No. 27: Red Sox second base prospect Chase Meidroth
Chase Meidroth was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. It took him absolutely no time at all to make a great first impression with the Red Sox. After a quick stint in Rookie Ball, Meidroth spent 19 games in Low-A. There, the right-handed hitter looked too mature for the level.
Meidroth posted a .309/.424/.559 slash line with five doubles and four home runs. He drove in 12 runs, scored 15 more, and stole four bases. The 21-year-old managed to walk 12 times, compared to only nine strikeouts in that time.
It was a short sample size, but Meidroth proved quite a bit in that time. Not only was he getting on-base, but the limited strikeouts showed off great bat-to-ball skills. And anyone that ever reads anything I’ve written knows how much I love when a prospect shows an eye and patience at the plate. A good eye is always going to translate as you move up in the minors. You don’t just suddenly stop taking pitches and swinging at anything. Okay, you could do that. But it’s not nearly as common as power or contact falling off the higher you get.
There is some pretty obvious pop in that bat as well. A second baseman with good power is always exciting. I’m not saying to expect 30 home runs from him, but he hits a lot of frozen-rope line drives that could lead to a lot of doubles and 15-20 home runs a year. So that boosts Meidroth a little bit.
Speaking of second base, his defense at the position was great. Doesn’t seem like he’ll be an incredibly flashy defender or anything, but good footwork and a sure glove. He didn’t make an error in 128 1/3 innings at second base this season. Meanwhile, his arm is perfectly fine for second base.
Meidroth has some speed in him as well. It’s nothing to go crazy over, but enough that he can steal a decent amount of bases each year. It will help with extra-base hits and adds a little to his range on defense.
Overall, Meidroth proved quickly that he was a savvy fourth-round pick. While there’s no massive standout tool, he doesn’t seem to have any real “weaknesses” in his game either.
Hit: 65
Power: 50
Run: 50
Arm: 50
Field: 55
Overall: 55