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Boston Red Sox top-30 prospect rankings after 2022 MiLB season

By Hunter Noll

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 6: A general view during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on September 6, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 6: A general view during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on September 6, 2021 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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28 Sep 1996: General view of the outfield wall at Fenway Park during a game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in Boston, Massachusetts. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-2. /

No. 18: Red Sox second base prospect Enmanuel Valdez

Enmanuel Valdez was the other prospect who came over with Wilyer Abreu in the Christian Vazquez, and I cannot stress enough how great this trade turned out for Boston.

Valdez posted a .296/.376/.542 with 35 doubles, two triples, and 28 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A this season (in two different organizations). He drove in 107 runs, scored 92 more, and stole eight bases.

It doesn’t take a baseball genius to realize how great those numbers are. The fact that he did that while spending the heavy majority of the season in Triple-A makes it even more impressive for the 23-year-old.

Valdez has a shocking amount of power in his swing for someone with a 5’9″, 191 lbs frame. In fact, he has a lot of power in his swing for anyone.

A power-hitting second baseman that shows the ability to hit for average and produce an insane amount of runs? You have to love that.

Valdez is a really fun prospect. That absurd offensive production isn’t a fluke. He might not stick around .300 in the Majors, but the power could translate. Not crazy speed, but enough to steal a couple of bases. Anything to go with the home run potential is just a bonus anyways.

Defensively, Valdez isn’t going to win any awards at second base. He’s probably not going to kill you there though. Decent enough, with solid range and an okay arm. Valdez also spent time at third base and in the corner outfield spots, with a tiny bit of first base mixed in.

Personally, I like him at second base though. The offensive production he gives you from the position could be elite. Not many other second basemen could give you 25-plus home runs in a season.

Valdez is really close to the Majors. He’ll be 24 all of next year and hasn’t just shown offensive potential, but produced at a high level. There’s a chance he makes an impact in Boston next year. With a fantastic all-around offensive game, he could become a fan favorite quickly.

Hit: 65

Power: 65

Run: 50

Arm: 45

Field: 45

Overall: 55

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