The Boston Red Sox farm system has seen a lot of movement over the last month. Between the MLB Draft and the trade deadline, they replenished their farm system, then immediately traded away a few of the top names to improve the major league roster.
What has that done to the top of the system? Every offseason, I rank the top 30 prospects in the organization according to my own criteria. A few of the names expected to be in the top 10 were shipped off. Meanwhile, some new prospects have slid into the rankings.
If the season were to end today, what would my top 10 rankings look like? The usual rules still apply: anyone who has appeared in a major league game is disqualified and any prospect who has not appeared in Single-A or a higher level will not be on the list. That means some big names like Martin Shelar aren’t finding their way in the top 10 just yet.
Re-ranking the Red Sox top-10 prospects following wild trade deadline
No. 10: RHP - John Holobetz (Triple-A)
John Holobetz isn’t the flashiest pitching prospect. He’s not some giant on the mound with ridiculous extension, and he doesn’t have a fastball that can reach 100 MPH. In fact, he really doesn’t have any elite pitches. What he does have is top-tier command.
Holobetz only struck out batters at an 8.66 K/9 rate last season between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. However, his walk rate was an absurdly low 1.44 BB/9. In 124 2/3 innings, he had 120 strikeouts and just 20 walks. The walk rate has bumped up to 2.66 BB/9 this season (28 in 94.2 innings). However, he has drastically increased his strikeouts to 10.17 K/9 (107). The swing-and-miss is increasing a bit, with his stuff improving a little (mainly an improved sinker).
Holobetz is now in Triple-A and looks like a legitimate back-end starter. He’s still never going to be someone who will rack up Ks in the big leagues. That being said, he has shown he should be able to eat up some innings, and he won’t get himself into too much trouble because he throws strikes. Not bad for a Player to be Named Later.
No. 9: RHP - Marcus Phillips (High-A)
Marcus Phillips was the 33rd overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He’s also the only one of the three pitchers taken in the first three rounds by the Red Sox in that draft still in the organization after Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon were dealt for Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline.
Phillips has really intriguing stuff. However, it has been an extremely rough go for him in High-A in 2026. The right-handed pitcher has an ERA over 6.50 with a WHIP over 1.75. That’s thanks to 51 walks in 61.2 innings. He’s also hit six batters. However, Phillips has struck out 73 batters and throws a high-90s fastball with a good combination of cutter, slider, and changeup. His biggest issues have been his command and his tendency to fall apart after a few innings.
The struggles may have caused some to lose faith, but I’m just going to ask you to watch Phillips when he’s got it going. The talent is there. Give him more than his first professional season before writing him off. He has more than enough natural ability to keep him in the top 10.
No. 8: OF - Owen Hull (High-A)
Owen Hull was the second-round pick for the Red Sox in 2026. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has only had a short stint in High-A so far, but is already showcasing an intriguing all-around game.
Hull possesses above-average speed with the potential for above-average power. He’s shown good athleticism, which should help him improve in the outfield.
If Hull can continue to show the phenomenal plate discipline that’s been on display so far and grow his power, the Red Sox hit an absolute slam dunk with this draft pick.
No. 7: SS - Jake Schaffner (High-A)
Jake Schaffner was the first-round pick for the Red Sox in 2026. There were people upset with the pick at the time, as it was seen as a massive reach. However, the idea was pretty simple when you thought about it. Schaffner saved the Red Sox money to spend later in the draft (mainly on Martin Shelar).
The left-handed-hitting shortstop is also the perfect archetype for the Red Sox to build on. He’s a good defender with elite speed. His swing doesn’t create much power, but it’s pretty and generates line drives. Boston can do what it does best and add some exit velocity and potentially add some home run power to his game (look what it did for Mason White, Roman Anthony, and a few prospects we’ll address in a few moments).
No. 6: SS - Henry Godbout (Double-A)
Henry Godbout was the second-round pick for the Red Sox in 2025. Godbout suffered an injury in 2026 that caused him to miss a decent chunk of the season. Even with that, he’s already found his way to Double-A.
The right-handed-hitting shortstop was drafted as a line drive hitter who makes plenty of contact. Boston was hoping to add some power to Godbout’s swing, and we’re already seeing some nice progress there.
The 22-year-old doesn’t add much in the speed department, but he’s got some sneaky speed. He’s a very underrated defender. Godbout will always hit for contact. If the power keeps improving … look out.
No. 5: RHP - Juan Valera (High-A)
Juan Valera has utterly filthy stuff when he’s on the mound. Unfortunately, Valera has rarely seen the field over the last handful of seasons.
The right-handed pitcher threw 27 1/3 innings in 2023, all in the DSL. In 2024, he threw 63 1/3 innings (40 1/3 in the FCL and 23 in Single-A). Last season, he threw 38 innings in High-A.
2026 started strong. Valera was the Opening Day starter for the Greenville Drive in High-A. He was throwing a 102 MPH fastball. Things were fun. That fun didn’t last long, though. Valera only threw 9 1/3 innings before an injury led to him needing Tommy John surgery.
Valera is still only 20, and his raw arm talent is through the roof. It’s easy to see why anyone would drool over his potential. However, it’s also easy to understand why anyone might be too weary of Valera’s injury history at this point.
No. 4: RHP - Sadbiel Delzine (Single-A)
Sadbiel Delzine took just a few innings to win me over in Single-A. The 18-year-old right-handed pitcher is a monster on the mound (6’5”) and has the intimidating presence you are looking for.
Delzine toys with hitters. He has a low-to-mid-90s fastball and some devastating breaking pitches. I’m a sucker for a good changeup, and his has already caught my attention. His curveball has racked up strikeouts quickly.
He also messes with hitters by throwing off their timing. Delzine will do funky things with his delivery, changing the timing of his windup. Adding that to the mix at such a young age gives me the impression of high confidence in his stuff, which I absolutely adore.
Delzine should be a high-strikeout pitcher. However, as with most young pitchers, he’ll need to work on his command.
No. 3: C - Franklin Primera (Single-A)
Franklin Primera is not an average 19-year-old catcher. He looks like a veteran behind the dish. He puts together professional at-bats that would have many convinced he’s a 10-year veteran.
The Red Sox traded for Adley Rutschman at the deadline. In a perfect world, he’s handing the keys to the kingdom over to Primera in a couple of seasons. Everything is there for Primera to be a franchise catcher.
He’s good behind the plate and has a fantastic arm. His defensive prowess alone makes him a legitimate prospect. However, his ability to limit strikeouts while getting on base at a high clip (and hit for decent power) could make Primera a generational prospect sooner rather than later.
No. 2: OF/1B - Justin Gonzales (Double-A)
Justin Gonzales is a giant in every sense of the word. Listed at 6’5”, 210 lbs, there are many who believe the 19-year-old is actually bigger than that.
It’s not just his size, though. Gonzales is a towering presence with everything he does. He has bonkers power potential. There’s legitimate 40-plus home run potential in his bat, especially if he can elevate the ball more. Meanwhile, he’s very athletic for his size and a decent enough corner outfielder (and he’s looked fine at first base). He also possesses a bazooka of an arm.
Gonzales is one of the most electric and exciting prospects in baseball. There will be some questions as he moves up the levels. However, he doesn’t strike out at a high rate, and he draws a good number of walks. Those should always help him to adjust as he works on finding a defensive home and elevating the ball. Following a two-homer performance on August 16, he was promoted to Double-A despite being just 19 for the rest of the season. Gonzales is closer to a mythological hero than a prospect.
No. 1: SS - Franklin Arias (Triple-A)
Franklin Arias was already the top prospect in the system entering the 2026 season. He was also a top 50 prospect in baseball. That was all while having the glaring flaw of lacking any real semblance of power in his swing.
The right-handed-hitting shortstop suddenly seems to have 30 home run power potential. He’s already flirting with 25 home runs this season. Oh, and he’s only 20 in Triple-A.
Arias is a phenomenal defender with elite bat-to-ball skills. Legitimately, the only thing that was holding him back was the power. Now that he’s sorted that out, there are legitimate arguments to be made that Arias is the best prospect in the world, not just in the organization.
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