The Boston Red Sox have notoriously had one of the weakest farm systems in baseball ever since Dave Dombrowski came into town in 2015. Dombrowski pillaged the system in exchange for solidified Major League talent which eventually led them to the 2018 World Series. Since that point, newly hired Chaim Bloom has attempted to reload the farm in exchange for former MVP Mookie Betts. The Boston Red Sox currently only have two top-100 prospects according to MLB.com.
Triston Casas (1B/3B)
Triston Casas comes in as the Boston Red Sox’ top-ranked prospect according to SoxProspects.com. The corner infielder stands at 6-foot-4 with a strong frame. Casas is the ideal power-hitting prospect with pop to all fields; his approach at the plate still needs some work but looks the part of a big-league home run-hitter.
Casas began his professional career at third base, but it wasn’t long before he made the move across the diamond. While he has the arm and the glove to play at third, his footwork plays much better at first — meaning it could use some work.
Heading into just his age 20 season, Casas isn’t expected to arrive in the bigs anytime in 2020. His ETA currently sits at 2022.
Jeter Downs (SS/2B)
Jeter Downs was drafted as a shortstop by the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deal that sent Yasiel Puig to the Reds. His stay with the Dodgers was short-lived as he was shipped east this offseason in a package sent for Betts and David Price.
Although Downs can play shortstop, if he’s going to be an everyday Major Leaguer it’s more likely that he ends up at second base. He has an arm that’ll be fine at shortstop from time-to-time, but second base will be better suited for his future.
A player that Downs appears to be comparable to offensively is Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He has a simple swing and puts the ball in the air often. Adjustments to his mechanics have unlocked his power. Downs has the potential to turn into an above-average hitter with above-average power.
It’s unlikely that Downs ends up in Boston this season, but the possibility remains that fans see him by 2021.
Bryan Mata (RHP)
Bryan Mata is the club’s top pitching prospect. The right-hander is tall and has gained significant size over the last couple of seasons. Although Mata’s mechanics and approach have been the biggest complaints to this point, he has made serious progress since last season. He worked quickly and didn’t use his lower half enough in his delivery.
Mata features a fastball in the mid-90s; although he’s improved his velocity over the past couple of seasons, his command over the pitch has room to improve. The righty also has a curveball, changeup, and cutter in his arsenal. The curveball is his most consistent secondary pitch as the cutter has been recently implemented and the changeup needs work.
He likely needs another full season in the minors and could possibly see major league action sometime in 2021.
Jay Groome (LHP)
Jay Groome stands 6-foot-6 with a strong build and looks the part of a future starting pitcher in the big leagues. The left hander’s delivery could use a bit of work to this point as he struggles with the rhythm in his mechanics. He tends to miss his spot when he can’t sync his arm and his legs during his delivery.
Groome throws a fastball, curveball and changeup. The fastball sits in the low-90s but has the potential to reach about 96 mph. The pitch has shown movement and looks to be a potential weapon if he can his velocity up before he reaches the majors. His curveball is slow but he has the ability to command the pitch to make hitters miss. Groome’s changeup is a work in progress to this point. He hasn’t thrown it much and it clearly has room to improve.
He has a ways to go before fans see him in Boston. Don’t expect to see the lefty until at least 2022.
Gilberto Jimenez (OF)
Gilberto Jimenez is just 19 year old and was signed at the age of 17 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic. There isn’t too much tape on him yet as he is still very young and hasn’t made it past Low-A Lowell yet. The best way to describe the outfielder to this point is raw. He is very fast and athletic, but instincts along with the mental side of the game need to be developed to this point.
Jimenez is a switch-hitter but it significantly further along from the right side. His right-handed swing is much cleaner and drives the ball more consistently from that side. Mechanics from the left side could use some work, and he doesn’t make as much solid contact. He becomes more of a slap-hitter from the left.
His speed will be a plus both offensively and defensively, but he isn’t quite there in terms of instincts on the base path or in the outfield.
Jimenez likely won’t be in Boston for at least three more seasons.
Bobby Dalbec (3B/1B)
Bobby Dalbec was drafted in 2016 out of Arizona in the fourth round. He has a tall, strong frame that could play at either corner infield position. Third base has been his primary position to this point, but Rafael Devers will block that spot for him, potentially forcing him to adapt to first base instead.
Dalbec has the potential to become a 40-home run type of player in his prime with the raw power he possesses. Where the hitting becomes an issue is the strikeouts. He is noted to have problems when it comes to swinging and missing; this could hinder his future as he is almost ready to come into the big leagues. His power is good enough to this point, though, which will get him to Boston.
His arm is his strongest defensive tool which makes him a good candidate for a third base job. The only issue is that Devers is ascending into his prime and has that spot on lock. Dalbec projects to be an above-average defender, but a switch to first base could slow down his development.
Dalbec is 24 years old and is expected to be with the big league club at some point during the upcoming season.
Jarren Duran (OF)
Jarren Duran has a very lean frame with well-above-average athleticism. He originated as a second baseman where he played well, but the organization wanted to put his speed to better use and moved him to center field full-time in 2019.
He has good vision at the plate and will put the ball in play often. Duran also should produce a lot of doubles once in the majors purely based off his speed. The power won’t ever really be there but the speed helps make up for it.
He hasn’t spent too much time in the outfield and still needs work refining his skills out there. His speed gives him a tremendous range in centerfield and should only become more effective with more reps. His arm doesn’t necessarily stand out but will seemingly develop as he grows.
Duran was drafted just in 2018 but is 23 and can expect to see time with the Boston Red Sox by 2020 or 2021.
Tanner Houck (RHP)
Tanner Houck is yet another tall pitcher in the Boston Red Sox’ farm system. The righty stands 6-foot-5 coming in around 220 pounds. His mechanics are unique as they feature a high leg kick, a low three-quarter arm slot and high elbow action. His delivery is troublesome for right-handed batters.
Houck’s fastball sits about 93-96 mph, while also offering a slider and a changeup. He primarily features a two-seam fastball as it has more movement and more swing-and-miss potential. The team tried to transition Houck into throwing more four-seam fastballs, which has more velocity than his two-seam. The right-hander didn’t see the same success with this pitch and has since switched back to the two-seamer which he’s more comfortable with. He throws the four-seam from time-to-time, but is not as effective with it. He throws a sweeping slider with great control and comfortability. Changeup still a work-in-progress to this point but might not necessarily need it. He projects more as a back-end bullpen arm, so a third pitch isn’t always a necessity.
As weak as the Boston Red Sox starting rotation looks right now, it’s entirely possible that Houck starts the year with Boston Red Sox in an “opener” role along with Ryan Weber.
Noah Song (RHP)
Noah Song is the club’s fourth-best pitching prospect and was taken out Navy just last year. Song doesn’t throw out of the windup and primarily uses the stretch. He has a short delivery without much arm movement.
His fastball sits in the mid-90s with lots of control. He commands the pitch well and has swing-and-miss potential with the life he has on it. He features a slider in the low-80s with good potential but hasn’t had enough command to make it a true weapon to this point. Song’s changeup has been inconsistent in the past but has the potential to be his best secondary pitch. When it’s on the pitch dies at the end the way you’d hope. His fourth pitch right now is a curveball but that could be on the back burner for now as he focuses on the slider and changeup.
Although he’s 22 years old his Naval obligations have sidelined Song for two seasons, so don’t expect to see him any time soon.
C.J. Chatham (SS/2B)
C.J. Chatham is bigger than the average middle infielder at 6-foot-4. He will likely be carried by his defense through his career and looks to be somewhere in between a utility player and an everyday starter.
His hit tool is far from polished but could be worse. He has an aggressive approach at the plate but struggles to keep his hands inside the ball. He doesn’t have a ton of power but could probably hit 10-15 HR once he’s established in the Majors.
Chatham is a solid defender with good instincts. He has spent time in the outfield and third base in college as well as the middle infield. He has the arm to be an everyday shortstop.
The 25-year-old could be seen on a big-league roster by 2020 or 2021.
2020 Call-Ups
As for the players who have the potential to be called up mid-season Dalbec and Houck seem like locks. Based on the shallow pitching staff it’s likely we see Houck first. First base is also one of the weaker spots on the roster so Dalbec will likely see some time there before the season is over. Duran and Chatham also have an outside shot to be called-up by the end of the year, but middle infield and outfield may be tough spots for those two to break into with this roster.
