5 Boston Red Sox prospects to watch for the Greenville Drive

The Greenville Drive lineup had all the hype before the 2022 season. It featured plenty of top talent and was stacked from one through nine. Throw in some exciting pitching prospects, and it was hard to take your eyes off the team.

Fast forward one year, and we're telling you the same story, this time with different characters.

The Boston Red Sox High-A affiliate should feature plenty of talent from the team's top 30 prospect list. That's a lot of fun for anyone who plans on watching some of their games this season. Seriously, this is a team you need to check out a few times in 2023. However, it causes a problem for this list.

We're only naming five players to watch, and with an absolutely stacked roster, there will be some names left off the final draft. With that in mind, remember that this isn't a list of the only five players that matter on the team. The article is just highlighting five players on the Greenville roster that it would be extremely wise to keep an eye on.

However, there is an added twist to this roster. Greenville isn't just a team consisting of top prospects. They have quite a few under-the-radar guys. Players that might not get the recognition but have produced in the past. Could they sneak onto the list due to their potential to move up in the prospect rankings?

So who gets the honor? With one of the more loaded lineups in the minor leagues and plenty of intriguing pitching prospects, it took some time to narrow it down to five.

Players like second baseman Nick Yorke and shortstop Brainer Bonaci aren't featured because I'm not 100% sure either will start the year in High-A. There's a chance Yorke starts in Double-A (slim as it may be) and Bones in Low-A. Pitcher Jeremy Wu-Yelland also deserves some love. But after missing all of 2022, he'll probably start the year in Low-A to ramp up.

The good news is we tried our best. Isn't that all you can really ask for?

Boston Red Sox High-A shortstop prospect Marcelo Mayer

Let's get the most obvious one out of the way immediately. Marcelo Mayer is the top-ranked prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization. Of course, he had to be on the list.

Mayer was the fourth-overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft. People argued that he was the best prospect in that draft, though. Now heading into 2023, you'd probably find more people agreeing with that take.

In 2022, Mayer slashed .280/.399/.489 in 91 games between Low-A and High-A. The right-handed hitter smoked 30 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs. He also drove in 53 runs, scored 61 more, and went a perfect 17-for-17 on stolen base attempts.

Those are great numbers for anyone, let alone a 19-year-old in his first season in the minor leagues.

Mayer wasn't just an offensive standout, though. The shortstop looked slick in the field. He showed off great glove and footwork as well as a strong arm. Mayer was making the routine plays while throwing in some highlights for fun.

2022 ended on a strong note for Mayer. After struggling after a promotion to High-A, he slashed .452/.553/.710 in his eight September games to end the year. It was clear that he was figuring out the pitching.

Mayer now has some experience and the level and some Spring Training under his belt. Starting 2023 with the Greenville Drive, the now-20-year-old could be on the cusp of a massive season. Everyone already sees him as a top prospect in baseball. Now he can solidify his standing as the Boston Red Sox shortstop of the future.

Boston Red Sox High-A pitching prospect Wikelman Gonzalez

Remember when everyone thought Wikelman Gonzalez's name was "Wilkelman"? That was a weird time. The Boston Red Sox prospect is more than just a name, though.

Gonzalez made his Low-A debut at the end of the 2021 season. With four dominant outings, he immediately found himself on everyone's radar. Then 2022 started phenomenally. The right-handed pitcher gave up one earned run over 15 2/3 innings in April, striking out 20 batters.

However, following April, he hit a rough patch. Gonzalez had a handful of bad outings that led to him entering August with a 5.23 ERA in Low-A.

Three impressive starts in a row to start the month got Gonzalez back on track. It also led to a promotion to High-A.

The Venezuela product made four starts with the Greenville Drive to finish the year. He posted an impressive 2.65 ERA, .213 BAA, 1.12 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts over 17 innings.

Gonzalez will start the season in High-A. He'll be 21 for the entire year and showed improvements as 2022 moved on. What makes him so exciting is his pitching repertoire.

Gonzalez possesses three potentially elite pitches, his mid-to-high-90s fastball, a devastatingly foolish changeup, and a filthy curveball. Those three pitches alone could take Gonzalez far. There won't be anything holding him back if he can develop his slider and his command.

Wikelman Gonzalez is one of the best pitching prospects in the Boston Red Sox system. Following a fantastic end to his 2022 season, he's poised for a breakout year in 2023.

Boston Red Sox High-A utility prospect Eddinson Paulino

Eddinson Paulino made his Low-A debut in 2022 and wasted zero time making a name for himself. The Boston Red Sox prospect spent time all over the field.

He appeared at second base, shortstop, third base, left field, and center field. Not only did he get reps at all those positions, but he showed off great defense everywhere.

Meanwhile, Paulino was a tank offensively. The left-handed hitter slashed .266/.359/.469 with 35 doubles, 10 triples, and 13 home runs in Low-A. He drove in 66 runs, scored 96 runs, stole 27 bases, and drew 64 walks in 114 games.

Listed at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, Paulino isn't a big body. That makes the power all that much more impressive, though. He gets on base at a great clip and has plenty of pop in his bat. His phenomenal speed and strong defense at multiple positions raise his stock even more.

Paulino is sort of in the same boat that Ceddanne Rafaela was in the year prior. He's coming off a breakout campaign in Low-A and now has a chance to really get mainstream attention starting the year in High-A.

The only difference is that Paulino's already getting love in the prospect rankings. And I definitely wouldn't bet against him to capitalize on last season's success with a massive 2023.

Eddinson Paulino is one of the more exciting prospects in the Boston Red Sox system. He has a smooth swing and loves to show off his swagger after taking a pitcher deep. It's simply just fun to watch Paulino play baseball.

Boston Red Sox High-A pitching prospect Juan Daniel Encarnacion

An insanely deep group of pitching prospects for the Boston Red Sox overshadowed Juan Daniel Encarnacion. And yes, they are insanely deep in this area.

Bryan Mata made his comeback, Brayan Bello was a star, and Brandon Walter and Chris Murphy continued to climb the ladder. Lower down, Luis Perales, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, and Wikelman Gonzalez were making waves.

Throughout all that, Encarnacion was one of the most consistent pitchers in Boston's minor league system. The right-handed pitcher made 26 appearances (25 starts) between Low-A and High-A in 2022. He posted a 4.05 ERA, .239 BAA, 1.27 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts in 113 1/3 innings.

Over his last 56 2/3 innings, Encarnacion allowed 22 earned runs (3.49 ERA). That's an incredible second half. The fact he managed to do that in his first minor league season should be getting talked about.

Encarnacion is not flashy, so the attention doesn't come to him. He possesses a fastball that works in the high-80s to low-90s, a sweeping curveball, and an inconsistent changeup. Nothing that's going to get fans or media talking about him too much.

Encarnacion has made it work, though. Not only has he made it work with those pitches, but he's improved on them over the last few years. If he can take the next step in his development this year, 2023 should be a fun show.

The Boston Red Sox have headline-grabbing prospects. Juan Daniel Encarnacion isn't one of them. He'll go out there every fifth day and produce, though. If he continues to improve, the headlines will come.