Baseball's most volatile team, the Red Sox have won two World Series and four American League East titles while plunging into last place five times in the past 11 seasons. They finished fifth for the second time in three years last summer, sandwiching a trip to the AL Championship Series in 2021.
What does the future hold for Boston? The Red Sox lost All-Stars Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez to free agency, leaving them with just one projected starter (Rafael Devers) who hit more than 13 homers last year. Their rotation includes Chris Sale and James Paxton, who were healthy enough to pitch a combined 5 2/3 innings in 2022, and Garrett Whitlock, a talented reliever with nine career big league starts.
The farm system has some reinforcements coming for the lineup. First baseman Triston Casas impressed last summer and is a prime AL Rookie of the Year candidate, and outfielder/shortstop Cedanne Rafaela is an outstanding defender with 20-20 potential. Boston's best prospect, shortstop Marcelo Mayer, could make a big league impact in 2024.
The Red Sox are short on pitching talent in the Minors, however. It's unclear how much they can count of their two best arms this season after right-hander Bryan Mata just came back from Tommy John surgery a year ago and left-hander Brandon Walter missed half the 2022 season with a bulging disc in his upper back. Venezuelan righties Wikelman Gonzalez and Luis Perales have high ceilings but are years away.
Here's a look at the top Red Sox prospects:
1. Marcelo Mayer, SS (MLB No. 9)
2. Triston Casas, 1B (MLB No. 23)
3. Ceddanne Rafaela, OF/SS (MLB No. 86)
4. Miguel Bleis, OF (MLB No. 93)
5. Mikey Romero, SS/2B
Complete Top 30 list ?
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2022 preseason list to the 2023 preseason list.
Jump: Ceddanne Rafaela, OF/SS (2022: 28 | 2023: 3) -- The most versatile and one of the best defenders anywhere in the Minors, he also possesses surprising power and plus speed.
Fall: Gilberto Jimenez, OF (2022: 18 | 2023: NR) -- He never has learned to capitalize on his blazing speed and his overly aggressive approach limits his effectiveness at the plate.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Marcelo Mayer
Power: 65 -- Triston Casas
Run: 70 -- David Hamilton
Arm: 65 -- Brainer Bonaci
Defense: 70 -- Ceddanne Rafaela
Fastball: 70 -- Luis Perales
Curveball: 60 -- Wilkelman Gonzalez (Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz)
Slider: 65 -- Brandon Walter
Changeup: 60 -- Zack Kelly
Control: 60 -- Brandon Walter
How they were built
Draft: 17 | International: 9 | Trade: 3 | Free agent: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2023: 9 | 2024: 6 | 2025: 5 | 2026: 9 | 2027: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 1B: 2 | 2B: 5 | 3B: 1 | SS: 7 | OF: 4 | RHP: 6 | LHP: 3