Boston Red Sox 2014 first-round pick: Michael Chavis (shortstop)
The Boston Red Sox used the 26th overall pick in the 2014 draft on shortstop Michael Chavis. And yes, he was a shortstop when they first drafted him.
Chavis was up and down to start his MiLB career. The right-handed hitter showed his potential immediately in Rookie Ball in 2014. However, 2015 was a strange year. He hit .223 with a .277 OBP in 109 games in Full-A. 29 doubles, one triple, and 16 homers kept his slugging percentage looking okay (.405).
2016 was a tough time, but 2017 saw Chavis slash .282/.347/.563 with an impressive 35 doubles and 31 home runs. Before the start of the 2018 season, he was suspended 80 games for a positive PED test. Then the questions came. Was that breakout year just a product of steroids?
In 46 games in 2018, Chavis attempted to prove that wasn't the case. He mashed to the tune of a .298/.381/.538 slash line. That certainly quieted a lot of the whispers.
Chavis made his MLB debut during the 2019 season. He was striking out a lot (127 times in 347 at-bats), but a .254 average and 18 home runs in 95 games were enough to get fans excited for the player nicknamed "Ice Horse".
2020 was a strange year for everyone due to the pandemic. Chavis struggled in 42 games, which led to some questions about his future.
We got answers to those questions during the 2021 season. After appearing in just 31 games for the Red Sox, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Chavis spent all of 2022 in Pittsburgh and is currently with the Washington Nationals organization.
Chavis continues to be someone that will frustrate fans. He shows a lot of potential at times and is still only 27. However, he never seems to be able to put it all together for long stretches. Honestly, a team like the Nationals might be the perfect spot for him right now. Chavis has a chance to grind out some playing time in the Majors and hopefully figure things out.
Everyone that's played with him seems to agree he's a great teammate/person. That's not enough to stick around for too long, though.
Still, he made it to the Major Leagues, has stuck around, and had some good moments in a Boston uniform. That's enough for a decent grade.
Draft Grade: C-