Chase Meidroth was a fourth-round pick for the Boston Red Sox in 2022. That year, he appeared in just 19 Single-A games. Despite the low number of contests, his stats were impressive enough for him to start 2023 in High-A.
There, Meidroth took little time to prove he was ready for an even higher level of competition. After 20 games in Greenville, the right-handed hitter had a .495 on-base percentage. That led to another promotion to Double-A.
Meidroth spent the rest of his 2023 season with the Portland Sea Dogs. He put up strong offensive numbers while becoming a defensive machine at second base, shortstop, and third base.
"Pesky Report" podcast co-host Jake T. O'Donnell loves to say that Chase Meidroth is simply "a ******* ballplayer," and he's not wrong. Meidroth gets on base, creates runs, makes things happen, and gets dirty on defense. The exact type of guy everyone should want on their team.
On March 29, Meidroth was the Opening Day third baseman for the Worcester Red Sox in his Triple-A debut. The third baseman went 0-for-2 at the plate. However, in typical Meidroth fashion, he drew two walks to find his way on base.
In his first at-bat the following game, Meidroth hit a high chopper back to the pitcher. The throw was too late, and an infield single was his first Triple-A hit.
We caught up with him after the game to discuss his promotion, among other things.
While Nick Yorke might be starting in Portland, infielder Chase Meidroth is with the WooSox in Worcester and will be starting the season in Triple-A. https://t.co/GOEMDeaKZK
— Andrew Parker (@ByAndrewParker) March 26, 2024
Boston Red Sox prospect Chase Meidroth is the definition of a ballplayer
Q: How did you find out you were starting the year in Triple-A, and was it a surprise to you?
"It's hard to say if it was a surprise or not a surprise. There was a lot of emotion when they did it, and I was super excited and grateful for the opportunity. My focus is where my feet are. At spring training, it was just trying to get a little better every day, and that's where I'm at now, as well.
We've got a good group of veteran guys, and we all push each other, and it's going to be a fun year here. I'm really excited about and grateful for the opportunity."
Q: Yesterday, you had two walks but no hits. Today, you got your first hit. Is that a big weight off your back?
"Yeah, it was fun. It came on a bounce pass off the plate, but I'll take them as they come."
Q: You were phenomenal defensively last year at third base, shortstop, and second base. Is that something you take pride in, and is there a certain position that you prefer to play or are more comfortable at?
"I take a lot of pride in defense. Since I was little, I think it's something that always, well comes from my dad. My dad's always pushed me in that, and I take just as much pride in defense as I do offense. Defense is a huge part of my game, and I love playing it. Not every day you're going to come into the park and get a hit. So you might as well try to take one away while you're out there for nine innings."
Q: A lot of media outlets underrated you as a prospect. The big knock was always on a lack of power. You shut a lot of people up last year by consistently getting on base, and now most of the big media outlets are much higher on you. Is that something you noticed? Was it ever in the back of your head?
"I mean, it's always been there. It's like my whole life it's always been a little bit like that. But I love this game, and I love playing it and coming to the park every day. It's fun playing this game, so I don't really pay much attention to that. I'm just trying to be the best baseball player I can be."
Q: You're from California, went to College in California, then started last year in South Carolina. What's a northeast March doing for you?
"It was cold yesterday, it was. I'm not going to sit here and tell you it was warm. It definitely wasn't. I was bundled out there in the field. It was fun, it was cool, it's different. Today, I was a little more used to it and felt a lot better out there, but it's a lot different."
Q: The Red Sox have an overflow of talent in the middle infield between you, Marcelo Mayer, Nick Yorke, and the list goes on. What was that like playing with those guys last year? Is there a competition between you guys?
"It's 100% a friendly clubhouse, but there definitely is a competition. I love both of those guys. I consider both of those some of my best friends in this game. We pushed each other every day. I ended up playing third base last year, and that was a little blessing in disguise. Wherever you put me, I'm going to go out there and play. Both of those guys are phenomenal baseball players, and it was fun last year pushing each other."
Q: Have you heard of Ed Hand, a big Red Sox baseball guy on Twitter? He has a nickname for you. He calls you "Booger" because you remind him of a high school kid you would see in an 80s movie. I wanted to get your thoughts on the nickname "Booger."
"I've had plenty of nicknames. I don't know too much about it, but I mean, I'll take it. You can call me what you want."
Q: Something you want Red Sox fans to know?
"We've got an exciting group at every level down here and up top, and I'm really excited about what's coming."