Tag: 2023 season

Red Sox select Kennesaw State righty Blake Wehunt with ninth-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Kennesaw State right-hander Blake Wehunt with their ninth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 268 overall.

Wehunt, 22, began and spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Southern Mississippi — where he was briefly teammates with Dalton Rogers — before transferring to Kennesaw State for his junior season.

In 14 starts for the Owls this spring, Wehunt posted a 4.83 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 80 strikeouts to 23 walks over 76 1/3 innings in which opposing hitters batted .279 against him.

A native of Georgia, Wehunt stands at an imposing 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds. According to SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall, the righty throws from a three-quarters arm slot and works with a low-90s sinker that is complemented by a low-80s changeup. With those two offerings, he regularly throws strikes and induces ground balls.

Wehunt, who turns 23 in November, is the fifth pitcher drafted by Boston within the club’s first 11 selections. The 268th overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a recommended slot value of $178,600.

(Picture of Blake Wehunt: Kennesaw State University Athletics)

Red Sox select Ball State right-hander Trennor O’Donnell with eighth-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Ball State right-hander Trennor O’Donnell with their eighth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 238 overall.

O’Donnell posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 97 strikeouts to 32 walks in 16 appearances (15 starts) spanning 92 innings of work for the Cardinals this season. The 22-year-old senior held opposing hitters to a .214 batting average against and was named to the All-MAC Second Team.

Listed at an intimidating 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, O’Donnell operates with a fastball that sits between 90-92 mph as well as a slider, per SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall. The Dallas-area native becomes the fourth pitcher taken by Boston in this draft, joining the likes of fourth-rounder Matt Duffy, fifth-rounder Connelly Early, and sixth-rounder CJ Weins.

Considering that he is a senior, O’Donnell will likely sign for less than his recommended slot value of $201,000. That would allow the Red Sox to save money and possibly make a splash elsewhere with one of their other picks.

(Picture of Trennor O’Donnell: Ball State University Athletics)

Red Sox select Alabama outfielder Caden Rose with seventh-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Alabama outfielder Caden Rose with their seventh-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 208 overall.

Rose, 21, batted .261/.383/.503 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBIs, 45 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 26 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 48 games (186 plate appearances) for the Crimson Tide this past season. Despite dealing with injuries throughout the spring, the right-handed hitting junior still produced and was named to the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional All-Tournament Team.

Defensively, Rose saw the majority of his playing time at Alabama come at either second base or center field. This season, the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder did not commit a single error in 105 chances.

A native of Alabama himself, Rose was a standout two-sport athlete who played both baseball and football at Bob Jones High School. He even received an offer to play quarterback at Nebraska back in 2018, but he turned that down and ultimately emerged as one of the top prep shortstop prospects in the state before arriving on campus at Tuscaloosa.

Maybe it’s because of the arm strength from playing baseball and football in high school, but the consensus seems to be that Rose should be able to stick in center field for the time being.

Rose, who turns 22 in October, is the sixth position player to be taken by Boston within the club’s first nine picks.  The 208th overall selection in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $250,300.

(Picture of Caden Rose: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox select Western Kentucky righty CJ Weins with sixth-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Western Kentucky right-hander CJ Weins with their sixth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 178 overall.

Weins, who turns 23 next month, spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Wabash Valley Community College before transferring and spending two more seasons at the University of South Carolina.

After entering the transfer portal last May, Weins ultimately ended up at Western Kentucky as a graduate student. In 27 appearances for the Hilltoppers this past season, the 22-year-old righty posted a 4.25 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 42 strikeouts to eight walks over 31 innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .170 batting average against.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Weins throws from a low slot and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball as well as a curveball and a slider, per SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall. The Chicago-area native also has experience closing out eight games, as he racked up eight saves for Western Kentucky this spring.

Weins is the third pitcher Boston has taken in the draft alongside fourth-rounder Matt Duffy (Canisius) and fifth-rounder Connelly Early (Virginia). Given that he has no eligibility remaining, the Red Sox will likely be able to sign Weins to a below-slot bonus and and some money for other picks.

On that note, the 178th overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $320,200.

(PIcture of CJ Weins: Western Kentucky University Athletics)

Red Sox select Virginia lefty Connelly Early with fifth-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Virginia left-hander Connelly Early with their fifth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 151 overall.

Early, 21, posted a 3.09 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with exactly 100 strikeouts to 23 walks in 19 appearances (18 starts) spanning 87 1/3 innings of work for Virginia as a junior this past season and was a third-team All-ACC selection as a result.

A native of Midlothian, Va., Early spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Army. As a sophomore, the lefty earned 2022 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year honors before transferring to Virginia last August.

In his lone season with the Cavaliers, Early was battery mates with catcher Kyle Teel, who the Red Sox drafted with the 14th overall pick on Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound southpaw throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball, a sweeping slider, a curveball, and a changeup that is viewed as his best secondary offering.

Early, who does not turn 22 until next April, is the second pitcher Boston has taken alongside fourth-rounder Matt Duffy (Canisius). The 151st overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $408,500.

(Picture of Connelly Early: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Red Sox draft Wright State shortstop Justin Riemer with compensation pick for Nathan Eovaldi

The Red Sox have selected Wright state shortstop Justin Riemer with the 133rd overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Boston received that pick as compensation for extending a qualifying offer to and then losing longtime starter Nathan Eovaldi to the Rangers in free agency over the winter.

Riemer was taken back-to-back with Georgia Tech shortstop Kristian Campbell in between the fourth and fifth rounds of the draft. The switch-hitting 21-year-old tore his ACL in early March and saw his stock drop.

Prior to suffering the season-ending knee injury, though, Riemer had gotten his redshirt sophomore campaign off to a strong start, batting .323/.563/.645 with one double, three home runs, seven RBIs, 12 runs scored three stolen bases, 15 walks, and just two strikeouts in his first 12 games (48 plate appearances) for the Raiders.

In 2022, Riemer was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team and Horizon League All-Tournament Team after slashing .329/.454/.459 with two homers and 27 RBIs across 44 games (185 plate appearances) in his debut season with Wright State.

Defensively, Riemer has experience at both middle infield positions. Last season, for instance, the 6-foot, 170-pounder out of Arlington, Va. made 30 appearances at second base and 16 appearances at shortstop.

“I love playing both spots and the responsibility that comes with playing both spots,” Riemer told the Baseball Prospect Journal’s Dan Zielinski III back in March. “I’m really comfortable at both for different reasons, but I love the middle infield.”

As noted by Zielinski III, Riemer is well-regarded for his elite bat-to-ball skills as well as a sound approach at the plate in which he rarely expands the strike zone. He also has the ability to consistently square up baseballs from the right side — his natural side — of the plate.

“My biggest strengths right now are my bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline,” Riemer said. “They are things I take very seriously and something I knew I did a good job on last year, given my strikeout percentage. I can play it to my advantage, and I worked on it this offseason to do even better.”

Riemer, who does not turn 22 until next February, is the fifth position player taken by Boston within the club’s first six picks. The 133rd overall selection in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $487,800.

(Picture of Justin Riemer: Wright State University Athletics)

Red Sox draft Georgia Tech shortstop Kristian Campbell with compensation pick for Xander Bogaerts

The Red Sox have selected Georgia Tech shortstop Kristian Campbell with the 132nd overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Boston received that pick as compensation for extending a qualifying offer to and then losing longtime shortstop Xander Bogaerts to the Padres in free agency over the winter.

Campbell, 21, was regarded by Baseball America as the No. 255 prospect in this year’s draft class. After redshirting as a freshman in 2022, the right-handed hitter batted .376/.484/.549 with 16 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 24 RBIs, 50 runs scored, four stolen bases, 17 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 45 games (217 plate appearances) for the Yellow Jackets this past season.

A native of Georgia himself, Campbell’s “calling card is his elite contact rate,” per his Baseball America scouting report. He “crowds the plate and hits against a slightly closed off front side. He has plus hand speed that allows him to turn on pitches that sometimes look like they might hit him, and sprays the ball all over the yard.”

Elsewhere, the 6-foot-3, 203-pounder “is a plus runner and while it is yet to be seen where he fits best defensively, whether that be on the dirt or in the outfield, his profile is a bit similar to Georgia Tech’s 2022 slash-and-dash specialist Chandler Simpson. Campbell isn’t quite the runner Simpson is, and his power ceiling is certainly higher given his wiry frame, but he has some of the same defensive questions as Simpson did. Regardless, Campbell’s speed will help him succeed in an outfield spot if that is where an organization decides to use him.”

Campbell, who does not turn 22 until next June, becomes the fourth position player taken by Boston within the club’s first five picks. The 132nd overall selection in this year’s draft comes with a recommended slot value of $492,700.

(Picture of Kristian Campbell: Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox select high school shortstop Antonio Anderson with third pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected North Atlanta High School shortstop Antonio Anderson with their third-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 83 overall.

Anderson, 18, was regarded by Baseball America as the No. 68 prospect in this year’s draft class. The Peach State native is currently committed to play college baseball at Georgia Teach.

A switch-hitter, Anderson batted .438/.522/.723 with 10 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 51 RBIs, 32 runs scored, four stolen bases, 23 walks, and 15 strikeouts in 34 games for North Atlanta this spring, per his MaxPreps page.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Anderson “is a polished hitter who understands the strike zone and recognizes pitches well,” according to his Baseball America scouting report. He “has a smooth stroke from both sides with good rhythm and balance. He shows more in-game power from the left side, but scouts think he has more raw power as a righthanded hitter. He’s got a chance for above-average on-base skills with above-average power potential as he fills out a frame that should get taller and stronger.”

Defensively, Anderson may have to eventually move off shortstop on account of being a “fringy runner who projects to be below-average in the future.” Because of the lack of quick-twitch actions, Anderson “might profile better at third base. He has solid arm strength and has been into the low 90s as a pitcher, with reliable hands and actions as well that could suit the hot corner.”

Anderson, who does not turn 19 until next May, becomes the second straight high school infielder drafted by the Red Sox. Boston closed out Day 1 of the draft on Sunday night by taking Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis, Mo.) shortstop Nazzan Zanetello with its second-round (50th overall) pick.

Assuming he signs by the July 25 deadline, Anderson will likely join Zanetello in beginning his professional career at the rookie-level Florida Complex League in Fort Myers. The slot value for the 83rd overall selection in this year’s draft is $846,800.

The Red Sox have nine more picks to make on Monday. They will be making their fourth-round selection at No. 115 overall momentarily.

(Picture of Antioni Anderson: Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox to promote pitching prospect Luis Perales to High-A Greenville

With Wikelman Gonzalez making the jump to Double-A Portland, the Red Sox are promoting fellow pitching prospect Luis Perales from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster.

Perales, 20, posted a 3.21 ERA and 3.12 FIP with 71 strikeouts to 28 walks in 13 starts spanning 53 1/3 innings of work for Salem this season. The right-hander ended the first half on a strong note, firing five scoreless frames for the second outing in a row as part of an 11-0 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Saturday.

Among 47 Carolina League pitchers who came into play Sunday with at least 50 innings under their belt to this point in the season, Perales ranked 10th in strikeouts per nine innings (11.98), 11th in strikeout rate (31.4 percent), ninth in batting average against (.193), first in swinging-strike rate (17.1 percent), 15th in ERA, seventh in FIP, and 15th in xFIP (3.57), per FanGraphs.

Like Gonzalez, Perales also hails from Venezuela. The Guacara native originally signed with the Red Sox for $75,000 as an international free agent in July 2019. He is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 10 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks third among pitchers in the organization behind only left-handers Shane Drohan and Brandon Walter and directly ahead of Gonzalez.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, Perales throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. According to his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the righty utilizes a three-pitch mix that is headlined by a 94-97 mph fastball that tops out at 99 mph and complemented by a power slider that sits in the mid-80s as well as a developing changeup that hovers in the upper-80s.

Coming out of the All-Star break later this week, Perales figures to join a starting rotation in Greenville that includes fellow righties Angel Bastardo, Juan Daniel Encarnacion, and Bradley Blalock as well as left-hander Dalton Rogers.

As is the case with Gonzalez, Perales — who does not turn 21 next April — can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter if the Red Sox do not add him to their 40-man roster by the protection deadline in November.

(Picture of Luis Perales: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote prospects Blaze Jordan, Wikelman Gonzalez to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox are promoting power-hitting infield prospect Blaze Jordan and pitching prospect Wikelman Gonzalez from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, as was first reported by Hunter Noll of Beyond the Monster.

Jordan, 20, batted a stout .324/.385/.533 with 22 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, 48 runs scored, two stolen bases, 28 walks, and 47 strikeouts in 73 games (322 plate appearances) for Greenville this season. The right-handed hitting slugger clubbed a three-run homer in the Drive’s 7-3 win over the Rome Braves at Fluor Field on Sunday afternoon.

Among qualified South Atlantic League hitters, Jordan ranks first in batting average, 12th in on-base percentage, third in slugging percentage, fourth in OPS (.918), eighth in isolated power (.209), third in strikeout rate (14.6 percent), first in extra-base hits (35), and first in total bases (153), per MiLB.com’s leaderboards.

Defensively, Jordan saw playing time at both first and third base for Greenville this season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder logged 300 innings at first and 301 2/3 innings at the hot corner, committing five errors (all at third) in 319 total defensive chances.

Originally selected by the Red Sox in the third round of the pandemic-shortened 2020 amateur draft out of DeSoto Central High School (Southaven, Miss.), Jordan is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 16 prospect in Boston’s farm system.

In making the jump from Greenville to Portland, Jordan will join a crowded crowded corner infield mix that already includes Niko Kavadas, Alex Binelas, Chase Meidroth, and Matthew Lugo. How Jordan adjusts to more advanced pitching at the Double-A level will be something worth monitoring during the second half of the season.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 12 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks fourth among pitchers in the organization. The native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $250,000 as an international free agent coming out of Maracay in July 2018.

In 15 starts for Greenville this season, Gonzalez posted a 5.14 ERA and 3.56 FIP with a league-leading 105 strikeouts to 42 walks over 63 innings of work. Prior to getting lit up for seven runs in his last start against Rome this past Wednesday, the 21-year-old right-hander had forged a 2.55 ERA in 10 starts (49 1/3 innings) between May 2 and June 30.

Much like Jordan, Gonzalez will be tested as he goes up against stiffer competition moving forward. The 6-foot, 167-pound hurler possesses an intriguing pitch mix that consists of an upper-90s fastball, an upper-80s changeup, an upper-70s curveball, and an upper-80s slider. He has had issues with his command of the strike zone in the past, though he appears to be improving on that.

Unlike Jordan, Gonzalez can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter. Assuming he is still with the organization, the Red Sox would need to add him to their 40-man roster by the protection deadline in November in order to prevent that from happening.

(Picture of Blaze Jordan: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)