Tag: mlb draft

How did Henry Godbout, top position player drafted by Red Sox this summer, fare in professional debut?

Henry Godbout was the first of six position players drafted by the Red Sox over the summer. This article will examine how the 21-year-old infielder fared in his professional debut this season.

Godbout was taken out of Virginia with the 75th overall pick in the 2025 draft, which the Red Sox had received as compensation for losing qualified free agent Nick Pivetta to the Padres in free agency last winter. Fresh off earning Second Team All-ACC honors in his junior season with the Cavaliers, the New York native signed with Boston for an at-slot $1.0938 million on July 22.

“Really good instincts, really good action,” Red Sox director of amateur scouting Devin Pearson said of Godbout when speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) following the draft. “They shift a lot at Virginia, but he’s able to cover a lot of ground and has worked both sides of the [second base] bag. We’re betting on the athlete here to be able to do both.

“Makes a ton of contact,” Pearson continued, “super athletic and fits our development strengths in terms of being able to tap into some more power.

After putting pen to paper in Fort Myers, Fla., and spending the remainder of July at the Red Sox’ Fenway South complex, Godbout reported straight to High-A Greenville (as opposed to Low-A Salem) and made his pro debut at Fluor Field on August 6. The right-handed hitter then went 6-for-17 (.353) with three doubles, two RBIs, four runs scored, six walks, and three strikeouts in his first six games with the Drive before suffering a hamstring injury in Greensboro on August 14.

Following an 11-day stint on the injured list, Godbout returned to action on August 28 and closed out the season by going 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles, three RBIs, two runs scored, one stolen base, three walks, and three strikeouts in his final seven games of the 2025 campaign as Greenville came up just short of qualifying for a spot in the South Atlantic League playoffs.

Overall, Godbout batted .341/.473/.477 with six doubles, five RBIs, six runs scored, one stolen base, nine walks, and six strikeouts in 13 games (55 plate appearances) for the Drive. That includes a .333/.455/.667 slash line against left-handed pitching and a .343/.477/.429 slash line against right-handed pitching.

It is a small sample size, but Godbout was one of 261 hitters to accrue at least 55 plate appearances in the South Atlantic League this year. Among those 261, he ranked third in batting average and on-base percentage, fourth in strikeout rate (10.9 percent), fifth in OPS (.950), wOBA (.452), and wRC+ (182), sixth in swinging-strike rate (5.6 percent), 14th in slugging percentage, 21st in walk rate (16.4 percent), 76th in isolated power (.136), and 85th in line-drive rate (23.7 percent), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Godbout unsurprisingly split his playing time with Greenville between second base and shortstop. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder logged 55 innings at second and 22 innings at short without committing a single error in 19 total chances. He also made three starts at DH.

On the heels of making a positive first impression in his pro debut, Godbout is already regarded among the top prospects in Boston’s farm system by numerous outlets. He is ranked No. 19 by MLB Pipeline, No. 21 by Baseball America, and No. 23 by SoxProspects.com, respectively.

Godbout, who turns 22 in November, is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Greenville for the start of the 2026 season. With a full offseason of developmental opportunities ahead of him, he could emerge as an even more intriguing prospect as well as a quick riser within the organization next year.

(Picture of Henry Godbout: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox two-way prospect identified as potential 2025 breakout candidate

The Red Sox have several prospects who could break out in 2025, including those who have yet to make their professional debuts.

Conrad Cason, the club’s eighth-round selection in last summer’s draft, is one such name to watch. MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo, and Sam Dykstra recently identified the two-way talent as a potential breakout candidate within Boston’s farm system this year.

Cason, 18, was taken with the 237th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Greater Atlanta Christian School. The Georgia native forwent his commitment to Mississippi State by signing with the Red Sox for a well over-slot $1.25 million. However, he did not play for one of Boston’s minor-league affiliates after putting pen to paper at Fenway Park on July 29.

To cap off his high school career at Greater Atlanta Christian, Cason shined as both a pitcher and a shortstop en route to earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Georgia last spring. On the mound, the right-hander posted a 0.48 ERA with 99 strikeouts over 43 2/3 innings. At the plate, the right-handed hitter batted .364/.519/.545 with three home runs, 28 RBIs, 32 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases.

As a senior, Cason flashed a three-pitch mix that consisted of a 93-95 mph fastball that reached 97-98 mph, a low-80s split-grip changeup, and a tight slider with similar velocity, per his MLB.com scouting report. The athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pounder also possesses solid speed and power potential, which he put on display while showcasing his abilities as a shortstop at the MLB Draft Combine.

Though most teams preferred him as a pitcher during the pre-draft process, the Red Sox will provide Cason with an avenue to develop on both sides of the ball at the outset of his pro career. Devin Pearson, Boston’s director of amateur scouting, made that much clear when speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) shortly after Cason was drafted.

“Our group was actually a little bit split on it. We had some guys that liked him better as a pitcher and other guys that liked him better as a hitter,” Pearson said. “On both sides, you have an elite athlete who can throw 100 mph and hit balls very far. We will take that bet and see where he best fits but we’re going to develop him as a two-way player.”

Cason, who does not turn 19 until August, comes into the new year ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 15 prospect in Boston’s farm system. He is currently projected by SoxProspects.com (which has him ranked 16th) to open the 2025 minor-league season at Low-A Salem. How his workload is managed will presumably come into focus closer to Opening Day.

(Picture of Conrad Cason via his Instagram)

Brandon Neely enters MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Red Sox prospects list

After the Red Sox traded Elmer Rodriguez to the Yankees last week, fellow right-hander Brandon Neely entered the club’s Top 30 prospects list on MLB Pipeline.

Neely is now regarded by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 30 prospect, which ranks 17th among pitchers in the organization. The 21-year-old was selected by the Red Sox in the third round (86th overall) of this past summer’s draft out of Florida. He signed for an under-slot $700,000 but has yet to make his professional debut.

A native of Seville, Fla., Neely spent three seasons with the Gators after going undrafted out of high school in 2021. After recording a conference-leading 13 saves and earning First Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore in 2023, the righty worked as both a starter and reliever in his junior season.

In 28 appearances (six starts) for Florida this past spring, Neely posted a 5.13 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 108 strikeouts to 28 walks over a staff-leading 79 innings in which opposing hitters batted .242 against him. He proved to be a stabilizing force for the Gators in their march toward the College World Series and was named to the Stillwater Regional All-Tournament Team as a result.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Neely throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his quick delivery. He currently sits between 92-95 mph and touches 97 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a mid-80s slider and upper-80s changeup, per his MLB Pipeline scouting report.

Neely, who does not turn 22 until next July, is projected by SoxProspects.com to open the 2025 season at High-A Greenville. While the Red Sox will develop him as a starter out of the gate, there is a strong chance that Neely will ultimately move to the bullpen in the long run given his mechanics, repertoire, and competitive nature.

“We see [the] starter upside, with the ability to create a lot of different shapes and velocity,” Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson said of Neely when speaking with reporters (including The Boston Globe’s Sarah Barber) following the draft. “He’s a guy we’re really excited to add to our organization and let our pitching department work with.”

(Picture of Brandon Neely: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ 16th-round pick Griffin Kilander recognized for strong pro debut

Of the 20 amateurs the Red Sox drafted and signed over the summer, only five saw official in-game action before the 2024 minor-league season drew to a close.

Griffin Kilander, Boston’s 16th-round selection out of Division II Wayne State (Detroit, Mich.), had arguably the strongest professional debut within that group. Carlos Collazo wrote as much in Baseball America’s Red Sox 2024 MLB Draft Report Card, which was published on Monday.

Kilander, a 21-year-old right-hander, was one of 14 pitchers taken by the Red Sox in July’s draft, the first under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The 477th overall pick signed with the club for an under-slot bonus of $60,000 on July 27 and made his pro debut with Low-A Salem less than three weeks later.

Having already thrown 81 innings in his junior season with Wayne State (and an additional 10 1/3 innings in the Northwoods League), Kilander was obviously not going to be pushed in his first taste of affiliated ball. The 2024 Second Team All-GLIAC selection appeared in three games for Salem, allowing one earned run on one hit, three walks, and six strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings of relief.

After tossing 5 1/3 consecutive scoreless, no-hit frames to begin his professional career, Kilander gave up his only run as part of an erratic outing that included four wild pitches in Salem’s penultimate game against Kannapolis on September 7. Altogether, the Michigan native finished the year with a 1.23 ERA and 3.17 FIP in his brief cameo with the Red Sox’ Carolina League affiliate.

Listed at a projectable 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Kilander’s pitch mix is highlighted by a low-90s fastball that has been clocked at 94 mph. The athletic righty made strides with his entire arsenal this spring, as Wayne State pitching coach Eric Bezel told Jonathan Szczepaniak of the Royal Oak Review in July.

“A big point of emphasis for Griffin this year was commanding the breaking ball and throwing it more often for a strike early in counts,” Bezel said. “The year before, Griffin would have to rely on his fastball early in counts, resulting in more balls being put in play. Showing that he could throw a breaking ball for a strike more consistently made the fastball more effective later in counts, resulting in more swing and miss. In addition to this emphasis on breaking ball execution, Griffin also saw an increase in average (velocity) on all his pitches due to him putting on about 15 pounds of good weight from his sophomore year to junior year.”

Kilander, who does not turn 22 until next June, is not currently ranked by publications such as Baseball America or MLB Pipeline as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. He is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Salem for the start of the 2025 season but could be a fast riser through the organization if he continues to be used in a relief role moving forward.

(Picture of Griffin Kilander: Gary Streiffer/Flickr)

Red Sox officially sign top draft pick Kyle Teel

The Red Sox have officially signed 2023 first-round draft selection Kyle Teel, the club announced earlier Friday afternoon.

Teel, who is at Fenway Park to take batting practice ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Mets, received a $4 million signing bonus, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. The slot value for the 14th overall pick in this year’s draft was $4,633,100.

Boston took Teel with its first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft earlier this month. The Virginia product was regarded by Baseball America as the No. 10 prospect in this summer’s class, which ranked first among draft-eligible catchers.

“Kyle is a guy that we had very high on our board for obvious reasons,” Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson said of Teel in a team-released statement. “He had an unbelievable 2023 season offensively and is arguably one of the best college athletes in the draft. We think he’s going to be really valuable for us. We’re excited to add an athletic catcher to the system, and we were thrilled to get him with the 14th pick.”

Teel, 21, spent the last three seasons at Virginia after taking himself out of draft consideration in 2020 despite being regarded as a top-100 talent coming out of Mahwah High School in New Jersey. This past spring, the left-handed hitting junior batted a stout .407/.475/.655 with 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 69 RBIs, 67 runs scored, five stolen bases, 32 walks, and 36 strikeouts in 65 games (297 plate appearances) with the Cavaliers.

Defensively, Teel made 65 starts at catcher this season and caught all but 23 innings for the Hoos. In that time frame, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound backstop threw out 15 of 24 possible base stealers. Between what he did on both sides of the ball, Teel was named the 2023 ACC Player of the Year as well as a consensus first team All-American.

While he has past experience in the outfield, it appears as though the Red Sox are committed to developing Teel as a catcher moving forward. As such, he will undoubtedly emerge as the top catching prospect in Boston’s farm system ahead of the likes of Nathan Hickey, Johanfran Garcia, Brooks Brannon, and Enderso Lira, among others.

Teel, who does not turn 22 until next February, is the first catcher the Red Sox have taken in the first round of a draft since Blake Swihart, who was selected 26th overall in 2011. He is also the first college player Boston has used a first-round pick on since 2017, when Missouri right-hander Tanner Houck was taken with the 24th overall pick.

In addition to Teel, the Red Sox announced that they signed 13 additional 2023 draft picks in fourth-rounder Matt Duffy, compensatory fourth-rounder Kristian Campbell, fifth-rounder Connelly Early, sixth-rounder, CJ Weins, seventh-rounder Caden Rose, eight-rounder Trennor O’Donnell, ninth-rounder Blake Wehunt, 10th-rounder Ryan Ammons, 12th-rounder Max Carlson, 13th-rounder Cade Feeney, 14th-rounder Jojo Ingrassia, 16th-rounder Isaac Stebens, and 18th-rounder Zach Fogell.

Of the eight players who have yet to officially sign, second-rounder Nazzan Zanetello is arguably the most notable. That being said, the 18-year-old shortstop out of Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis, Mo.) is expected to forego his commitment to Arkansas by putting pen to paper in Boston on Saturday, per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

(Picture of Kyle Teel: Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

Red Sox select high school righty Robert Orloski with final pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Middleton (Idaho) High School right-hander Robert Orloski with their 20th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 598 overall.

Orloski was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 465 prospect in this year’s draft class. The 18-year-old righty is currently committed to play college baseball at Texas-San Antonio.

Orloski is looking to become the first high school pitcher out of Idaho to sign with a club after being drafted in the bonus pool era. The Gem State native is coming off a dominant senior season in which he went 7-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 92 strikeouts to 19 walks in 11 appearances spanning 56 innings of work. He was named the Gatorade Idaho Baseball Player of the Year for his efforts.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Orloski “has a high-energy windup and fast arm, with a few moving parts and some effort throughout his finish,” per his Baseball America scouting report. “He has mostly pitched in the 88-92 mph range, but will sit in the low 90s early in starts with bat-missing qualities to his fastball.

“During the 2022 Area Code Games, Orloski showed a 79-81 mph slurvy breaking ball that varied in shape but lacked hard bite, though scouts this spring have spoken more positively about his breaking ball and think it could become a solid secondary pitch. He has also flashed a decent low-80s changeup that has shown well versus left-handers.”

Speaking with Michael Lycklama of the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday, Orloski said that the Red Sox scouted him “heavily” throughout his high school career. He also indicated that the club has yet to offer the kind of money he is looking for with the signing deadline a little less than two weeks away.

“It’s all good,” Orloski said. “I’m still kind of waiting. I haven’t received the money I wanted. So we are still waiting to see if I can get that. If not, I’ll go to college.”

Orloski, who turns 19 in October, is likely in search of a bonus that exceeds the slot value for his pick ($150,000). The Red Sox can offer him more than that, but they would have to dip into their bonus pool in order to do so.

When speaking with reporters (including The Boston Globe’s Greg McKenna) on Tuesday, Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson said he was unsure whether the club would be able to sign Orloski — as well as 15th-rounder Phoenix Call — away from their college commitments

Regardless of that, Orloski is the first prep pitcher Boston has drafted since 2021, when it took Puerto Rican righty Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz in the fourth round out of Leadership Christian Academy.

That concludes this year’s installment of the draft. All told, the Red Sox took eight right-handed pitchers, four left-handed pitchers, five infielders, four outfielders, and one catcher over this three-day period. Of Boston’s 22 selections, 16 are out of college, one is out of junior college, and five are out of high school.

The Red Sox have $10,295,100 in bonus pool money to work with this year. As highlighted by SoxProspects.com’s Mike Andrews, they can spend past that amount but would incur different penalties in doing so.

For instance, if the Red Sox exceed their pool by 0-5%, they will be charged a 75% tax on the excess. If they exceed their pool 5-10%, they will pay the same tax and will also lose its first-round pick next season. If they exceed their pool by 10-15%, they will be charged a 100% tax on the excess and lose their first- and second-round picks next season. And if they exceed their pool by more than 15%, they will be charged a 100% tax on the excess and lose their next two first-round picks.

The signing deadline is 5 p.m. eastern time on July 25.

(Picture of Robert Orloski: Darin Oswald/The Idaho Statesman)

Red Sox select Texas A&M outfielder Stanley Tucker with 19th-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Texas A&M outfielder Stanley Tucker with their 19th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 568 overall.

Tucker, 21, appeared in just 20 games and made three starts for the Aggies this past season, going 6-for-22 (.273) at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, eight runs scored, four stolen bases, five walks, and six strikeouts. The right-handed hitter also played for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the MLB Draft League earlier this summer, slashing .211/.357/.333 with one home run and seven RBIs in 18 games.

A Texas native himself, Tucker originally begin his collegiate career at Wharton County Junior College in 2021 and then transferred to New Mexico Junior College, where he hit .407/.487/.785 with 20 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 90 RBIs, 82 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, 34 walks, and 36 strikeouts over 58 games (262 plate appearances) en route to being named a 2022 NJCAA First Team All-American.

On the heels of that productive sophomore campaign, Tucker took part in a pre-draft workout that was hosted by the Red Sox in San Diego last June, so there should already be some familiarity between the two sides.

Though he is listed as an outfielder, Tucker does have experience at shortstop as well. With Williamsport, for instance, the 5-foot-9, 165-pounder logged 94 2/3 innings at short while making three starts in center field. He also possesses plus speed and is well-regarded for his athleticism.

Tucker had entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2023 college baseball season. As such, he has another year of eligibility remaining and is therefore not a sure bet to go pro by signing with Boston. The Red Sox can offer Tucker up to $150,000 without it counting toward their bonus pool.

(Picture of Stanley Tucker: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox select high school outfielder Dylan Schlaegel with 17th-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Legacy High School (Mansfield, Texas) outfielder Dylan Schlaegel with their 17th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 508 overall.

Schlaegel, 18, is currently committed to play college baseball at Dallas Baptist. The right-handed hitter batted .391/.641/.739 with four doubles, two triples, six RBIs, 14 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 14 walks, and four strikeouts in 10 games (39 plate appearances) this spring, earning District 11-6A Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Schlaegel is athletic outfielder who runs well and possesses quick bat speed, per SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall. He also pitched a little bit in high school, so there could be some intriguing arm strength there.

Schlaegel, who turns 19 in September, is the fourth high school prospect to be taken by Boston within the club’s first 19 picks in this year’s draft. The Red Sox can only offer the Lone Star State native up to $150,000 without dipping into their bonus pool, so it may be difficult to sign him away from his commitment to the Patriots.

(Top picture: Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Red Sox select Oklahoma State reliever Isaac Stebens with 16th-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Oklahoma State right-hander Isaac Stebens with their 16th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 478 overall.

Stebens, 21, began his collegiate career and spent two seasons at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kan., where he was a JUCO All-American and two-time all-conference selection. The Stillwater native then walked on at Oklahoma State for his junior season, allowing him to fulfill a dream and be closer to home.

In 28 relief appearances for the Cowboys this spring, Stebens posted a 2.24 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 85 strikeouts to 24 walks over 64 1/3 innings in which he held opposing hitters to a .212 batting average against. He also recorded six saves and earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors.

Listed at 6-feet and 194 pounds, Stebens has a funky delivery and operates with a fastball that reaches 95 mph, a high-70s slider, and a changeup. He has shown the ability to induce swings-and-misses at impressive rates.

Stebens, who turns 22 in December, is the 10th pitcher Boston has taken with its first 18 picks in the draft. With at least one more year of eligibility remaining, Stebens has the option to return to Oklahoma State for his senior season. If he is intent on going pro now, the Red Sox can offer him up to $150,00 without dipping into their bonus pool.

(Picture of Isaac Stebens: Oklahoma State University Athletics)

Red Sox select high school SS/OF Phoenix Call with 15th-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Calabasas (Calif.) High School shortstop/outfielder Phoenix Call with their 15th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 448 overall.

After going pitcher-heavy to kick off Day 3, Boston dips back into the prep shortstop pool and takes one of the best high school infielders in the state of California in Call, who is committed to play college baseball at UCLA.

Call was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 253 prospect in this year’s draft class. The publication described the right-handed hitting 18-year-old as “athletic and toolsy with 70-grade run times from home-to-first from the right side, as well as plus arm strength and sneaky power from his 6-foot, 170-pound frame.”

Elsewhere, Call “has a chance to play both center field and shortstop, though scouts seem split on which position is most likely at the next level. Questions about his pure hitting ability could ultimately determine his draft status, and because he didn’t dominate his high school competition this spring and wasn’t on the circuit much, many teams might prefer he prove his offensive chops at UCLA.”

When speaking with reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) on Tuesday, Red Sox amateur scouting director Devin Pearson acknowledged that it may be difficult for the club to sway Call away from his commitment to the Bruins.

“Yeah, we’ll kind of see how that one falls,” Pearson said. “I think, as you guys know, a lot of things can happen post-draft, and having as many options as you can with good athletes to try to sign is what our goal is. Phoenix has a UCLA commitment, so it’s not going to be an easy sign by many means, but we’ll just kind of see how things play out.

“He’s one of the rare types where he has the ability to be a plus center fielder and a plus shortstop,” added Pearson. “He’s one of the best high school defenders I’ve ever seen.”

As a 15th-round selection, the Red Sox can offer Call up to $150,000 without it counting toward their bonus pool. Based on what Pearson said, however, it would likely take significantly more than that to get Call to go pro now as opposed to three years down the road.

Regardless, Call — who turns 19 next month — is the third high school shortstop selected by Boston in this draft, joining the likes of second-rounder Nazzan Zanetello and third-rounder Antonio Anderson.

(Top picture: Alika Jenner/Getty Images)