February 24, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: 35-31
We've made it through the bulk of the offseason and spring training is here! To celebrate the return of baseball, we'll be counting down by posting our scouting reports for the players on our Top 60 three times a week from February 13 until March 15—not coincidentally, the same day the SoxProspects brass arrive in Fort Myers for the start of games in minor league camp.
Final Stats: 500 PA, .206/.307/.438, 20 2B, 25 HR, 12.6 BB%, 29.4 K%
2023 Projected Level: Portland
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Filled-out, sturdy frame. Strong. Minimal remaining projection.
Hit: Starts square with a slight toe tap timing device. Quiet swing mechanics. Swing is more strength-based. Swing can get long and has considerable swing-and-miss in his game. Will take a walk. Solid plate discipline. Misses a lot of pitches in the zone, especially elevated fastballs at 94+ mph. Development of his hit tool will be key in determining future success. Potential well below-average hit tool.
Power: Natural loft in swing. Can drive the ball with authority to all fields. Hits the ball very hard and produces impressive exit velocities. Plus-to-better raw power. In-game power potential is tied to hit tool development.
Run: Below-average speed. Athletic for his size, but takes some time to get going.
Field: Potential fringe-average defensive profile. Limited lateral mobility. Stiff in the field and hands are a little rough. Hands, footwork, glove, and overall actions are better suited for left field or possibly first base than third base.
Arm: Average arm strength, enough for third base and would play at other positions to which he may move.
Career Notes: Impressed as a freshman with Louisville, hitting 14 home runs in 2019. Broken hamate bone caused him to miss time in 2020. Once seen as a potential top-15 pick in the 2021 draft, early-season offensive struggles caused him to slide to the third round. Showed flashes of his offensive potential in first pro year in 2021. Acquired from Milwaukee with Jackie Bradley and David Hamilton for Hunter Renfroe in December 2021 on the eve of the lockout. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up.
Summation: Potential organizational player. Ceiling of a reserve platoon bat. Will have to show enough with his hit tool and keep his strikeout rate in check in order to reach his potential. Has really struggled with the adjustment to high-minors pitching. Power will play, just the level to which it does depends on hit tool development.
#34: Tyler Uberstine, RHP
2022 Teams: Salem and Greenville
Final Stats: 91.2 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.265 WHIP, 101 K, 35 BB, 13% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Athletic, sturdy frame. Filled out with minimal remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the first base side of the rubber. Medium leg kick. Short arm action with some effort in the back. Does a good job repeating his mechanics, but release point can get inconsistent. Hides the ball well.
Fastball: 92-94 mph. Tops out at 95. Fastball velocity reportedly constantly increased during college; did not touch 90 when he first matriculated at USC. Above-average spin rate. Has shown the ability to pitch at the top of the strike zone and miss bats. Has the fastball traits analytically-inclined teams look for. Average potential.
Changeup: 85-87 mph. Pitch shows late drop. Will cut it at times also. Average potential.
Slider: 83-85 mph. 10-to-4 shape with two-plane movement. Sometimes struggles to land in the zone, but will flash depth and bat-missing ability. Average potential.
Career Notes: Did not receive any scholarship offers coming out of high school. Enrolled at Southern California and joined the club baseball team. Tried out for the varsity team during his sophomore season and practiced with the team but was cut before the season and elected to transfer to continue pursuing his baseball career. Worked with ex-major leaguer Joe Beimel and refined his mechanics, improving his velocity into the low 90s. Transferred to Northwestern for the 2020 season. Participated in the MLB Draft League following the conclusion of his 2021 college season. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021.
Summation: Potential organizational depth arm. Fresh arm with limited pitching experience at the collegiate level, but possesses intriguing traits. Fastball has the traits teams look for. Excellent work ethic, ultra-competitive. Gets the most out of what he has.
#33: Christian Koss, SS
2022 Teams: Portland
Final Stats: 532 PA, .260/.309/.430, 22 2B, 17 HR, 4.7 BB%, 25.8 K%
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Average, athletic frame. Minimal remaining projection.
Hit: Starts square with his bat on his shoulder. Utilizes a leg kick timing device. Solid-average bat speed. Quick hands. Short swing, direct to the ball. Swing-and-miss has increased as he has attempted to hit for more power and lift the ball more. Aggressive approach. Looks to attack early in the count and will expand the zone often. Rarely walks and has swing-and-miss in his game. Needs to refine approach and make better swing decisions. Struggles against velocity. Potential fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Will show average raw power, especially to the pull side. Swing adjustment added loft in 2019, showing substantial power in a very hitter-friendly league that carried over into 2021 in Greenville. Hits the ball hard and could develop fringe-average raw power in his peak.
Run: Average speed.
Field: Above-average defensive profile. Sure-handed. Solid footwork, quick transfer, makes flashy plays. Fluid actions, soft hands. Comfortable going to both sides and plays his angles well. Good instincts, almost always makes the right play and is always thinking ahead. Has played second base, third base, and shortstop in pro ball and began to see a little bit of time in center field in 2022.
Arm: Above-average arm strength. Quick release. More than passable at all infield positions.
Career Notes: Impressed in the Cape League in 2018. Was a well-regarded prospect heading into the 2019 college season, but struggled at the plate with UC Irvine early on and fell to the 12th round. Continued to make swing adjustments in 2019, resulting in a nice showing in the Pioneer League, where he was old for the level. Was acquired for LHRP Yoan Aybar in a deal apparently made by the Red Sox to free up a 40-man roster spot during the 2020-21 offseason. Reportedly surprised Red Sox staff with his ability to play shortstop after the trade. Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Participated in the 2022 Winter Warm-Up. Received a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training in 2022. Received a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training in 2023.
Summation: Potential emergency up-and-down utility infielder. Ceiling of a utility infielder. Hit tool development will be key to reaching his potential. Has enough defense and power to profile in a bench role, but upside is limited if he cannot make more contact.
2022 Teams: DSL
Final Stats: 173 PA, .255/.335/.369, 8.7 BB%, 29.5 K%
2023 Projected Level: FCL
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Strong for his age. Tall, lanky, projectable frame.
Hit: Plus bat speed. Shows the early makings of an all-fields approach and the willingness to take pitches.
Power: Best asset at signing is projectable power. Has the frame to potentially grow into plus power as he physically matures.
Run: Average speed.
Field: Signed as a shortstop, but may need to move to third base as he grows. Has good hands and reportedly improved defensively during the signing process.
Arm: Potential plus arm with added strength.
Career Notes: Signed Boston's second-biggest bonus of the January 15, 2022 IFA class. Trained with Pedro "Nube" Nivar, a member of MLB's Trainer Partnership Program. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Potential bat-first infielder who may need to move to third base as he continues to grow, but will be given a chance at shortstop to start his career. High-risk, high reward profile. Power will likely be carrying tool, but is not an all-or-nothing slugger either with a solid approach. Reportedly possesses strong makeup, a clubhouse leader with an affable personality. Good baseball acumen.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
#31: Marvin Alcantara, SS
2022 Teams: DSL
Final Stats: 224 PA, .302/.406/.397, 12.9 BB%, 14.7 K%
2023 Projected Level: FCL
Scouting Report
Small, athletic frame. Needs to add strength. Has shown solid feel for hit and advanced approach for his age. Solid contact skills, but still in the process of developing power. Scouts identified him as one of the top position players on the 2022 DSL Red Sox. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
Photo Credit: Alex Binelas and Christian Koss by Kelly O'Connor, Freili Encarnacion by mlb.com
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.