February 20, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: 45-41
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.
#45: Luis Ravelo, SS
2022 Teams: FCL and Salem
Final Stats: 153 PA, .197/.303/.265, 12.4 BB%, 25.5 K%
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Athletic frame with lots of projection. Has developed physically after signing, but still needs to add considerable strength
Hit: Starts open with a leg kick timing device. Bat drags due to lack of strength. Hands need to get quicker and needs to shorten swing, Swing is more fluid from the left side. Rough approach, has a long way to go, especially against off-speed pitches. Really struggles to recognize them and is often caught out in front.
Power: Lacks the ability to impact the baseball right now. Has the frame that could grow into power as he matures.
Run: Average speed. Could slow down as he physically matures.
Field: Likely to stick at shortstop if he does not grow too much more. Good instincts and smooth, fluid actions. Plus range and fields the position with some flair. Comfortable throwing from different angles. Potential plus defender.
Arm: Plus arm strength.
Career Notes: Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Reportedly impressed during extended spring training 2022, but also suffered a hand injury near the end of extended that also caused him to miss roughly the first month of the FCL season. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Defense-first profile right now, with future upside tied up in how he physically matures and how his bat develops. At the moment, he is raw with a wide gap between what he is and what he could be.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in regular season game action.
#44: Allan Castro, OF
2022 Teams: FCL and Salem
Final Stats: 179 PA, .260/.346/.429, 14 XBH, 10.6 BB%, 24 K%
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Average frame with remaining projection. Needs to add strength.
Hit: Switch hitter with an intriguing bat that has a long way to go. Has shown advanced feel for hit for his age. Makes contact on pitches in the zone and chases at an average rate. Swing is better from the right side. More comfortable and shows a better ability to impact the baseball.
Power: Above-average raw power. Power plays better from the right side. Has shown the ability to punish mistake pitches already.
Run: Average speed.
Field: Has played all three outfield positions, but looks best suited for an outfield corner, especially as he physically matures.
Arm: Average arm strength.
Career Notes: Signed as a middle infielder, moved to the outfield in 2021. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Earned a promotion to Salem after the 2022 FCL season ended. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Intriguing young bat who has shown a solid swing and ability to drive the ball. Has platoon concerns, but has some upside at the plate. Needs to get stronger and has a long way to go, but scouts identified him as one of the more interesting hitters on a loaded 2022 FCL team.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in regular season game action.
2022 Teams: Salem and Greenville
Final Stats: 113.1 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.271 WHIP, 129 K, 42 BB, 13% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Skinny frame. Athletic build with some remaining projection. Needs to add strength.
Mechanics: Low three-quarters arm slot. Does not use a wind-up. Stiff delivery. Slings the ball. Short arm action behind, hides the ball well.
Fastball: 88-92 mph. Tops out at 94 mph. Pitch will show sink. Velocity has improved from the high-80s during the 2020 Fall Instructional League. Throws a lot of strikes, but has a below-average command profile. Average potential.
Curveball: 76-78 mph. Slurvy breaking ball. Long, 2-to-8 break. Some are more horizontal, others have more vertical shape. Inconsistent at present, but fringe-average potential.
Changeup: 84-86 mph. Some feel for the pitch, but needs work. Flashes the ability to turn it over and bury it down and out of the zone for swinging strikes. Below-average potential.
Career Notes: Opening Day starter for the DSL Red Sox 2 in 2019. Participated in Fall Instructional League in 2019 and 2020. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Potential minor league depth arm. Ceiling of an organizational arm. Shows the early makings of a three-pitch mix, but does not have stand-out stuff and lacks a major league-quality pitch. Velocity has improved already. Has some deception in his delivery and already shows some feel. Has a way to go developmentally and future potential depends on him maturing physically and his stuff improving.
#42: Angel Bastardo, RHP
2022 Teams: Salem
Final Stats: 82 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.549 WHIP, 85 K, 45 BB, 12% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Medium frame with lots of physical projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Medium leg kick. Starts on the first base side of the rubber, stepping towards the first base dugout to start his delivery. Shorter arm action. Delivery can be inconsistent at times. Needs to work on consistently repeating it.
Fastball: 93-95 mph. Tops out at 97 mph. Shows sink and arm-side run. Below-average control. Potential plus pitch with refined command and control.
Curveball: 83-86 mph. Shape varies. Sometimes will show long, 11-to-5 break, others are more vertical when he properly snaps it off. Inconsistent. Potential average pitch.
Changeup: 84-88 mph. Third pitch. Shows hard, late dive at its best. Inconsistent, but will flash potential. Potential below-average pitch.
Career Notes: Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Missed two weeks in early May 2022 on the IL with a minor, undisclosed injury. Did not pitch in the final two weeks of the 2022 season, but unclear whether that was due to injury or the organization being comfortable with his season workload and shutting him down to make room for FCL call-ups.
Summation: Intriguing arm who likely profiles best in the bullpen unless third pitch and command/control profile take a step forward. Is still more of a thrower than a pitcher, but flashes a potential three-pitch mix. Needs to refine command and control.
#41: Taylor Broadway, RHP
2022 Teams: Portland, Winston-Salem (A+ CHW) and Birmingham (AA CHW)
Final Stats: 58 IP, 4.66 ERA, 1.379 WHIP, 87 K, 16 BB, 17% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Undersized, stocky frame. Filled out, no remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, starting on the third base side of the rubber. Medium to high leg kick. Compact and quick delivery. Short arm action. Intense, bulldog mentality.
Fastball: 92-94 mph. Tops out at 95. Topped out at 97 mph in college. Solid control, command lags behind. Pitch gets hit hard.
Slider: 85-87 mph. Short, more horizontal shape. Has shown the ability to bury down and out of the zone to right-handed hitters.
Curveball: 79-82 mph. Vertical shape. Has depth and tight rotation.
Career Notes: Son of professional bowler Danny Broadway. Won the D-III NJCAA World Series at Tyler Junior College, taking home Player of the Year and World Series MVP honors as a two-way player. Served as Mississippi's closer in 2021. Received a non-roster invitation to MLB spring training in 2023.
Summation: Intriguing arm with a power three-pitch mix that could profile in a major league bullpen role. Has shown premium bat-missing ability, but also been hit very hard. Developing command and consistency are key for him to reach his potential.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
Photo Credit: Luis Ravelo, Juan Daniel Encarnacion and Taylor Broadway by Kelly O'Connor.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.