No. 4: Catching prospect Kyle Teel
Kyle Teel being the fourth-best prospect in your farm system is stupid. There are a lot of organizations that would do unspeakable things to have Teel as their No. 1 prospect.
Teel plays a premium position (catcher) and does very well. He's improved in every facet of the game since arriving in the organization. Meanwhile, he's one of the more consistent bats in any lineup he's featured in.
The left-handed hitter slashed .288/.386/.433 with 23 doubles and 13 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. He recorded 78 RBI, 88 runs, and 12 steals, walked 68 times in 505 plate appearances (13.5% BB rate), and struck out 116 times (23% K rate).
Teel wasn't always the flashiest hitter. Each week, it felt like there was a new star. Every week, we would talk about player X hitting .500 with five home runs or player Y going 10-for-16 with 11 RBI. There were a few instances where that player was Teel, but rarely. He would be overshadowed by a more eye-popping week. However, he was always in the mix.
We'd talk about those big weeks, and then Teel would be mentioned for hitting .300 with five walks and four RBI. You don't get much streakiness from the New Jersey native.
Teel did slump when he was first promoted to Triple-A. The adjustment didn't take long, though. He managed to claw his number to impressive stats before the end of the year.
Teel is an advanced hitter. He doesn't always get the best contact, but he will connect at a decent rate. His patience allows him to draw out long at-bats. Meanwhile, Teel will take what the pitcher gives him.
Teel has solid power for a catcher. He likely won't break any records, but he can add 10-15 homers annually with a few 20-plus seasons mixed in.
He has average speed, but it's above-average speed for the catcher position. Teel's athletic and can steal some bases.
He's a good defender, and he notably improved throughout the season. Teel's athleticism helps him block pitches and make nice plays around the plate. Meanwhile, he has a fantastic arm. He could improve on his framing, though.
Kyle Teel is everything you want from a catcher. He's a good defender who won't be a black hole at the plate. He'll get on base and should add some pop. Teel is constantly improving, and the pitching staff seems to love him. He's a leader.
Hit: 60
Run:45
Arm: 60
Field: 55
Overall: 55
No. 3: Shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer
Marcelo Mayer is a top-10 prospect in baseball. Somehow, he's only the third-best prospect in the Red Sox farm system. That's so ridiculous it almost doesn't make sense.
I don't feel great putting Mayer in this spot though. He's everything you want a prospect to be. The 21-year-old has exceeded at every level. He's matured and improved his game over the years. His attitude and work ethic are fantastic. Every time I've had the opportunity to talk to Mayer, I come away impressed.
The left-handed hitting shortstop slashed .307/.370/.480 with 28 doubles and eight home runs in Double-A in 2024. He recorded 38 RBI, 60 runs, and 13 steals in 77 games.
Mayer drew 30 walks in 335 plate appearances (9% BB rate) and struck out 66 times (19.7% K rate). Neither are great, but they aren't miserable, and they are numbers Mayer improved upon as the year went on. In June (Mayer's last full month), the California native walked more times (14) than he struck out (12).
Mayer was promoted to Triple-A with Kyle Teel and Roman Anthony on August 12. However, Mayer was shut down soon after without even appearing in a game for Worcester.
The shutdown led to more cries from fans that Mayer is injury-prone. I have a counter-point. Marcelo Mayer is one of the best prospects in the world. The Red Sox would fire whoever decided to play him while his body wasn't 100% ready to go.
Mayer attempted to play through an injury last season. It tanked his numbers, worsened the injury, and caused him to have a fractured offseason. That was a lesson for Mayer to tell the coaches when something was bothering him. With that knowledge, the coaching staff isn't going to push him. As a top prospect, he gets put in bubble wrap.
This is a young, uber-talented baseball player. One that you hope is a cornerstone of your franchise for the next 15 years. Getting him injured in a minor league game because he tries to play through pain seems irresponsible at best.
Mayer needs to continue to improve his walk and strikeout rates. However, he makes plenty of hard contact, can go the other way, and hits a lot of doubles.
He's listed at 6'3", 188 lbs, and there is room for bulking. As his body matures, some of those doubles will turn into home runs. The raw power is there, and the swing is pretty. Be patient. Mayer could be a 25-ish home run bat.
Mayer has okay speed, but he's a good base runner. He gets good reads and jumps on the basepaths, leading to solid steal totals. There's enough speed for him to pile up the extra-base hits.
There was some worry about Mayer sticking at shortstop due to his frame. However, I've loved what I've seen from him at the position. He has good range, footwork, and a soft glove. Mayer tends to get a good read off the bat and can make highlight plays. Having a great arm helps.
Mayer will succeed in the Majors. His one negative might be that he doesn't seem to have a carrying tool. There's nothing in his game that screams elite. However, every aspect of his game is above average.
There are Red Sox fans worried about his injuries or his laid-back attitude (he's calm and has fun, but he takes the game and his work seriously, don't worry). All I have to say to that is "relax." Marcelo Mayer is a 21-year-old who has worked up to Triple-A thanks to natural talent, hard work, and fantastic production. He's on his way to being the franchise shortstop people were hoping for when he was drafted.
Hit: 55
Power: 55
Run: 45
Arm: 60
Overall: 60