What do we see from Miguel Bleis?
Despite not appearing above the FCL, Miguel Bleis entered the 2023 season as one of the more highly-touted prospects in the Boston Red Sox system.
Fans were excited for the outfielder's incredible all-around talents. Sadly, they didn't get to see much of him, though. Bleis only appeared in 31 games in Single-A before an injury ended his season.
The right-handed hitter slashed .230/.282/.325 with three doubles, three triples, and one home run. He drove in 16 runs, scored 18 more, and stole 11 bases. Bleis also struck out 38 times compared to 10 walks in 142 plate appearances.
The numbers don't look great, but they also don't tell the entire story.
Bleis was only 19 in 2023. He doesn't turn 20 until March of this year. Salem's ballpark is also notoriously not a hitter-friendly park. Roman Anthony and Allan Castro didn't put together great offensive showings either, and they dominated High-A (and Double-A in Anthony's case).
Finally, there's the injury. Bleis was putting up solid numbers before the injuries started to crop up. Those numbers took a devastating turn (1-for-18) after he returned from injury. Then he was shut down for the rest of the year. Something wasn't right.
2024 will see Bleis healthy and with some Single-A experience under his belt. He still possesses a devastating combination of skills. His elite speed makes him terrifying on the base paths. Meanwhile, his glove and arm have already been flashed plenty in the outfield.
Although the offensive numbers haven't looked great, we've seen glimpses of greatness there as well.
The 2024 season feels like the perfect chance for Bleis to remind Red Sox fans (and the baseball world) just how good he is.