Red Sox select Nazzan Zanetello with No. 50 overall pick

With its second-round pick in the 2023 draft, Boston has selected Nazzan Zanetello, a shortstop out of Christian Brothers College HS in Missouri. The 18-year-old is ranked No. 52 by MLBPipeline.com and No. 110 by Baseball America.

Standing at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, the Arkansas commit is young for the class, as he turned 18 years old at the end of May, and moved up draft boards after strong showings on the showcase circuit over the past year. He earned MVP at the MLB Breakthrough Series in June 2022 and hit well at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October. He led Team USA with a .429 average at the U18 World Cup qualifying tournament in November. 

Both Baseball America and MLBPipeline are of the opinion that Zanetello has a projectable frame to add plenty of muscle and he already has plenty of bat speed. He's also one of the best athletes in the class, with speed garnering as high as a 70 grade according to MLBPipeline, but Baseball America put a 60 grade once he physically matures, compared to a 55 grade for MLBPipeline. Scouts also love Zanetello's makeup and the ability to play multiple positions defensively, with potential at shortstop, third base and center field. Both Baseball America and MLBPipeline grade both his defense and arm at least average. Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson said after the pick that the team will develop Zanetello at both shortstop and center field to begin his career.

At this point, Zanetello is a power-over-contact kind of hitter, as both outlets are in agreement that he has better zone control than pure contact skills. MLBPipeline is slightly more bullish on his contact skills, with the potential for 25 home runs at his peak.

The Red Sox have drafted many prep infielders with high picks and Zanetello continues that trend after the organization went the college hitter route in the first round. The full slot value for the 50th overall pick is $1,698,000.

Photo Credit: Perfect Game

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