Boston Red Sox top-30 prospect rankings after the 2019 season

The 2019 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 2019 season wasn’t great. After winning the World Series in the prior season, Boston didn’t even make the playoffs.

However, not everything was a lost cause. Looking back on this season, there are a lot of positives to focus on.

It was the breakout season of Rafael Devers. The third baseman had an amazing, MVP-caliber year.

Catcher Christian Vazquez had a breakout year as well, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts had his best year ever. Relief pitcher Brandon Workman looked like a stud as well.

Meanwhile, Rookie Michael Chavis showed off his crazy power. While Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Taylor had strong rookie campaigns out of the bullpen.

Then there are the prospects. Some had down years, others kept on the right path. Then there were the ones with those glorious breakout years.

How did the 2019 season change the landscape of the Red Sox minor league system though? Who are the top-30 prospects in Boston’s system?

As for the rules, there is really only one very simple rule. No playing in the Majors. If they have any MLB experience, I don’t have them on my list. This keeps out a few names that otherwise might have cracked the top-30.

Let’s also 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.

30. Marino Campana (Outfielder)

I won’t lie to you, 2019 was not kind to Marino Campana. The Red Sox had to be excited about him after 2018. The outfielder had a fantastic season and was just 21 entering the year.

However, Camana hit just .191 between Short-A, Full-A, and Advanced-A. The right-handed hitter had just seven doubles, two triples, and nine home runs. Meanwhile, he drove in 33 runs and scored 30 more, stealing five bases as well.

What’s so disappointing is this was coming off a year that saw him hit .246 with 19 doubles, seven triples, and 16 home runs. He had driven in 69 runs and scored 54 more. There was so much to be excited about.

I’m not giving up though. Campana was clearly not ready for Advanced-A ball to start the year. I’m sticking with that absolutely miserable start being the downfall of his season.

Campana’s still a very exciting prospect in my opinion. He’ll be 22 for the entire 2020 season. He’s also got an excellent frame. At 6’4″, 195 he can fill out a ton as well.

Campana isn’t anything special in the outfield, but he could play well in a corner spot. He has a solid arm as well and has definitely improved on his reads and glove work.

Campana also isn’t exactly fast, but he’s much faster than he gets credit for. It’s something that could lead to him racking up a decent amount of doubles (and even triples) in a season.

Meanwhile, he isn’t nearly as bad at hitting for average as 2019 suggested. No, he’ll never be a .300 hitter but Campana has shown when he gets hot that he can lock in and be hard to get out. Hitting for a .250-ish average seems very possible.

That should be more than enough too as I absolutely love his power potential. Campana has a powerful swing and could hit for 25-plus home runs. If he fills out his frame that could easily turn into 30-plus home runs.

The Red Sox will have learned from last year to be patient with Campana. If they are, he could reward them pretty nicely. However, he’s clearly still quite a ways away from the Majors.

29. Yusniel Padron-Artilles (Relief Pitcher)

Yusniel Padron-Artilles had a really strong 2019 campaign. However, it was the end of that season that really put him on the map.

Padron-Artilles finished the year posting a solid 3.38 ERA between both Short-A and Full-A. The 21-year-old made 19 appearances (12 starts) and pitched 88 innings. In those 88 innings, he had 109 strikeouts.

Again, all really good numbers right?

Let’s talk about the playoffs though. Padron-Artilles had two appearances for Short-A in the playoffs. In that time, he threw 11 innings (all in relief). He gave up just two runs (1.64 ERA) on just four hits and no walks (.111 BAA and 0.36 WHIP). Oh, and 20 strikeouts.

14 of those strikeouts came in his first appearance. Padron-Artilles went six shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 14 batters. It was one of the most dominant performances in recent memory.

That’s the kind of game that will make a very good season into a great season.

Padron-Artilles has four pitches. None of which he’s got great command over at the moment. However, as he’s shown with dominant outings, if they reach their full potential he can be great.

Padron-Artilles has a fastball that sits right around 90-MPH. The speed obviously isn’t great but he has solid movement on it and good command. If he continues to improve his command and can put it right where he wants it, the movement is more than enough to make this a great pitch.

His changeup isn’t anything special yet. It hovers around 80-MPH with good drop-off and the same arm movement of his fastball. However, he tends to lose the pitch. He’ll lose control or just feel for it and leave it flat. If he can figure that out, it would be really good in small doses.

Padron-Artilles has a curveball in the low-70s. It breaks really nicely and can sweep from one side to the other. This is his best pitch and something that can turn into a plus-plus pitch if he continues improving.

Finally, the man throws an eephus pitch. How can you not love that? It’s not like one of that 40-MPH eephus, but still, low-60s that can baffle hitters. Not thrown all that often, but still can be really effective.

Padron-Artilles is likely still very far away from the Majors. However, he looked great in 2019 and elite in the playoffs. If he can ride that momentum, 2020 could be a very fun ride.

28. Tyler Esplin (Right Fielder)

Tyler Esplin is one of the most underrated prospects in the Red Sox system in my opinion. The right fielder had a career-year in basically every aspect of the game.

Esplin spent 100 games in Full-A and two more in Advanced-A last season. His highest level before 2019 was Short-A.

That’s just the start of it though. Not only did Esplin play at the highest levels of his career, but he also played at the highest level of his career.

The left-handed hitter had a .253 average with 26 doubles and five home runs. Those were all career-bests. His three triples were one-off his old mark.

Meanwhile, he drove in 43 runs and scored 52 more, stealing six bases. As you might have guessed, those were all highs as well.

Esplin also got to play in the playoffs in Advanced-A. In four games with the Salem Red Sox, he hit .250 (4-for-16) with a double and two home runs, driving in four runs and scoring four more.

Esplin’s only unexciting category is his speed. He isn’t slow, but Esplin also won’t be stealing a ton of bases anytime soon. Still, he’s fast enough to leg out a ton of doubles and get a few steals.

He’s solid defensively in right field. Esplin seems really comfortable at the position and he has a phenomenal arm. That arm could help him throw out a lot of base runners.

Offensively is where Esplin will make his money. He should only get better when it comes to average as he gets older. Remember, he’s still just 20.

Esplin could flirt with .275 consistently once he grows his game a little better and has tons of raw power potential. Once he gets a little stronger, that 6’4″, 225 lb frame will work wonders. A lot of those deep fly balls he’s hitting will start leaving the park. He could be a 40-plus doubles 25-plus home runs guy.

The Red Sox should be absolutely thrilled with the incredible step forward Tyler Esplin made in 2019. If he replicates that in 2020 there’s no way he’s under-appreciated any longer.

27. Josh Ockimey (First Baseman)

2019 was an odd year for Josh Ockimey. At one point, the first baseman was one of the top prospects in the Red Sox system according to MLB. Now they don’t even have him in their top-30.

The main reason for that was probably his struggles at the plate. The left-handed hitter posted a .204 average in 2019 (spent the entire year in Triple-A).

At various times in the season, he went on pretty long hitless streaks. That being said, he also got hot at times.

Oh, and while that average wasn’t good, it also wasn’t all bad. Ockimey walked 82 times (.353 OBP). He also still drove in 57 runs and scored 64 more despite the poor average. He also smacked 17 doubles and two triples, as well as a career-high 25 home runs.

The home runs were particularly encouraging. 2018 set his high to 20 and that was with him playing a heavy majority of the year in Double-A.

Now that he’s spent a full season in Triple-A, it will be interesting to see how Ockimey progresses in 2020. The home runs should continue to be there, but the hope should be that he can get that average up a pretty decent chunk.

Either way, he’s pretty close to the Majors. The 24-year-old (turned 24 on October 18) could be a good contributor in Boston.

Yes, the average is a little worrisome. However, he’s not bad at first base and has legitimate power. Protected by a really good MLB lineup as compared to being the main power bat in a Triple-A lineup could make a big difference as well.

Suddenly Ockimey might get a few more pitches to see and raise that average a little bit. Meanwhile, 30-plus homers in a season is definitely a possibility.

For now though, Ockimey’s going to have to prove he can hit for a better average. Still, the power is very real and very exciting.

26. Kole Cottam (Catcher)

Possibly the most underrated position in the Red Sox minors is the catcher. They have quite a few prospects that I like. Austin Rei, Jhon Nunez, Roldani Baldwin, and Charlie Madden just to name a few.

Of course, the top prospect at the position is Kole Cottam. The catcher had a phenomenal year in 2019, splitting time between Full-A and Advanced-A.

Cottam slashed .255/.363/.424 in 87 games. The right-handed hitter had 25 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. He added a very solid 44 RBI and 47 runs scored as well.

That offensive potential makes him very intriguing. Cottam showed some very timely hitting in 2019. He also has plus-power potential and a good contact bat.

All-in-all, he could be a .275-plus hitter with 20-plus home runs and legitimately flirt with 100-plus RBI. For anyone, those would be great numbers, let alone a catch.

Meanwhile, he’s underrated defensively. Cottam still has some learning to do when it comes to pitch framing and blocking. However, he’s not bad in those categories, and he has an underrated arm.

Cottam also proved he can hit in the postseason. This year, he appeared in five postseason games. In those games, he went 6-for-17 (.353) with one walk, two RBI and one run scored. Again showing that he can hit in clutch situations.

Cottam spent 76 games in Full-A and 11 games in Advanced-A. Due to that, he’ll likely start 2020 in Advanced-A. With Christian Vazquez having a career-year in 2019, the Red Sox won’t be worrying too much about this position either.

There’s also the fact that the next man up win terms of prospects would likely be Rei. So Boston will probably go slow with Cottam. Let him develop all-around. At just 22, there’s no need to rush his development. Give him another full year or two in the minors before making any major moves.

He should be worth the wait.

25. Nick Northcut (Third Baseman)

The Red Sox drafted Nicholas Northcut in the 11th round last season. Despite not being a high-round draft pick, there is a ton to like about him.

Northcut has average-to-above-average potential in every category except speed. Don’t expect more than about five steals on any given season. He’s also not going to get any extra bases, singles won’t be turned into doubles or anything like that.

However, everything else is great. Northcut probably won’t be a .300 hitter but he could reach the .270 range. Meanwhile, the right-handed hitter has great power potential. Enough that he should load the box score with a lot of doubles and home runs.

The prize for Northcut is his defense. He looks very natural at third base. His glove is as sure as they come, especially for a 20-year-old and he’s surprisingly agile for someone that doesn’t have much speed.

Northcut also has a very strong arm. Combine that with his good instincts and glove work and you should see a lot of great defensive plays from him.

Third base is a pretty loaded position for the Red Sox in the minors. Even with that, Northcut has the most defensive potential of the group.

That being said, he still has a lot of work to do offensively. While he has the potential, the numbers weren’t great in 2019. Northcut hit .211 with 10 doubles, two triples and one home run in 194 at-bats in Short-A last season. He did manage a 4-for-12 (.333) average over three playoff games as well though.

Due to the lack of production at the plate, Northcut will likely start the year in Short-A or Full-A. The Red Sox will take their time with him as well. That makes sense with Rafael Devers already manning the position the Majors. If they are patient with Northcut and let him grow, he could put it all together rather nicely.

24. Danny Diaz (Third Baseman)

Danny Diaz was one of the big international signings of the Boston Red Sox in 2017. That was the same year they signed Antoni Flores and Daniel Flores (no relation).

Daniel Flores was the big get, and I mean big get. The catcher had all the tools to be a star. He had a rocket for an arm and was already incredibly skilled defensively, at game calling and pitch framing, and had a plus-plus potential bat.

Cancer took his life in November of 2017 though. It was extremely tragic and to this day a very sad memory.

I’ve always felt that this kind of overshadowed Danny Diaz and Antoni Flores. They are both wonderful prospects to this day. However, Daniel Flores was set to be the toast of the minors. So anything those two do just won’t live up to the hype.

That means they are flying more under the radar than they should be. I’ll talk about Antoni Flores later.

For now, we’re on Diaz. The third baseman still has a lot to do. He’s just 18 and hasn’t gotten past rookie ball.

However, he grades out really nicely. The right-handed hitter looks to be someone who might strike out a decent amount. He’s can put the barrel on the ball often though. That should lead to him having a solid average while showing above-average pop.

Diaz has the potential for 25-plus homers, and with that will come solid run production. He’s far from fast but has a good frame (6’1″, 170 lbs) as someone that can grow and get stronger. That size should help him at third base too.

Speaking of third base, I actually really like his potential here. He’s not fast but doesn’t need elite speed at the position. What he does have is good instincts and footwork. His glove could use some polishing but at 18 he’s got enough time to do that. Meanwhile, he has a plus-arm.

The big attraction for Diaz is the pop. He should start 2020 in Short-A (maybe even Full-A but likely Short-A). That means he will get more time and a lot more exposure. Expect ups and downs as he grows, but also expect quite a few blasts that make your eyes pop.

23. Eduard Bazardo (Relief Pitcher)

I fell in love with Eduard Bazardo in 2018. The right-handed pitcher’s first three years in the minors were all in Rookie Ball. Due to that, I never got to see him.

2018 was a great year for Bazardo, and 2019 was that much better. The main reason for that is his conversion to reliever. As a starter, Bazardo was good but had to hold back and got tired later in outings. As a reliever, he gets to just throw gas and it works for him.

Bazardo threw 73 1/3 innings in 2019, splitting time between Advanced-A and Double-A. That’s significant because before the year he had never pitched higher than Full-A.

Bazardo posted a 2.21 ERA in those 73 1/3 innings. He had a .206 BAA and 1.06 WHIP as well. Meanwhile, Bazardo struck out 88 batters and had four saves in six opportunities.

The 24-year-old (turned 24 on September 1) was basically untouchable the entire season. He was unfair at times and for stretches was the most dominant pitcher in the Red Sox system.

Bazardo also has pitches to love. He’s really a two-pitch guy but has a changeup that he uses on occasion just kind of to mix things up. That pitch is nothing special, sits in the mid-high-80s and has decent enough drop. Don’t really see it much as a reliever at all.

Then there’s a fastball that’s gotten so much better in recent years.

Bazardo’s fastball used to sit in the low-90s, touching the mid-90s at times. Now he’s sitting around 93-94 and can hit 97. The pitch also has a ton of movement on it and generates a good amount of swing-and-misses and a bunch of weak contact.

Finally, there’s a curveball that’s just nasty. The pitch sits in the low-80s and has just ridiculous spin on it. It drops pretty sharply and it’s one of those pitches that look unreal when watching in slow motion.

The best part about it though is that he’s pretty consistent with it. Bazardo can command the pitch pretty well and doesn’t leave it flat very much at all. This will create a lot of bad swings and caught looking strikes.

Bazardo shot up the ladder in 2019 and could do the same in 2020. He will likely start in the minors but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Red Sox gave him a chance to prove himself in Spring Training.

Even if he doesn’t make the Majors to start the year though, Bazardo shouldn’t be too far off. Expect him to find his way to Boston sometime in 2020. When he does, he could immediately become fantastic bullpen help.

21. Cameron Cannon (Shortstop)

The Red Sox selected Cameron Cannon in the second-round of the 2019 draft. Cannon has the potential to be someone who finds his way to the Majors pretty quickly.

While the shortstop struggled in his first year in the minors, he has a pretty refined game already.

Cannon hit .200 over 170 at-bats. The right-handed hitter had 12 doubles and three triples in that time. He added 21 RBI and 17 runs scored, stealing one base in one attempt.

Defensively, Cannon played both second base and shortstop. While he struggled at times with errors, he should be pretty reliable at both positions.

Cannon’s best tool is his bat. He could be a high .200s and even a .300 hitter. While he likely won’t ever be a 30-plus home run guy, he could turn out 15-20 in a season. Adding in a lot of doubles and the high average and his run production should be nice as well.

Admittedly, Cannon isn’t the most exciting of prospects. He turned 22 on October 16 and didn’t pop off the page in his first season.

However, he already has a good amount of experience and could find himself making a few leaps in year two now that he’s acclimated.

The Red Sox don’t really have a spot for him with Xander Bogaerts at shortstop. His ability to play second base as well gives Cannon a fallback though, especially with Boston not really having the perfect solution there at the moment.

Don’t be surprised if Cannon takes a massive step forward in 2020. Now that he has some time under his belt we could see the polished prospect that the Red Sox were hoping for. He could even find himself all the way up in Double-A by the time the season is over.

20. Marcus Wilson (Outfielder)

I have always been a big Blake Swihart guy. To this day I still believe the Red Sox kind of botched that whole situation. He was an elite catching prospect just a few years ago. His athleticism made him so unique. It could help him become a much better defender while giving him an elite offense and make him a serious threat on the base paths. That’s something you don’t get from most catchers.

However, the bottom line is that by the end of it, clearly moving on was for the best for everyone involved.

It sucks that he had to get traded, but wow did the Red Sox get a great return. In 2019, Boston traded Swihart to the Arizona Diamondbacks for an outfield prospect. That prospect was Marcus Wilson.

Wilson is a very interesting prospect. He has shown signs of being someone that can hit for a very solid average. That’s about the worst thing I can say about him.

Wilson has great pop in his bat and is an excellent defender. He made multiple incredible plays last year, including some game-saving grabs and throws. He also has plus-speed that makes him a serious threat on the base paths and only makes his defense better.

Last year, Wilson had arguably his best campaign to date.

The right-handed hitter’s .269 average was the second-best of his career. Meanwhile, the .357 OBP was the third-best and the .492 slugging was the best.

The reason the slugging percentage was so high was because he had career-highs in doubles (28) and home runs (18), while roping two triples as well. In fact, those 18 home runs were a full eight better than any year prior.

Meanwhile, the 58 RBI and 65 runs scored were career-bests as well. Although his 13 steals weren’t even close to a career-best, his 76.5% (13-for-17) success rate was the second-highest percentage of his career.

Wilson is an all-around prospect. He reminds me a lot of what Jackie Bradley Jr. can do now.

Although he won’t get you a .300 average, Wilson should be able to hit over .250 consistently (something Bradley Jr. doesn’t do). Meanwhile, he’ll play great defense and has good pop and excellent speed that makes him a threat to steal a ton of bases.

Wilson also has a very long career ahead of him, as he just turned 23 on August 15. He spent a heavy majority of 2019 in Double-A but that’s likely where he’ll start 2020 as well. That being said, Wilson has a chance to really impress in the upcoming season. If that happens, a trip to the Majors isn’t out of the question.

That’s especially true with the uncertainty of a few specific outfielders on the team.

Wilson’s got a real chance to be a legitimate piece on a contending team. Keep an eye out for him. The Red Sox really got an amazing return in this trade.

19. Matthew Lugo (Shortstop)

Matthew Lugo is going to be fun. First off, he comes from some great baseball lineage. His uncle is a little famous, you may have heard of Carlos Beltran before.

The Red Sox selected the shortstop in the second-round of the 2019 draft. In a shortened season, he showed a lot of the potential that made him so highly-coveted.

Lugo is plus-potential at every facet of the game.

He has a great arm that will play great at shortstop. His fielding is already solid as well. It’s something that can get a lot better though. Lugo has good instincts and tends to make the first right step. He’ll end up making a lot of flashy plays and should be very reliable on the routine ones as well.

Lugo could absolutely find himself as a .300 hitter in the Majors. The right-handed hitter can put square up the ball regularly and has very good discipline for someone his age. In 2019 he hit .257 with a .337 OBP.

He also has great power potential. Lugo had five doubles, one triple and one home run in 144 at-bats last season. As he grows and develops, the swing will improve. Coupled with filling out his frame (6’1″, 185 lbs) could make him a 25-plus home run hitter. Meanwhile, the power and speed combination should make him flirt with 50-plus doubles quite often.

Speaking of speed, Lugo has it in spades. He could find himself stealing 20-plus bases with ease. Meanwhile, that will only make his defense at shortstop even better as his range will be fantastic. Of course, it could help him switch to another position a little easier as well if the Red Sox decide to go that route.

Last season, Lugo was 3-for-3 on steals. He also had 19 runs scored and 13 RBI. Those are all three categories that could be massive for the shortstop in his first full year in the minors next year. Of course, everything could see a major uptick.

However, due to his age (turns 19 on May 9), the Red Sox will want to take it slow with him. Even if he puts up strong numbers, he’s still a few years away from the Majors. No reason to rush him with Xander Bogaerts already at shortstop. Don’t be surprised if Lugo is pushing up the rankings and getting a lot more exposure sooner rather than later though.

18. Denyi Reyes (Starting Pitcher)

Last season I had Denyi Reyes a lot higher on this list (seventh). He was coming off a career-year that made him look almost untouchable.

I feel bad about dropping him this low in 2019. Honestly, his season had a lot of positives. Sure, the 4.16 ERA was much much higher than the 1.97 ERA he posted last year. The innings were down and the strikeouts were as well too. Meanwhile the hits and walks were up, and he allowed more home runs even.

In fact, Reyes allowed 33 walks in 327 1/3 career innings before 2019. In 2019 he allowed 37 walks in 151 1/3 innings. A lot of people might see that as alarming.

However, Reyes was in Double-A for the first time in his career. He spent the entire year there in fact. In 2018 he made 21 appearances in Full-A and six in Advanced-A. The year before that he spent the entire year in Short-A.

So before last season Reyes had no Double-A experience. Meanwhile he had only thrown 123 2/3 innings in Full-A and 32 innings in Advanced-A. This was a significant jump for the left-handed pitcher.

Reyes still managed a decent enough ERA and had a lot of very promising starts where he looked like his usual dominant self.

Now the reason some might struggle to rank him as such a high prospect are his pitches. He doesn’t have any devastating or dominant pitch.

What I see though is someone with really strong command. He has control over all of his pitches, none of which are bad.

His worst pitch is the curveball. It has a nice drop to it and sits in the mid-70s. However, he leaves it flat at times and has weird usage of the pitch where it feels like he doesn’t throw it for a long time, then throws a few in one inning.

His slider is solid. Nothing too great about it, a mid-80s slider with decent bite to it. At times it can get really sharp but usually it’s just a standard slider. Good enough to get people swinging when they aren’t expecting it.

His fastball is really nice. It sits in the low-90s which is probably why people don’t care too much about it. It has a sharp cut to it and his control over the pitch is superb. When Reyes is on he can absolutely dot the corners with the pitch and frustrate hitters. If you go look at his most dominant games of the 2019 year, you’ll notice it’s almost as if he has the fastball on a string and it putting it exactly where he wants.

Big surprise here, my favorite pitch of his is the changeup. It sits in the low-80s and has a good drop off to it. He throws it often, which I love. Mixing that with his changeup is often all he needs to get hitters out. The changeup creates a ton of weak contact as hitters are out in front and overtop of the pitch.

Reyes didn’t have the year the Red Sox were hoping for in 2019 but there’s still plenty to love. The step-up in competition was big as this was ultimately a double promotion with how little he pitched in Advanced-A in 2018. Boston will start him in Double-A again in 2020 and a promotion could be in the works.

Barring a return to his 2018 dominance though, Reyes will likely spend all season in the minors. A trip to the Majors in 2021 is in the cards though.

17. Yoan Aybar (Relief Pitcher)

I love Yoan Aybar. I absolutely love Yoan Aybar. The left-handed pitcher might be one of the most entertaining players to watch in the entire Red Sox minor league system.

If you read my Prospect Watch articles you would know why. In 40 appearances in Full-A, Aybar had a 4.88 ERA. He threw 51 2/3 innings and had a pretty high 1.43 WHIP to go along with the high ERA.

However, that was all due to the incredibly high walk rate. Aybar allowed 40 walks in those 51 2/3 innings. The rest of the numbers were phenomenal. Opponents hit just .180 against him and he had 67 strikeouts.

At the end of the year, he was promoted to Advanced-A. There he made four appearances. In those four appearances he allowed just one run in five innings. Most importantly, he only allowed one walk (three strikeouts). That all equaled out to a 1.80 ERA, .125 BAA and 0.60 WHIP.

When things are going good for Aybar, he is absolutely untouchable.

At just 22, there is still plenty of time for Aybar to grow as well. That’s great news as the only thing stopping him from being completely dominant is the command.

Aybar has an electric fastball. It sits in the high-mid 90s and has a great bite to it. This pitch is completely overpowering when he’s on. Even when he’s off his game, it can get him out of jams.

Aybar also has a slider and a changeup. Both are extremely inconsistent though. The slider is usually in the high-80s and breaks really nicely at times. This pitch can drop and cut at a devastating rate. However, he can leave it flat too. And when that happens, bad things will be the result. He can also lose complete control over it and make some wild pitches.

The changeup isn’t used as often. That’s good for the time being because he has a big problem with it. When it’s on, it’s a low-80s MPH pitch that has nice drop. However, he isn’t going to fool many people with it for two reasons.

First, he tends to lose the feel for it quickly. Second, the arm motion looks really uncomfortable. It’s almost as if he wants to fool the batters by making it look like the same motion as his fastball, but then halfway through decides that’s a bad idea and tries to change it up. If he can figure out his delivery on the pitch, it could be much more effective.

Aybar’s time of arrival in the majors is an absolute question mark. The reason for that is that it’s all up to his command. If he finds it, the Red Sox might want to fast track him. Aybar has the potential to be an absolutely lethal bullpen arm, and as a lefty his value only increases.

He will start the year in Advanced-A, and could very well see at least one promotion in 2020. If you get a chance to see him pitch, take the opportunity Aybar can be that fun.

16.Durbin Feltman (Closer)

At this time last year, Durbin Feltman was easily one fo the best prospects in the Red Sox system. He was drafted with the expectations that he’d be their closer sooner rather than later. He proved them right in year one, looking absolutely dominant.

If you would’ve asked me last year where I thought Feltman would be on the prospect list this year, I would’ve had two guesses. First, he wouldn’t be on the list as he’d be in the Majors. If not though, he would be top three easily.

2019 was not kind to him though.

In 2018, Feltman made 22 appearances. He was 4-for-4 in save opportunities that year. His ERA was a low 1.93 and his WHIP was 0.99. 36 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings also showed just how overpowering he was.

2019 saw Feltman throw 51 1/3 innings. During that time, he was 5-for-11 on save opportunities. That should give you a good guess as to how the rest of the stats went. The right-handed pitcher had a 5.26 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He did manage 54 strikeouts in that time, but also walked 31 people (had just seven the year prior). He also gave up eight home runs after allowing none in 2018.

There’s no reason to get too down on him though. Feltman is still just 22 and that was his first full year in the minors. Oh, and he was pitching in Double-A all year after splitting time between Short-A, Full-A and Advanced-A in 2018.

Feltman still has overpowering stuff, he just had some issues with command. That led to more walks and more mistake pitches.

Feltman consistently hits in the mid-90s on the radar gun with his fastball and it is an extremely overpowering pitch. That’s the one that will make him his money. Seriously, if this pitch reaches its full potential it will be considered one of the best fastballs in baseball.

What’s scary for opposing hitters is that the slider isn’t all that far behind. It sits in the mid-80s and has an absolutely nasty break to it. He can drop it in the zone to buckle a hitters knees and freeze them, or throw it in the dirt for a bad swinging strike. This is another potentially elite offering.

Outside of that, he supposedly has a changeup and a curveball but he really just sticks to the two pitches. I’ve got to be honest with you, I haven’t seen him throw the other two often.

That’s perfectly fine though because as a closer, Feltman only really needs two pitches.

Personally, I’d have him higher if it wasn’t for Dedgar Jimenez. He emerged as a legitimate closer candidate for the future. I don’t know if the Red Sox see him the same way I do (which is a shame) but if they do that changes Feltman’s trajectory a little bit.

It is a little telling that Feltman and Jimenez were on the same Double-A team and it was Jimenez getting the save opportunities late in the year in 2019.

Either way though, Feltman has elite stuff and will be a great bullpen pitcher for the Red Sox in the future. No need to panic.

15. Brandon Howlett (Third Baseman)

Brandon Howlett was drafted in 2018 without all that much fanfare. There are a few reasons for that. First of all, he was selected in the 21st round. Second, he’s a third baseman.

That’s the same position as Rafael Devers and Bobby Dalbec (also Michael Chavis as the time). It was also the position that Triston Casas was at the time as well (who they drafted in the first round that year).

Due to all that, it is no wonder Howlett wasn’t exactly the big name that people obsessed over.

However, it didn’t take him long to put himself on the map. Howlett absolutely raked in his first season. The right-handed hitter slashed .289/.402/.513 over 44 games. In that time he had 16 doubles and six home runs and drove in 27 runs. Things were looking great.

This year, he struggled a little bit more. However, he did so at a new level (Full-A). It was also a season that saw him play at the age of 19 the entire time (turned 20 on September 12).

Howlett hit .231 with 23 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. He drove in 35 runs and scored 48 more in 113 games.

While the run production wasn’t great, that’s something he’ll improve on a lot as time goes on. His .188 average with runners in scoring position can definitely be attributed to his age and inexperience. As he gets time, he should get more comfortable in those situations.

A lot did go right for Howlett in 2019. The first was out of his control. While Devers firmly established himself as a star, the rest of the field made things easier for him. Chavis is now a second baseman/first baseman. Dalbec played some first base as well and Casas seems to have moved their full time.

That gives Howlett a much clearer path (although Devers still presents a serious problem.

At 6’1″, 205 lbs I think Howlett has potential at multiple positions. He could move to first or even a corner outfield spot if necessary. However, if the Red Sox want to do that they should do it sooner rather than later.

It’s also a frame that bodes well for his bat. Howlett is solid all-around. Decent enough speed, solid glove and good arm. He probably won’t be a .300 hitter but he can still hit at a decent enough clip and the power should come around nicely. If he continues to get bigger/stronger, Howlett has the type of swing that could see him hit 25-plus home runs.

In fact, in 2019 he already showed off that power a little bit. Although he only had eight home runs, quite a few of them were absolute bombs.

Expect to see him start 2020 in Full-A as it would be wise for the Red Sox to take their time with him. Due to that, he’s still a few years away from the Majors, but watching him develop should be fun.

14. Pedro Castellanos (First Baseman)

The annoying thing with prospects is sometimes you have to go off of projections. I absolutely can’t stand that because I’m all about production. I need to see things. Sometimes, it doesn’t even have to all be great. But show me something. Improve in an area, learn a new position or change your swing.

However, prospects are raw. They’ve got frames and swings that scouts use to determine how a player will turn out. It’s why the business of scouting is so imperfect. There are always those famous scouting reports showing no one thought the player would be good. For each of those, there are 20 of players that everyone thought was can’t miss who never even hit the Majors.

Pedro Castellanos is raw, very raw. Something that’s always been marked with him though is the power. He had plus-power projections. Someone that could give you 25-plus home runs in a season.

Naturally, in his first three seasons in the minors Castellanos hit a total of six home runs in 775 at-bats. However, the right-handed hitter was still producing well with the bat. In all three years he hit over .300.

Then came 2019, and with it that power. In his first 87 games, Castellanos hit just one home run. However, from July 17 on (30 games), he mashed eight more.

The nine home runs marked a new career-high, as did the 23 doubles. Those weren’t the only two career-bests though. Castellanos scored 61 runs (previous high was 39) and drove in 71 more (previous high was 47). He also stole 10 bases after swiping just three bags over the first three years of his career.

While the batting average was down to .276, it’s hard not to be excited about the potential Castellanos showed. Especially because his 6’3″, 195 lbs frame suggests he’ll only get stronger as he fills out.

At first base, there’s a lot of work to be done. He’s shown some nice athleticism and marked improvement in 2019. This is the best spot for him and he could definitely turn into a solid defender.

At just 21, Castellanos has already done a lot in his career. Having his best season in the minors in his first year in Advanced-A was definitely a major positive. He’ll be a step closer to the Majors in 2020 and could find himself flirting with a promotion to the top level by the end of it.

Castellanos was a pretty highly-touted prospect for the first few years of his career. What’s incredible is now that he’s showing that power potential, he’s seemingly losing the spotlight. Don’t be surprised when he makes people pay attention in 2020.

13. Nick Decker (Outfielder)

The Boston Red Sox selected outfielder Nick Decker in the second-round of the 2018 draft. So far, the outfielder is definitely flashing that crazy power that made him so coveted.

Decker appeared in 53 games for the Short-A Lowell Spinners in 2019. The left-handed hitter posted a .247 average in that time. Over 170 at-bats he had 10 doubles, five triples, and six home runs. He also drove in 25 runs and scored 23 more, showing solid run production.

Decker turned 20 on October 2. So he’s still got a lot of growing to do. That’s great news for the Red Sox as the power is already shining through. As he gets more at-bats he should get more comfortable and start to really put up home run numbers.

That’s not all Decker can do though. While he’s not a speed demon, he’s by no means slow. With all that juice in his bat, that should make doubles a pretty regular occurrence for him as well.

Meanwhile, a solid average should be expected as well. Maybe he won’t be a .300 hitter, but the .270s is something he could reach while still putting up really nice power numbers.

Defensively, Decker has a pretty strong arm and plays right field nicely. All of this comes out to a really exciting prospect that could help Boston in a number of ways.

It is the power that’s most intriguing though. Decker has been known to hit some absolute bombs and could be a 30-plus home run guy. That alone should get Red Sox fans excited.

They’ll have to wait a little bit though as he’ll likely be starting next year in Full-A. That will be his first chance full regular season (Short-A is under 80 games). It will be interesting to see how much he grows when given the longer year. 2020 could be a major step for his development.

12. Antoni Flores (Shortstop)

Antoni Flores got his first taste of Short-A last season. Admittedly, things didn’t go all that well when it comes to stats.

Flores appeared in 55 games for Lowell. In those games, the right-handed hitter posted a .193 batting average with four doubles and one triple. However, it was also a season in which he was just 18 the entire time.

Flores has all the tools to be a great player. He could easily be above-average in every category. While he hasn’t shown it much yet, Flores has a great bat that can go for average as well as pretty decent pop.

He’s also got solid speed that should help him in the field, as well as make him a threat on the base paths. No, he won’t steal 30-plus bases but he could get you 15-20 any given season.

Finally, there’s the defense. Flores is a shortstop and he looks naturally gifted there. He has a great arm and good instincts. His speed gives him a good range as well and combining that with the arm should make for some impressive plays.

Something that might make Flores harder for fans to get excited about is how far away he is. The shortstop clearly still has a lot of polishing to do. Due to that, he won’t be making the majors anytime soon. In fact, unless he does something drastic, he won’t even be flirting with the Majors for quite some time.

This is actually a good thing though. Flores has the potential to be a great shortstop in the future. Xander Bogaerts is there now though. Boston just signed him to a nice extension and with the ridiculous production, he put up last year it was clearly a great move.

That being said, in three or four years things could change. Bogaerts will still be great with the bat, but he’s already an average fielder. At that point, Boston might want him more for the bat than the glove. Maybe Flores takes over the fielding duties while Bogaerts hits the designated hitter role.

It’s hard to imagine the Red Sox not wanting Flores in the lineup full-time in a few years, so something will have to give. For now, just be patient.

11. Noah Song (Starting Pitcher)

The Red Sox couldn’t pass up on Noah Song when he was available to them in the fourth-round of the 2019 draft. This was a pitcher that was an obvious first-round talent. However, his commitment to the Navy meant he might not be able to pitch for a few years.

Instead, Song made seven starts for the Short-A Lowell Spinners in 2019. My goodness was he dominant in them. Over 17 innings, Song allowed just two runs on 10 hits and five walks. That’s a 1.06 ERA, .167 BAA, and 0.88 WHIP. Oh, and the right-handed pitcher had 19 strikeouts in that time as well.

Song already has some pretty legitimate stuff. Seriously the only downside teams saw to him was his Navy commitment. He’s 22 now and they didn’t want a 24 or 25-year-old who hadn’t pitched in two or three years having to build up from the beginning. Due to that, it makes sense that teams passed on him early.

Wow did it work out for Boston. Song is a pretty obvious rotation solution in a few years. There is no reason to believe he won’t become an elite prospect and extremely hyped prior to his debut. There’s also no reason to believe he won’t live up to that hype.

Song is listed at 6’4″, 200 lbs. Not to sound cliche but he’s also a Navy man, so you know he’s got a solid frame.

His fastball sits in the mid-high-90s and he’s already got a really good command of the pitch. Song can put it where he wants and will definitely blow it by a lot of hitters. Potentially an elite fastball.

He also has a curveball in the mid-70s. It’s got a big break but sometimes it will go flat and just kind of sit. That can’t happen in the Majors or it’s going to be 30 rows deep. This is his last pitch though and something he doesn’t throw very often. He’s got a lot of time to work on it as well.

Song’s slider is already pretty solid. Sits in the low-to-mid 80s and dips nicely with a sharp cut. This is another pitch he sometimes leaves flat, but when it’s on it’s pretty devastating and will lead to a lot of terribly weak contact and bad swings-and-misses.

Then there’s the changeup. Usually, in the low-mid-80s, this pitch has a good 10-15 MPH off his fastball but it looks very similar when it comes to his motion and the look out of his hand. It also has a really nice late drop that will get a lot of hitters to swing over-top of it.

This is his best secondary pitch and that makes me very happy, but the fastball is the showstopper.

What it all comes down to though is the fact that Song has two very good pitches already, another solid one and a final pitch that needs work but has potential. He’s got the look and all the tools to be a very successful pitcher in the Majors. The Red Sox should count themselves extremely lucky to have snagged him in the fourth-round.

10. Dedgar Jimenez (Closer)

Not going to lie. I was kicking and screaming when the Red Sox had the audacity to take Dedgar Jimenez out of the rotation in the minors. He’s built to be a workhorse type guy. Even when he wasn’t pitching great I felt like he could get through six innings.

I admitted I didn’t mind the bullpen move if it meant it got him to the Majors though. The move didn’t get him to the Majors in 2019 but it definitely got him closer.

Oh, and I was very wrong about the move being a bad idea. Jimenez looked absolutely amazing to the point I almost put him even higher on this list.

It’s also worth noting that Jimenez made the biggest jump on the list compared to last year. Moving up 11 spots from 21.

The reason for that is simple. He’s a closer now. Jimenez was oddly thrust into that role in Double-A and wow did it work out well. The left-handed pitcher was 10-for-10 in save opportunities. He had a 3.78 ERA in Double-A and a 3.51 ERA out of the bullpen (10 runs in 25 2/3 innings).

Even better, in save opportunities Jimenez gave up just two runs in 11 1/3 innings (1.59 ERA).

The 23-year-old looked sharp out of the bullpen. His fastball was sitting in the mid-low-90s which was a tick faster than usual. Meanwhile, he has a slider than can cause problems for hitters as well and sits in the very low-80s.

The changeup is the star pitch for Jimenez though and that makes me very happy. I absolutely love a good changeup, there’s no better pitch in baseball.

It’s a good 10-15 MPH slower than his fastball but looks an awful lot like it coming out of his hand. It also has a nice drop-off as it gets to the plate. This is the offering that Jimenez will go to when he needs to make a pitch and it tends to work out for him.

Jimenez made such a big jump on the list this year because he now has a new role. He showed serious potential as a closer.

By the way, the Red Sox don’t have a closer. The plan was for Durbin Feltman to take on that role for Boston in a few years. He took a step backward in 2019 though. The job is still more-than-likely his for the taking. However, the door is open to anyone.

“Baby Bartolo, closer” has a nice ring to it if you ask me. Let’s make it happen.

9. Jay Groome (Starting Pitcher)

There’s a world where Jay Groome is the number one prospect in the Boston Red Sox system at this point. And there’s also a world where Jay Groome is the number one prospect in all of baseball at this point. There’s also a world where Jay Groome is already in the Majors and one of the best and most exciting young arms in the game.

Instead, we are here. It’s not for a lack of talent or effort, it’s just bad luck with injuries.

For my money, Jay Groome will still have a long and extremely successful career in the Majors. It’s just been pushed back a little bit.

Groome was drafted in 2016. That season he threw just 6 2/3 innings (3 1/3 more in the playoffs). In 2017 the left-handed pitcher threw just 55 1/3 innings, that’s actually a career-high for him. 2018 was a complete wash, as he didn’t pitch. Finally, 2019 saw him throw four innings (5 2/3 more in the playoffs).

Due to the small sample sizes, we won’t really discuss his numbers. I’ll just say that over those total innings, he’s shown he can be completely dominant. Groome’s already had a number of overpowering appearances. This is highlighted by his .227 BAA and 88 strikeouts in 66 innings.

Groome is still just 21 years old (and he just turned that on August 23). There’s no reason to panic about the injuries as he’s got a long career ahead of him.

Groome’s a three-pitch guy with a changeup as his number three. It drops down into the mid-80s which means he’s taking off about 10 MPH from his fastball. That gives this pitch some power. If he can develop it further it could be dangerous.

His fastball sits in the mid-90s and could gain speed (especially after all the injury nonsense). When Groome is commanding this pitch it’s incredible. He can paint with it and with its speed and movement can become surgical.

I always say the changeup is my favorite pitch in baseball, and that’s not changing. Groome’s curveball is so beautiful though it makes me reconsider at times. I’m talking Barry Zito like with that thing.

He sits in the high-70s to low-80s with it and it’s a sweeper. He’s going to get a lot of swing-and-misses on balls in the dirt with this pitch. Meanwhile, he’ll likely get quite a few people staring at them as they end up dropping right into the zone. Knee-bucklers will happen, and that’s always fun.

Oh, and Groome’s 21 and pitched in Short-A last year. Those pitches will only get better. The Red Sox have a star on their hands if he can stay healthy.

8. Tanner Houck (Relief Pitcher)

Tanner Houck entered 2019 as a starting pitcher. Not only that but a starting pitcher that many believed to be an obvious rotation solution in the somewhat near future.

Instead, he moved to the bullpen this year. This was seen as an immediate fix for Boston’s bullpen issue if it came to that.

It ended up not coming to that though. The Red Sox bullpen salvaged itself and Houck was left in Triple-A.

Triple-A was good to him though, and so was the bullpen move. In Double-A Houck had a 4.25 ERA, most of that as a starter (15 of 17 appearances came as a starter). When he moved to Triple-A, the right-hander became a full-time reliever.

14 of his 16 appearances were out of the bullpen. The only two starts he made were short appearances as an opener, so let’s count those as a reliever as well.

Houck posted a 3.24 ERA with Pawtucket. Clearly the promotion and move to the bullpen worked out. Now that seems to be the spot for him.

It makes a lot of sense too. The 23-year-old has a nasty two-seam fastball. It sat in the mid-90s when he was a starter but it hit the high 90s a lot more often out of the bullpen.

He also has a changeup that has some potential but is more of a third pitch. The biggest positive is that it looks like a fastball out of his hand, so it could confuse some batters.

The star attraction with Houck is obvious. His slider is absolutely nasty. I’m talking unfair at times. It sits in the low-mid 80s. More importantly, though, the break on it is disgusting. Multiple times last season a Houck slider made it’s way around the Twitter world as it absolutely baffled a hitter.

He should make it to the Majors in 2020 and could be a significant piece of the Red Sox bullpen for a long long time.

7. C.J. Chatham (Shortstop)

C.J. Chatham doesn’t have the same hype as a lot of other prospects on this list. The reason for that is simply because he isn’t a 30-home run guy. The five home runs he hit last season were tied for a career-high.

That doesn’t mean Chatham isn’t amongst the elite though.

In fact, he’s someone fans should be most excited about. At shortstop, there doesn’t seem to be a clear path to the Majors for him. Xander Bogaerts is there and he’s signed for quite some time.

However, he worked at second base a little bit in 2019 and that could be the plan moving forward. It’s a shame because Chatham’s the better defender at shortstop compared to Bogaerts.

The real attraction of his game is the bat though. Chatham dealt with injuries in his first two seasons, playing in just 42 games. This put a big question mark around him. It also killed the hype considerably.

In his last two seasons though, Chatham’s remained healthy. He hit .314 in 2018 and .298 in 2019.

In 2018 the right-handed hitter drove in a career-high 52 RBI and scored a career-high 55 runs. He also had a career-best in steals with 11. Despite all that and the higher average, his 2019 was still better in comparison – I’ll explain why.

First off, Chatham spent 2019 between Double-A and Triple-A. The year before he was in Full-A and Advanced-A.

Then there’s the fact that Chatham still hit .298 with 46 RBI and 50 runs scored. He had one triple and that career-best five home runs. He also smoked 31 doubles, which is 11 more than his previous best.

Chatham has shown a ton of growth over the last two years. He’ll be in the Majors at some point next year. At just 24, he has a long career in front of him as well.

I’ve said it for a long time and I’m sticking by it. Chatham will be a consistent .300 hitter in the Majors. If the Red Sox were smart they’d find a spot for him and let him earn it in Spring Training. Give him the chance and I guarantee he proves he belongs.

6. Thad Ward (Starting Pitcher)

Thad Ward went all types of nuts this year. And in doing so, he became one of the best prospects in the Boston Red Sox system.

Ward was a fifth-round pick in 2018. The right-handed pitcher looked good that year, but it was nothing compared to what he accomplished in 2019.

In 2019, the 22-year-old was dominant from start to finish. He had multiple long scoreless innings streaks and never really had a bad stretch (or even really two or three average games in a row).

In 13 games in Full-A, Ward threw 72 1/3 innings. He had a 1.99 ERA and 87 strikeouts in that time. He also had a 1.05 WHIP and .194 BAA.

Then Ward moved up to Advanced-A. In 12 games there he threw 54 innings, posting a 2.33 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and .203 BAA. He struck out 70 more batters in that time.

Put that all together and you get a 2.14 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and .198 BAA. The 157 strikeouts in 126 1/3 innings were just icing on the cake.

Ward sits in the mid-low 90s on his fastball, which might not be all that impressive at the moment. However, he could still add velocity and the movement on it makes this a much better pitch. He also already possesses good command on the pitch.

Ward also has a cutter that comes in at around 88 and that’s the pitch I love the most out of him. It’s got deceptive movement and looks like his normal four-seam out of his hand. This could confuse a lot of batters.

Then there’s a curveball that I can’t talk much about because I only remember seeing it a few times. I don’t think it’s really going to be a part of his arsenal. It’s just kind of there to throw off the hitters every once in a while.

Finally he has a slider that barely touches 80. This is another really good pitch with some sharp bite to it. One of my favorite pitches is that down and out slider to get someone chasing with two strikes. That’s something you could potentially see a lot from with Ward.

Ward will likely spend all of 2020 in the minors. That might be his last full year in the minors though. He’s already looked too good for one level and really close to that in the next. He could be a fix for the Red Sox rotation in a year.

5. Gilberto Jimenez (Centerfielder)

Gilberto Jimenez played 59 games last year in the Red Sox system. That didn’t stop him from stealing the show though.

In his first year with Short-A Lowell, Jimenez went absolutely nuts. At just 19, Jimenez was a man amongst boys in Short-A. The switch-hitter slashed .359/.393/.470 with 11 doubles, three triples and three home runs.

Jimenez drove in 19 runs and scored 35 more. He also stole 14 bases and that’s what we’re going to talk about at the moment.

Not only is Jimenez great on the base paths, he’s fast. He’s really fast. I mean, he’s so fast he makes fast people look, not fast. (Shoutout to whoever gets that reference).

Jimenez’s speed is going to be a game changer. He’s a very good defender and the speed makes him elite in that category. At the same time, he’s very good on the base paths and the speed makes him elite in that category.

See where I’m going with this. Just like the guy that will be next on this list, Jimenez’s speed is his best skill. It’s not his only though. He’ll put up numbers at the plate as someone that can get on base at a very high clip.

The power likely won’t be anything spectacular ever. And his size (5’11”, 160 lbs) will make a lot of people underestimate him.

However, when he’s playing gold glove defense and steal 50 bags a year he’ll be a fan favorite.

At just 19 and having his highest level so far being Short-A, Jimenez is still a pretty long ways away from the Majors. He can change that next year though. There’s nothing left for him to do in Short-A so he’ll likely start in Full-A.

Don’t be surprised if Jimenez makes quick work of that (and maybe even Advanced-A). There’s a very real chance he ends next season in Double-A. At the same time, there’s a very real chance Gilberto Jimenez finds himself even higher on this list next year.

Not only could he be near the top for the Red Sox, he could be near the top in all of baseball.

4. Jarren Duran (Centerfielder)

Okay, not to brag. But I was all-in on Jarren Duran from the jump.

Duran burst onto the scene after being drafted in the seventh round in 2018. He started as a second baseman and was really good there. However, he switched to the outfield.

At first, I wasn’t sure about it. Duran’s speed can only be described as ultra-elite. Due to that, second base didn’t make all that much sense because he couldn’t showcase it as much.

I truly believe he would’ve been a gold glover there though. He got to so many balls and just had a natural feel for it.

That being said, things have worked out amazingly in the outfield. He’s still getting used to things but looked a lot more comfortable in 2019. And that speed let him to get balls most mortals couldn’t.

Offensively is where Duran shines the most. He hit .357 in 2018 and .303 in 2019. That .303 was due to him getting used to Double-A. The left-handed hitter was at the highest level of his career and it showed.

Still, he managed a .250 average in Double-A and had some spurts that proved he’ll put it all together and dominate there soon enough as well.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old combined for 24 doubles, eight triples and five home runs. He drove in 38 runs and scored a fantastic 90 more. Oh, and he stole 46 bases.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But if the Red Sox end up parting ways with Mookie Betts (let’s hope not), Duran will be a major reason why they’re okay with it. He’s going to be a star.

The power likely will never be there. Maybe he hits slightly over double digits, but don’t expect 20-plus ever. However, he’s going to hit for contact. He rarely strikes out. With his speed all he has to do is put the ball in play, and he’s good at that.

Duran can absolutely be a 50-plus steals guy and that’s always a ton of fun.

There’s also a chance he finds his way to the Majors next year, so be on the lookout. Jarren Duran’s going to be something special. The Red Sox hit a home run with him.

Pairing him with Gilberto Jimenez in the future could be absolutely lethal. The speed is off-the-charts and the potential is too.

3. Bobby Dalbec (Third Baseman)

The Red Sox selected Bobby Dalbec in the fourth round of the 2016 Draft. His power was the main attraction and that definitely hasn’t disappointed.

In his first two seasons, Dalbec flashed that power pretty nicely. Then he broke out in 2018. That season, the 24-year-old mashed 32 home runs in 129 games between Advanced-A and Double-A. He didn’t just hit home runs though.

The right-handed hitter had 35 doubles and a ridiculous 109 RBI while batting .257 (.361 OBP). This promoted a move in 2019.

Dalbec started the year in Double-A and got a chance late in the year with Triple-A. While his numbers were down some, that could be attributed to a cold spell to start the year. He still managed really good numbers despite the higher levels.

Dalbec hit .239 (.356 OBP) with 19 doubles, two triples and 27 home runs. He scored 69 runs and drove in 73 more.

Most importantly, his walks were up (from 66 to 73) and his strikeouts were down (from 176 to 139). This is easily the biggest development in his game and something that everyone should monitor and be excited about.

Defensively, Dalbec very strong at third base. He also appeared at first base quite a bit and looked solid there as well. This isn’t something people will talk about when it comes Dalbec but that doesn’t mean he won’t contribute defensively.

In fact, he might not be a gold glover but Dalbec could definitely become one of the better defenders at the position and could do the same at first base.

There’s very little to not love about Dalbec and you could easily see him as early as the start of the season with the Red Sox. This should be his last chance to be seen as a prospect at the end of a season.

2. Bryan Mata (Starting Pitcher)

Bryan Mata didn’t make the number one spot on this list. I want to call him 1b. though because he deserves a one spot. Seriously, people love to say the Boston Red Sox don’t have a great MiLB system. A lot of teams would kill to have their top two though.

Anyone that follows the Prospect Watch knows how much I love Mata. The potential is so ridiculous it’s just absolutely nuts. There’s a reason I call him “El Idolo”.

Mata turned 20 on May 3 this season. Despite being one of the youngest pitchers in Advanced-A he was absolutely dominant. That sparked a promotion to Double-A.

While Mata had some growing pains there, he still showed a lot of flashes of brilliance.

The left-handed pitcher had a 1.75 ERA in 10 starts (51 1/3 innings)  in Advanced-A. With Salem he had a .201 BAA, 1.09 WHIP and 52 strikeouts.

In Double-A, things weren’t as smooth. He had a 5.03 ERA in 11 starts (53 2/3 innings) with a .271 BAA and 1.49 WHIP. Mata did manage 59 strikeouts though.

Most importantly was how he ended the year though. Mata put together a few strong starts, and his last was easily one of his best games as a professional so far.

The lefty went seven innings (a career-high). While he walked five batters, he only gave up one hit and did not allow a run. He also had another career-high with nine strikeouts. This served as a reminder of just how good he is.

The one issue Mata really has is control. And even that saw a major improvement in 2019. After walking 58 batters in 72 innings, he walked 42 batters in 105 innings.

It’s not just walks though. Sometimes the control causes him to miss across the plate, leading to hits.

However, that doesn’t stop Mata’s repertoire of pitches from being very impressive. He can almost hit 100 on the gun with his four-seam, which usually sits around 95. Meanwhile, his two-seam is a tick slower around 92 or 93 but has great movement.

His changeup can be very dangerous as well. This is because his arm motion is very similar to his fastball. But sitting in the mid-80s it’s 10 MPH slower. With nice movement, it should cause a lot of swing-and-misses in the future.

He also has a slider that looked good in 2019 and could be a pitch to watch out for in the future.

Finally, Mata has a heavy curveball that when it’s on is absolutely devastating. He’s caused quite a few batters to look bad with this pitch. As he gets better control and throws his pitches with more consistency, this will be a stud pitch.

Everything about Bryan Mata screams “Ace”.  The Boston Red Sox don’t have a lot of prospects they should consider “untouchable” but he is one of them. In just a few short years he could be the best pitcher in their Major League rotation. That’s how high I am on him. He’s the number two prospect in the system and definitely does not get the respect he deserves nationally.

1. Triston Casas (First Baseman)

Could the number one prospect in the system have been anyone else? Triston Casas was the Red Sox first round pick in 2018. In his first season in the organization, Casas slashed .256/.350/.480 between Full-A and Advanced-A.

The left-handed hitter was 19 years old for the entire 2019 season. Seriously, he was born in the 2000s and now I feel old.

Casas played almost the entire season in Full-A. With the Greenville Drive, he hit .254 with 25 doubles, five triples and 19 home runs. He drove in 78 runs, scored 64 more and stole three bases.

Meanwhile, he played two games in Advanced-A, going 3-for-7 (.429) with a double and a home run. He also three RBI and two more runs scored.

For those keeping track, That’s 26 doubles, five triples, and 20 home runs. That’s also 81 RBI and 66 runs scored.

Casas also got a chance in the playoffs this year. He didn’t disappoint. In five games, he went 5-for-19 (.263) with a double, two walks, one run scored and one RBI.

This will be what makes Casas a superstar prospect. Talk about elite hitting potential.

What I love to bring up is his approach at the plate. Casas has plus-plus power potential. I’m talking 30-plus homers easy. But he chokes up on the bat pretty significantly. This gives his already promising contact potential higher.

This is someone that can hit around .300 while being one of the best power bats around. There really is no serious weakness in his game at the plate.

Meanwhile, Casas started his career as a third baseman. He has played just nine games at the position in his career so far though, and they were all in 2018. In 2019, he played all 96 of his games in the field at first base.

While he’s not a gold glover yet, Casas definitely took to first base well. At 6’4″, 238 lbs he has a great frame for the position. He’s also surprising nimble (which probably shouldn’t be that surprising because he played third but still).

Casas continuously improved as the year went on. He could be a plus-fielder with legitimate gold glove potential as time goes on.

Once that happens, Casas will be the full package. He’s already dangerously close to that.

Not only is Triston Casas the best prospect in the Boston Red Sox system, he’s one of the best in the world.