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

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.