August 18, 2020 at 12:30 PM
2013 Draft Retrospective: The picks
We welcome you to the 2013 edition of the SoxProspects.com Draft Retrospective series. Over the next several weeks, we will revisit each Red Sox draft going back to the start of the SoxProspects.com era. Each retrospective will come in two parts: The first will be a pick-by-pick recap of each selection with very brief comments, including their peak rank on the SoxProspects.com Top 60, as well as some of the notable players the team passed on to make those picks. Players who signed are in bold, those who did not are in italics. Bonus numbers are included where available.
Coming off the disastrous Bobby Valentine season, the 2013 Red Sox were resurgent in the standings and in the organizational rankings and had a golden opportunity to add to that. The Red Sox were selecting seventh, their highest draft position since 1993, when the team had added stalwart right fielder Trot Nixon. The draft did indeed change the direction of the organization, but not in the way they hoped: Despite using their top two picks and seven of their first ten on pitching, the Red Sox signed more players who started an NFL game at quarterback than started an MLB game on the mound. It was the second consecutive year that the Red Sox failed to come away with any sort of impact prospect, creating an organizational gap that needed to be filled through free agency and trades.
For a quick list and links to player pages, check out our Draft History page.
1 (7). Trey Ball, LHP, New Castle HS (Ind.)
Bonus: $2,750,000; Slot: $3,246,000
Boston’s highest draft choice in 20 years came as a surprise, as the team tabbed Ball, a six-foot-six prep lefty. Most outlets had the Red Sox taking outfielder Clint Frazier or third baseman Colin Moran here, but those two came off the board at picks five and six, respectively. Unfortunately, Ball did not pan out and came to symbolize (somewhat unfairly) the organization’s inability to draft and develop pitching. Those issues will be discussed in greater detail in Thursday’s draft analysis, but to put one common misconception to rest, Ball was not seen as a “reach” with the seventh pick: Baseball America had him rated the ninth-best prospect in the draft, while Perfect Game USA had him at 12th. After a bonus of $2.75 million convinced Ball to forgo a commitment to the University of Texas, he was ranked in the Top 100 by both BA and MLB.com heading into the 2014 season. While Ball’s pre-draft status might be misremembered, his on-field struggles were real. The only season in which he posted a sub-4.50 ERA was in a repeat of High A Salem in 2016, when his 3.84 mark was coupled with an underwhelming 1.26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Improving command and good ground ball rates gave glimmers of hope as he climbed the ladder, but Ball did not advance beyond Double-A. Highly regarded as a position player headed into the draft, he attempted to return to the batter’s box late in 2018, but he went on the injured list after going 2 for 14 in five 2019 contests with an undisclosed injury. He reached minor league free agency at the end of that season and didn't sign with a team.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 9
Baseball America Top 100: #89 in 2014
MLB.com Top 100: #96 in 2014
Notable players passed on: Hunter Dozier (8), Austin Meadows (9), Hunter Renfroe (13), Tim Anderson (17), Aaron Judge (32), Sean Manaea (34)
2 (45). Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP, Seminole State JC (Okla.)
Bonus: $915,000; Slot: $1,229,600
It was the second consecutive year that Stankiewicz heard his name called in the second round, as the Mets had made him he 75th overall pick out of high school in 2012. Originally committed to the University of Arkansas, the six-foot-four righty instead enrolled in Seminole State in order to maintain his draft eligibility the following year. Grabbed 30 spots higher, Stankiewicz agreed to a $1.1-million deal that was renegotiated when it was discovered in his post-draft physical that he was born without one of his right pectoral muscles. Though rarely excellent, he proved to be a durable staple in the minor league system for seven years, appearing in 159 games, 150 of which were starts. His best season in the system was probably his last, as he posted a 3.85 ERA in 2019 against the juiced-up International League baseball while striking out 106 against 39 walks in 131 innings. A minor league free agent following that year, Stankiewicz signed a deal in February with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League, but the league's 2020 season was canceled on June 30 and he signed a deal with the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan’s CPBL in late July. and as of press time, should be just about ready to make his debut after a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 14
Notable players passed on: Cody Reed (46), Blake Taylor (51), Andrew Knapp (53), Devin Williams (54), Oscar Mercado (57)
3 (81). Jon Denney, C, Yukon HS (Okla.)
Bonus: $875,000; Slot: $671,200
One of the more infamous picks in Red Sox draft history, Denney was ranked as a consensus top-30 talent but fell into the third round. By the time the 81st pick came around, the Red Sox decided that his on-field upside was worth the risk of his off-field concerns. Although he seemed a potential recipient of a large, over-slot bonus, he only required about $200,000 more than slot value at the pick, bringing into question whether the national publications had simply been behind on his standing falling in the eyes of scouts. After an underwhelming pro debut in the GCL, Denney marked his first professional spring training by getting pulled over while driving at 11:57 pm with a license that had been restricted for a DUI earlier that winter. Released with a citation, Denney was pulled over again two hours later and became belligerent, telling the officer that he “he was a Boston Red Sox player and… he had money and made more money than we would ever see.” Suspended following the incident, Denney would return to the GCL Red Sox in July. After being listed in the starting lineup on MiLB.com for his season debut in a game that ended up getting rained out before a pitch was thrown, Denney was again sent home for reasons that were never specified and never appeared in a game in the system again. The team removed him from the restricted list two years later and he signed with the Kansas City Royals, but he did not see game action.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 16
Notable players passed on: Tyler O’Neill (85), Jacoby Jones (87)
4. Myles Smith, RHP, Lee University
Bonus: $400,000; Slot: $454,800
Another outstanding athlete, Smith was a two-way player at Missouri for one season before transferring to Miami-Dade (Junior) College and focusing on pitching, after which he transferred to NAIA Lee University. Smith was tantalizing, with a fastball that could touch 97 on his low-mileage arm, but command issues and inconsistency with his delivery made it difficult to tap into that raw talent. He posted a 5.82 ERA in 103 2/3 innings with Greenville in 2014, his only full season in the system. The Red Sox dealt him that offseason for high-minors righty Zeke Spruill. Smith spent two more years in the Arizona system and continues to pitch in the independent leagues. He currently suits up for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 30
5. Corey Littrell, LHP, Kentucky
Bonus: $300,000; Slot: $340,500
While most of the class of 2013 was struggling in their full-season debuts in 2014, Littrell was an exception. The former Kentucky Wildcat got an aggressive assignment straight to High A Salem, showing a polished four-pitch mix and posting a 3.60 ERA in 100 innings, striking out 91 and walking 38. He was then part of the deal that sent John Lackey to the Cardinals... because the Red Sox somehow needed to sweeten a deal in which they took on Allen Craig’s salary while trading an above-average major league starter who was signed to an MLB-minimum salary for the next year. (Note the sarcasm, please.) Littrell had a very strong 2016 season after moving to the bullpen, posting a sub-2.00 ERA at Double-A Springfield and earning a promotion to Triple-A. However, he was suspended in spring training 2017 for 50 games for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. He struggled upon his return and was released by the Cardinals before the 2018 season.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 22
6. Jordon Austin, OF, Forest HS (Fla.)
Bonus: $254,900; Slot: $254,900
A two-sport star at Forest High School, the speedy Austin struggled to hit during his time in the system. He played in 94 games over four seasons before his sudden release in the summer of 2015 after an incident with a teammate in Lowell. Austin enrolled that fall at Florida A&M to join the football team, playing one season at safety for the Rattlers.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 57
7. Mike Adams, LHP, Tampa
Bonus: $150,000; Slot: $191,100
Despite being a senior draftee, Adams took just slightly under slot to come on board as the seventh-round selection. The Division II All-American pitched exclusively out of the bullpen during his three years in the system, posting a solid 3.40 ERA in 124 1/3 innings, before being released.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 54
8. Forrestt Allday, CF, Central Arkansas
Bonus: $10,000; Slot: $157,500
Allday was the first of three senior signs who took just $10,000 so that the organization could spread out its bonus pool. A good defensive outfielder, Allday showed good plate discipline with on-base percentages above .380 in each of his three seasons in the organization. He was cut in spring training 2016 and bounced around to the Angels and Padres organizations, posting a .281/.383/.399 line at Triple-A El Paso in 2018. He joins Myles Smith in the independent American Association, where he is currently with the Fargo-Morehead RedHawks.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 57
9. Kyle Martin, RHP, Texas A&M
Bonus: $10,000; Slot: $147,200
Another $10K senior sign, Martin is the only member of the 2013 draft class who reached the majors with the Red Sox. A polished six-foot-seven righty, Martin dominated the lower minors with an 0.47 ERA with Lowell and 2.12 mark in Greenville in his 2013 debut. He had a very good 2016 season with Pawtucket, throwing 66 2/3 innings and striking out 78 against just 21 walks to compile a 3.37 ERA, earning a spot on the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 deadline in November. He made his major league debut the following July and pitched in two games, allowing one run in two hits in 2 2/3 innings. He was outrighted off of the 40-man that September and in the summer of 2018 requested his release in order to pitch in Japan with the Seibu Lions, where he pitched through the end of last season.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 15
10. Taylor Grover, RHP, South Carolina-Aiken
Bonus: $10,000; Slot: $137,400
Similar to Martin, Grover was a big, right-handed reliever with a good mid-90s fastball. He became something of a fixture in the Salem bullpen, appearing in 56 Carolina League games between 2014 and 2016 with a 3.14 ERA. He had less success in parts of two seasons at Portland despite continuing to add fastball velocity and eventually touching 100 mph. He was released in the summer of 2017. Cut again by Arizona in spring training 2018, Grover spent the year in indy ball, where he reportedly touched 102. He was back in organized ball after signing a minor league deal with the Reds that October and was picked up by the Orioles just weeks later in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. He pitched in just 12 games with Double-A Bowie, missing significant time with injury, and became a free agent again after the season. He is currently unsigned.
Bonus: $100,000
As has become typical for Boston and most organizations in the bonus pool era, the team jumped back into the six-figure signees in the 11th round. Asuaje jumped onto the prospect radar with a monster .310/.393/.533 line in his full-season debut split between Greenville and Salem, earning him All-Star recognition. After a strong follow-up with Portland that earned him selection to the Eastern League All-Star Game, he was one of four players dealt in the package to San Diego for reliever Craig Kimbrel. Asuaje typified the type of utility-profile player without a standout tool or clear defensive position that Dave Dombrowski seemed inclined to move in a deal. Asuaje went on to play 175 games over parts of three major league seasons with San Diego before a stint in the Korean League. He was signed to a minor-league deal by the Cubs last winter and subsequently released in spring training.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 20
12. Jake Drehoff, LHP, Southern Mississippi
Bonus: $175,000 ($75,000 against bonus cap)
Drehoff was one of four players taken after the initial 10 rounds who received a bonus over the $100,000 slot. A college lefty, the Red Sox were cautious with his development, assigning him to Lowell rather than a full-season affiliate in 2014. He moved to the bullpen in 2015 with Greenville and had some success at that level, but he struggled higher up the ladder and was released in 2017.
13. Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Tullahoma HS (Tenn.)
Sheffield was regarded as a potential first-round talent, but spring Tommy John surgery and significant bonus demands backed by a commitment to Vanderbilt seemed to scare teams off. Details aren’t entirely clear, but it seemed that much, if not all, of the $931,000 the Red Sox had remaining in their presumptive draft budget (their bonus pool plus five percent) was ticketed for Sheffield, but the team and player could not come to terms and he headed to Vandy. The decision worked out for Sheffield, who recovered to take the mound for the Commodores in 2015 and turned in two solid seasons. He was selected by the Dodgers with the 36th overall pick in 2016 and received a $1.85-million bonus. Forearm soreness put him on the disabled list for much of 2018, but a return to health and a move to the bullpen led to a solid comeback in 2019 as he reached Double-A Tulsa. Sheffield is the older brother of Mariners pitcher Justus Sheffield and not related to longtime major leaguer Gary Sheffield, despite a number of erroneous reports to the contrary at the time he was drafted.
14. Jake Romanski, C, San Diego State
Romanski was a strong defensive catcher who spent seven years in the organization, appearing in 375 games. His best season came in 2016 when he turned in a .308/.338/.410 line for Double-A Portland and was selected as an Eastern League and SoxProspects.com All-Star. Unfortunately, he was suspended for 50 games in 2017 and 100 games the following year for positive amphetamine tests.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 36
15. Bryan Hudson, OF, Mill Creek HS (Ga.)
Bonus: $50,000
A solid. gap-to-gap hitter with a patient approach, Hudson spent five years in the system playing all three outfield positions. Despite not registering as a power threat (he did not homer in 1213 professional plate appearances), Hudson had a .374 career OBP and posted a .411 mark at Salem in 2016. He signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays in 2018, but did not appear in a game for them
16. Jalen Williams, RHP, Westminster Christian (La.)
Bonus: $150,000 ($50,000 against bonus cap)
Another late-round, over-slot signee, Williams was ticketed to play wide receiver at Nichols State University before the Red Sox stepped in with a six-figure bonus. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Boston hoped that Williams would add velocity on his low-mileage arm, but it did not come together for the righty. He spent three years in the Gulf Coast League and appeared in 25 games. He returned to the gridiron for the University of Louisiana, where he caught 21 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown as a junior in 2019.
17. Joseph Monge, RF, Beltran Academy (P.R.)
Another excellent athlete, Monge showed plus range in the outfield and remained in the organization through 2019. Despite below-average power, Monge continued to climb the ladder in the system, hitting .293/.350/.418 in a 2016 season split between Greenville and Salem, then reaching Portland the following summer. A shoulder injury cost him the entire 2018 season, and he appeared in just 28 games after returning in 2019.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 37
18. Joe Gunkel, RHP, West Chester University
An unheralded selection when he entered the system, Gunkel arrived in the pros using a 90-mph fastball and slider combination to strike out players by the bushel, a trend that did not subside during his time with the Sox. The righty punched out 32 (against just three walks) in his pro debut with Lowell in 2013, then 101 in 103 2/3 innings the following year split between Greenville and Salem. A strong start to the 2015 season in Salem and continued success in four Portland appearances generated buzz, and he was dealt to Baltimore for major league outfielder Alejandro De Aza. He was added to the O's 40-man roster following the 2016 season. He bounced around some after that, getting dealt to the Dodgers in early 2017 and getting claimed on waivers by the Marlins a year later. Gunkel continued to knock on the door of the majors without breaking through, with a 3.77 ERA in 303 Triple-A innings. He posted a 3.80 ERA in Triple-A New Orleans in 2019, a mark made more impressive when considering the historic offensive highs of the Pacific Coast League that year. He signed with NPB’s Hanshin Tigers in the offseason.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 34
19. Gabe Speier, LHP, Dos Pueblos HS (Calif.)
Bonus: $200,000 ($100,000 against bonus cap)
A hard-throwing lefty with a commitment to UC-Santa Barbara, a six-figure bonus inked Speier (no relation to anyone at the Boston Globe), beginning a distinguished run of being a secondary piece in some high-profile deals. After suffering an arm injury in late 2013 that required Tommy John surgery, Speier recovered quickly, hitting 93 on the mound for the GCL Sox by the end of the 2014 season. He was dealt with Yoenis Cespedes and Alex Wilson to the Tigers in the deal that brought Rick Porcello to Boston and was made into a full-time reliever in the Detroit organization. Following 2015, Speier and top prospect Ian Krol went to Atlanta as the Tigers reacquired Cameron Maybin, and he was flipped two weeks later to Arizona with Shelby Miller in the much-maligned deal that sent Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte, and Aaron Blair back east. An epochal 30-month stretch in the Diamondbacks system came to an end in June 2018 when he went to Kansas City as part of a deal for outfielder Jon Jay. His contract was purchased by the Royals in September 2019, and he has appeared in 16 major league games.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 53
20. Derek Burkamper, RHP, Muscatine HS (Iowa)
The Red Sox were unable to sign Burkamper away from his commitment to the University of Nebraska. He was a solid part of the Cornhuskers staff in his four years, spending the last three as part of the starting rotation, but he was not redrafted.
21. Reed Gragnani, 2B, Virginia
The second time was a charm, as the Red Sox were able to sign Gragnani after they’d previously selected him in the 27th round of the 2009 draft. He turned in a strong 2014 season, hitting .300/.409/.406 with Salem on his way to Carolina League All-Star honors. His playing career ended after the 2016 season but he remains in the organization, currently serving as assistant minor league hitting coordinator after previous stints as a scout and coaching assistant. If all breaks right, Gragnani's claim to fame for the Sox may wind up being that he was the scout that signed Noah Song.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 36
22. Ryan Boldt, CF, Red Wing HS (Minn.)
A consensus top-60 draft talent, Boldt dropped due to bonus demands reportedly in the $2 million range and a significant knee injury his senior year. Although the Red Sox flew him to Fenway at one point, he was out of the Red Sox bonus range and enrolled in the University of Nebraska. A strong sophomore season had him under consideration for a first-round spot, but he slipped due to a junior year slump and went to the Rays with the 53rd pick in the 2016 draft, signing for a bonus slightly under $1 million. He had a strong season in Double-A in 2018, but missed all of 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
23. Jimmy Allen, 2B, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Allen did not sign, instead opting to return to the central coast for his senior season. He set the Cal Poly record for career hits in 2014 and would be drafted in the 24th round by the Dodgers, playing two years in their system.
Incredibly, Witte is the only member of the 2013 class who has remained with the organization continuously (as a player, at least) since signing. Witte, a senior sign, got off to an outstanding start in his first full season when he hit .330/.418/.554 at Greenville, earning South Atlantic League All-Star honors. He followed up with another All-Star season in the Eastern League when he hit .296/.340/.451 for Portland. He has continued to be a solid offensive contributor as a mainstay in the high minors, with 321 games for Pawtucket and 177 with Portland. He was re-signed to a minor league deal in the offseason and impressed manager Ron Roenicke in spring training, but was not included in the 60-man player pool.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 42
25. Derik Beauprez, RHP, Cherry Creek HS (Colo.)
Beauprez did not sign, electing to attend the University of Miami, where he pitched for two years. He then transferred to Division II Nova Southeastern of the Sunshine State Conference, where he pitched in 2017 and 2018. He was not redrafted and has not played professionally.
26. Mauricio Dubon, SS, Capital Christian HS (Calif.)
One of the most popular players among coaches, teammates, and fans at all his stops, Dubon has also emerged as the best player drafted in the class of 2013. His road to being drafted was quite unique, and will be detailed in Thursday's piece. After a solid first three seasons in the organization, the Honduras-born Dubon emerged as a real prospect in 2016, hitting .306/.387/.379 for Salem and then .339/.374/.538 after his midseason promotion to Portland. The performance earned him honors as the SoxProspects.com Breakout Player of the Year and an assignment to the Arizona Fall League. It also earned the attention of the Milwaukee Brewers, who acquired him and three other players in the disastrous trade for Tyler Thornburg. Milwaukee sent him to San Francisco at the 2019 deadline in exchange for ace reliever Drew Pomeranz. The Giants have used Dubon as a super-utility player in 2020, giving him seven starts at shortstop, six at second base, and three in center field in the young season.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 9
27. Mark Nowaczewski, RHP, Reed HS (Nev.)
The Red Sox were unable to sign Nowazcewski away from his commitment to the Unversity of Nevada. The six-foot-four righty appeared in 68 games for the Wolf Pack over four seasons and was not redrafted.
28. Nick Zammarelli, 3B, Lincoln Senior HS (R.I.)
The Providence-born Zammarelli did not sign with his hometown team, instead heading south to Elon University. Seattle picked him in the eighth round of the 2016 draft, signing him to a $150,000 bonus. He reached Double-A in the Mariners organization, but was released before the 2020 season and is currently a free agent.
29. Jeff Driskel, QB, Florida
The Alex Speier tweet that broke the news that Driskel signed a contract with the Red Sox led to a meltdown in his replies by fans of the Gators who didn't understand that Driskel would still be suiting up on Saturdays. Driskel, the starting quarterback for Florida, had no intention to pursue a baseball career but did ink with the Red Sox in case his football career didn’t work out. A broken right fibula ended Driskel’s Florida career only three games in the 2013 season. He transferred to Louisiana Tech and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. He has bounced around the League as a backup, starting games for the Bengals and Lions the past two seasons, and enters 2020 on the Broncos roster.
Bonus: $440,000 ($340,000 against bonus cap)
Longhi, a native of Springfield, Mass., signed to the fourth-largest bonus of the 2013 draft class in order to forgo a commitment to LSU, and only doing so because he was a lifelong Red Sox fan. He showed good plate discipline and gap-to-gap power during his initial run in the system, hitting 40 doubles in 2016 with Salem on his way to a .282/.354/.393 slash line. He was dealt in July 2017 to Cincinnati for $2.75 million in international bonus pool money, or put another way, essentially the money used to sign top catching prospect Daniel Flores. Just weeks later, he suffered an elbow injury that would require Tommy John surgery, knocking him out for the rest of the 2017 season and the first two months of 2018. He struggled with lofting the ball upon his return but rebounded in 2019 to hit .283/.336/.463 with a career-high 12 homers with Triple-A Louisville. The Red Sox brought him back into the fold as a minor league free agent before the 2020 campaign.
SoxProspects.com peak rank: 9
31. Ryan Rippee, 1B, Jefferson (Junior) College (Mo.)
The Red Sox were unable to come to terms with Rippee, who would later go on to play for Division I Southeast Missouri State. He did not get redrafted or go on to play professionally.
32. Matt Thaiss, C, Jackson Memorial (N.J.)
Thaiss was considered a longshot to sign, with a firm commitment to the University of Virginia. He starred for the Cavaliers as a first baseman, peaking with a .380/.474/.585 junior campaign that got him selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2016 draft. He reached the majors in 2019 and has appeared in 58 MLB games for the Angels.
33. Andrew Rosa, SS, Owasso HS (Okla.)
Rosa honored his commitment to Oklahoma State in lieu of signing a deal. He was a fixture in Stillwater, appearing in 149 games and earning an injury exemption to return for 2018 after missing most of the 2015 season. He did not go on to play professionally.
34. Danny Bethea, C, St. John's
A strong-armed catcher, Bethea spent five seasons as a backup backstop who showed good plate discipline but little pop. He began a conversion to pitching, which he hadn’t done regularly since high school, in late 2017. He appeared in 21 games for Lowell out of the bullpen in 2018, striking out 20 in 27 1/3 innings before retiring late in the season. He is now an assistant coach at St. John’s.
35. Rafael Oliveras, 3B, Del Rosario HS (P.R.)
A good athlete, Oliveras became a fixture in Fort Myers with 119 games over four seasons with the GCL Red Sox. He posted a .351 career OBP but homered just once in his career.
36. Pat Goetze, RHP, Wake County Home (N.C.)
A lanky six-foot-six righty who was homeschooled before being drafted, Goetze spent three years in the GCL before dropping his arm slot to a low sidearm, near-submarine delivery. He had some success with Lowell in 2016 and Greenville in 2017, but struggled after a promotion to Salem.
37. Max Watt, RHP, Hillsborough CC (Fla.)
Watt did not sign following the 2013 draft, but did join the Red Sox system when they redrafted him in the 22nd round in 2015. The huge six-foot-eight righty would pitch for two seasons in the system.
38. Trever Morrison, SS, Archbishop Murphy HS (Wash.)
A consensus top-200 draft prospect coming out of high school, the Red Sox were never considered likely to sign him away from his commitment to Oregon State. Morrison was a high-OBP sparkplug for the Beavers and would be nabbed by the Brewers in the 12th round of the 2016 draft. He remains in the Brewers organization, where he has reached High A.
39. KJ Trader, RHP, Delmar HS (Del.)
Trader had a fastball that sat in the low 90s despite an undersized frame, but he struggled with his control. In 22 professional innings, Trader walked 30 batters, and he was released in spring training 2016.
40. Ryan Lidge, C, Barrington HS (Ill.)
The Red Sox were unable to sign Lidge away from his commitment to Notre Dame, where he took over as starter midway through his freshman season. Lidge would play four years for the Irish and went on to be drafted by the Yankees in 2017. He has served in the organizational backup catcher role for New York, appearing at four affiliates in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Raw totals:
Players drafted: 40
Players signed: 27
Baseball America/MLB Top 100 prospects: 1
Signed players who reached majors: 4
Photo Credit: Trey Ball, Carlos Asuaje, Jantzen Witte, Nick Longhi by Kelly O'Connor
James Dunne is Managing Editor of SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesDunneSP.