The 2023 Major League Baseball draft will be an important day for the Boston Red Sox organization. Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox front office are committed to rebuilding this organization, and the best way to do that is by drafting and developing homegrown players.
The Red Sox have shifted their focus to deepening their farm system in the Bloom era, and this year's draft will be a massive part of that process. Experts have conducted some early mock drafts for July's event. Boston will have the 14th overall pick in the draft this season, and experts have made early predictions of what Boston will do with their first-round pick.
The MLB draft will once again be held during the All-Star Break, with the first round set for July 9. It will be held in Seattle.
Who do the experts think the Boston Red Sox will take in the 2023 MLB draft?
MLB.com -- Blake Mitchell C
Blake Mitchell is a talented high school player out of Sinton, Texas. The LSU Commit is considered the best catcher in this year's draft class among several draft experts. Mitchell's highest-graded tool is his arm, which can hit 97 on the radar gun when he is on the mound. However, he plays a valuable position as a catcher and can stay behind the plate as a professional.
Jonathan Mayo notes that Mitchell is a patient hitter with good bat speed, which are priorities the Red Sox organization has prioritized over the last few months. Mitchell's plus arm will be beneficial when throwing out base runners if he can stay behind the plate. A strong and reliable catcher is the most valuable thing you can have on the baseball field, and you can never have enough catching depth throughout the organization.
Baseball America -- Kevin Mcgonigle SS
Baseball America's Carlos Collazo likes the idea of Boston drafting shortstop Kevin Mcgonigle with their first-round selection in this year's draft. It makes perfect sense when you consider the Red Sox's first-round selections since Chaim Bloom took over as Chief Baseball Officer.
Nick Yorke, Marcelo Mayer, and Mikey Romero are all High School middle infielders with great hit tools, and Mcgonigle would keep up the trend. Baseball America raves about the Auburn commit's hit tool ranking it among the best high school prospects. He fits the mold of a Boston draft pick in recent years and would be a solid addition to a quickly improving farm system.
Baseball Prospect Journal -- Arjun Nimmala
Arjun Nimmala is a power-hitting high school shortstop committed to playing at Florida State. He differs from the other prospects on this list by having a more aggressive approach at the plate and possessing a lot of raw power, as Dan Zielinski III notes, but he does not share their highly graded overall hit tool. A power-hitting shortstop would be an exciting addition to Boston's farm system.
The Red Sox have taken a liking to high school bats the last few years, such as Mikey Romero, and experts believe they will draft another one in the first round this year. What the Red Sox do in the draft is anyone's guess, but their recent track record speaks for itself. But the organization may find it necessary to change strategy and select a pitcher in the first round. The draft is still a ways away, and a lot can happen from now until July 9th.