Groome might be untouchable-number-one. Unless the Red Sox are offered something ridiculous, he shouldn’t be on the table. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be an ace in the future. The only reason he’s not higher on the list is that “if”.

4. Bobby Dalbec

So. Much. Power. If you count Casas, this is third baseman number six in the top-30 of the Red Sox prospects. Bobby Dalbec has the most power out of any of them. Let me stop there, Dalbec has the most power out of anyone – in the system.

For a frame of reference, how about a story? I went to a few Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A) games this season and saw Dalbec twice. In one game (against the Reading Phillies), he was robbed of an opposite-field home run. That may not seem like a show of power, but it’s deeper than that. This was a flick-of-the-wrist swing. Dalbec clearly missed the pitch (and he knew it) and still hit it over the fence.

Dalbec is another where speed is his only attribute with no real projection. He’s not slow, but don’t expect him to create too much magic on the base paths. That being said, he’s faster than many give him credit for.

Defensively, he needs to stay at third base. He has solid footwork (much better than his speed would suggest) and can get to a lot of balls. His glove-work is also strong and he has a rifle for an arm.

When it comes to the plate, there are a few weaknesses. Dalbec probably won’t be a .300 hitter in the Majors although he could still hit over .250.

The real problem has been strikeouts. Again, however, this is a little overblown. In 2018 Dalbec struck out 176 times in 543 plate appearances. That means he struck out in 32.4% of his plate appearances. Clearly, that’s something he’ll want to work out. At the same time though, Giancarlo Stanton struck out 211 times in 705 plate appearances, that’s 29.9%. So a high strikeout percentage doesn’t mean you can’t be a star.

Also of note, Joey Gallo hit 40 home runs despite 207 strikeouts in of his 577 PAs. That’s an astronomical 35.9%, proving you can still be extremely valuable with a high strikeout rate.

Dalbec mashed in 2018 while splitting time between Advanced-A and Double-A. He slashed .257/.361/.558 and roped 35 doubles and three triples, as well as 32 home runs. The 24-year-old also drove in a ridiculous 109 runs (in 129 games).

There’s always been a ton of raw power in his bat and things could get even better from here. Dalbec already has a solid 6’4″, 225 lbs frame and if he beefs up more the home run potential is limitless.

Dalbec had a mammoth year in 2018 and there’s no reason to believe he can’t build off it. If given the opportunity, his bat would be superb in Fenway. Will give the Red Sox at least one 40 home run season.

3. Durbin Feltman

Okay, some people may find this to be high because Durbin Feltman is a reliever. He was a reliever in College – he’s a reliever in the minors – and he’ll be a reliever in the Majors. Like Red Sox fans will love to tell you though, a bullpen’s important.

Feltman, in particular, is important because he’s the heir apparent to Craig Kimbrel. Feltman should be the Red Sox closer for the next 15-plus years.

There’s a reason many thought he’d be pitching in the Majors in 2018 despite being drafted … in 2018. In fact, there’s a pretty solid argument that he should’ve been called up. Instead, he surprisingly didn’t make it past Advanced-A. The reason that’s so surprising is that Feltman dominated at every level he went to.

The right-handed pitcher posted a 1.93 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 22 outings in 2018. He went 4-for-4 on save opportunities and opponents hit .207 with zero home runs against him. Feltman also struck out 36 batters in 23 1/3 innings. 36 batters. In 23 1/3 innings. 36 batt… okay, I’ll stop.

That’s a K/9 of 13.89. For a frame of reference, the all-time leader in that category is Chris Sale (10.86). Although it should be noted that relievers tend not to make the list due to a 1000 innings pitched requirement.

Feltman will be an immediate impact on the Red Sox bullpen whenever he’s given the call. That would be thanks to two dominate pitches that the 21-year-old possesses. He has a changeup and curveball but those are average pitches that will probably be used extremely sparingly. The changeup could be used to keep hitters off-balance from his fastball.

Feltman has as a slider that will baffle any hitter. He has solid command of the pitch and its sharp break will be the cause of a lot of swinging strikes. Most importantly is how consistent he is with the pitch. This isn’t a hit-or-miss offering, it’s almost always on-point.

His fastball is utter destruction. Works in the high-90s (but looks even faster) with late movement. It’s been known to make hitters look really bad. Even when someone does manage to make contact, it’s usually weak.

The Red Sox closer of the future is obvious when you watch Feltman pitch. Expect to see him in the Majors in 2019 – possibly even closing out games.

2. Bryan Mata

Bryan Mata has control issues. If it wasn’t for that, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything negative to say about the right-handed pitcher.

Through 210 career innings, Mata’s allowed 103 free passes. More alarming is that in 2018 he walked 58 batters in 72 innings.

Nearly every category has been dominated by Mata though. The 19-year-old has a career 3.39 ERA and 196 strikeouts. He’s also allowed just six home runs in his career.

2018 saw Mata post career-bests in home runs allowed (1) and batting average against (.229). As I mentioned above – he’s 19. Despite that, he’s had three years of experience in the Red Sox organization. All three years have been at different levels of the minors, and all three have been positive.

Mata spent 2018 in Advanced-A and clearly pitched well enough to move up in 2019. The Red Sox might decide to slow down on the advancements though – to iron out the control problem.

Of his three pitches, the curveball is the worst of the group. Like with a few others on the list, this is telling because it’s still a solid pitch. It has a nice consistent break to it and as the season went on Mata seemed to be getting more comfortable with the pitch.

Next is a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid-90s. It has the feel of an overpowering pitch that could see hitters swing through it or create weak contact due to late life and movement. Many believe this to be his best pitch.

Personally, that honor would go to the changeup though. It sits in the mid-80s but looks just like a fastball out of his hand. A nice drop-off at the end will get some hitters who were able to time the pitch to still miss.

At 6’3″ the prototypical frame of a pitcher is there as he puts on more mass. Mata has the pitch-mix to become a star. While the control in 2018 was a bit concerning, he’s still 19 – meaning there’s plenty of time to figure some things out. There’s no reason to believe he can’t be a front-end starter or even an ace in a future Red Sox rotation.

1. Michael Chavis

There was a time where I thought Michael Chavis would be dethroned from this spot. I was a fool – plain and simple. That’s not a knock on anyone else in the system, it’s just simply that there’s nothing this guy can’t do.

Chavis is at the top of the loaded third base prospect list in the system … as well as the first base list. This year he appeared at first base in 12 games. For what it’s worth, Chavis started his career as a shortstop, but the realistic positions for him are first and third at this point.

Let’s narrow that down again though. While first base is an option – stick to third base. You’re wasting a cannon of an arm if you move him. With that being said, Rafael Devers is creating a little bit of a problem with keeping Chavis at third.

For now, there’s no need to worry about that. There are plenty of ways the Red Sox could find a way to incorporate both into the lineup.

Besides the fantastic arm, Chavis is all-around solid at third. I don’t think he’ll win any Gold Gloves but he gets the job done and should be reliable.

Offensively, Chavis was expected to be a monster at the plate. Things started off slow and some injuries hampered that even more. 2017 was a breakout year for him though and 2018 followed suit.

In 2017 the right-handed hitter posted career-highs in virtually every category while appearing in 126 games. His entire slash line (.282/.347/.563) broke personal records as did his 35 doubles and 31 home runs. Keeping up the pace were career-bests in RBI (94) and runs scored (89).

2018 saw him appear in just 46 games though (mainly due to a suspension). In that time he showed little rust, marking new career-highs in average (.298) and OBP (.381) while posting a .538 slugging percentage. He also managed 14 doubles and nine home runs in 171 at-bats and the run production was still fantastic (27 RBI and 36 runs scored).

The 23-year-old is starting to look like someone that will hit for major power (30-plus home runs) without sacrificing his average. Hitting at a .280 clip seems like a reasonable expectation at this point. Meanwhile, that run production is only getting matched by Dalbec in the system.

Listed at 5’10, 216 lbs Chavis is an absolute unit. This is 100% a compliment too. Chavis is in no way, shape or form out of shape. That’s a great 216 with more than enough muscle to help him ruin a pitcher’s night with one swing of the bat.

Barring something unexpected, Chavis will be with the Red Sox at some point in 2019.

There are a lot of great prospects in the Red Sox system, but Chavis stands above the rest. The kid has “superstar” written all over him.