March 3, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: 20-16
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, Greenville and Portland
Final Stats: 524 PA, .276/.437/.545, 25 2B, 27 HR, 19.5 BB%, 30.2 K%
2023 Projected Level: Portland
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Thick, sturdy frame. Well built, strong. Minimal remaining projection.
Hit: Starts square with his hands high towards the middle of his body. Big leg kick timing device and brings hands down below his back shoulder before coming back up and toward the ball. Strength-based, uppercut swing designed to put the ball in the air. Average bat speed. Produces excellent exit velocities. Advanced approach. Knows the strike zone and will take a walk. Has swing-and-miss in his game within the strike zone. Struggles against left-handed pitchers and has had notable platoon splits early in his career. How he controls swing-and-miss will go a long way to determining the level to which his hit tool develops. Potential fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Plus-plus raw power. Natural loft in swing with high finish allows him to drive the ball with backspin. Hits the ball very high and very hard. Potential plus game power.
Run: Poor speed. 20 runner. Station-to-station baserunner.
Field: Below-average defensive profile. Makes the routine plays, but has limited range. Played third base his first two years in college but has a first base-only profile as a professional.
Arm: Below-average arm.
Career Notes: Consensus 2021 First Team All-American. 2021 First Team All-ACC and Dick Howser Award Semifinalist. Raw power and exit velocities were among the best in the 2021 draft class. Fell to 11th round of 2021 draft after turning down below-slot offers from teams on day two. Signed with Red Sox for $125,000 above slot despite being a college senior. Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Promoted twice during the 2022 season after putting up outstanding offensive numbers at both A-ball affiliates.
Summation: Potential up-and-down bench bat. Ceiling of a platoon designated hitter. Value is solely tied up in his bat. Shows tremendous ability to impact the baseball along with an advanced feel for the strike zone and finding his pitch, but also has swing-and-miss in his game. Bat path allows him to drive the ball with loft, but it remains unclear how it will play against more advanced pitching. Profile suggested a player likely to post strong performance numbers in the low minors, which came to fruition, but true test will come in Double-A and above. Not a strong defender, unclear how glove will play at first base. Will have to hit to overcome defense and speed deficiencies.
2022 Teams: FCL and Salem
Final Stats: 38.1 IP, 1.88 ERA, 1.237 WHIP, 42 K, 15 BB, 9% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Tall, lean frame with long levers. Needs to add strength, but has the frame to support added weight. Good athleticism.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. High leg left. Coils before coming forward. Arm swing behind; hides the ball. Uses his height to get good extension. Has arm speed. Some effort in delivery.
Fastball: 90-93 mph. Tops out at 95. Could add velocity as he physically matures. Command and control need work. Potential above-average offering.
Curveball: 75-78 mph. Long, 11-to-5 break. Advanced feel. Pitch shows depth and tight rotation. Potential plus offering.
Changeup: 80-83 mph. Some drop. Good separation from fastball. Slows arm some. Potential fringe-average offering.
Slider: Work in progress. Potential below-average offering.
Career Notes: Young for his class, drafted as a 17-year-old. Committed to Oregon. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Earned a promotion to Salem following the end of the FCL season.
Summation: Early ingredients for a potential back-end starter, but there is a wide gap between what he is and what he could be. Already shows a four-pitch mix, with his fastball and curveball showing the most potential. Needs to improve his changeup and slider and physically mature to take the next step in his development.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
2022 Teams: Salem and Greenville
Final Stats: 328 PA, .263/.415/.522, 18 2B, 16 HR, 19.2 BB%, 23.8 K%
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Strong, sturdy frame. Thick lower half. Lost a significant amount of weight when he got to college.
Hit: Starts slightly open with feet a bit wider than shoulder-width, hands at his back shoulder. Toe tap timing device. Quick hands, uphill swing. Has shown the ability to turn on velocity. Solid approach. Patient, knows the strike zone and will take a walk. Able to recognize secondary offerings early and stay back and drive them. Swing-and-miss increases greatly against left-handed pitchers. Has trouble with good fastballs up in the zone. Potential fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Plus raw power. Has shown the ability to drive the ball, especially to the pull side, both in batting practice and games. Swing has leverage and really utilizes his whole body in his swing. Potential for average game power.
Run: Well below-average speed. Not a major part of his game.
Field: Primarily a catcher in college, but also spent time at first and third base. Receiving ability is fringy and has trouble blocking balls in the dirt. Potential below-average defender if he can stick behind the plate. If not, likely ends up at first base or in left field.
Arm: Average arm strength.
Career Notes: 2021 Newcomer All-SEC Team and 2021 SEC All-Tournament Team. Received a somewhat surprising over-slot bonus upon signing. Missed nearly all of the final month of the 2021 season due to a family issue. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up. Got beat up a bit behind the plate in 2022, taking a couple of IL stints, including one for a concussion, and missing a week-or-so of games in a couple of other instances. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Potential up-and-down reserve bat. Ceiling of a second-division regular. Likely has to stick at catcher to reach his ceiling, but has enough bat to potentially make the majors even if his defense does not come that much farther along. Advanced profile at the plate; likely to put up strong performance numbers in the low minors.
#17: Enmanuel Valdez, IF
2022 Teams: Corpus Christi (Houston AA), Sugar Land (Houston AAA) and Worcester
Final Stats: 573 PA, .296/.376/.542, 35 2B, 28 HR, 11.2 BB%, 21.6 K%
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Short, stocky frame. Thick, filled out. No remaining projection. Fringy athlete.
Hit: Starts open in a crouch with his hands high. Rhythmic leg kick. Slight uppercut in his swing. Solid contact skills and knowledge of the strike zone. Good bat speed, hits the ball hard. Above-average hard-hit rate. Will take a walk and make a pitcher pay for missing his spot. Will expand the zone, especially against changeups. Shows substantial platoon splits; does not read the ball as well against lefties. Potential average hit tool against right-handers and below-average against left-handers.
Power: Average raw power. Not a traditional power threat, but uppercut swing path allows him to drive the ball, especially against right-handed pitching. Struggles to impact the baseball against left-handed pitchers.
Run: Below-average speed. Not a base stealing threat. Has a frame that could cause him to get even slower as he ages.
Field: Fringy hands and range. Not a natural fielder. Can make routine plays but tends to lack fluidity and makes things more difficult than they need to be. Has primarily played second and third base in his career, but in 2022 began to see some time in left field and first base in an attempt to find him a long-term defensive home. Potential below-average defender regardless of where he ends up.
Arm: Below-average arm strength.
Career Notes: Acquired from Houston with Wilyer Abreu for Christian Vazquez at the 2022 trade deadline. Was in the midst of a career-best season at the plate at the time he was traded. Was added to the 40-man roster in November 2022 to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency. Participated in 2023 Rookie Development Program.
Summation: Potential up-and-down, platoon bat. Ceiling of a bat-first utility player. Makes hard contact and has a decent approach against right-handed pitchers, but struggles against lefties. Has moved around the diamond, but that is driven by him being below-average defensively and trying to find where he will best fit rather than true versatility. Will have to hit to hold value given defensive limitations.
2022 Teams: Salem
Final Stats: 494 PA, .262/.397/.385, 31 XBH, 18 BB%, 18 K%
2023 Projected Level: Greenville
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Small frame, but physically mature for his age. Athletic build and strong lower half. Has some remaining projection in his upper body, even after adding 40 pounds since signing.
Hit: Starts open and vertical with his hands high. Utilizes a leg kick timing device. Strong contact skills and feel at the plate for his age. Average bat speed, shows above-average barrel control. Swing is short and direct to the ball. Good feel for the strike zone and will rarely chase. Potential average hit tool at least.
Power: Average raw power. Sneaky power for his size, but swing is mainly geared towards doubles on line drives in the gap right now. Projects for below-average in-game power.
Run: Below-average speed. Not a major part of his game. Plays faster than his speed grade due to athleticism and instincts.
Field: Potential fringe-average defensive profile. Fluid in the field. Hands work. Average range at present and given lack of athleticism, could become an area of concern based on how he physically matures. Primarily played shortstop early in his pro career, but has also seen time elsewhere in the infield and primarily played second base in 2022, mostly in deference to Marcelo Mayer.
Arm: Plus arm. Plenty for the left side of the infield. Confident in his arm.
Career Notes: Signed to a mid-range bonus on his 16th birthday in 2018. Has reportedly already drawn trade inquiries early in his career. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2019 and 2020, and stood out as a standout prospect for scouts at 2020 Instructs. Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance Program. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up.
Summation: Potential up-and-down utility player. Ceiling of a solid utility player with contact skills and positional versatility. Not physically imposing, but has a blend of instincts and ability that stands out. Has feel for hit and at least an average defensive profile to go along with a plus arm. Will stick on the left side of the infield for now.
Photo Credit: Niko Kavadas, Nathan Hickey and Brainer Bonaci by Kelly O'Connor.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.