No. 22: Corner infield prospect Blaze Jordan
Blaze Jordan had one of the more unlucky seasons in Boston's system. He started the year by getting robbed of a hit in what felt like every game first few weeks.
Then things clicked on April 19. Jordan went on a 17-game hitting streak, and it looked like he was back to mashing. Then he broke his finger sliding into home.
Jordan returned on June 12 and added two more games to his hitting streak, which ended at 19 games. He played well for a while but then went into a slump. That slump was being broken out of with an eight-game hitting streak in early August. That streak was broken when Jordan took a fastball to the face, benching him for nearly three more weeks.
The right-handed hitter slashed .261/.305/.388 with 22 doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. He recorded 61 RBI (team-high), 35 runs, and two steals. Jordan didn't show the power he's flashed in the past, but the season being halted multiple times might have something to do with that.
He also didn't walk much, just 18 times in 380 plate appearances (4.7% walk rate). However, he only struck out 46 times (12.1% strikeout rate). Jordan's ability to put the bat on the ball has been a pleasant surprise.
There isn't much going on in his run game, but Jordan's defense has been underrated throughout his career. He's solid at third base with a great arm. Meanwhile, his defense at first base is phenomenal. Jordan lost weight last offseason, and it helped to improve his defense and added some athleticism.
Jordan still doesn't have a clear path to the Majors with the Red Sox. A rocky 2024 didn't help much, but he's shown a fantastic work ethic and has the raw talent to bounce back in 2025.
Hit: 45
Power: 50
Run: 30
Field: 50
Arm: 50
Overall: 40
No. 21: Pitching prospect Juan Valera
Juan Valera entered the 2024 season off the top prospect radar. The right-handed pitcher was coming off a bad campaign in the DSL the year prior and would be starting the season in the FCL. But the 18-year-old flew through the FCL before getting seven starts (23 innings) in Single-A.
Valera posted a 1.99 ERA, .125 BAA, and 0.85 WHIP in 18 appearances (16 starts) between the FCL and Single-A. He struck out 68 batters compared to 28 walks in 63 1/3 innings. Valera only surrendered one home run. The 6'3" pitcher had eight different starts (all at least three innings) this season in which he didn't allow a single hit.
Valera has a mid-90s fastball that can top out in the high-90s. He needs to improve his command, but the pitch can miss bats in the zone. His changeup doesn't differ enough from his fastball at the moment. It sits in the high-80s to low-90s and doesn't have a ton of dip. The changeup could be a great addition to the repertoire if it improves. Valera's slider plays in the high 80s with a long break. The pitch is probably my favorite of his secondary options (even though I'm usually a changeup guy). It will generate a lot of bad swings, especially when his fastball is working. He also carries a sweeper in the low-to-mid 80s but doesn't use it much.
Valera has a lot to build on, but you can expect things to improve for the 18-year-old. He could gain more velocity on his fastball, improve his changeup and find more consistency with his other secondary pitches.
With just 23 innings in Single-A, it's hard to know what you have in a pitcher, but Valera is someone the Red Sox should be incredibly excited about.
Fastball: 50
Changeup: 35
Slider: 45
Sweeper: 40
Control: 40
Overall: 40