With two stolen bases for Low-A Salem on Sunday, Red Sox outfield prospect Andrews Opata set a new franchise modern-era (since 2004) record for steals in a single season.
Opata stole his 40th and 41st bases of the season in a 13-3 series-ending loss to Augusta. In doing so, the 22-year-old speedster surpassed the previous modern-era franchise record of 40, set by Matty Johnson in 2014.
Sunday marked Opata’s second straight three-hit game. Since July 2, the right-handed hitter is batting .318/.380/.476 with one double, three home runs, 14 RBIs, 11 runs scored, eight stolen bases, six walks, and 16 strikeouts over his last 15 games (71 plate appearances). Overall, he is slashing .254/.361/.377 with 10 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 55 runs scored, 41 stolen bases (in 48 attempts), 45 walks, and 100 strikeouts in 76 games (335 plate appearances) for Salem this season. That includes a .211/.370/.509 line in 73 plate appearances against lefties and a .264/.359/.344 line in 262 plate appearances against righties.
Opata’s 41 stolen bases on the season are the second-most in the Red Sox system (behind only Braiden Ward’s 43 for Triple-A Worcester) and third-most in the Carolina League. He also ranks second among the league’s 58 qualified hitters in wSB (4.1), fifth in speed score (8.2), 22nd in on-base percentage, and 23rd in batting average and walk rate (13.4%), according to FanGraphs.
Defensively, Opata has spent most of his season in the outfield corners for Salem. In 50 starts in right field, the athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has committed three errors and recorded three assists in 101 chances across 433 2/3 innings. In 25 starts in left field, he has committed one error and recorded one assist in 55 chances across 222 1/3 innings. He has also made one start at DH.
An undrafted free agent out of Division II North Georgia, Opata is in his first full professional campaign. Instead of transferring to Kennesaw State for what would have been his senior season, the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year signed with the Red Sox for $75,000 last July. After appearing in three Grapefruit League games this spring (and hitting a home run), he officially debuted with Salem in early April.
Opata, who turns 23 in December, is not ranked among Boston’s top prospects by SoxProspects.com. The outlet describes him as a “selective” hitter with “plus speed” and “excellent” baserunning skills. Given how he has fared with Salem as of late, it would not be surprising to see Opata earn a late-season promotion to High-A Greenville for the stretch run.
(Picture of Andrews Opata: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)
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