The Pink Sox’ farm system is in a strong spot as of late with Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela and Roman Anthony all discovering their footing of their respective developments.
On Friday, Keith Regulation of The Athletic launched his up to date Prime 60 Prospects checklist. Regulation included 4 Boston prospects, together with recently-signed first-round choose Kyle Teel, on the checklist.
Mayer was ranked third, Anthony at No. 45, Rafaela at No. 48 and the first-rounder Teel at No. 50.
Infielder Brainer Bonaci, who’s presently with Low-A Salem, additionally obtained an honorable point out.
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Here’s what Regulation needed to say on every of the 4 Pink Sox on his checklist:
Marcelo Mayer
Mayer additionally moved as much as Double A this yr at a decrepit 20 years of age, after hitting .290/.366/.524 for Excessive-A Greenville in 35 video games to begin the season. He’s a real shortstop who’s a plus defender there already and will find yourself there extra relying on how his physique develops. I’d be shocked if he would up transferring to a different place, though I do know some scouts suppose he may find yourself at third base, which could possibly be a Gunnar Henderson scenario (superb at brief, elite at third). Wherever he performs, Mayer can hit and already is displaying near plus energy, with the whole lot higher this yr now that the wrist accidents from 2022 are within the rearview mirror. It’s a lovely left-handed swing with wonderful bat pace, and he’s driving the ball higher to all fields this yr as nicely. He tasks as a 25-30 homer man with robust OBPs, which can play no matter the place he’s on the grime.
Roman Anthony
The Pink Sox took Anthony within the second spherical in 2022 out of Marjory Stoneman Dogulas Excessive Faculty in Florida, transferring him to Low A to begin 2023. He hit simply .220/.376/.317 at that degree, however the Pink Sox have been so happy along with his batted-ball information that they promoted him to Excessive A, the place he’s hitting .338/.484/.770 in 21 video games with 8 homers already, so I’m going to say that promotion was in all probability a superb name. Anthony has an important baseball physique and a strong swing that, as you may need inferred, produces robust exit velocities despite the fact that he hasn’t stuffed out bodily but, and he’s proven a lot better pitch recognition and zone consciousness in professional ball than it appeared like he had in showcases and tournaments as an newbie. I wrote that ‘if he’s that rather more superior a hitter than the business although, the Pink Sox bought a steal.’ Guess what? The Pink Sox bought a steal.
Ceddanne Rafaela
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Rafaela is among the greatest defensive middle fielders anyplace within the minors, a plus runner with very good instincts who continues to indicate sneaky 55 energy despite the fact that he’s fairly gentle for a 22-year-old. He’s overly aggressive on the plate, and that’s burned him in his temporary time to this point this yr in Triple A, the place he’s walked as soon as with 18 Ks in 72 plate appearances as a result of he’s chasing stuff out if the zone that he may hit at decrease ranges however not there. There’s such a excessive flooring right here with the protection and energy; Kevin Kiermaier has performed 11 years and been value over 30 rWAR with a profession .310 OBP due to his protection and has no extra energy than Rafaela does. If the Curacao native can concentrate on swinging at strikes, that sort of profession is inside attain.
Kyle Teel
Teel was the very best catcher on this yr’s loaded draft class, a really athletic backstop who caught and hit nicely for UVA this spring in probably the greatest conferences in school baseball. He has excellent bat pace and pitch recognition, not often putting out for the Cavs in 2023 (12 p.c), making line-drive contact and hitting for energy towards right-handers. He’s very agile behind the plate with a 60 arm and good fingers, needing work on framing and dealing with pitches beneath the zone, though there’s little question he stays at catcher for the long run. He doesn’t hit lefties for any energy, not less than not to this point in a small pattern, which might be his one space for work as a hitter. I feel he’s not less than an everyday with an opportunity to be a Jason Kendall kind of hitter, with excessive contact charges and a few worth from pace together with modest energy.
The honorable point out in Bonaci is having a strong season in Salem, slashing .292/.352/.498 in 49 video games for Excessive-A Greenville.
Mayer continues to develop in Portland, Rafaela is on a energy surge in Worcester and Teel enters the group with a brilliant future forward.
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