March 1, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: 25-21
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.
#25: Brooks Brannon, C
2022 Teams: FCL Red Sox
Final Stats: 15 PA, .462/.533/.846, 3 XBH, 13.3 BB%, 33.3 K%, 105.2 mph 90th percentile exit velocity
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Stocky, thick frame. Catcher's build with a sturdy lower half. Pretty close to maxed out physically.
Hit: Starts square with his hands high. Brief leg lift timing device. Gets his whole body into his swing. Swing has some length. Approach and pitch recognition need work. There are questions about how he will handle premium velocity as he was not exposed to it much as an amateur. When he makes contact, hits the ball very hard and has recorded high exit velocities.
Power: Plus raw power. Has shown the ability to hit the ball a long way, especially to the pull side.
Run: Well below-average speed. Not a part of his game.
Field: Unclear if he can stick behind the plate long-term. Actions are on the stiff side.
Arm: Plus arm strength.
Career Notes: In 2022, led all high school hitters in home runs and runs batted in with 20 HR and 91 RBI in 34 games. Committed to the University of North Carolina. High School team won the 2-A State Championship in 2021 and 2022. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Has considerable upside if he can stick behind the plate given his power potential. Questions around hit tool and defense cloud projection, but very intriguing later-round pick.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
#24: Wilyer Abreu, OF
2022 Teams: Corpus Christi (HOU AA) and Portland
Final Stats: 579 PA, .247/.399/.435, 29 2B, 19 HR, 19.7 BB%, 26.4 K%
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Strong, athletic build. Quick twitch athlete. Looks the part. Minimal remaining projection.
Hit: Starts open and vertical with his hands high. Loud pre-pitch with a slight hitch late in his load. Medium high-leg kick. Above-average bat speed. Will take a walk, but also strikes out a lot. Strikes stem somewhat from swing-and-miss in his game, but also from his approach where he works a lot of deep counts. Potential below-average hit tool.
Power: Above-average raw power. Swing has natural loft and can really drive the ball to the pull side. Potential average in-game power.
Run: Average speed.
Field: Scouts think he profiles best in a corner outfield position. Could be an average defender in right field, but projects as below-average in center field.
Arm: Plus arm. Accurate with good carry.
Career Notes: Did not sign until two years after he was eligible. Implemented an adjustment to his swing over the lost 2020 season. Added to the 40-man roster in November 2022 to protect him from selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Participated in 2023 Rookie Development Program.
Summation: Potential organizational outfielder. Ceiling of a major league reserve outfielder. Development of hit tool will determine his long-term potential. Has raw power and will take a walk, but needs to cut down on his swing-and-miss and show he can consistently make contact and impact the baseball.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
#23: Zack Kelly, RHP
2022 Teams: Worcester and Boston
Final Stats: 63.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 83 K, 29 BB, 13% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Filled-out right-hander with a mature frame. Sturdy lower half. No remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the first base side of the rubber. Medium leg kick. Stiff delivery. Arm hook behind. Rocks back at his peak and then drops and drives as he comes forward. Inconsistent timing with delivery leads him to pull off with his front side. Average athlete, good arm speed.
Fastball: 93-96 mph. Tops out at 98 mph. Heavy, generates a lot of weak contact on the ground. Throws strikes, but command is below-average. Command and velocity have improved as the 2022 season has gone on. Plus pitch.
Changeup: 80-82 mph. Great separation from fastball. Pitch shows late, parachuting movement down. Throws with very deceptive arm speed. Has shown bat-missing ability at the minor league level. Plus pitch.
Cutter: 87-89 mph. Hard, horizontal break. Primarily used to generate soft contact against right-handed hitters. Potential fringe-average offering.
Slider: 83-84 mph. Has not incorporated much in outings scouted since 2021.
Career Notes: Signed as an undrafted free agent by Oakland for a $500 bonus out of Division II Newberry College in 2017. Was released the following April before signing just over a week later with the Angels. Made it to Double-A with that organization by early 2019 and pitched well. Tore the UCL in his pitching arm in early 2020 but avoided Tommy John surgery. Was released after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19 and it became clear he would need some form of surgery. Underwent elbow surgery but was back throwing off a mound by November 2020 and signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent. Re-signed with the organization before reaching free agency after the 2021 season, receiving an invitation to Major League spring training. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up. Participated in 2023 Rookie Development Program.
Summation: Projects as a middle reliever. Ceiling of a consistent seventh-inning arm. Likely lacks late-inning upside due to inconsistent command, but could stick around for a while as a sixth-inning arm. Fastball and changeup both project as plus pitches, with changeup showing true bat-missing ability. Cutter is more of a pitch-to-contact offering at present, but if it improves, would give him a third pitch that can miss bats. Late bloomer who could continue to improve and see his stuff take a step forward again.
#22: Shane Drohan, LHP
2022 Teams: Greenville and Portland
Final Stats: 129.2 IP, 3.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 157 K, 51 BB, 16% swinging strike rate
2023 Projected Level: Portland
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Tall, athletic frame. Some remaining projection. Long limbs. Room to add strength. Looks the part.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Free and easy delivery. Short stride and arm action. Hides the ball well behind. Delivery works. Controlled and repeats it well, especially considering he did not commit fully to baseball until college.
Fastball: 88-92 mph. Tops out at 94 mph. Pitch shows natural sink and has a good spin rate. Has some life up in the zone; hitters seem to pick up the ball late. Has the delivery and athleticism that lend to a solid command and control profile in the future, but right now both are works in progress and are below-average Potential fringe-average offering.
Changeup: 78-81 mph. Pitch shows fade down and away from right-handed hitters. Throws with good arm speed; does a good job of not telegraphing the pitch. Pitch improved in college and then took a massive jump forward in 2022. Developed into his go-to out pitch and showed bat-missing ability. Potential plus offering.
Curveball: 75-78 mph. Pitch has 1-to-7 break and will flash depth and tight rotation when he finishes it. Power breaking ball with a plus spin rate. Throws often; solid feel. Will start at-bats with it or use it to put hitters away. Throws to hitters on both sides. Potential average offering.
Career Notes: Father, Bill, was a pitcher in the Royals organization from 1987 to 1990. Was selected in the 23rd round of the 2017 draft by the Phillies. Successful quarterback in high school and did not commit fully to baseball until he was in college. First professional experience came in the 2020 Fall Instructional League. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Was among the top 20 minor league leaders in strikeouts in 2022. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Potential up-and-down depth arm. Ceiling of a back-end starter or, more likely, middle reliever. Athletic left-hander who will show a three-pitch mix, but needs to develop physically and add velocity. Has more upside remaining than a typical college draftee. Has the type of athleticism you look for in a pitcher. Has shown a general feel for pitching and a repeatable delivery. Fastball command needs improvement, but changeup development and left-handedness give him a chance, most likely in a bullpen role.
#21: Cutter Coffey, SS
2022 Teams: FCL
Final Stats: 40 PA, .125/.300/.156, 17.5 BB%, 27.5 K%
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Athletic frame with some remaining projection.
Hit: Starts slightly open and utilizes a big leg kick. Really utilizes his core and gets his hips into his swing. Needs to improve his approach. Contact skills were inconsistent at the amateur level mostly due to poor pitch recognition. There are questions about how he will handle velocity, especially up in the zone, against more advanced pitching.
Power: Above-average raw power. Power plays best to the pull side.
Run: Average speed.
Field: Played shortstop in high school, but likely profiles best at third base long-term. Smooth actions and soft hands, but range is his biggest question mark and could keep from sticking up the middle. Potential above-average defensive profile at third base.
Arm: Plus arm. Was up to 94 mph on the mound in high school.
Career Notes: Committed to the University of Texas. Was a potential two-way prospect entering his senior year, throwing in the low-90s with a mid-80s slider, but established himself as an infield prospect by the time of the draft. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.
Summation: Wide range of outcomes depending on how his hit tool develops. Has everyday potential if everything breaks right. High-risk, high-reward prospect. Will already show power and potential on the defensive side. Did not play against the best competition in high school and struggled at times to make contact against better amateur arms, leaving questions about how he will adjust to professional pitching.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
Photo Credit: Brooks Brannon, Zack Kelly and Cutter Coffey by Kelly O'Connor.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.