Michael Chavis, Bobby Dalbec, and Triston Casas all represent a very bright future for the Red Sox at the hot corner. However, all three are learning how to play first base since 22-year old stud Rafael Devers currently patrols third base at Fenway.
Although Rafael Devers currently plays third base for the Red Sox, Boston has three very exciting corner infield prospects in the system who could make an impact in the near future.
Michael Chavis will probably be the one who gets called up the quickest, after hitting four homers in Grapefruit League play this spring. He’ll begin the season in AAA but could see a call-up very soon if his bat stays hot. Bobby Dalbec is also an intriguing prospect who has also spent time at first base given that could be the position where a spot opens up in the future with veterans Steve Pearce and Mitch Moreland there. Last, Triston Casas. He was Boston’s first-round pick last summer, but instantly got hurt and hasn’t played a full professional season yet. Nonetheless, he has some very loud tools and could be a very solid prospect in the future.
The one thing that all these three players have in common is that they can all play the corners. Let’s take a deeper look at what these prospects could bring to Boston when they do arrive in the big leagues.
Michael Chavis
Boston’s number one prospect, Chavis really struggled in his first few pro seasons after getting drafted in the first round back in 2014. Then in 2017, the 23-year old really started to figure it out at the plate and put up the type of numbers Boston knew he was capable of. He hit a total of 31 homers in 2017 before testing positive for a PED, which kept him out for a big chunk of 2018. Once he did return though, he continued to mash baseballs. Chavis hit .298 across three levels, spending the majority of his time in AA Portland. He went deep nine times in just 46 games last season. Chavis has shown the ability to hit for average and power, a trait that has proven to be very exciting for the Red Sox front office.
The former first-rounder spent time this spring playing second base as well as third and first, with the thought that a spot could open up at second before the hot corner or even first base. He looked pretty good there and ultimately, it’s his offense that will fast track him to the big leagues this year. He’s athletic enough to play numerous positions which is a huge benefit to how quickly he could move up. If he continues to mash in AAA Pawtucket, Alex Cora will definitely make room for an impact bat that can contribute to his club.
Bobby Dalbec
A fourth-round pick in ’16 out of a prestigious Arizona Wildcats program, Dalbec has put his power on full display to this point in his career. The Red Sox number two prospect went deep 32 times in 2018 between High-A and AA last year, with 26 of those bombs coming in High-A Salem. He does tend to strike out a lot though, with a 32 percent strikeout percentage last year. He probably won’t make the big leagues until 2020 because he still needs to mature as a hitter and cut down the swings and misses. The raw power is there though and the Red Sox can definitely see that. He has a powerful right-handed swing with great bat speed and the ability to hit a ball as far as anyone in the minors. His hefty 6’4, 225 lb frame has played mostly third base in his pro career thus far, but just like Chavis, Boston has introduced him to get reps in at first base as well.
Like most power hitters, he tends to swing out of his shoes at times and comes up empty. He has done a relatively good job of drawing walks though, with 60 base on balls in 100 games last season in Salem. When he does hit the ball on the barrel though, it’s special. Consistency is the key for Dalbec. If he minimizes the strikeouts and continues to hit for power in AA this year, the possibility of a call-up in 2020 is definitely realistic for the 23-year old.
Triston Casas
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Casas was just drafted last summer and hasn’t really gotten his pro career started yet. Nonetheless, he is currently Boston’s third overall prospect. Casas led the U18 USA national team in homers and RBI’s in the World Championships in both 2016 and 17′ while putting his power on full display.
Although we haven’t seen a lot of what he can do against pro pitching, Casas has monster power from the left side of the plate. The youngster hit 11 homers and drove in 53 RBI’s in 53 games across two seasons for American Heritage HS in his junior and senior year. His smooth, quick stroke squares up the ball consistently and there is little doubt that he will develop in the very near future into a very good pro hitter.
At just 19, his ETA in the big leagues is obviously a ways off, but his upside is definitely promising. Although he played third base in high school, his size and lack of quickness will probably move him over to first base. But as his pro career progresses, he could definitely see time at both corners.
A wealth of talent at corners
As you can see, the Red Sox have an overload of powerful bats who can play both third base and first base. Assuming Devers will be with the Red Sox for an extended amount of time, the future looks promising for these prospects mostly at first base with older players currently playing there for Boston, with the exception of Sam Travis. Whether one or more of these prospects get traded or get their chance at the big league level with the Red Sox, they all have very bright futures ahead of them.