February 17, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: 50-46
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.
2022 Teams: Salem
Final Stats: 332 PA, .234/.325/.332 with 4 HR, 9 SB, 10.8% BB, 23.5% K
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Medium, athletic build. Lots of projection remaining. Needs to add strength.
Hit: Switch hitter. Small toe tap timing device. From the left side, wrists start at chin level, coming down on approach. Wrists start lower from the right side. Swing can be inconsistent at times, but at its best is smooth with a good weight transfer from back to front. Solid approach for his age. Knows the strike zone and is selective. Will take a walk, but can get overly passive at times. Struggles with velocity right now due to lack of strength. Has struggled from the right side early in his pro career. Potential average hit tool.
Power: Below-average present in-game power. Swing is more geared towards hard line drives in the gap. Shows some pop in batting practice. Potential fringe-average in-game power if he fills out his frame.
Run: Fringe-average runner. Not a major part of his game. Plays faster due to solid instincts.
Field: Fluid movements in the outfield with good instincts. Likely destined for a corner long-term, but might be able to play a passable center field.
Arm: Average arm.
Career Notes: Received largest bonus of Boston's 2018 international free agent class. Struggled out of the gate in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, but ended the season strong. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2019 and 2020. Reported to Salem in June 2021 after opening the season in extended spring training, but was limited to just nine games at the level and two more on a rehab assignment due to an unspecified injury that may have been to his left hand/wrist. Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Missed the first two weeks of the 2022 season due to an injury and had two other IL stints of 10-14 days during the course of the year.
Summation: Potential organizational outfielder. Low floor, but has a chance to develop into at least an MLB reserve. Has been injured relatively often early in his career and needs to show he can stay on the field. Has a good feel for the game for his age, solid overall instincts, and a high baseball IQ.
#49: Yoeilin Cespedes, SS
2022 Teams: N/A
Final Stats: N/A
2023 Projected Level: DSL Red Sox
Scouting Report: Highly-regarded international signing. Quick wrists, compact swing, above-average raw power. Good approach for his age. Will start at shortstop but may need to move to second or third base eventually. Average arm, average speed. Solid makeup.
This will be updated with a scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
2022 Teams: Portland
Final Stats: 58.2 IP, 4.30 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, 76 K, 20 BB, 14% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Undersized left-hander with a developed lower half. Has added significant weight since signing. Minimal remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, setting up on the third base side of the rubber. Short, compact delivery with effort that he struggles to repeat. Medium leg kick. Steps towards the first base dugout and comes across his body. Trunk twist and stab and hook behind. Quick arm action coming forward.
Fastball: 90-92 mph. Tops out at 94 mph. Pitch jumps on hitters and has shown bat-missing ability. Well-below-average control and command. Potential average offering due to concerns with long-term command and control profile.
Curveball: 78-80 mph. 1-to-7 break. Feel and confidence in pitch. Does a good job snapping it off with depth. Throws often, in any count, and works it in and out of the zone. Potential above-average offering.
Changeup: 83-84 mph. On the firm side. Tends to telegraph by slowing his arm down. Potential below-average offering.
Career Notes: Pitched in the Venezuelan Development Program in winter 2017. After struggling in the rotation in 2017, has been much better in a relief role. Cut walk rate in 2019 but allowed a corresponding jump in hits. Had IL stints in 2019 of about two weeks for left biceps tendinitis and about three weeks for left shoulder impingement syndrome. Pitched for Venezuela in the 2021 Americas Olympic Qualifier. Re-signed with Boston as a minor league free agent immediately following the 2022 season and received an invitation to Major League Spring Training in 2023.
Summation: Projects as organizational bullpen depth. Ceiling of an up-and-down reliever. Has improved year after year and shown bat-missing ability. Secondary pitches and command and control need refinement. Will show intriguing spin rates on fastball and slider. Comes from a very tough angle for left-handed hitters and has excelled against them so far in the high minors.
#47: Noah Dean, LHP
2022 Teams: Old Dominion (NCAA)
Final Stats: 26 IP, 4.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 46 K, 16 BB
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Athletic, sturdy frame. Some remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the third base side of the rubber. Medium-high leg kick with slight trunk twist. Long arm action with loop behind. Quick arm. Effort in delivery.
Fastball: Sits mid-90s and has reportedly hit 100 mph. Pitch shows carry and bat-missing ability. Command and control need refinement, but pitch shows plus potential.
Breaking Ball: 77-81 mph. Pitch shows two-plane movement and long, sweepy break. Inconsistent and struggled to land for strikes at times. Will flash plus potential.
Changeup: 84-86 mph. Rarely threw in college, but will likely look to develop pitch in pro ball as he transitions to starting.
Career Notes: Played in the Cape Cod League in 2022. Had nerve relocation surgery in the summer between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Will transition to the starting rotation in pro ball, but could always fall back to the bullpen, where his fastball will definitely play. Intriguing raw stuff with untapped potential. Needs to work on secondaries and command and control, but lefties who get up to the high-90s and miss bats are not that easy to find, so presents a really intriguing package for a pitching prospect.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
2022 Teams: Winston-Salem and Birmingham (White Sox)
Final Stats: 48.1 IP, 4.47 ERA, 1.324 WHIP, 66 K, 21 BB, 16% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Portland
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Large, sturdy frame. Strong with a thick lower half. Filled out, no remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot, starting on the first base side. Quick, medium-height leg kick. Quick arm action. Effort in delivery.
Fastball: 93-96 mph. Tops out at 97 mph. Pitch shows life up in the zone and the ability to miss bats. Command lags behind control. Also will show a two-seam version and a cutter, both of which he added in 2022. Potential plus-to-better offering.
Slider: 79-82 mph. Long, 11-to-5 break. Inconsistent shape. Does not play as well in games as you would expect given spin rate. Will flash average potential.
Career Notes: Really into ironworking and has a workshop with a forge and anvil at his home. Three-sport athlete in high school. Barely pitched in college in 2017 and 2018 due to a knee injury and then Tommy John surgery. Impressed in the Northwoods League and was a Northwoods League All-Star. Acquired in February 2023 in exchange for the recently designated for assignment Franklin German.
Summation: Potential solid organizational depth reliever with the chance to develop into at least an emergency up-and-down arm. Ceiling of a middle reliever. Fastball is his best pitch and shows promising characteristics, but needs to find consistent command and a secondary pitch.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
Photo Credit: Eduardo Lopez by Salem Red Sox, Oddanier Mosqueda by Kelly O'Connor and Theo Denlinger by mlb.com
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.