3 surprising prospects who will shine at Red Sox spring training
Boston has a few prospects who could surprise a lot folks this spring in Fort Meyers.
The wait is almost over Red Sox fans! Spring Training is right around the corner and we are that much closer to having baseball back. After the disappointment that was 2023, Boston is craving an opportunity to start 2024 off on the right foot.
Spring games are a good opportunity for fans to see a preview of how their team stacks up before the regular season. That includes getting to see prospects on the field you normally wouldn't get the chance to see play on a notable stage.
Roster spots are won during spring training and some players can rocket up the totem pole with impressive performances from the jump.
From time to thime, this can lead to promotions and unexpected additions. So let's examine three Red Sox prospects who have the opportunity to surprise everyone and earn the spotlight this Spring.
3 surprising prospects who will shine at Red Sox spring training
Richard Fitts
Fitts is a new addition to Boston's prospect list as he was acquired from the New York Yankees, alongside two other pitchers, in exchange for Alex Verdugo this offseason.
Selected by New York in the sixth round in 2021 out of Auburn, he went 11-5 with a 3.48 ERA. 9.6 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 across 27 starts for Double-A Somerset in 2023. Opponents only batted .227 against him over 152.2 innings pitched.
He features a mid-90s fastball but mentioned to the media that he's at his best when he throws it harder and wants to try to increase his velocity. Fitts also cited that a higher velocity fastball helps improve his ability to command his pitches.
Over 95 (mph), I threw it in better zones, I was commanding it better and I had more success with it. So for me, it’s all about trying to throw over 95 mph. I’m trying to get my average (velocity) up.
Fitts already has a great handle on controlling his pitches and he's good at setting up hitters. His mentality is he'd rather give up a single than issue a walk. That's the right kind of mindset for a starting pitcher to have.
The 24-year-old complements his fastball with a slider and changeup. The slider is the better of the two pitches, so he'll be looking to improve the changeup to get himself to the next level. Scouts have him currently sitting as having fourth or fifth starter potential.
The Red Sox desperately need great starting pitching depth as that's one of their weak spots right now. There are rumblings that the team may have the opportunity to add someone like Jordan Montgomery but having internal options is always a plus.
Fitts has the stuff that allows for success against Major League bats. Currently ranked as Boston's 10th-best prospect, you can absolutely expect a great performance from him this Spring.
David Hamilton
Red Sox fans may be slightly familiar with David Hamilton as he did appear briefly for Boston in 2023. He's only gotten a cup of coffee, but has a lot of promise and could surprise a lot of folks.
Hamilton was acquired by Boston back in 2021 in a trade that sent Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers. He's an infielder who can play shortstop and second base and is known for his speed on the basepaths. He also has a pretty good bat with (decent speed through the zone) and has shown an ability to hit home runs but has worked on hitting more line drives recently.
His 2023, unfortunately, ended a bit early in September to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. He finished last season in Triple-A with a line of .247/.363/.438 with 17 HR, 54 RBI, 57 SB, and an .801 OPS in 103 games. The 19th-ranked prospect was named Minor League Defensive Player of the Year at the end of the season.
His brief stint in Boston wasn't as successful with a .121 average across 15 games, but he did record six stolen bases. He would have been a candidate to start the season at second for the Red Sox as he seems to have better range there than at shortstop. However, he now has to compete with Vaughn Grissom who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves.
Grissom has a bit more experience and success at the big league level, but that doesn't mean Hamilton can't make a case for himself. There's always a need for bench depth, and he especially has the right tools to be a weapon for Boston on the basepaths.
Kyle Teel
Kyle Teel was selected as Boston's first pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and has a ton of promise as the catcher of the future. He's only 21 years old but advanced very quickly in 2023, reaching the Double-A level.
He played for the FCL Red Sox, the Greenville Drive, and the Portland Sea Dogs over 23 games total. Teel ended the 2023 season with Portland and logged a .323 average with 10 hits and 11 RBI in nine games.
It doesn't seem that he will open the season on the MLB roster, but the Virginia product feels that his time in the ACC has him prepared for his first taste of spring training.
He certainly has the tools to be a surprise addition for the Red Sox in 2024, and if the team isn't expected to compete, he could see an early promotion to the bigs to get some experience under his belt. However, he most likely will spend most of the season at Double-A or Triple-A.
The Red Sox fourth-ranked prospect (and the 62nd-best prospect in all of baseball) features great strike zone knowledge, above-average power, and plus defense behind the dish.
Boston will open the season with Connor Wong and Reese McGuire assuming catching duties. It's easy to see them both as stopgaps until Teel is ready. He offers the full package as an above-average bat with excellent defense.
Despite the lackluster offseason so far for the Red Sox, there are things to be excited for and the future looks bright for Boston. Anything can happen during spring training, too, so keep your eyes peeled as we approach pitchers and catchers reporting to camp in a few weeks.
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