1 | 1. Michael Chavis | |
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2 | Position: 3B/2B/1B/DH | Chavis is a bat-first infielder who could debut at first base, as that’s where Boston has the most immediate need, but he could handle second base or third base in a pinch. He has the potential to mirror Brian Dozier’s production without the stolen bases. It’s possible he gets a call to the majors in the second half. |
3 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
4 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Pawtucket | |
5 | Overall rank: 52 | |
6 | ||
7 | ||
8 | 2. Jay Groome | |
9 | Position: LHP | It is hard to find a pitching prospect with a wider range of outcomes. He has the tools to be an ace, but he has personal baggage, and dealt with a lat injury and forearm strain last season. Groome also has work to do with his command and his changeup, and needs to show he can handle a starter’s workload. Luckily he’s just 19. |
10 | Age on 4/1/18: 19 | |
11 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
12 | Overall rank: 111 | |
13 | ||
14 | ||
15 | 3. Bryan Mata | |
16 | Position: RHP | He probably doesn't need to be rostered just yet in typical dynasty leagues, but if he starts racking up the strikeouts as a teenager at High-A, then it will probably be time to pull the trigger. Mata is extremely projectable and has a chance for two plus pitches in his fastball and changeup with excellent command and a quality curveball. |
17 | Age on 4/1/18: 18 | |
18 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
19 | Overall rank: 191 | |
20 | ||
21 | ||
22 | 4. Danny Diaz | |
23 | Position: 3B | Diaz, who has already switched from shortstop to third base since signing in July, garnered a $1.6 million bonus and has monster offensive upside. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, his body could even outgrow third base, but he has a chance for plus power and a plus hit tool. |
24 | Age on 4/1/18: 17 | |
25 | Likely assignment: Dominican Summer Lg. | |
26 | Overall rank: 196 | |
27 | ||
28 | 5. Cole Brannen | |
29 | Position: OF | Brannen has a patient all-fields approach and is at least a 60-grade runner. He has not shown the ability to hit for much pop, but it's a good foundational skill set for a potential leadoff hitter. |
30 | Age on 4/1/18: 19 | |
31 | Likely assignment: Low-A Greenville | |
32 | Overall rank: 230 | |
33 | ||
34 | 6. Tanner Houck | |
35 | Position: RHP | Armed with a mid-90s fastball and devastating slider, Houck easily projects for a late-inning role if he can't make it as a starter. That's why the Red Sox were willing to give him a $2.6 million bonus. He'll get every opportunity to improve his command and changeup and make it as a No. 3 starter. |
36 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
37 | Likely assignment: Low-A Greenville | |
38 | Overall rank: 274 | |
39 | ||
40 | 7. Josh Ockimey | |
41 | Position: 1B/DH | The Sam Travis vs. Ockimey debate used to be fun, now it's kind of depressing, as neither realistically projects to be a quality big-league first baseman. Ockimey is the better bet to be fantasy relevant, as his approach and plus raw power could get him enough at-bats to matter. |
42 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
43 | Likely assignment: Double-A Portland | |
44 | Overall rank: 400 | |
45 | ||
46 | 8. Darwinzon Hernandez | |
47 | Position: LHP | Hernandez has a mid-90s fastball and is young enough that we can still dream on him making it as a starter. The secondaries and command will really need to improve, and if they do, he'll be a big riser. |
48 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
49 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
50 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
51 | ||
52 | 9. Sam Travis | |
53 | Position: 1B | Travis is the least interesting type of prospect. He is close to major-league ready, yet lacks plus power, won't run and will likely sit against righties. He would benefit from a trade to a second-division club that could put up with his middling production at a position like first base. |
54 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
55 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Pawtucket | |
56 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
57 | ||
58 | 10. Lorenzo Cedrola | |
59 | Position: OF | Cedrola is a plus runner with the defensive chops to stick in center field. An ankle injury cut short his 2017 season and required surgery. His offensive production may fall short of him ever making it as an everyday player, despite what he brings to the table with his glove and legs. |
60 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
61 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
62 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
63 | ||
64 | 11. Jalen Beeks | |
65 | Position: LHP | With Eduardo Rodriguez out to start the season, Beeks ranks somewhere between sixth and ninth on the organizational starting pitching depth chart, meaning he may get big-league starts in 2018. He has No. 4 or No. 5 starter upside and relies a lot on deception. |
66 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
67 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Pawtucket | |
68 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
69 | ||
70 | 12. Mike Shawaryn | |
71 | Position: RHP | Shawaryn pitches like a power righty, even though his arsenal lacks prototypical power pitches. He has a low-90s fastball and above-average slider, which both play up thanks to deception and his aggressive pitching style. His command is shaky, and he will likely end up in the bullpen, but there's No. 3 starter upside if he maxes out. |
72 | Age on 4/1/18: 23 | |
73 | Likely assignment: Double-A Portland | |
74 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
75 | ||
76 | ||
77 | 13. Alex Scherff | |
78 | Position: RHP | Scherff only received a $700,000 bonus after the Red Sox popped him with the No. 161 pick in last year's draft, but he has a chance to be Boston's best pick from the 2017 class. He has a mid-90s fastball and above-average changeup, while the rest of the profile lags behind. Pay attention to his strikeout totals at Low-A. |
79 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
80 | Likely assignment: Low-A Greenville | |
81 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
82 | ||
83 | ||
84 | 14. Roldani Baldwin | |
85 | Position: C | Baldwin's offensive production in the lower levels is noteworthy given his position, but if he were a quality defender behind the dish, more people would be taking notice. Many organizations have bat-first catchers who are old for their level as they try to improve their defense, and Baldwin is Boston's. |
86 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
87 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
88 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
89 | ||
90 | 15. Hildemaro Requena | |
91 | Position: RHP | In eight starts last year at Low-A, Requena notched a 0.59 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 46 innings. In roughly the same amount of innings as a reliever, his rate stats were worse but his strikeout rate was significantly higher. He has legit stuff, but does not have much experience as a starter. It's possible he pops this year. |
92 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
93 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
94 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
95 | ||
96 | ||
97 | 16. Trenton Kemp | |
98 | Position: OF | Kemp has huge raw power and a little speed, but he's old for his level and also has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game. He will likely hit a wall at Double-A or Triple-A, but if he doesn't, there's an outside shot at a four-category corner outfielder who hits around .245. |
99 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
100 | Likely assignment: Double-A Portland | |
101 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
102 | ||
103 | 17. Bobby Dalbec | |
104 | Position: 3B | I'll include Dalbec on this list for another season because he has as much or more raw power than anyone else in the system. That said, he's too old to struggle as much as he does to make contact. Age relative to level is the reason why Dermis Garcia is a legit prospect and Dalbec is a fringe prospect. |
105 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
106 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
107 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
108 | ||
109 | 18. Pedro Castellanos | |
110 | Position: 1B | A R/R first baseman with nine plate appearances above rookie ball? Yeah, Castellanos is a borderline prospect to say the least. He has struck out just 42 times in 116 games and is starting to tap into some raw power. If he can carry those contact skills to Low-A and show some thump, he'll move up this list. |
111 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
112 | Likely assignment: Low-A Greenville | |
113 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
114 | ||
115 | 19. Tyler Hill | |
116 | Position: OF | Hill looks like a much better prospect on paper than he actually is. He has gone 66-for-88 (75 percent success rate) on stolen-base attempts in 227 pro games, hitting 13 homers over that span. Despite that speed, he projects to man an outfield corner, so he needs to really hit the rest of the way up the ladder. |
117 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
118 | Likely assignment: High-A Salem | |
119 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
120 | ||
121 | ||
122 | 20. Tyler Esplin | |
123 | Position: OF | Another corner-only outfield prospect, Esplin will need to hit at every stop to profile as an everyday player. Unlike Hill, Esplin won't be contributing with his legs. His lack of speed and defensive utility led to him only getting a $250,000 bonus in the seventh round of last year's draft. |
124 | Age on 4/1/18: 18 | |
125 | Likely assignment: Low-A Greenville | |
126 | Overall rank: Not ranked |