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

By Hunter Noll

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The Boston Red Sox 2018 World Series Championship banner hangs outside Fenway Park on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The Boston Red Sox 2018 World Series Championship banner hangs outside Fenway Park on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 05: The sun sets behind Fenway Park during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 05: The sun sets behind Fenway Park during the second inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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.

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