March 9, 2023 at 8:00 AM
2023 Countdown to Spring Training: Roman Anthony and Brandon Walter
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 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: FCL and Salem
Final Stats: 83 PA, .306/.374/.361, 4 2B, 10.8 BB%, 9.6 K%
2023 Projected Level: Salem
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Tall, projectable frame. Looks the part. Has the frame to support added muscle as he physically matures.
Hit: Starts open with his hands high. Uses an abbreviated leg kick that he gets down early. Good separation in his swing. Smooth uppercut bat path with a two-hand finish. Good bat speed, makes very hard contact. Utilizes his lower half efficiently and really rotates through the hips. Pitch recognition and ability to hit velocity are question marks right now. In the early stages of developing an approach.
Power: Plus-to-better raw power. Very impressive raw power. Has a swing designed to drive the ball with loft and backspin and has shown the ability to hit the ball 400-plus feet. Plus power potential.
Run: Average speed. Likely to lose speed as he physically matures.
Defense: Red Sox believe he can stick in center field long-term, but others believe he ends up in a corner. Does not project as a standout defender in either location. Average defensive profile.
Arm: Average arm strength
Career Notes: Attended the same high school as Anthony Rizzo, Jesus Luzardo and Coby Mayo. Committed to Ole Miss. Named Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior and won back-to-back state titles to end his high school career.
Summation: Very intriguing power prospect with the ceiling of an everyday outfielder. How his hit tool develops will determine how much of his power potential actualizes. Power is a carrying tool and is very impressive for his age. Should develop into a solid defender also, but what he does at the plate will be his calling card.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
2022 Teams: Portland and Worcester
Final Stats:
2023 Projected Level: Worcester
Scouting Report
Physical Description: Left-hander with a medium frame. Not much projection remaining. Looks listed height and weight.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Atypical delivery with effort, but it works for him and he repeats it well. Starts angled toward the first base dugout on the middle of the mound, hands by his face before sliding toward third base during wind-up. Swings arm behind with a medium leg kick before coming forward. Short arm action with a hook behind. Hides the ball well before delivery. Will spin and recoil on follow through.
Fastball: 90-93 mph, tops out at 95 mph. Throws both four-seam and two-seam varieties. Can control both, but shows better feel for two-seam with heavy, arm-side run. Slightly below-average spin rate. Potential above-average command profile. Ability to miss bats is dependent on command, as it is not an overpowering pitch. Designed to elicit weak contact primarily, but has shown the ability to dial it up at times. Velocity jumped in 2021 to 92-94 mph, but in 2022 was back in the low-90s primarily, dropping into the high-80s at times. Potential average offering.
Changeup: 80-83 mph. Advanced feel and confidence in pitch. Will throw in any count to hitters on both sides. Throws with the same arm speed as his fastball. Pitch drops off the table late. Really can pull the string on it and elicit lots of swinging strikes. Very high spin rate for a changeup. Command can be spotty at times and will leave up in the zone on occasion. Potential plus offering.
Slider: 80-83 mph. Slurvy, long, two-plane break. 2-to-8 shape. Average spin rate with significant horizontal movement. Feel comes and goes during outings, but has shown the ability to land it for strikes. Tough pitch for left-handed hitters to read; starts right at their body before breaking across the plate. Needs to get more consistent finishing the pitch, as sometimes it will come in loose and hang. Potential plus offering.
Career Notes: Had Tommy John surgery in 2017, missing most of that season and all of the 2018 season. Late-round senior sign in 2019. Stuff improved considerably due to work put in during the cancelled 2020 season, leading to one of the more improbable breakouts in recent memory in 2021. Rose from being something of an afterthought in the Low-A bullpen to begin the 2021 season to being a top-10 prospect in the system in the Triple-A rotation in less than a calendar year. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Participated in the 2022 Winter Warm-Up. Did not pitch after June 7 in 2022 due to a bulging disc in his upper back originally diagnosed as a neck strain. 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 back-end starter. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Will show a starter's arsenal with three average-or-better pitches and the ability to turn over a lineup, but does not have a typical starter's delivery. Control is already above-average-to-plus and command should get to at least average. You can debate whether he fits better as a starter or reliever depending on the day you see him. Has some traits that would push him to each potential outcome, but has the makings of a major league-caliber arm either way. If pushed to the bullpen, combination of stuff and handedness gives him a decent floor.
Photo Credit: Roman Anthony and Brandon Walter by Kelly O'Connor.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.