The Boston Red Sox's 2024 MLB Draft has earned the club's farm system additional attention. But securing "the steal of the draft" isn't the only reason for all of Boston's farm's hype.
ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel boosted the Sox's farm system ranking from No. 13 in the league at the beginning of the season to No. 10 in the wake of the Draft. He praised Boston's preexisting prospects along with some of its draft decisions.
Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony both rank in MLB's top 20 prospects, and as they get closer to MLB readiness, their stock is only increasing. McDaniel acknowledged that 2024 has been Mayer's first great season in the Sox' system — his 2023 slate was shortened due to injury and he was just 19 years old in 2022.
Mayer is slashing. .307/.370/.480 over 77 games in Double-A this season. He's spent over a year in Portland, and Red Sox Nation has been itching for promotion news on the young shortstop. Red Sox player development staff hinted weeks ago that a promotion is coming for Mayer, but no further updates have come.
Red Sox farm system rises from No. 13 to No. 10 in ESPN's latest rankings
Roman Anthony does it again!
— Portland Sea Dogs (@PortlandSeaDogs) August 1, 2024
His second homer of the game and 13th of the season gives the Sea Dogs a 9-3 in the 7th inning. pic.twitter.com/LCPGf7TFtv
McDaniel believes Sox fans should expect to see Mayer and Anthony in the big leagues in 2025, and, based on his production, it's likely catching prospect Kyle Teel will be right there with them. Besides Boston's "Big Three," McDaniel credited Kristian Campbell and Franklin Arias for their growth. Campbell cracked Baseball America's top 100 prospect list for the first time this season and he's occasionally been included among's the Sox's "Big Three" to create a "Big Four" at the top of the organization.
Boston's 2024 first-round draft pick Braden Montgomery jumped onto top prospect lists right away and contributed to the farm system's rise through the ranks at ESPN. The former two-way player was expected to be one of the first picks in the draft before he sustained a leg injury during his season at Texas A&M. He fell to the Red Sox at pick No. 12 and was considered "the steal of the draft" at that point.
It's promising to see the Red Sox's newest additions and some unexpected names earn credit in McDaniel's ranking. Boston's farm still lacks a solid base of pitchers, the club's biggest deficiency, but Craig Breslow has improved the outlook since his tenure as chief baseball officer started. The future of the Red Sox organization looks promising with the young talent it's working with.