The MLB Draft is here, and the Boston Red Sox have the 15th and 33rd picks in the first round. How have they fared in previous first rounds?
Let's go back over the last five drafts and grade each first-round pick by the Red Sox. We'll grade them based on their impact on the rest of the draft, how they have performed, where they've gotten to, and how they have helped or hurt the organization.
Grading the Red Sox's last 5 first-round MLB Draft picks
2020: Nick Yorke (2B) - B
Nick Yorke was the 17th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. The Red Sox surprised some people by taking Yorke, but they had their reasons.
They were able to pay Yorke well under slot value. That extra money was then used in the third round to ensure they could snatch up Blaze Jordan and convince him not to go to college.
Yorke came out of the gates on fire and even found himself labeled a top 100 prospect in all of baseball. He had a rough 2022 season due to injury, but bounced back nicely in 2023. By 2024, he was mashing in Triple-A. However, Yorke was traded to the Pirates for Quinn Priester during the season. Priester was then traded for Yophery Rodriguez, John Holobetz, cash, and the competitive balance pick (33) that the Red Sox have this season.
Yorke was an intriguing right-handed bat. Getting Jordan alongside him was a nice bonus, especially considering Jordan is now in Triple-A and performing well at the plate while looking good defensively at first and third base.
However, Yorke didn't directly impact the team enough to warrant a better grade. Top-tier guy, though. He's had a cup of coffee in the majors with Pittsburgh and is having a decent season in Triple-A. Here's hoping he becomes the talent we all know he can be.
2021: Marcelo Mayer (SS) - A
Boston had the fourth pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and it never could've dreamed that Marcelo Mayer would fall into its lap. Somehow, he did.
Mayer was the obvious choice, and he hasn't disappointed. Injuries caused some to worry about him over the years, but he always performed.
The left-handed hitting shortstop has made his way to the majors, where he's looked solid at the plate, while playing multiple positions defensively (he's specifically stood out at third base). Mayer should be a cornerstone of the franchise for a long time.
2022: Mikey Romero (SS) - A+
The Red Sox used the 24th overall pick of the 2022 draft to select Mikey Romero. Romero was an interesting prospect who actually grew up childhood friends with Mayer.
He was definitely worthy of being selected around 24, but that wasn't the only reason he was drafted here. The Red Sox were able to sign him under slot value. Some of his money was used to sign two big high school bats — Brooks Brannon in the ninth round and Roman Anthony at No. 79 overall.
Let's get this out of the way right now: Romero would be a B+ at worst, even if he never played a game and retired immediately. Drafting him helped the team free up enough space to sign Anthony. Anthony became the top prospect in baseball and is already mashing in the majors.
Romero gets an A+ because he's also been a fantastic prospect. Injuries slowed him down early on, but he got healthy in 2024 and showcased more power than expected (16 home runs, .509 slugging percentage).
In 2025, Romero is cooking in Double-A. Through 53 games (as of July 11), the left-handed hitting shortstop is slashing .276/.339/.476 with 14 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs. He has been the team's leadoff hitter and will either be in Triple-A soon or could be a massive piece in a deadline deal.
2023: Kyle Teel (C) - A
Kyle Teel unexpectedly fell to the Red Sox at No. 14. They weren't complaining and quickly snatched him up (and were even able to pay slightly under slot value).
Teel quickly climbed through the minor leagues. He was part of the "Big Three" then the "Big Four," after Kristian Campbell's surge. However, Teel was traded in the offseason. He was one of the two headliner prospects who helped Boston acquire ace Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox.
Teel is up with the White Sox. He's been fine in the majors. His on-base percentage has been great, but he's struggled to hit for power or drive in runs. He should be a good big league catcher for the next decade-plus.
2024: Braden Montgomery (OF) - A
Yet again, a great player fell to the Red Sox at pick No. 12 — Braden Montgomery. He signed for slightly under slot (most likely due to an injury), and the Red Sox were more than happy to add him to a loaded farm system.
However, Montgomery never even played a game for the organization. He was traded in the offseason as the other headliner prospect, along with Teel, to acquire Crochet.
Montgomery is currently in High-A (and is facing the Greenville Drive right now). The switch-hitting outfielder cruised through Single-A and is looking good with Winston-Salem. He's a highly-touted prospect, but Red Sox fans should be more than happy getting Crochet.
Just like Teel, even if he didn't help land Crochet, this would've been a fantastic pick.