After missing all of 2023, how did versatile Red Sox prospect Andy Lugo fare this past season?

Alongside top prospects Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell, Andy Lugo was the only other Red Sox minor-leaguer to hit 30 or more doubles this past season.

Lugo split the 2024 campaign between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville. In 108 games, the right-handed hitting 21-year-old batted .263/.337/.371 with 30 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 45 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 28 stolen bases (in 32 attempts), 31 walks, and 88 strikeouts over 420 plate appearances.

After missing the entire 2023 season with a quad strain, Lugo broke camp with Salem in April to mark his first competitive action in nearly two years. He slashed .271/.337/.388 with 24 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 32 RBIs, 37 runs scored, 23 stolen bases, 20 walks, and 64 strikeouts in his first 77 games (300 plate appearances) for the Red Sox before being promoted to Greenville in early August.

Lugo spent nearly four weeks with the Drive, hitting .225/.295/.282 with four doubles, six RBIs, four runs scored, three stolen bases, five walks, and 20 strikeouts in 21 games (79 plate appearances). He was sent back down to Salem on August 27 and closed out his season by going 9-for-33 (.273) with two doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, six runs scored, two stolen bases, six walks, and four strikeouts in his final 10 games.

Among the 21 Red Sox minor-leaguers who made at least 400 trips to the plate in 2024, Lugo ranked first in wSB (2.3), third in line-drive rate (27.9 percent), sixth in strikeout rate (21 percent), seventh in swinging-strike rate (10.8 percent), eighth in batting average, and 10th in speed score (6.2) and wRC+ (111), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Lugo saw playing time at five different positions this year. Between his stops in Salem and Greenville, the versatile six-footer logged 261 innings in left field, 194 innings at third base, 174 innings in right field, 153 innings at first base, and 116 innings at second base. He recorded six outfield assists and committed 12 errors in 316 total defensive chances. He also struck out the lone batter he faced in the first relief appearance of his career on September 6.

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Lugo originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent in July 2021. The San Cristobal native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League the following June and was later recognized as the organization’s 2022 Latin Program Position Player of the Year.

Lugo — who turns 21 in March — is not currently ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com, which projects that he will return to Greenville for the start of the 2025 season if he remains with the organization through the winter and into the spring.

(Picture of Andy Lugo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How did No. 1 Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony fare in 2024?

Roman Anthony will enter the 2025 season as Baseball America’s top-ranked Red Sox prospect. That should come as no surprise after the outfielder secured the No. 1 spot on the publication’s top-100 list earlier this summer.

Anthony, the 79th overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, Fla.), was among the top performers in Boston’s farm system this past season. The West Palm Beach native began the year at Double-A Portland (where he appeared in 10 games last September), overcame somewhat of a slow start and minor injury concerns, represented the Red Sox at All-Star Futures Game festivities, and earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester all before the 2024 campaign drew to a close.

Out of the gate this spring, Anthony batted .243/.365/.392 with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 RBIs, 20 runs scored, five stolen bases, 29 walks, and 51 strikeouts in 41 games (178 plate appearances) for the Sea Dogs) through May 25. The left-handed hitter was then sidelined with rib cage irritation until June 5. Upon returning to action, he slashed .237/.324/.516 with four doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 14 RBIs, 18 runs scored, three stolen bases, 10 walks, and 22 strikeouts over his next 25 games (111 plate appearances) leading up to July’s All-Star break.

Three days before the annual Midsummer Classic in Arlington, Texas, Anthony took center stage in the first-ever Futures Skills Showcase at Globe Life Field on July 13. Competing with seven well-regarded prospects, the 20-year-old overcame some early adversity and ultimately won the competition by crushing six home runs on eight swings in the third and final ‘Swing for the Fences’ stage.

Though he did not play in the Futures Game itself, Anthony kicked things up a notch upon returning to Portland’s lineup on the other side of the All-Star break. From July 19 through August 11, he batted a stout .359/.425/.641 with five doubles, one triple, five home runs, 18 RBIs, 22 runs scored, eight stolen bases, nine walks, and 23 strikeouts over 18 games (87 plate appearances). He was then promoted to Worcester alongside Sea Dogs teammates Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel the following day.

Anthony continued his ascent by slashing .344/.463/.519 with 12 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 20 RBIs, 33 runs scored, five stolen bases, 31 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 35 games (164 plate appearances) with the WooSox to close out the season. He became Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect when Rays infielder Junior Caminero exhausted his prospect eligibility on September 11.

Altogether, Anthony produced a .291/.396/.498 line with 32 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, 93 runs scored, 21 stolen bases, 79 walks, and 127 strikeouts over 119 total games (540 plate appearances) between Portland and Worcester in 2024. Among the 185 minor-leaguers who made at least 500 trips to the plate this season, Anthony ranked fourth in wRC+ (149), sixth in wOBA (.401), eighth in OPS (.894), ninth in on-base percentage, 14th in walk rate (14.6 percent) and slugging percentage, 22nd in batting average, 25th in isolated power (.207), and 39th in swinging-strike rate (8.7 percent), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Anthony saw playing time at all three outfield spots between his stops in Portland and Worcester this year. With the WooSox in particular, the projectable 6-foot-2, 200-pounder made 21 starts in center, nine starts in left, and four starts in right without committing an error in 71 total defensive chances. His fielding tool currently grades as a 55 on Baseball America’s 20-80 scouting scale.

As far as awards and honors are concerned, Anthony added plenty to his trophy case in the weeks following the conclusion of the minor-league season. In addition to his Futures Game selection, Anthony was named Portland’s Most Valuable Player, an Eastern League season-end All-Star, a Baseball America Double-A and Minor League All-Star, and an All-MiLB Prospect First Teamer.

On the heels of a successful season in which he reached the top ring of the minors, Anthony could very well reach the major leagues before his 21st birthday in May. Barring a trade for a frontline starting pitcher, he is far from a lock to make the Red Sox’ 2025 Opening Day roster given the breadth of left-handed hitting outfield depth ahead of him. Still, Anthony has clearly put himself on the map as a potential franchise cornerstone with an extremely high ceiling.

(Picture of Roman Anthony: Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Michael Sansone makes strong mark in 2024 with Low-A Salem

After signing out of the independent Pioneer League in April, Michael Sansone put together an exceptional first season as a member of the Red Sox organization.

Sansone became the first player in the young history of the Yolo High Wheelers to have his contract sold to a major-league club. The 25-year-old left-hander came with prior experience in affiliated ball, as he spent parts of two seasons in the Rays organization after signing with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent coming out of Fairfield University (Conn.) in July 2022.

Shortly after signing with Boston, Sansone reported to Low-A Salem, where he would spend the remainder of the 2024 campaign. In 20 appearances (three starts) for the Red Sox, the lefty posted a 3.11 ERA and 3.25 FIP with 68 strikeouts to nine walks over 72 1/3 innings. Though he held right-handed hitters to a .193 batting average, left-handed hitters surprisingly batted .340 off him.

Among the 46 Carolina League pitchers who worked at least 70 innings this year, Sansone ranked second in walks per nine innings (1.12) and walk rate (3.1 percent), fourth in WHIP (1.01), ninth in FIP, 16th in ERA, 17th in xFIP (3.47), 19th in swinging-strike rate (13.6 percent), per FanGraphs.

Listed at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, Sansone primarily operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a fastball, slider, and changeup. When speaking with The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard back in April, Red Sox assistant director of professional scouting Mark Heil noted that while Sansone doesn’t throw particularly hard, the southpaw “has a good slider and changeup and excellent make-up.”

Sansone, who just turned 25 earlier this month, is not currently ranked by publications such as SoxProspects.com as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. He is, however, projected to make the jump to High-A Greenville next season if he remains with the organization through the winter and into the spring.

(Picture of Michael Sansone: Gary Streiffer/Flickr)

Red Sox bring Isaiah Campbell, Bryan Mata back on minor-league deals after non-tendering them

The Red Sox have re-signed pitchers Isaiah Campbell and Bryan Mata to minor-league contracts, as was first reported by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. The pair of right-handers will remain with the organization for the time being after being designated for assignment and subsequently non-tendered by Boston on Friday.

Campbell and Mata were designated for assignment on Tuesday after the Red Sox added prospects Hunter Dobbins and Jhostynxon Garcia to their 40-man roster. Though neither was tendered a contract and was granted free agency on Friday, Cotillo notes that Boston remained interested in keeping both Campbell and Mata in the organization. The club was able to secure new deals that include non-roster invites to major-league spring training with each pitcher, though they could both generate interest in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

If they remain with the Red Sox through the winter, however, both Campbell and Mata should have a chance at competing for a spot on Boston’s Opening Day roster this coming spring. They can otherwise serve as depth pieces at Triple-A Worcester if they do not break camp with the big-league club in March.

Campbell, 27, was acquired from the Mariners for infielder Luis Urias last November. On the heels of a successful rookie campaign with Seattle, the Arkansas product got his 2024 off to an encouraging start by compiling a 2.08 ERA through five relief appearances (4 1/3 innings) on Boston’s season-opening west coast road trip. He then surrendered nine total runs (eight earned) in back-to-back blowups against the Orioles at Fenway Park before being placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement on April 12.

Following a lengthy stint on the injured list, Campbell returned to the majors on June 24. He yielded three earned runs in one-third of an inning against the Blue Jays. That proved to be his final big-league outing of the season, as he was optioned to Worcester shortly thereafter and was then shut down with right elbow inflammation in late July. Altogether, he posted a 6.20 ERA in eight appearances (6 2/3 innings) for the Red Sox and a 2.20 ERA in 14 appearances (16 1/3 innings) for the WooSox this year.

Mata, meanwhile, was once regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization after originally signing with the Red Sox as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in January 2016. Equipped with an electric pitch mix, the 25-year-old righty spent four seasons on Boston’s 40-man roster without making his major-league debut due to various injuries and instead exhausted all of his minor-league options in that time.

After opening the 2024 season on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, a rehabbing Mata proceeded to forge a 4.37 ERA over 22 2/3 innings across four minor-league levels. He re-joined Worcester in late June as part of his comeback attempt but was unable to take the next step to the majors due to a bout with right elbow soreness that landed him on the 60-day injured list in July.

This offseason, Mata has been pitching for the Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League. Coming into play on Saturday, the Maracay native owns a 2.70 ERA with one strikeout to one walk in four relief appearances (3 1/3 innings) for the Valencia-based club.

(Picture of  Isaiah Campbell: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox minor leaguer suspended for positive drug test

Red Sox minor-league pitcher Raphy Gil has received a 56-game suspension for violating the Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for Minor League players assigned outside of the United States and Canada, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday.

Gil, a right-hander who pitched in the Dominican Summer League this season, tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, which is known for its ability to promote fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass. The recently-turned 19-year-old has been placed on the restricted list and will not be paid while serving his suspension.

A native of the Dominican Republic himself, Gil signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent coming out of Higuey on June 13. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound hurler made his professional debut nine days later and posted a 0.90 ERA (4.78 FIP) with eight strikeouts to six walks in eight relief appearances (10 innings) for DSL Red Sox Red. Opposing hitters batted .211 against him.

Gil is not currently ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. He becomes the third Red Sox minor-league pitcher to be suspended for testing positive for Stanozolol this year, joining fellow righties Charlie Zink and Anthony Felix.

In addition to Gil, Guardians minor-league pitcher Abraham Tejada was also placed on the restricted list and handed down a 56-game suspension without pay on Thursday after testing positive for Stanozolol. Tejada spent the last two seasons in the Dominican Summer League after signing with Cleveland in January 2022.

(Picture of Fenway Park: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Royals utility man Nate Eaton to minor-league deal

The Red Sox are in agreement on a minor-league contract with free-agent utility man Nate Eaton, as was first reported by MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. The deal includes an invite to big-league spring training and guarantees $780,000 if Eaton reaches the majors.

Eaton, who turns 28 next month, was originally selected by the Royals in the 21st round of the 2018 draft out of Virginia Military Institute. He debuted for Kansas City in 2022 and appeared in 72 games over parts of two seasons before spending the entirety of the 2024 campaign with Triple-A Omaha.

Offensively, Eaton is a lifetime .201/.266/.283 hitter with four doubles, three triples, one home run, 13 RBIs, 18 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 12 walks, and 51 strikeouts in 178 career plate appearances at the major-league level. After going just 4-for-53 (.075) with the Royals in 2023, the right-handed hitter was designated for assignment and subsequently outrighted off Kansas City’s 40-man roster last November. He then slashed .252/.299/.439 with 30 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 60 RBIs, 65 runs scored, 27 stolen bases, 27 walks, and 108 strikeouts in 116 games (464 plate appearances) for the Omaha Storm Chasers this past season before electing free agency.

Elsewhere, Eaton is known for his defensive versatility and speed. With Omaha this year, the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder made 40 starts at third base, 32 starts in left field, 12 starts in center field, nine starts in right field, and two starts at second base. In his two seasons with Kansas City, he saw playing time at third base and all three outfield spots

In his rookie season two years ago, Eaton ranked in the 100th percentile of all major leaguers in arm strength by averaging 98.1 mph on his throws. To complement that, his sprint speed ranked in the 97th percentile at 29.6 feet per second in 2022 and in the 96th percentile at 29.5 feet per second in 2023, according to Baseball Savant.

Though he has two minor-league options remaining and hits from the right side of the plate, Eaton does not necessarily have a clear path to a big-league roster spot with the Red Sox. He does, however, possess a unique skill set that could help him stand out at camp and — in all likelihood — with Triple-A Worcester to begin the 2025 season.

(Picture of Nate Eaton: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

After one season in Red Sox organization, hard-throwing pitching prospect Bryce Bonnin signs minor-league deal with Rangers

After spending the 2024 season in the Red Sox organization, free agent right-hander Bryce Bonnin signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers last week, according to the MiLB.com transactions log.

Bonnin, 26, joined the Red Sox on a minors pact just days after being released by the Reds in early March. A former third-round draft selection of Cincinnati in 2020, the Texas Tech product opened the season on High-A Greenville’s 7-day injured list with a rotator cuff issue that cost him the entirety of the 2023 campaign.

Upon being activated in late April, Bonnin proceeded to pitch to a 4.04 ERA (3.92 FIP) with 40 strikeouts to 16 walks over 19 relief appearances (35 2/3 innings) for the Drive in which he held opposing hitters to a .164 batting average against. He spent nearly two weeks on the injured list in May but bounced back after that and was later promoted to Double-A Portland on August 20.

In three outings (one start) with the Sea Dogs, Bonnin allowed four earned runs on seven hits, four walks, and eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Altogether the righty forged a 4.29 ERA (4.36 FIP) with 48 strikeouts to 20 walks in 22 appearances (42 innings) between Greenville and Portland this season. Opponents batted just .181 against him.

Among the 60 Red Sox minor-leaguers who threw at least 40 innings in 2024, Bonnin ranked fourth in batting average against, sixth in swinging-strike rate (18.4 percent), eighth in line-drive rate (18.4 percent), 11th in WHIP (1.12), and 19th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.29) and strikeout rate (27.6 percent). On the flip side, however, he ranked 35th in ERA, 40th in FIP, xFIP (4.32), and walks per nine innings (4.29), and 41st in walk rate (11.5 percent), per FanGraphs.

In the process of putting up those numbers, Bonnin peaked as the No. 48 prospect in Boston’s farm system, per SoxProspects.com’s rankings. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound hurler sat in the mid-90s and reached 98-99 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a slider and changeup. He elected minor-league free agency earlier this month and was once again not on the open market for very long.

Bonnin becomes the latest Red Sox minor-league free agent to switch organizations this winter, joining the likes of fellow righties Jason Alexander (who signed a minors pact with the Athletics) and Justin Hagenman (who signed a one-year major-league deal with the Mets). It seems likely that Bonnin will start the 2025 season with the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate in Frisco, Texas.

(Picture of Bryce Bonnin: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign veteran catcher Seby Zavala to minor-league deal

The Red Sox signed free-agent catcher Seby Zavala to a minor-league contract on Monday, per the club’s MLB.com transactions log. The deal presumably comes with an invite to major-league spring training.

Zavala, 31, is a veteran of five big-league seasons who originally broke in with the White Sox in 2019. The San Diego State product spent four years with Chicago before being claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks last September. He appeared in just seven games for Arizona and was then dealt to the Mariners as part of the Eugenio Suarez trade in December.

Serving as early-season depth behind starter Cal Raleigh to open the 2024 campaign, Zavala batted .154/.214/.282 with two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, four runs scored, three walks, and 16 strikeouts in 18 games (43 plate appearances) for the Mariners before being designated for assignment on June 18. The right-handed hitter subsequently cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma, where he slashed .188/.325/.376 with seven doubles, four home runs, 16 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 16 walks, and 43 strikeouts over 33 games (123 plate appearances) in between emergency call-ups. He then elected free agency in October.

All told, Zavala owns a lifetime slash line of .205/.271/.342 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 56 RBIs, 59 runs scored, one stolen base, 40 walks, and 200 strikeouts in 194 career big-league games (557 plate appearances) between the White Sox, Diamondbacks, and Mariners. In 255 career games at the Triple-A level, the Texas native has hit .223/.305/.425 with 53 doubles, 43 home runs, 119 RBIs, 131 runs scored, one stolen base, 96 walks, and 343 strikeouts over 1,017 total trips to the plate.

Though he has never been considered much of an offensive threat in the majors, Zavala does bring value defensively. Last year, for instance, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound backstop ranked in the 87th percentile of all MLB catchers in blocks above average and the 77th percentile in framing, per Baseball Savant. This past season, he threw out three of 14 possible base stealers with Seattle and three of 32 possible base stealers with Tacoma.

Zavala, who does not turn 32 until next August, figures to provide the Red Sox with experienced and defensive-minded catching depth at Triple-A Worcester to start the 2025 season. At present, starter Connor Wong and utility man Mickey Gasper are the only two catchers on Boston’s 40-man roster. Top prospect Kyle Teel is on the radar but is not expected to be in the big-league mix at the onset after appearing in just 28 games for the WooSox down the stretch following a mid-August promotion from Double-A Portland.

With trade acquisition Danny Jasen a free agent, the Red Sox — as noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo — are expected to add someone this winter who can be paired with Wong and serve as a bridge to Teel up until he is ready for his MLB debut. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged as much at the GM Meetings earlier this month.

“We’ll certainly explore opportunities to get better,” Breslow told reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith). “That includes potentially in kind of a backup role to Connor or however things shake out.”

By signing Zavala to a minors pact, Breslow and the Red Sox continue a trend of stockpiling plenty of catching depth within the upper levels of the system. To complement Wong and then-backup Reese McGuire last winter, Boston brought in Gasper, Tyler Heineman, Roberto Perez, and Mark Kolozsvary as depth options. Eight different players ended up catching for the WooSox at different points this past season.

(Picture of Seby Zavala: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Red Sox add prospects Hunter Dobbins, Jhostynxon Garcia to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 deadline

The Red Sox added pitching prospect Hunter Dobbins and outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to their 40-man roster on Tuesday to protect them from being available to other clubs in December’s Rule 5 Draft.

To accommodate the additions of Dobbins and Garcia, Boston designated right-handers Isaiah Campbell and Bryan Mata for assignment. As such, the Red Sox’ 40-man roster is back at full capacity.

Dobbins, 25, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 21 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks eighth among pitchers in the organization. The right-hander was originally selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Texas Tech but did not make his professional debut until the following June as he was still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

This past season, Dobbins was recognized as the Red Sox’ Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year after posting a 3.08 ERA (3.04 FIP) with 120 strikeouts to 48 walks in 25 starts (125 2/3 innings) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. Opposing hitters batted .237 against him altogether.

Equipped with a diverse arsenal, Dobbins experienced an uptick in velocity this year. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound righty averaged 93-96 mph and topped out at 98 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a newly-implemented 89-92 mph splinker (a splitter-sinker hybrid), a 78-80 mph sweeper, an 81-83 mph slider, and a 76-78 mph curveball that features 12-to-6 break.

“Obviously a guy who had a really, really good season for us,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said of Dobbins when speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith) at the GM Meetings earlier this month. “Was exciting to follow the progress — both the uptick in raw stuff across the board and swing and miss and durability and the ability to post. He’s put himself on the radar and it will be an important offseason for him to continue to develop. It would be foolish not to be really excited about what he was able to accomplish.”

Dobbins, who does not turn 26 until next August, still has some room to grow as far as his command and control are concerned. With that being said, he should provide the Red Sox with starting rotation depth in Worcester to open the 2025 campaign and could be in line to make his major-league debut before the season is over.

Garcia, on the other hand, is a little farther away. The 21-year-old originally signed with the Red Sox for $350,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in July 2019. He is currently ranked by Baseball America as the No. 18 prospect in Boston’s farm system after putting together a breakout 2024 season that saw him rise across three levels.

In 107 games between Low-A Salem, High-A Greenville, and Portland, Garcia batted .286/.356/.536 with 24 doubles, five triples, an organizational-leading 23 home runs, 66 RBIs, 78 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, 33 walks, and 99 strikeouts over 459 total plate appearances. For his efforts, the free-swinging right-handed hitter was named to Baseball America’s Second Team Minor League All-Star Team and the All-MiLB Prospect First Team.

Defensively, Garcia saw playing time at all three outfield spots between his stops in Salem, Greenville, and Portland this year. With the Sea Dogs in particular, the 6-foot, 215-pounder made 27 of his 30 starts in center field, where he recorded one outfield assist and committed two errors in 61 chances. His other three starts there came at DH.

Garcia, who turns 22 next month, is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland for the start of the 2025 season. Unlike Dobbins, Garcia likely won’t figure into Boston’s big-league plans until 2026 at the earliest. He could, of course, be moved in a trade well before then.

(Picture of Hunter Dobbins: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox prospect Niko Kavadas named Arizona Fall League’s Offensive Player of the Year

Over the weekend, Former Red Sox prospect Niko Kavadas was recognized as the 2024 Arizona Fall League Offensive Player of the Year.

Kavadas, one of four players dealt to the Angels for reliever Luis Garcia ahead of July’s trade deadline, stood out in his second AFL stint this fall. The left-handed hitting 26-year-old batted .329/.462/.700 with six doubles, one triple, six home runs, 18 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 17 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 20 games (91 plate appearances) for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Among qualified AFL hitters, Kavadas ranked second in extra-base hits (13), third in slugging percentage, OPS (1.162), isolated power (.371), and total bases (49), sixth in on-base percentage, eighth in walk rate (18.7 percent), and 13th in batting average, per MLB.com’s leaderboards. On the other side of the ball, the burly 6-foot-1, 235-pounder saw playing time at both corner outfield spots for the first time in his professional career while also making six starts at his primary position in first base.

Originally selected by the Red Sox in the 11th round of the 2021 draft out of Notre Dame, Kavadas quickly worked his way up the organizational ladder before arriving at Triple-A Worcester in July 2023. The slugger returned to the WooSox for the start of the 2024 season and produced a .281/.424/.551 line with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 83 games. He was then traded to the Angels with Matthew Lugo, Zeferjahn, and Yeferson Vargas in exchange for Garcia on July 30.

Less than three weeks after switching organizations for the first time, Kavadas was called up by the Angels for his big-league debut on August 16. He cranked a three-run home run for his first MLB hit in Toronto six days later and proceeded to slash .183/.283/.333 with two doubles, four homers, eight RBIs, 11 runs scored, one stolen base, 11 walks, and 41 strikeouts in 30 games (106 plate appearances) for Los Angeles down the stretch.

As noted by MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Kavadas showed his raw power (91.7 mph average exit velocity) and patience (10.4 percent walk rate, 17.7 percent chase rate) in his first taste of action with the Halos in 2024, but he will need to produce more consistently at the plate if he intends to stick in the majors. Adding to his defensive profile by playing the outfield could help in that regard as well.

“Being there and seeing it and getting a taste, you’re aware of what it was that got you out, you’re aware of what it was that you’ve had success on,” Kavadas, MLB Pipeline’s 29th-ranked Angels prospect, told Callis. “Just making sure that you continue to maintain your strengths and make your weaknesses a little less weak is what you can do. So for me, it’s increasing the swing rate, giving myself more opportunities each at-bat.

“I can’t continue to take strikes up there because the guys are too good, the stuff is too good, the command is too good,” he continued. “So I think being out here was good for me and just getting me more comfortable and swinging more often instead of looking for maybe a softball-size tunnel, just a 2-3 softball-sized tunnel. I’m always going to be disciplined and I’m always going to be a little more selective as a hitter. But I think just broadening how wide of a zone I’m willing to swing at is going to be good for me.”

(Picture of Niko Kavadas: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)