The World Series has wrapped up and the offseason is in full swing, which means the book is officially closed on the 2025 MLB season. It’s time for our Boston Red Sox top 30 prospects list.
The Red Sox don’t have the stacked farm system that they had last year. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, and more graduated from prospect status. This top 30 will be even more condensed due to our rules.
To be in contention for a spot in my top-30, a prospect has to have appeared in at least one game in Single-A or higher. I want to be able to see them play a full game, rather than just watching highlights and reading notes from others. Prospects are also disqualified the moment they appear in a game in the majors. That means, despite being near the top of MLB Pipeline’s list for the Red Sox, Payton Tolle, Jhostynxon Garcia, Connelly Early, Kyson Witherspoon, and others will be absent from this list.
We’ll be rating each prospect based on the following tools: hit, power, run, arm, field, and overall. Pitchers will have each pitch rated, as well as control and overall ratings. Each will be graded from 20 to 80 in intervals of five. Certain tools will weigh more for different positions (a catcher’s speed won’t matter as much as his power, and a pitcher’s throwaway pitch won’t mean as much as his number one), and things such as age and proximity to the majors will factor in as well.
There are also factors that are much more subjective, such as just a general view of their floors and ceilings, which I could view differently from others.
Red Sox top 30 prospects following the 2025 season
No. 30: Infielder Mason White
Mason White is the first of a few 2025 draft picks you’ll see on this list. The fourth-round selection had a few shining moments in his short time between Single-A and High-A.
White slashed .238/.319/.287 with five doubles between the two levels. The left-handed hitting infielder drove in five runs, scored 12 more, and stole three bases in 26 games.
The 22-year-old has a good arm for second base (decent for shortstop/third base), is a solid defender, and has okay speed. White won’t win awards for his defense, but he’s not going to kill you either. He’ll steal some bases, but it will never be a big part of his game.
White possesses fantastic bat speed and some great power potential. Finding a middle infielder with power is always fun. Boston has done a lot in recent years to add pop to some of its prospects (look at Mikey Romero and Kristian Campbell as good examples of this). There will likely be strikeouts, but White can draw walks decently and could become a 30-homer bat if things go right.
White has fun potential with Dan Uggla power capabilities if the Red Sox can unlock them.
Hit: 35
Power: 55
Run: 35
Arm: 35
Field: 40
Overall: 40
No. 29: Third Baseman/First baseman Antonio Anderson
Antonio Anderson had a strange season. He started the year in Single-A after struggling at the level last year. However, he dominated Single-A the second time around and found himself promoted to High-A by early May.
Anderson had a fantastic first month in High-A, but struggled the rest of the year. Soon, the switch-hitter seemed to be platooning (not something you’d expect to see in the minor leagues). What adds to the weird season is that Anderson (drafted as a shortstop but immediately moved to third base) also started to get time at first base.
Following Triston Casas' injury, the Red Sox realized how few first basemen they had in the system. Anderson is an athlete, still very young and early in his development, so adding the position to his game made sense.
The 20-year-old slashed .248/.323/.343 with 16 doubles, one triple, and four home runs between Single-A and High-A. He drove in 43 runs, scored 45 more, and stole one base.
Anderson has some swing-and-miss issues and likely isn’t ever going to be much of an average hitter. However, there’s clear raw power potential in his bat. We’ve seen it shine through at times despite the low slugging percentage. A good ability to work counts helps him a bit, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him be more aggressive early in counts. As he fills out (currently already a good size at 6’2”, 205 lbs), the power will grow.
Anderson isn’t much of a runner, but he’s a good athlete. He may never struggle with his speed, even as he packs on weight/muscle. At the same time, don’t expect many steals.
Defensively, Anderson has a fantastic arm that works nicely at third base. The arm is being wasted at first base. However, his reaction time, footwork, and hands make some of the waste worth it. He should be fine in either spot.
Anderson is going to have to rely on his power potential coming to fruition if he wants to become an impact MLB player — there’s definitely something there. He’s fun to watch, and the defense is good enough.
Hit: 35
Power: 45
Run: 35
Arm: 55
Field: 45
Overall: 40
No. 28: Catcher/First baseman Brooks Brannon
Brooks Brannon is a hoss. The right-handed hitter slashed .251/.308/.393 with 16 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs between High-A and Double-A. He drove in 47 runs, scored 52 more, and stole four bases.
Brannon spent most of his season at catcher (49 games), but sprinkled in some first base (17 games). He also appeared in 27 as the designated hitter.
The overall numbers were solid, and we saw plenty of that Norse God power that he has. But Brannon was an incredibly streaky hitter. A 14-game hitting streak helped correct his numbers in High-A, then a 12-game hitting streak did the same thing for him in Double-A.
Brannon has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game and doesn’t draw walks. So the power and run producing are doing the heavy lifting here. It would be good to see him draw a few more walks and get more consistent production, but the power is legit.
His defense improved this year. Brannon’s a very good athlete, which has helped keep the possibility open that he’ll stick at catcher. He also looked fine at first base. Brannon’s got a strong arm, which also masks some of his not-so-great defensive qualities behind the plate.
Brannon’s a bowling ball of a human, listed at 5’11, 210 lbs, it looks to be mainly muscle. Unsurprisingly, a catcher who is that size isn’t going to do much when it comes to running.
The Red Sox are short on catching prospects, but Brannon’s power makes him intriguing at the very least. If he can continue to improve his defense and if he can cut back on the strikeouts a bit and draw a few more walks, there’s something here.
Hit: 30
Power: 60
Run: 30
Arm: 50
Field: 40
Overall: 40
No. 27: Outfielder Natanael Yuten
Natanael Yuten continued his trend from last season by being an incredible late-game hitter. He’s a decent all-around player, but the Red Sox might not view him as much of a prospect. After spending all of 2024 in Single-A, he repeated the level and spent the entire 2025 season with Salem as well.
Yuten improved his slashline significantly (from .243/.304/.380 to .270/.333/.391) and raised his walk rate from 7.2% to 7.6%. Despite that, he has now appeared in 200 games in Single-A.
The left-handed hitting outfielder is average in every area of the game. He strikes out a tick too much (definitely needs to work on taking pitching), but makes decent contact, has good gap power, can run a bit, and is solid in the field.
It would be nice to see him start 2026 in High-A and get a chance to shine away from Salem’s hell for hitters, but there are so many outfielders in Boston’s system that it's hard to foresee him ever being taken seriously here.
Hit: 40
Power: 40
Run: 40
Arm: 40
Field: 40
Overall: 40
No. 26: Right-handed pitcher Jesus Travieso
Jesus Travieso wasn’t on many top-30 radars prior to the 2025 season. He was fine in a short sample size in the DSL in 2024, but he wasn’t doing anything wild.
Travieso impressed in the FCL to start the 2025 season, before being promoted to Single-A at the tail-end of July. The right-handed pitcher posted a 3.51 ERA, .287 BAA, and 1.64 WHIP in seven appearances (six starts) with Salem. He struck out 38 batters compared to 11 walks in 25 2/3 innings.
The 18-year-old had some command issues at times, but his stuff flashed plenty of nastiness. He has an interesting arm movement, somehow looking both effortless and as if he’s exuding way too much effort at the same time, a short arm snap.
Travieso’s fastball sits in the mid-90s. It has life to it, but like with his other pitches, he needs to be more consistent with it. The righty’s slider showcases gross snap at times, hovering in the mid-80s. When it’s on, this pitch is pure unadulterated filth. If Travieso has his fastball and slider working, good luck. He also has a changeup that sits in the mid-80s. It wasn’t thrown nearly as much as his other pitches. Sometimes coming out flat, it did dip nicely on occasion. Deceptive arm movement.
Travieso is listed at 5’11”, 140 lbs. If he can fill out more (and maybe even grow a few inches), his velocity could tick up. That would make his already dangerous one-two punch of his fastball and slider that much more terrifying. Still very young, he’ll need to find another true third pitch (and maybe add a fourth if he wants to stick as a rotation option).
Fastball: 45
Slider: 45
Changeup: 35
Control: 35
Overall: 40
No. 25: Catcher Gerardo Rodriguez
Gerardo Rodriguez and Jorge Rodriguez (who would be on this list if he made his Single-A debut last year and would likely be right next to Gerardo in the rankings) are not related to my knowledge. However, both are catchers out of Venezuela who could save the Red Sox when it comes to catching prospects in 2026.
Gerardo Rodriguez spent a little time in Single-A in 2024, but was back in the FCL to start 2025. The likely reason for this was that his bat seemed to be completely devoid of power. He was making contact, but wasn’t doing much with it. That changed when he returned to Salem in 2025.
Rodriguez slashed .297/.372/.500 with four doubles, one triple, and three home runs in 22 games for Salem. The right-handed hitter drove in 11 runs, scored nine more, and stole one base. He walked nine times compared to 13 strikeouts.
Rodriguez is a good defensive catcher, and he showcased a strong arm in Salem. He’s not much in terms of speed, but he was smart on the base paths.
Listed at 5’10, 177 lbs, Rodriguez is a good size for a catcher. With some semblance of power showing up in 2025, it’s exciting to think about what could improve in 2026 (and beyond). Just 19, Rodriguez could have a lot of development left in his game. Even if the offense doesn’t improve much, a defensive-minded catcher will always have a spot on a team.
Hit: 40
Power: 35
Run: 30
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 40
No. 24: Outfielder Allan Castro
Allan Castro had a tough 2024 season, but got back on track in 2025. It felt like he stopped trying to force home runs, and that made all the difference.
Castro spent time in High-A and Double-A in 2024, slashing .229/.343/.400. He hit just .180 (.504 OPS) in 28 games after being promoted. The switch-hitter’s fantastic 14% walk rate was offset a bit by a 23.4% K rate that could use some work.
In 2025, Castro slashed .268/.353/.400 in 92 games in Double-A. The OPS was only 10 points higher than the previous year, but the numbers were much better than his Portland stats. His walk rate dropped to a still strong 11.3% and he cut his strikeout rate down to 20.4%.
Castro still has some good raw power, and he could hit 20-plus homers in a season. Outside of that, he works counts, and improved his average nicely last season. The 22-year-old is a solid corner outfielder with a decent arm and athleticism. He’s fast enough to steal some bases, but it’s not a big part of his game.
Castro would likely be viewed a little more favorably if he weren’t in an organization with a dozen good outfielders. However, he could still be a fun depth option who could grow from there.
Hit: 45
Power: 45
Run: 40
Arm: 40
Field: 40
Overall: 40
No. 23: Left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan
The Red Sox lost Shane Drohan to the Chicago White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft ahead of the 2023 season. However, a rough 2024 brought him back to Boston.
In 2025, the left-handed pitcher posted a 2.27 ERA, .185 BAA, and 1.01 WHIP in 12 appearances (11 starts) in Triple-A. He struck out 67 batters compared to 16 walks in 47 2/3 innings. Drohan looked like the 2023 Double-A version of himself again. The 26-year-old was missing bats and had a few spectacular outings.
Drohan’s fastball works in the low-to-mid 90s without a ton of movement. He has a solid command of it, though. The big development this year is that we didn’t see his velocity fall off a cliff as the year went on, and he was able to hold the velocity later into games, two issues he’s had in the past.
The lefty’s cutter sits in the high-80s with a decent short snap to it. He has good control of the pitch and can use it to find the strike zone, but it’s not baffling hitters. His curveball plays around 76 MPH with a big drop. Drohan has good control of the pitch, a recurring theme so far. The curveball is one of his better pitches when it comes to getting whiffs, though.
Finally, his best pitch, the changeup. In the low-80s with a steady drop, this is the pitch he can get the ugliest swings out of. It certainly helps that Drohan makes it look like a fastball out of his hand.
Drohan was once one of the most promising arms in the system, upon his return, he’s done a good job building his stock up quickly. Concerns over whether he’ll be a starter long-term (due to injuries, among other factors) hurt his potential a bit. He could still become a solid back-end starter or a tricky lefty out of the bullpen.
Fastball: 40
Cutter: 35
Curveball: 45
Changeup: 50
Control: 45
Overall: 40
No. 22: Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera
Eduardo Rivera has to win the award for “most pleasant surprise,” right? The left-handed pitcher was released by the Athletics organization midway through the 2024 season after struggling in High-A. Things immediately clicked for him in Boston’s organization, and he had a breakout 2025.
Rivera posted a 2.48 ERA, .177 BAA, and 1.16 WHIP in 20 appearances (15 starts) between High-A and Double-A. The lefty struck out 108 batters compared to 46 walks in 87 innings.
Rivera is massive (6’7”, 237 lbs), which makes his mid-high 90s fastball that much more imposing. I am a bit worried that his fastball lost velocity as the season went on. His cutter drops to the high-80s with decent movement, but it is likely his worst pitch.
The 22-year-old has a curveball (hovering around 80 MPH) and a slider (mid-80s), both with decent movement. Both are inconsistent, though. At their best, they can put hitters off balance with their sharp breaks. His command of the pitches is iffy — sometimes left flat, sometimes he doesn’t know where they’re going. Finally, Rivera has a solid changeup that sits in the mid-high 80s with fantastic drop. Again, command is the issue here.
Rivera has major upside, but a very low floor due to his control issues and inconsistency when it comes to how sharp his pitches are. He's still a fantastic addition to the minor league system for Boston. He could become a stud rotation piece or never see the majors. Neither would be a surprise.
Fastball: 55
Cutter: 35
Changeup: 45
Curveball: 35
Slider: 40
Control: 35
Overall: 40
No. 21: Infielder Starlyn Nunez
Staryln Nunez was the lifeblood of the 2025 Salem Red Sox (now the Ridge Yaks). The switch-hitter slashed .249/.306/.407 with 24 doubles, eight triples, and eight home runs. He drove in 52 runs, scored 54 more, and stole 21 bases.
Nunez was a constant spark plug, giving Salem’s “bleh” offense life when they most needed it. The now-20-year-old has some swing-and-miss in his game, but around a 20% K rate isn’t bad. He has decent in-game power, which could improve as his 6’0”, 155 lb frame fills out.
Nunez is a solid athlete. He’s not blazing fast, but he has enough speed to swipe some bags and take extra bases. Defensively, he has a solid arm and played well enough at second base, third base, and shortstop. The errors piled up, but it was a combination of mental mistakes, tough plays, and having Single-A first basemen who usually can’t bail out their infielders like MLB first basemen could. Don’t worry about errors at the lower levels; Nunez passed the eye test as an infielder at all three spots.
Nunez is an interesting prospect. He’s raw, and all his tools could fluctuate. We might not be talking about him on this list at all next year, or we could be talking about him as one of the top prospects in the system.
Hit: 40
Power: 40
Run: 45
Arm: 45
Field: 40
Overall: 40
No. 20: Left-handed pitcher Hayden Mullins
Hayden Mullins started the year in High-A, but didn’t spend much time there. The left-handed pitcher posted a 2.21 ERA, .177 BAA, and 1.11 WHIP in 22 appearances (21 starts) between High-A and Double-A. He struck out 123 batters compared to 51 walks in 101 2/3 innings.
Mullins dominated nearly from start to finish in 2025. He’s impressed with his bat-missing ability. However, he needs to limit the walks to move up significantly.
The lefty features a fastball with good life that misses bats. It sits in the low-90s, but he can reach back to go mid-90s. His cutter is a few ticks down and can bite at times.
Mullins has a breaking ball (SoxProspects gives him a curveball and a slider, but Pipeline just gives him a slider). I can’t tell if they are different pitches or if he just has some inconsistencies. The pitch can range from high-70s to mid-80s and has a good sweeping break to it. It misses plenty of bats, and whatever you want to call it, it’s probably his best pitch.
Finally, there’s a changeup that dips nicely when at its best. Out of his hand, it looks like his fastball, but it is significantly slower (low-80s).
Mullins will need to improve his command if he wants to stick in the rotation, but he has a fun pitch-mix with fantastic strikeout ability, which could make him a dominant reliever or a solid back-end rotation starter.
Fastball: 45
Cutter: 40
Breaking Ball: 55
Changeup: 40
Control: 35
Overall: 40
No. 19: Right-handed pitcher John Holobetz
John Holobetz was part of the large haul the Red Sox received in return for Quinn Priester from the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee shipped outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez, a comp pick (turned into Marcus Phillips), cash, and a player to be named later. It surprised many that the PTBNL was Holobetz, who seemed far too talented to be a PTBNL “throw-in”.
The right-handed pitcher posted a 3.03 ERA, .238 BAA, and 1.06 WHIP in 23 games (19 starts) between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. He struck out 120 batters compared to only 20 walks in 124 2/3 innings. Holobetz was at his best in Double-A, tossing six-plus innings in all six of his outings at the level.
The 23-year-old has a good fastball, but his other pitches need work. His fastball works in the low-to-mid 90s with decent life and great control. His curveball is his next best pitch. It sits around 80 MPH, and honestly, it is the pitch he probably struggles to locate the most. However, when it’s on, it has a sharp biting movement to it and will get whiffs.
Holobetz has a slider and a changeup as well. Both can sit flat, which can lead to them getting hit around. They sit in the mid-80s and have shown life at times.
The Pottstown product doesn’t miss a ton of bats with his secondary pitches. He’s going to have to develop them if he wants to stick as a starter. Holobetz’s ability to throw strikes and create weak contact with his fastball gives him a nice floor. He could be a solid rotation arm that can eat innings.
Fastball: 50
Changeup: 35
Slider: 35
Curveball: 35
Control: 55
Overall: 40
No. 18: Right-handed pitcher Tyler Uberstine
Tyler Uberstine would be the comeback player of the year for the Red Sox minor league system, maybe in all of baseball.
The right-handed pitcher tossed zero innings in 2023 and just 4 2/3 innings in 2024. He hadn’t made it past High-A yet — he only had 38 innings in High-A prior to 2025. Despite that, Uberstine started the year in Double-A. After just six starts (29 2/3 innings), he was promoted to Triple-A.
Uberstine finished the year with a 3.58 ERA, .244 BAA, and 1.26 WHIP in 25 appearances (21 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A. He struck out 137 batters compared to 41 walks in 120 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old didn’t walk too many batters and had one of the better strikeout rates and whiff rates in Triple-A. His fastball has good life and sits in the low-to-mid 90s. He can reach back to get over 95 MPH. It’s easily his best pitch.
Uberstine has a slider that looked strong most of the season. The pitch works in the mid-80s with a sweeping break. He was good at getting right-handed hitters with the offering.
Uberstine also has a decent cutter and changeup in his repertoire. Both showed promise, but neither is at the level of his slider as a secondary pitch. The changeup is mid-80s while the cutter is high-80s. While neither is world-breaking, they are both serviceable.
Uberstine got a little work out of the bullpen towards the end of the 2025 season. His pitches could play up nicely as a reliever and become extremely dangerous.
Fastball: 50
Cutter: 35
Slider: 45
Changeup: 35
Control: 45
Overall: 40
No. 17: Right-handed pitcher Jedixson Paez
Jedixson Paez didn’t get to pitch much in 2025 due to injury, but he continued to show ridiculous command for anyone, let alone a young prospect.
The 21-year-old posted a 2.79 ERA, .228 BAA, and 1.09 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings in High-A this season. He struck out 23 batters and walked three. Last season, he racked up 113 strikeouts in 96 2/3 innings while walking just 12 batters.
Paez has always had elite command. The big issue was velocity. Two years ago, he was barely hitting 90 MPH on his fastball. It’s seen a slight uptick in each of the last two seasons, though. Paez can now sit in the low-90s and reach back to mid-90s. That’s perfectly fine when considering the fantastic control he has of the pitch.
The right-handed pitcher also has a strong changeup, which sits in the mid-80s. With his fastball velocity increasing, this pitch becomes even more dangerous. There’s now a significant difference in velocity to his fastball, and there’s a sharp late dip to it.
Paez also has a slider and a curveball. Both hover around 80 MPH. At their best, they will disappear on hitters and cause flailing swings. The slider is sharper and more consistent than the curveball. Neither is an elite pitch, but both are solid.
It stings that we didn’t get to see more of Paez in 2025, but a strong 2026 is very much on the table, and he could realistically shoot into the top 10. The command of the strike zone that he possesses will always keep him interesting.
Fastball: 40
Changeup: 50
Slider: 45
Curveball: 40
Control: 65
Overall: 45
No. 16: Outfielder Nelly Taylor
Nelly Taylor didn’t exactly have the breakout year some were expecting, but he continued to do just about everything the right way.
The left-handed hitting outfielder slashed .216/.355/.349 with 24 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs. He drove in 41 runs, scored 62 more, and stole 29 bases. Taylor had a rough 28.1% K rate, but a strong 17.1% walk rate with it.
Defensively, Taylor is one of the best outfielders in minor league baseball. He’s well above-average when it comes to speed, and he uses that to cover a ridiculous amount of ground. It also doesn’t hurt that he has fantastic instincts, gets a good read off the bat, and takes good routes.
Taylor is never going to hit for average, but he can post solid OBPs and might be able to get to 20-plus homers and 30-plus steals.
Taylor will make the major leagues at some point, thanks to his Gold Glove defense and elite speed. He’s also been marked as a team leader multiple times and has some power potential.
Hit: 35
Power: 45
Run: 65
Arm: 55
Field: 70
Overall: 45
No. 15: Infielder Yoeilin Cespedes
Yoeilin Cespedes had a ton of hype a year ago. There was a point where he was more highly regarded than Franklin Arias. An injury meant Cespedes didn’t get to appear in Single-A in 2024, though. Then he struggled for the most part in 2025. He still has very clear potential.
Cespedes slashed .227/.292/.376 with 24 doubles, five triples, and 10 home runs. He drove in 54 runs, scored 56 more, and stole 11 bases. The right-handed hitting infielder only had an 8.6% walk rate, while striking out 21.2% of the time. He could definitely stand to draw some more walks and limit the chase rates. Cespedes has a good-looking swing with elite bat speed, so even with the chase rate, his strikeout percentage wasn’t miserable.
Meanwhile, his power is above-average, especially for a middle-infielder.
Defensively, Cespedes is fine. He has a decent arm that plays perfectly fine at second base (and works at shortstop). His speed isn’t bad, but it’s not good. That limits his range in the middle infield, but he tends to make it work.
Cespedes has every chance to bounce back in 2026 and become an elite, top 100 prospect again. The 20-year-old raw power as a middle infielder could take him far.
Hit: 40
Power: 60
Run: 35
Arm: 40
Field: 40
Overall: 45
No. 14: Infielder Maximus Martin
Maximus Martin, a 2025 Draft pick, slashed .270/.381/.371 with six doubles and one home run between Single-A and High-A. The right-handed hitter drove in 14 runs, scored 13 more, and stole six bases.
Martin has a decent hit tool. He needs to improve his strikeout rate (32.4%), although it was in a small sample size. The 22-year-old also drew plenty of walks (13.3%), helping to boost his OBP. He has legitimate power potential that would play anywhere, but it really pops for a middle infielder. He has enough speed to leg out plenty of doubles and steal a few bases, but it’s not a major part of his game.
Martin looked good at both shortstop and second base. He even got time in the outfield (center and left field). That versatility will help keep him on the field as he climbs through the majors. I think he’ll stick in the infield, though. The good news is, his arm will play where he’s at on the field.
Martin is the type of prospect who could fly through the levels if his power shines through. He’s going to be fun to watch in 2026.
Hit: 40
Power: 55
Run: 40
Arm: 45
Field: 45
Overall: 45
No. 13: Outfielder Yophery Rodriguez
Yophery Rodriguez was another part of that Quinn Priester trade. His overall numbers in 2025 don’t look all that impressive. The left-handed hitter slashed .221/.316/.341 with 18 doubles, seven triples, and five home runs. He drove in 48 runs, scored 47 more, and stole 10 bases in 104 games in High-A.
It’s important to remember that he spent the year as a 19-year-old with just 110 games of experience in Single-A before this season. He was also traded to a new team after three games in 2025. It’s not surprising that he didn’t put up ridiculous numbers.
Rodriguez also passed the eye test. He worked counts (11.9% walk rate) and didn’t strike out too much (18.8% K rate). There’s not a lot of power in his bat, he’s more of a slap hitter. However, there was some gap power that would show up randomly.
Rodriguez isn’t the fastest player, but he has enough speed and uses it well. He had some highlights on the base paths, and his speed was helpful in the outfield.
Greenville had the privilege of boasting an outfield that featured Rodriguez, Miguel Bleis, and Nelly Taylor. Unlucky offenses didn’t see much land between those three. Rodriguez showcased a good glove and solid arm, making quite a few web gems in 2025.
Rodriguez's future in Boston is unclear, as the Red Sox are so loaded in the outfield. Rodriguez is raw and still a few years from the majors, so things could have solved themselves by then. He has the chance to be a very good defensive outfielder who swipes 15-plus bases, puts up incredibly strong OBPs, and maybe can add a bit of power to his game.
Hit: 45
Power: 35
Run: 50
Arm: 45
Field: 50
Overall: 45
No. 12: Shortstop Henry Godbout
Henry Godbout had about as good a first impression as you could ask for in 2025. The 75th overall selection in this year’s draft, Godbout slashed .341/.473/.477 with six doubles in High-A. He drove in five runs, scored six more, and stole one base in 13 games. Godbout drew more walks (9) than he struck out (6).
There are clearly strong bat-to-ball skills from Godbout. Like Mason White, he has a perfect swing for the Red Sox and Driveline to work with and help him add some exit velocity/power to his game. For now, it’s mainly gap power, but don’t be shocked if they work their magic with him.
Defensively, we didn’t get to see too much. He appeared in six games at second base and three at shortstop. Godbout made all the routine plays, as well as a few nice ones, and didn’t commit any errors. At 6’2”, 190 lbs, he has the frame to be able to stick in the middle infield. His arm looked good at both shortstop and second base.
Godbout has decent athleticism and speed. He’ll steal some bases, hit plenty of doubles (and some triples), and cover ground in the infield.
Godbout isn’t going to strike out. He’ll draw some walks, and he’ll hit for average. If Boston can get his power up (which again, his swing works for its program), it has something in Godbout.
Hit: 65
Power: 40
Run: 40
Arm: 45
Field: 45
Overall: 50
No. 11: Right-handed pitcher Yordanny Monegro
Yordanny Monegro was on his way to becoming a legitimate name in the prospect community before an injury ended his season in June. Mongero posted a 2.67 ERA, .250 BAA, and 1.19 WHIP in nine appearances (eight starts) in Double-A. He struck out 49 batters compared to just eight walks in 33 2/3 innings.
The right-handed pitcher has constantly been doubted, with people wondering if he’d succeed at the next level of the minor leagues, but he just keeps succeeding. If Monegro didn’t miss half the season (and is set to miss most of 2026), he’d be higher on this list.
The 23-year-old has a low-to-mid 90s fastball, which is likely his worst pitch. If Monegro fills out (he's currently 6’4”, 180 lbs), he could add some velocity and help the pitch.
His changeup looked better this year. It can be flat at times, but sits in the high-80s, and the drop seemed to confuse hitters. Monegro’s curveball is still strong. Maybe not as consistently dominant as it once was, but he can still buckle hitters with it. The curveball works around 80 MPH and has a devastating break to it when it’s at its best.
Finally, he has a slider that is more consistent than his curveball, but doesn’t have the same game-breaking ability. It’s a mid-to-high 80s pitch with not as pronounced a break as the curveball, but it still can bite. Monegro probably has the best command of this pitch.
Monegro looked electric last season, even in his lone bullpen outing. I still firmly believe he could be a legitimate middle-of-the-rotation arm or a fan-favorite reliever. He plays with flair and passion that gets the fans and his teammates into it, and gets under the skin of his opponents.
Fastball: 40
Changeup: 45
Curveball: 60
Slider: 60
Control: 45
Overall: 50
No. 10: Outfielder Enddy Azocar
Enddy Azocar is the perfect example of “eye test tells the true story.” His on-paper stats aren’t wowing anyone, but you can fall in love with him easily if you watch him play.
The right-handed hitter slashed .202/.273/.314 with nine doubles, one triple, and six home runs in 71 games in Single-A. He drove in 26 runs, scored 34 more, and stole 11 bases. Listed at 6’2”, 168 lb, there’s plenty of filling out that Azocar can do. Adding mass and muscle could give him more power potential.
I really like Azocar’s swing when he connects, but the contact isn’t always perfect. He’s already showing decent power, and there’s room to grow there.
Azocar has serious speed, which helps him on the base paths and in the outfield. He’s a plus-defender with a plus arm. All of that should help Azocar stay on the right path as he continues to improve his offense.
Azocar is one of the most raw position player prospects on this list. The 18-year-old shouldn’t be considered a “can’t miss” prospect, but he might reach that point this year if things go right.
Hit: 45
Power: 45
Run: 55
Arm: 55
Field: 55
Overall: 50
No. 9: Outfielder Miguel Bleis
Miguel Bleis is one of the more frustrating prospects I’ve ever watched. He so clearly has all the tools to be great. It’s a simple matter of his not putting them all together for extended periods of time. The 21-year-old will look like the best prospect you’ve ever watched in one series, then look lost the next. Injuries have also stopped him in his tracks multiple times.
Bleis slashed .222/.300/.385 with 21 doubles, one triple, and 14 home runs between High-A and Double-A. The right-handed hitter drove in 51 runs, scored 58 more, and stole 27 bases. His doubles total, home run total, RBI total, and run total were all career-highs. Bleis also struck out 23.9% of the time while only drawing a walk 9.3%. There’s also plenty of weak contact due to Bleis having poor swing decisions.
That being said, there’s legitimate power in his bat. If 2025 was the last time he hit under 15 home runs for the next 15 years, I wouldn’t be shocked.
Bleis has elite speed, an elite glove, and a fantastic arm. That combination should buy him some time as he tries to find some consistency with the bat. It also makes things a bit more frustrating, though, when you think about it. If Bleis could draw more walks and get his OBP higher, he’d steal 50-plus bases.
Bleis still has the potential to be a superstar outfielder. His bust potential grows a bit with each year, though. All the tools are 100% still there.
Hit: 35
Power: 50
Run: 70
Arm: 60
Field: 70
Overall: 50
No. 8: Right-handed pitcher David Sandlin
David Sandlin had a strange 2025 season. Things start off rough, then he dominated for a stretch, then he lost it out of the bullpen. The Red Sox moving Sandlin to the bullpen to try to get him in position to help the major league roster in their postseason push should tell you how happy they were with what they saw, though.
The right-handed pitcher posted a 4.50 ERA, .254 BAA, and 1.37 WHIP in 32 appearances (14 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A. He struck out 107 batters compared to 40 walks in 106 innings.
Sandlin allowed one run on four hits over five innings in his lone Triple-A start. In his other 14 appearances at the level, he allowed 21 runs (19 earned) in 18 2/3 innings. That’s a 1.80 ERA in his Triple-A start and a 9.16 ERA as a reliever with Worcester.
It was an adjustment period, but Sandlin could be a dominant reliever. He should be back as a starter in 2026 (part of a potentially ridiculously loaded Worcester rotation).
The 24-year-old has a fastball that can reach 100 MPH with fantastic life to it. He loses command sometimes, but a big positive in 2025 was Sandlin’s ability to keep his velocity up (sitting in the mid-90s) later into games.
His slider works in the low-90s with a sharp (shorter) break to it. He leaves it flat on occasion, which leads to it getting hit around. However, when this pitch is working, it’s elite and will generate a lot of ugly whiffs.
Next is a splitter that sits around 90 MPH with a good drop to it. You’ll notice this a lot, it’s inconsistent. At times, Sandlin can get bad swings. Then there are times when he leaves it flat, and it gets hit around.
Finally, a mid-80s sweeper. Another pitch with a good break to it that can get Sandlin some strikes, but he doesn’t have 100% command of it at all times. It is his most “work-in-progress” pitch, so it’s the one I feel the most confident in saying could get better.
Still, Sandlin has two elite pitches. He just needs to work on getting more consistent with his repertoire (mainly his secondaries). When he’s in a hot stretch, he’s fun to watch, but the wheels have come off at times. He’ll make an impact in the majors soon.
Fastball: 65
Slider: 60
Splitter: 35
Sweeper: 45
Control: 45
Overall: 50
No. 7: Catcher Johanfran Garcia
Johanfran Garcia could’ve let that devastating knee injury early in the 2024 season derail his career. There was immediate speculation that it would, at the very least, seriously jeopardize his ability to be a catcher.
Garcia rehabbed in the FCL from May 20 to June 7. He was promoted to High-A on June 10. In 46 games at the level, the right-handed hitter slashed .249/.327/.428 with four doubles and nine home runs. He drove in 28 runs, scored 27 more, and stole one base. Garcia caught 35 of the 46 games he appeared in (was the designated hitter for the other 11 games). The Red Sox made it pretty clear that they still view Garcia as a catcher long-term.
Jhostyxnon’s younger brother struck out a ton in High-A (30.6% K rate). However, he had never played at the level, barely played in Single-A, and was playing after a more than year-long hiatus.
Garcia’s good at taking what the pitcher gives him, but also has phenomenal power (which plays even better as a catcher). He also showed a propensity for clutch moments, with three walk-offs in 2025.
Garcia was already a below-average runner. After a serious knee injury, he looked even slower. Speed will never be a part of his game, and it doesn’t need to be.
Garica looked really good behind the plate, which was encouraging. He has a strong arm and could control the run game.
Garcia is still the best catching prospect in the system, even after a serious injury. At just 20, there’s plenty of time for him to grow and continue to polish his game. Don’t be shocked if he is hitting 25-plus home runs in the majors in a few seasons.
Hit: 45
Power: 65
Run: 30
Arm: 60
Field: 50
Overall: 55
No. 6: Infielder Mikey Romero
Mikey Romero had his second straight big year in the minor leagues. The left-handed hitting infielder slashed .245/.300/.452 with 33 doubles, four triples, and 17 home runs. He drove in 76 runs, scored 61 more, and stole five bases.
Romero drew more walks in 2025, but he also struck out plenty. He made a point to work on that last offseason, and knowing his work ethic, he’s probably in the lab again.
What really stood out was his power. Romero has a gorgeous swing, and it’s starting to produce a lot of hard-hit balls. He was always someone who had the potential to rack up doubles. Now he’s looking like a serious 25-plus home run threat from the middle infield.
Speaking of the middle infield, he was fine defensively at second base, shortstop, and third base. His arm plays fine at third base and shortstop, and is above-average at second base.
While he’s not a speedster and won’t steal many bags, Romero is an athlete and has no problem taking extra bases. His range looked fine in 2025 as well.
The 21-year-old has been healthy for the most part over the last two seasons, and we’re seeing rapid growth out of him. He could end up having a long career as a power-hitting second baseman.
Hit: 45
Power: 60
Run: 40
Arm: 45
Field: 45
Overall: 55
No. 5: Right-handed pitcher Yhoiker Fajardo
The Red Sox acquired Yhoiker Fajardo last offseason for relief pitcher Cam Booser. Let that sink in. No disrespect to Booser, but he was a 32-year-old (now 33) left-handed reliever with 42 2/3 innings in the majors. In 2025, he posted a 5.52 ERA over 31 innings with the Chicago White Sox. Fajardo, meanwhile, just turned 19 in October.
At 18, in his 2025 campaign, Fajardo posted a 2.98 ERA, .229 BAA, and 1.23 WHIP in 13 starts in Single-A. The right-handed pitcher struck out 59 batters compared to 20 walks in 51 1/3 innings.
If you add in his stats from the 20 2/3 innings he pitched in the FCL, the numbers would somehow get significantly better. In the 72 innings he pitched between the two levels, Fajardo didn’t allow a single home run.
Fajardo features a mid-90s fastball with incredible life to it. He can pump it in the zone and miss bats with it. Importantly, he saw a pretty significant tick up in velocity from 2024. At just 19, we could see another speed bump.
The changeup is my favorite pitch, and Fajardo uses his perfectly. It sits in the mid-80s with a good late drop that generates whiffs. He throws it with a deceptive delivery, looking like his fastball out of his hand.
Finally, there’s a solid slider. While it’s the worst of his pitches, it’s still usable and has potential to get better. A teenager having three pitches this good is terrifying. It sits in the low-mid 80s with a great break to it, but it can be inconsistent.
Fajardo has solid command for his age, a fantastic (and improving) pitch mix, and a classic pitcher build (6’3”, 181 lbs). There’s a lot to love about the Big Fajita. Yes, he’s still a “lottery ticket” prospect, considering he’s a 19-year-old pitcher who hasn’t moved past Single-A yet. However, Fajardo isn’t a normal lottery ticket. You already know you have two numbers and the Powerball correct.
Fastball: 60
Changeup: 60
Slider: 45
Control: 55
Overall: 55
No. 4: Right-handed pitcher Juan Valera
Juan Valera was a top 100 prospect at one point during the 2025 season, but he missed a large chunk of time due to injuries, and with some slumping (and the draft adding names), he slid out. Valera started the year as an 18-year-old in High-A with just 23 innings of experience in Single-A.
The right-handed pitcher posted a 5.45 ERA, .281 BAA, and 1.39 WHIP in 10 starts. He struck out 46 batters compared to 10 walks in 38 innings, and was stung by the home run bee (surrendered six).
Valera already possesses an elite fastball. It sits in the high-90s with the ability to reach 100 MPH. The pitch has plenty of life and generates whiffs at a high rate. If he can get it completely under control, this is one of the best right-handed fastballs in baseball.
Next is a changeup that has an argument as his best secondary. It hilariously works in the mid-90s with a solid dip. He has a deceptive delivery with it and can get whiffs. However, it can be flat, turning it into, essentially, a slower and worse version of his fastball.
Valera also has a slider competing with the changeup for his best secondary pitch. It hovers around 90 MPH. He has better control of this pitch than the changeup and is a bit more consistent with it. It has decent break and can get some swing-and-miss.
Finally, there’s an okay sweeper. It feels like a slower version of his sweeper with less command. Occasionally, he’ll snap off a devastating one, but it’s the pitch most prone to being abused.
Valera is still incredibly young at just 19. Listed at 6’3”, 205 lbs, he’s a big boy (which bodes well). There’s a lot of room for growth for Valera, and areas that he clearly needs to improve on. His raw stuff and pitch mix have to get you excited, though.
With him being so far away, it’s hard to be 100% certain how his career will go. There is an ace ceiling, though.
Fastball: 70
Changeup: 55
Slider: 55
Sweeper: 40
Control:45
Overall: 55
No. 3: Outfielder/First baseman Justin Gonzales
Justin Gonzales is a fascinating prospect. The right-handed hitting outfielder slashed .298/.381/.423 with 23 doubles, two triples, and four home runs in Single-A. He drove in 27 runs, scored 45 more, and stole 11 bases. Gonzales struck out just 14.6% of the time and walked 9.8%. However, he slumped in a short sample size with High-A Greenville (.186/.265/.186 in 11 games).
Gonzales is a monster of a man, listed at 6’4”, 210 lbs. He has an incredibly advanced eye and doesn’t strike out much. He struggles to put the ball in the air. Gonzales hit ground balls 57.4% of the time in 2025. That’s aggressively high. To make it even more frustrating, Gonzales has superhuman power potential. If he can fix his swing to generate more loft, we could see a Roman Anthony-type of rise.
Gonzales isn’t slow, but he’s not exactly fast, either. He could lose some speed if he fills out more. Right now, he works well in the outfield. They had him playing a lot in center field, but if he sticks in the outfield, it will likely be in a corner spot. That being said, it wouldn't be shocking to see him moved back to first base (his primary position in the DSL in 2024, but a position he didn’t play at all in 2025).
Gonzales has legitimate 40-homer power potential. He's going to get on base, drive in runs, and won't be a liability in the outfield (or first base). Gonzales played one game in the FCL, and the Red Sox had seen enough to promote him to Single-A. He finished the year as an 18-year-old in High-A. The Red Sox are clearly high on him. You should be, too.
Hit: 45
Power: 70
Run: 40
Arm: 65
Field: 45
Overall: 60
No. 2: Shortstop Franklin Arias
Franklin Arias entered 2025 with considerable hype. He managed to outperform that hype. The right-handed hitter cruised through a month in Single-A to start the season. He then had some ups-and-downs (mostly ups) in High-A, before finishing the year as a 19-year-old in Double-A.
Arias slashed .278/.335/.388 with 27 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs between the three levels. He drove in 66 runs, scored 62 more, and stole 12 bases.
Arias has elite bat-to-ball skills. In 526 plate appearances, he struck out 53 times. That’s a 10.1% K rate, which would be absurd for anyone, let alone a 19-year-old. However, he only walked 38 times (7.2%).
Arias has a problem in that he’s too good at putting the bat on the ball. It limits strikeouts, but he also doesn’t make the best swing decisions. That means when he swings at a bad pitch, it (usually) leads to bad contact. If he can work on that, one of his few weaknesses goes away. Arias isn’t a big power bat, but 15ish home runs from a shortstop isn’t bad. He’s got enough speed to be a threat on the base paths.
Meanwhile, his defense is fantastic. Arias makes all the routine plays, he makes hard plays look easy, and he makes impossible plays look possible. He made it a habit to make plays you’d expect from multiple-time Gold Glovers, not teenagers in their first full season of affiliated baseball.
Arias will be a major league shortstop, and he’ll likely take home some hardware (I love his defensive potential). If he can become less of a free swinger and maybe add a bit of power, this is a superstar (those are big ifs, but it's worth it to speculate).
Hit: 65
Power: 40
Run: 45
Arm: 60
Field: 65
Overall: 60
No. 1: Right-handed pitcher Luis Perales
Luis Perales suffered an injury in June of 2024 that forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery. He didn’t return until September of 2025. In that time, it felt like some people forgot just how good he is. It took him one outing to remind everyone who Perales is.
The right-handed pitcher tossed one inning in Double-A, walking one batter but not allowing anything else. He was then promoted to Triple-A (with just 8 1/3 career innings in Double-A). Perales then tossed a perfect inning in his Triple-A debut, striking out all three batters he faced.
In his final outing of the season, he struggled with his command. Perales walked two batters (no hits) in 1/3 of an inning, striking out one. If he weren’t on a pitch limit, he would’ve been allowed to try and get himself out of trouble.
The 22-year-old has a high-90s fastball that runs up over 100 MPH. It has ridiculous life to it, and Perales has improved his command of it over the last few years (although it still could be improved). It's a nearly perfect pitch.
His cutter sits around 90 MPH, and we saw this pitch a lot in his short 2025 run. It has an okay break on it, and he has a solid command of the pitch. The cutter is a fine compliment to his fastball and could get better.
Perales has a mid-80s slider with a good sharp break to it that looks like it’s running away from right-handed hitters and attacking left-handed hitters. It’s probably the pitch he has the best control over.
Finally, there’s a splitter that can be absolutely disgusting at times. It sits in the mid-80s with a late sharp drop and a funky movement on occasion. We’ve seen the pitch baffle hitters.
Perales is G1. He’s the star of the system. It’s understandable that people overlooked him a bit while he was injured, and we saw so many stars (like Payton Tolle) run through the minor leagues. Perales is back now, though, and he’s just as gross as ever.
Fastball: 75
Cutter: 45
Slider: 65
Splitter: 65
Control: 55
Overall: 65