Low-A: Boston Red Sox catching prospect Yorberto Mejicano
The Boston Red Sox have some exciting catching prospects. So I get it if you aren’t paying too much attention to someone in Low-A who isn’t even ranked in their top-30.
You’ve got Connor Wong and Ronaldo Hernandez putting up numbers in Triple-A. Kole Cottam and Elih Marrero showing off their defense in Double-A, with Stephen Scott now joining them. And Nathan Hickey is now in High-A.
Hickey started the year in Low-A though. And that meant he was taking most of the catching duties. Yorberto Mejicano was sort of tossed into a depth role. Since the promotion of Hickey, Mejicano has been given more playing time, and he’s absolutely been shining.
Heading into June 26, Mejicano was slashing .245/.292/.408. Then Hickey was promoted. Since June 26, Mejicano is 18-for-53 (.340) with five doubles, 12 RBI, and two steals.
Suddenly, the right-handed hitting catcher is slashing .278/.321/.417 with nine doubles and four home runs. He’s driven in 24 runs, scored 24 more, and stolen three bases. Clearly, getting that steady playing time has made a world of difference for Mejicano.
It’s also important to note that he’s just 21. So this is still very much a young player getting his first look in the lower levels of the minor leagues. And it’s safe to say he is thriving.
It’s hard to tell in the minor leagues, especially the lower levels, but Mejicano appears to be very good defensively too. There are a lot of factors when it comes to defense for catchers, which is why I say to not worry too much about defensive stats in the minors. But clearly Mejicano has the tools to be great defensively.
Yorberto Mejicano isn’t the biggest name in the Boston Red Sox system. Especially at a position with enough exciting talent already. But he’s produced at an incredibly high-level since getting the chance to play more “full-time”.
And if he keeps this up he could rise through the ranks extremely quickly. So it’s important to keep an eye out for him in the second-half. If he continues at the pace he’s on, you’re not going to want to miss a second of it.