5 Red Sox prospects who could still debut before 2024 season ends

The Boston Red Sox find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race as we hit mid-August. Due to that, it's hard to imagine the team punting on the season and calling up prospects to see what they've got heading into 2025.

Despite that, you never know when reinforcements will be needed. The Red Sox have had terrible luck with injuries this year. Could they have to call on the minor leagues for some help?

Who could be that help, though? Which prospects are realistic options for 2024?

Before we get any further, let's get one obvious thing out of the way. Nut Town isn't coming to Boston this season. The Red Sox have been very conservative with the promotions of their top prospects from Double-A to Triple-A this season. Some would even argue that they've been infuriatingly conservative.

The most likely reason for that is that they want the Major League depth in case the team needs bodies. If they haven't called them up to Triple-A yet, they won't be promoting Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, Kyle Teel, Kristian Campbell and Co. to Boston.

We know that might not seem fun to the fans, but it's the right move. The Red Sox shouldn't blow past their development to get one of their top names to the Majors for the last month because an injury occurs or the team is out of the playoff race.

Luckily, there are some legitimate names in Triple-A fans should be excited about who could help in 2024 and beyond.

*Disclaimer: these are not in an specific order*

5 Red Sox prospects who could still debut before 2024 season ends

Boston Red Sox catching/first base prospect Mickey Gasper

Mickey Gasper started the year as a depth catcher in Double-A. He was a 28-year-old coming over from the New York Yankees organization that felt more like an experienced player who could help the young guys in Portland grow.

His really solid numbers in Double-A (.282/.403/.458) through 44 games led to a promotion to Triple-A. Since moving up to Worcester, Gasper has become a star.

The switch-hitter is slashing .401/.515/.664 with 12 doubles and eight home runs in 40 games in Triple-A. He's driven in 32 runs, scored 36 more, and stolen one base. Gasper's drawn 29 walks compared to just 16 strikeouts.

The longer his time in Triple-A extends, the harder it is for anyone to claim this is just a fluke. Obviously, Gasper's not going to hit .400 forever. However, there are signs that he's figured things out. Gasper's not just getting cheap hits, either. He's hitting the ball hard with consistency. The low strikeouts and high walks show he's seeing the ball well and has a good command of the strike zone.

Additionally, he's a switch-hitting catcher who can play first base and second base. Gasper's not a stud defender, but he can play the positions, giving the lineup versatility and flexibility.

The Red Sox have a few people ahead of Gasper at all three of those positions. But if they want someone who can plug multiple holes at once, there are few options better.

After spending the first six years of his professional career in the minor leagues, is 2024 finally the shot at the Major Leagues that Mickey Gasper has earned?

Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Richard Fitts

Richard Fitts has had a serious rollercoaster of a season. We've seen Fitts get pulled after three innings, but we've also seen him flirt with perfection. The good news is that he's righted the ship recently. The right-handed pitcher has allowed five earned runs over his last three starts (17 innings) combined.

Fitts is seen as one of the most MLB-ready pitching prospects in the minor leagues. He has a floor of someone who can give a team decent innings consistently. However, there are questions about what his ceiling is. His inability to miss bats in certain starts has been a bit concerning.

Admittedly, the addition of Quinn Priester also feels like it slides Fitts down the call-up totem pole. There's still a path, though.

Fitts has a 4.56 ERA, .264 BAA, and 1.37 WHIP in 20 games (19 starts) for Worcester this season. The 24-year-old has 88 strikeouts compared to 34 walks in 94 2/3 innings. Again, the inability to miss bats is noticeable. That's a high BAA and not a ton of strikeouts. This could be an issue that leads to the Red Sox worrying about how he'd perform in the Majors.

Still, though, Fitts has given Worcester a lot of big starts. And at times, the strikeouts are piling up in starts. If the Major League team runs into a starter problem, Fitts is someone they'd likely trust to give them four or more innings in a start.

Fitts has an interesting future. He has the floor of a Major League starter. What is the ceiling, though? And will he get a chance to start his Major League career in 2024?

Boston Red Sox infield prospect Chase Meidroth

Chase Meidroth started the 2024 season in Triple-A, a level he never played at before. The 2022 fourth-round draft pick has done exactly what was expected of him.

Meidroth entered the 2024 season known for getting on base, severely limiting strikeouts, and playing good defense all over the infield. He's only improved his reputation with his play in Worcester.

Meidroth has a few people ahead of him. Nick Sogard was given the chance in the Major Leagues he deserved. Vaughn Grissom is also above Meidroth in the pecking order. Enmanuel Valdez is sort of ahead of him, but if the Red Sox need right-handed hitting at some point, Meidroth could get the nod.

The right-handed hitting infielder is slashing .294/.439/.398 with 18 doubles and six home runs. He's driven in 44 runs, scored 72 more, and stolen 11 bases. Meidroth has 81 walks compared to 47 strikeouts.

Do you need to hear that again? He's walked 81 times and only has 47 strikeouts.

The Red Sox could use more right-handed hitting, and Meidroth feels like a great solution. No, he's not going to hit for power. However, Meidroth will get on base, and he's not going to strike out. More importantly, you won't see him give you many miserable ABs. Everything is always competitive.

It certainly wouldn't hurt the Red Sox to add a right-handed bat that gets on base at a heavy clip. His defense at third base, shortstop, and second base is also a plus. Boston's middle infield defense has been tough to watch most of 2024. Meidroth would clean that up.

Meidroth is never going to be viewed as an elite prospect. His low power will keep excitement levels down. But he'll end up carving out a long Major League career that boasts an impressive OBP and some great defense. Could that career start before the end of this season?

Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Zach Penrod

It seems Zach Penrod is not just a potential option but one the Boston Red Sox appear to be legitimately thinking about. After dominating in Double-A to start the season, the left-handed pitcher was promoted to Triple-A.

An injury stalled Penrod's season almost immediately following his promotion. He's returned, and something telling is happening. In his most recent start, Worcester had the 27-year-old only throw two innings despite a low pitch count. On Saturday, Penrod made his first appearance out of the bullpen.

It really feels like the Red Sox are gearing Penrod up for a reliever role to help the Major League club in September.

Penrod hasn't been perfect in Triple-A. The ERA is high, and he hasn't gone more than four innings yet. However, the strikeouts have been there, and it's usually a single blowup inning that kills his outings.

He has a high-90s fastball and has shown an ability to miss bats. It feels like something they can utilize in short stretches in a game. A left-handed bullpen arm is always going to be in high demand. Boston certainly wouldn't be dumb to add another one when the rosters expand.

Penrod was an incredible find by the Red Sox last season. He started the 2023 season in Independent baseball but finished the year as a member of the South Atlantic League High-A champions. He played a large role in that championship run.

He started the 2024 season in Double-A. Can Penrod finish the year in the Major Leagues, helping the Sox make a playoff push?

Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Luis Guerrero

This may not be the exact season Boston Red Sox prospect Luis Guerrero was hoping for. The right-handed reliever has a 3.89 ERA, .216 BAA, and 1.45 WHIP in 34 appearances out of the bullpen for the WooSox. Those aren't terrible numbers. The ERA isn't bad, and the BAA is strong.

However, the ERA also isn't great, and the WHIP gives you a preview of his command issues. Guerrero has 60 strikeouts in 44 innings. That's awesome. He's also walked 29 batters and hit nine. That's not so awesome.

Guerrero has talent. His fastball hits 100 MPH. Meanwhile, he possesses a good slider and a devastating splitter. The command leads to consistency problems, though.

Sometimes, Guerrero will walk himself into trouble. Other times, he will leave a pitch right over the middle of the plate, and the opposing batter will hit it a mile (career-high six home runs allowed this season).

Despite all that, there's no denying Guerrero's got the stuff to be an absolute stud out of the bullpen. The Red Sox added a few really nice relief arms at the trade deadline. Meanwhile, Chris Martin just returned, and Justin Slaten is on his way back.

However, there's no such thing as too many arms. Injuries happen, and when the rosters expand, the Red Sox will add another pitcher. Guerrero might not be at the very top of the list, but he's not at the bottom, either. If a few injuries occur, there's a world where we see Guerrero in Boston this season.