With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where Boston's Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
1. Marcelo Mayer (MLB No. 15), SS -- Portland (Double-A)
2. Roman Anthony (MLB No. 23), OF -- Portland (Double-A)
3. Kyle Teel (MLB No. 39), C -- Portland (Double-A)
4. Ceddanne Rafaela (MLB No. 73), OF/SS -- Boston (MLB)
5. Miguel Bleis, OF -- Salem (Single-A)
6. Wilyer Abreu, OF -- Boston (MLB)
7. Wikelman Gonzalez, RHP -- Portland (Double-A)
8. Nick Yorke, 2B -- Portland (Double-A)
9. Yoeilin Cespedes, SS -- Extended spring training
10. Nazzan Zanetello, SS -- Salem (Single-A)
11. Luis Perales, RHP -- Greenville (High-A)
12. Richard Fitts, RHP -- Worcester (Triple-A)
13. Mikey Romero, SS/2B -- Greenville (High-A) -- Injured (back)
14. Allan Castro, OF -- Greenville (High-A)
15. Franklin Arias, SS -- Extended spring training
16. David Sandlin, RHP -- Greenville (High-A)
17. Yordanny Monegro, RHP -- Greenville (High-A) -- Injured (shoulder)
18. Nathan Hickey, C -- Worcester (Triple-A)
19. Chase Meidroth, INF -- Worcester (Triple-A)
20. Antonio Anderson, 3B -- Salem (Single-A)
21. Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B -- Portland (Double-A)
22. David Hamilton, SS/2B -- Worcester (Triple-A)
23. Brooks Brannon, C -- Salem (Single-A) -- Injured (knee surgery rehab)
24. Eddinson Paulino, INF -- Portland (Double-A)
25. Johanfran Garcia, C -- Salem (Single-A)
26. Vladimir Asencio, OF -- Dominican Republic complex
27. Hunter Dobbins, RHP -- Portland (Double-A)
28. Angel Bastardo, RHP -- Portland (Double-A)
29. Justin Slaten, RHP -- Boston (MLB)
30. Bryan Mata, RHP -- Boston (MLB) -- Injured (hamstring)
Team to watch
Double-A Portland is absolutely loaded, starting with three Top 100 Prospects in shortstop Marcelo Mayer, outfielder Roman Anthony and catcher Kyle Teel. Right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez led the Minors in strikeout rate (13.6 per nine innings) and strikeout percentage (35.2 percent) in 2023. Second baseman Nick Yorke was the 17th overall pick in the 2020 Draft.
Players we could see in MLB in 2024
All of those Portland standouts could be in play for a big league callup. Right-hander Richard Fitts is the best prospect at Triple-A Worcester, and the Red Sox figure to need rotation assistance at some point. Contact-hitting Chase Meidroth and speedy David Hamilton are Triple-A options if middle-infield help is needed.
New faces
Rule 5 pick Justin Slaten stuck with the Red Sox and earned a save in Sunday's win over the Mariners. New GM Craig Breslow tried to add to the organization's pitching depth and completed offseason deals for Fitts (from the Yankees in a package for Alex Verdugo), Slaten (from the Mets, who took him in the Rule 5 Draft from the Rangers, for lefty pitching prospect Ryan Ammons) and fellow right-hander David Sandlin (from the Royals for John Schreiber). Outfielder Vladimir Asencio's advanced hitting skills earned him a $1 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic in January.
On the shelf
Middle infielder Mikey Romero, a 2022 first-rounder, continues his rehabilitation from lower-back issues that limited him to 34 games last season and shouldn't miss too much time. Right-hander Yordanny Monegro is building back up after reporting to camp with weakness in his pitching shoulder. Both are ticketed for High-A Greenville. Slugging catcher Brooks Brannon will be out longer before joining Single-A Salem following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Once considered Boston's top pitching prospect, righty Bryan Mata strained his right hamstring early in big league camp and is targeting a May return. He's out of options, so the injury bought the Red Sox some time.