November 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM
SoxProspects.com end-of-season rankings countdown: 60-31
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Graduating: Connor Wong
Preseason Rank: 27
Final Rank: 11
2022 Stats: 355 PA, .288/.349/.489, 15 HR, 27 BB, 80 K at Triple-A Worcester; 56 PA, .188/.273/.313 in majors
-Wong did not reach the 130 at-bat threshold, but exceeded the service time limit for rookie eligibility. After a slow start at Worcester, Wong heated up with the weather, hitting the ball with more authority on his way to SoxProspects.com and International League Player of the Month honors in August. He also has earned a reputation as someone pitchers enjoy throwing too, a trait that puts him in the conversation as part of the major league club's catching mix in 2023.
60. Jacob Webb
Preseason Rank: 56
2022 Stats: 44 games, 56 2/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 88 K, 28 BB @ Salem, Greenville, and Portland
-The 6-foot-5 right-hander had a strong first full season after being drafted in the 14th round in 2021. Webb led the organization with 14.0 strikeouts per nine innings, earning a ticket to the Arizona Fall League.
59. Reidis Sena
Preseason Rank: 57
2022 Stats: 11 games, 10 starts, 21 1/3 IP, 5.91 ERA, 21 K, 12 BB @ Salem
-Sena is another in a line of excellent value international free agents the organization has come upon in recent years. Signed for $10,000 in 2019, the right-hander saw his fastball velocity jump to the 94-96 range, occasionally touching 98. The stuff is currently ahead of the command and results, but he is an intriguing arm with some upside.
58. Chase Shugart
Preseason Rank: 54
2022 Stats: 45 games, 62 2/3 IP, 5.31 ERA, 63 K, 21 BB @ Portland and Worcester
-Drafted as a starter in 2018 out of the University of Texas, Shugart long profiled better as a reliever, and made the transition to the bullpen in 2022. The results were mixed: he posted a 3.77 ERA with good peripherals at Double-A Portland, but struggled upon his promotion to Worcester. With better consistency, he represents a depth option for the 2023 major league club, and has an outside chance of being nabbed in the Rule 5 draft in December.
57. Daniel McElveny
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 43 games, 178 PA, .206/.376/.338, 16 2B, 36 BB, 55 K @ FCL and Salem
-McElveny has an intriguing mix of skills, a catcher with the athleticism and defensive skills to handle shortstop. He also shows good patience, as he walked 36 times in 178 plate appearances across two levels.
“He’s one of the more interesting players in the lower minors, with a lot of different paths his career could follow. The patience is great, but he’ll need to do a better job of being aggressive to avoid too many two-strike situations, and also punishing mistakes when he gets into hitters’ counts. The jump to the FCL to Salem was a big one for him.” -Jim Dunne, SoxProspects.com Managing Editor
Preseason Rank: 39
2022 Stats: 27 games, 26 starts, 111 IP, 6.65 ERA, 133 K, 64 BB @ Greenville and Portland
-The former Oklahoma Sooner is named like a country gunslinger, and he pitches like one too, a sidearmer who touches 98 on the fastball. Olds (pictured, left) posted huge strikeout numbers, but also walked too many, and has a high-effort delivery that is probably going to ticket him for the bullpen.
55. Hunter Dobbins
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 17 starts, 69 IP, 5.22 ERA, 68 K, 22 BB @ Salem
-An extremely promising freshman campaign at Texas Tech put Dobbins on the radar, but he lost a lot of time due to the COVID season in 2020 followed by a UCL tear and Tommy John surgery before the 2021 season. He came on strong after being activated: in his first nine starts he allowed just nine earned runs in 38 innings, striking out 40 while walking seven. He then struggled mightily, allowing 31 earned in 31 1/3 in his final eight starts. Whether that was fatigue from the long layoff or a regression to the mean is the key question.
54. Juan Chacon
Preseason Rank: 41
2022 Stats: 49 games, 205 PA, .207/.327/.290, 22 SB, 29 BB, 66 K @ FCL and Salem
-Chacon signed for $900,000 out of Venezuela, Boston’s top bonus from the 2019 international free agent class. He has intriguing physical tools and a short line-drive swing with good bat speed, but power has not yet presented itself in game action. His plate discipline gives him additional promise, with a .118 isolated OBP as a professional.
53. Eduardo Lopez
Preseason Rank: 31
2022 Stats: 76 games, 332 PA, .234/.325/.332, 4 HR, 36 BB, 78 K @ Salem
-Boston’s top international free agents of 2018 and 2019 come right in a row, as Lopez received a $1.15 million bonus a year before Chacon. Lopez has less flashy tools, but has shown an advanced approach at the plate and profiles as more likely to be able to stick in center field. Health has also been a concern with Lopez, as he has been limited to just 87 games over the past two seasons.
52. Luis Ravelo
Preseason Rank: 53
2022 Stats: 38 games, 153 PA, .197/.303/.265, 19 BB, 39 K @ FCL and Salem
-Ravelo tough-looking 2022 batting line is largely due to a miserable 0-for-26 skid in August. Signed to a $545,000 bonus in January 2021, his defensive chops will give him every opportunity to figure things out at the plate.
51. Allan Castro
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 49 games, 179 PA, .260/.346/.429, 6 3B, 19 BB, 63 K @ FCL and Salem
-A 2019 international free agent, Castro was the organization’s Latin Program Position Player of the Year in 2021 coming off of the missed 2020 season. He flew somewhat under the radar, putting up a strong .279/.355/.451 as 19-year-old during his time in the FCL.
50. Noah Dean
Preseason Rank: NA; 2022 fifth-round pick
2022 Stats: Yet to debut
-Dean is an intriguing arm, a left-hander who touches 100 who the Red Sox took in the fifth round of July’s draft. A reliever at Old Dominion, the plan is to transition him to a starting role, at least as he begins his minor league career. He did not debut after signing, but was set to appear at the 2022 Fall Performance Program before it was cancelled by Hurricane Ian.
49. Juan Daniel Encarnacion
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 26 games, 25 starts, 113 1/3 IP, 4.05 ERA, 129 K, 42 BB, 4 HR @ Salem and Greenville
-The 21-year-old righty was a steady presence in the Salem rotation, making 24 starts for the Sox before a September promotion to Greenville. Vital to Encarnacion’s success was his ability to keep the ball in the park – he surrendered just one home run during a 22-start stretch running from April 24 and August 28.
48. Angel Bastardo
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 22 starts, 82 IP, 4.50 ERA, 85 K, 45 BB, 4 HR @ Salem
-Signed to a $35,000 bonus out of Venezuela in 2018, Bastardo turned in a solid 2022 campaign after struggling in the FCL in 2021. He possesses a fastball-curve combination that should play well in the bullpen, but will need to refine his changeup or add another pitch to stick in the rotation.
47. Jacob Wallace
Preseason Rank: 36
2022 Stats: 47 games, 56 2/3 IP, 3.81 ERA, 76 K, 49 BB @ Portland
-With some of the best raw stuff in the system combine with control that is frequently little more than theory, Wallace has been one of the most polarizing prospects in the system since he acquired as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Kevin Pillar to the Rockies. If he harnesses his control, he has the stuff to close in the majors—if he doesn’t, it’s hard to see him escaping Triple-A. The entire range of outcomes is possible here.
46. Taylor Broadway
Preseason Rank: NA; Acquired via trade
2022 Stats: 45 games, 58 IP, 4.66 ERA, 87 K, 16 BB @ High-A Winston Salem, Double-A Birmingham, and Portland
-A part of the Reese McGuire-for-Jake Diekman deal, Broadway had outstanding peripherals in Double-A but an ERA that has lagged behind. The White Sox sixth-round pick in 2021, he complements his mid-90’s fastball with a curve and slider.
Preseason Rank: 55
2022 Stats: 96 games, 410 PA, .219/.346/.377, 19 2B, 10 HR, 66 BB, 78 K @ Greenville and Portland
-For the second year in a row, Scott (pictured, right) played better after a promotion. He struggled at Greenville, but had a strong showing at Portland before starring in the Arizona Fall League. The more prospect-y half of the Meatball Gang, Scott’s ability to stick behind the plate goes a long way toward determining his path.
44. Gilberto Jimenez
Preseason Rank: 18
2022 Stats: 99 games, 409 PA, .268/.306/.366, 5 HR, 20 SB, 18 BB, 100 K @ Greenville
-Jimenez was the talk of the Fall Instructional Program in 2020, but has stagnated for two seasons and dropped from the system’s top five prospects. He is still young (22), and still extraordinarily athletic, but he continues to struggle to hit with consistent authority, and his defensive performance remain behind his tools.
43. Chase Meidroth
Preseason Rank: NA; 2022 fourth-round pick
2022 Stats: 22 games, 96 PA, .316/.438/.540, 4 HR, 14 BB, 11 K @ FCL and Salem
-If 2022 is an indication, the Meidroth can hit. After missing the 2021 season with an injury, he hit at USD in the spring, and he hit after the Red Sox nabbed him in the fourth round, he continued to hit. He went 3 for 8 with two walks in a brief trip to the Florida Complex League, then hit .309/.424/.559 in the pitcher-friendly environs of Salem. He profiles as a second baseman, but a capable one, and if he continues to mash then his bat will play there with ease.
42. AJ Politi
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 50 games, 69 1/3 IP, 2.60 ERA, 0.966 WHIP, 83 K, 22 BB @ Portland and Worcester
-After working as a starter for most of 2021, Politi moved back to a bullpen this season, with strong results. He finished the season strong, allowing just two earned runs in 34 1/3 innings in his final 22 appearances. In normal times, he would be a prime candidate for selection in the Rule 5 draft, but he may sneak through with many teams around the league experiencing roster crunches similar to Boston’s.
41. Johnfrank Salazar
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 51 games, 205 PA, .297/.386/.394, 11 2B, 22 BB, 26 K @ FCL and Salem
-“El Capitan” has endeared himself to teammates and coaches with his leadership and strong play. He impressed at the plate in 2022, particularly in the FCL where he hit .327 while walking nearly twice as often as he struck out. The team was going to give him a look at catcher at the canceled 2022 Fall Performance Program.
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 35 games, 39 2/3 IP, 4.31 ERA, 56 K, 11 BB @ Greenville and Portland
Fernandez (pictured, left) has seen his stuff taken a step forward, with an impressive fastball/cutter combination that could play in a major league bullpen. He was shut down last season with right elbow inflammation, appearing in just one game after July 31. He is another potential Rule 5 pick.
39. Marvin Alcantara
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 53 games, 224 PA, .302/.406/.397, 15 2B, 14 SB, 29 BB, 33 K @ DSL Blue
-In a year with several big-money international free agents, it was Alcantara, a $30,000 signee out of Venezuela. who was drawing the rave reviews from the Domincan Summer League. Listed at 5-foot-10, 157 pounds, Alcantara hit .302/.406/.397 while splitting his playing time between second base and shortstop.
38. Alex Binelas
Preseason Rank: 21
2022 Stats: 113 games, 427 PA, .206/.307/.438, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 63 BB, 147 K @ Greenville and Portland
-Part of the return in the deal that sent Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers, Binelas got off to a good start with Greenville, rising to the top 20 in the organizational rankings. He struggled after his promotion to Portland, starting 1 for 28 on his way to a .166/.254/.379 line in 55 games. A retooled swing was getting encouraging results at the end of the year, but he will need to hit enough to tap into his prodigious power.
37. Freili Encarnacion
Preseason Rank: 48
2022 Stats: 41 games 173 PA, .255/.335/.369, 8 2B, 15 BB, 51 K @ DSL Red
-Encarnacion got a $1.1 million bonus in January 2022, Boston’s second largest given that period. He had a solid debut in the DSL, closing strong with a .289/.400/.442 line in August. His size and frame may lead to a move off of shortstop, but his bat has the potential to play even if that happens.
36. Christian Koss
Preseason Rank: 22
2022 Stats: 125 games, 532 PA, .260/.309/.430, 17 HR, 25 BB, 137 HR @ Portland
Koss was acquired after the 2019 season as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Yoan Aybar to the Rockies. He has shown solid power and good defensive skills in his time in the system, but an aggressive approach and some swing-and-miss issues have suppressed the batting average and on-base numbers. Still only 24 (25 in January), he maintains the upside of a useful utility player.
35. Tyler McDonough
Preseason Rank: 17
2022 Stats: 114 games, 517 PA, .230/.311/.357, 23 2B, 21 SB, 48 BB, 162 K @ Greenville
A third-round pick out of NC State in 2021, McDonough had a strong 2021 debut with Salem, pushing his way into the top 20 in the rankings. He had a disappointing season offensively with Greenville and he isn’t a particularly high-ceiling player, but his versatility and skill in the field can carry him as a potential major league utility option if he hits enough.
34. Luis Guerrero
Preseason Rank: Unranked
2022 Stats: 27 games, 39 IP, 3.23 ERA, 59 K, 17 BB, 1 HR @ FCL, Salem, and Greenville
Guerrero profiles a reliever all the way, and isn’t the most physically imposing pitcher in the system. However, his fastball/splitter combination is an absolute nightmare on hitters, the type that’s easy to envision in a late-inning role. His 35.5 percent strikeout rate was best in the organization among pitchers with over 20 innings, and he paired that with control that was better than his scouting reports and amateur performance.
33. David Hamilton
Preseason Rank: 26
2022 Stats: 119 games, 531 PA, .251/.338/.402, 12 HR, 70 SB, 56 BB, 119 K @ Portland
The other minor leaguer acquired with Binelas in the Hunter Renfroe deal, Hamilton’s has boosted in profile significantly in the last two months. His speed has never been in question, as evidenced by his 70 stole bases in 2022, but the question has been whether he would hit enough to use that speed. He did in the second half, hitting .286/.386/.445 from June 28 onward. This improvement, his speed, and the rule change regarding the defensive shift that seems to put a greater emphasis on second base defense all came together to make Hamilton something of a surprise addition to the 40-man roster. He has shown a bad tendency to overswing when he is struggling, so keeping that consistency will be the key to his continued development.
32. Tyler Uberstine
Preseason Rank: 51
2022 Stats: 21 games, 15 starts, 3.83 ERA, 91 2/3 IP, 101 K, 35 BB, 7 HR @ Salem and Greenville
A late bloomer, Uberstine did not receive a scholarship out of high school and could not throw 90 when he transferred to Northwestern after failing to make Southern Cal as a walk-on. He now sits 92 to 94 with a high-spin fastball, paired with a change-up and slider that show as potential major league offerings.
31. Jedixson Paez
Preseason Rank: 60
2022 Stats: 13 games, 57 IP, 3.63 ERA, 49 K, 13 BB, 2 HR @ FCL
At only 18, Paez already shows a three-pitch mix with very advanced command and pitchability. With that basis, he was the only player in the FCL that the Red Sox used as a true starting pitcher, frequently completing five innings in his outings. His $450,000 bonus was the largest Boston had given to a Latin-American international free agent pitcher since Anderson Espinoza and Christopher Acoston in 2014.
Photo Credit: David Hamilton, Wyatt Olds, Stephen Scott, Ryan Fernandez by Kelly O'Connor