Which Boston Red Sox prospects could crack the top 100 next season?
By Hunter Noll
Boston Red Sox prospects with outside chances
Which prospects have a slim chance of making the top 100 list? There are a few in the organization that could find their way.
You had to know Brainer Bonaci was going to get mentioned here. The shortstop has displayed elite potential defensively, routinely making eye-popping plays. His .262/.397/.385 slash line in Low-A showed there was some offense in his game too.
The switch-hitter managed 19 doubles and six triples. While he only had six home runs, he hit his first on July 26, so the power improved as the year went on. Bonaci drove in 50 runs, scored 86 more, and stole 28 bases. An incredible eye (89 walks compared to 89 strikeouts) is what truly makes the 20-year-old interesting.
He sports a high OBP, great defense, and good base running. If that power continues to improve, Bonaci could be someone who garners a lot of attention.
Wilkelman Gonzalez was one of the more hyped pitching prospects in the organization heading into 2022. A dominant April was marred by three straight rough months though. Luckily, he bounced back to end the year and was pitching some of his best innings after getting promoted to High-A.
The right-handed pitcher posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.32 WHIP but had some fantastic numbers elsewhere. He struck out 121 batters over 98.1 innings, held a .212 BAA, and only gave up two home runs.
If he can continue trending in the right direction, he could creep up the rankings enough.
Luis Perales is only 19, and the right-handed pitcher had some of the nastiest stuff you’d see in 2022. Splitting time between Rookie Ball and Low-A, Perales posted a 1.77 ERA, .163 BAA, and 1.12 WHIP. He struck out 50 batters over 35.2 innings.
Perales is unproven at this point and needs to show he can work later into games, but the stuff is there. His pitch mix allows him to blow by hitters or throw them off with some disgusting off-speed pitches. He could run through Low-A and fly up prospect rankings if everything clicks.
This is going to seem lazy, but pretty much just copy and paste those last two paragraphs for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. The right-handed pitcher didn’t seem to get as much hype as Perales, but both have unlimited potential.
Between Rookie Ball and Low-A, the 19-year-old posted a 1.88 ERA, .214 BAA, and 1.20 WHIP. He struck out 42 batters over 38.1 innings, not allowing a single home run in that time.
Blaze Jordan quietly had a phenomenal year in 2022. The corner infielder only hit 12 home runs, and with power being his main selling point, it makes sense that some fans might not have noticed what he was doing.
Jordan showed he was more than just a home run hitter, though. The right-handed hitter slashed .289/.363/.445 with 30 doubles, three triples, and 12 homers. He drove in 68 runs and scored 60 more, even stealing five bases.
Over 521 plate appearances, Jordan only struck out 94 times. That’s impressive for anyone, let alone a 19-year-old (at the time, now he’s 20) who is only seen as a power bat. If he can keep the average up but start to hit it over the fence a little more (something he should be able to do in Greenville much easier than in Salem), that hype might come back in full force.