The Single-A Salem Red Sox began their 2024 campaign on April 5. For the first time since May 30, 2023, Miguel Bleis played in a professional baseball game.
The Boston Red Sox prospect was having a promising year in Single-A before injuries derailed and soon ended his season. Bleis suffered a shoulder subluxation, the same injury that took Trevor Story out of Red Sox action on April 5.
One of the big storylines out of spring training was Bleis' condition. He added muscle and looked better than he ever had before. But the Salem Sox would have to wait to see if it would transfer to the field.
Three games is hardly a big sample size, but it's easy to love what fans have seen so far from the prospect. Bleis has looked just as smooth in the outfield, so the added muscle hasn't compromised his defense. Meanwhile, Bleis has looked comfortable on offense.
The right-handed hitter is just 2-for-10, but he's not looking like the lost and injured player he was for that short stretch before his season ended. The 20-year-old has a double, two RBI, two runs scored, and stolen one base. Most importantly, Bleis has drawn four walks compared to three strikeouts. He only drew 10 walks in 142 plate appearances in 2023.
The Red Sox have recent evidence of shoulder subluxations that required season-ending surgery (Miguel Bleis last year) and others that healed with rehab (Papelbon in '06 comes to mind). They'll figure that out - and whether there's labrum damage - in an exam in Boston on Monday.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) April 7, 2024
Boston Red Sox prospect Miguel Bleis is back and looks better than ever
Heading into last season, Bleis was not only one of the top prospects in Boston's system but a top 100 prospect in baseball. After the shortened 2023, some of the hype around him left. Bleis entered 2024 slightly lower in Boston's rankings and not even part of the top 100.
The Red Sox already have elite talent in the top 100 with Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kyle Teel. Meanwhile, Ceddanne Rafaela's about to graduate and drop out of that group. It would be perfect for Miguel Bleis to take his spot.
There's a reason Bleis was so highly-touted entering last season. A dangerous combination of speed, power, and defense, Bleis was poised to take the baseball world by storm. His injuries put things on pause for a bit, though.
Now, it looks like Bleis is back on track. But with the emergence of Anthony, the arrival of Teel, and even the advancement of prospects like Yoeilin Cespedes, some of the spotlight has been taken away.
Few prospects in baseball can fly up the rankings more rapidly than Bleis in 2024, though. If he can stay healthy, Red Sox fans are in for something special this season.