2023 Prospects

[Bellhorn04]

BA has a long history of considering Japanese free agents as prospects. They also put 31yo Kosuke Fukudome on their list at one point…

Did they do the same with Cuban signees like Jose Abreu?

[mvp 78]

Did they do the same with Cuban signees like Jose Abreu?

Yes, BA ranked Abreu 29th prior to the 2014 season. It's just a quirk of the system.

[notin]

Yes, BA ranked Abreu 29th prior to the 2014 season. It's just a quirk of the system.

And Moncada was #3 in 2016 and #2 in 2017…

[moonslav59]

And Moncada was #3 in 2016 and #2 in 2017…

The two situations were a little different, but yes, not just Japanese players are ranked as prospects.

Mocada was 18 when he left the Cuban league. Abreu played until age 25.

[mvp 78]

And Moncada was #3 in 2016 and #2 in 2017…

Probably due to their respective ages? Get dinged if you're on the older side?

[moonslav59]

Sox Prospects, recent grads and players under 28 and with 3+ years of team control by position:

Pitchers
19 Perales, Rodriguez-Cruz, Paez
20 Wikelman
22 L Guerrero
23 Bello, Mata, Uberstine
24 German, Winckowski, Murphy
26 Whitlock, Houck, Walter, Crawford
27 Kelly

C
18 Brannon
23 Hickey
25 RHern
26 Wong
27 McGuire

1B
20 Jordan
22 Casas
24 Kavadas
27 Dalbec

2B
18 Coffey
20 Yorke, Paulino (OF), Bonaci
24 EValdez
25 Hamilton
27 Arroyo

SS
16 L Arredondo
17 Y Cespedes, F Arias, Y Ruiz
19 Mayer
19 Romero

3B
21 Lugo
24 Koss
26 Devers

OF
18 Bleis, Anthony
22 Rafaela
23 WAbreu
25 Duran
26 Verdugo

[notin]

Probably due to their respective ages? Get dinged if you're on the older side?

Assuming so…

[mvp 78]

https://www.mlb.com/news/bryan-mata-...eline-coverage

At Red Sox Winter Weekend a few days ago, Sale was asked which of the team’s prospects excited him the most.

“I'm biased, because I'm a pitcher, but I love watching Mata throw,” Sale said. “I was there with him [in Fort Myers, Fla.] during his rehab process during Tommy John. We rehabbed together, and I saw him really turn a corner. The power he possesses, the ease that it looks like he's throwing with. Not for nothing, man, that dude's smile can light up a room. He's a fun guy to be around. He's a good teammate. You can tell, just how he operates, he really wants it.”

Mata, in Boston this week for the Rookie Development Program the Red Sox are holding, lit up when Sale’s praise was relayed back to him.

“I'm really grateful for it to have spent that time with him,” said Mata. “You know, he attended some of my bullpens. I attended some of his. He had a lot of great advice, and to have a pitcher of his stature be there advising you is a big deal for me, and I don’t take it lightly.”

[moonslav59]

https://www.mlb.com/news/bryan-mata-...eline-coverage

At Red Sox Winter Weekend a few days ago, Sale was asked which of the team’s prospects excited him the most.

“I'm biased, because I'm a pitcher, but I love watching Mata throw,” Sale said. “I was there with him [in Fort Myers, Fla.] during his rehab process during Tommy John. We rehabbed together, and I saw him really turn a corner. The power he possesses, the ease that it looks like he's throwing with. Not for nothing, man, that dude's smile can light up a room. He's a fun guy to be around. He's a good teammate. You can tell, just how he operates, he really wants it.”

Mata, in Boston this week for the Rookie Development Program the Red Sox are holding, lit up when Sale’s praise was relayed back to him.

“I'm really grateful for it to have spent that time with him,” said Mata. “You know, he attended some of my bullpens. I attended some of his. He had a lot of great advice, and to have a pitcher of his stature be there advising you is a big deal for me, and I don’t take it lightly.”

What are the chances Mata turns into something very useful?

I'm not expecting anything great in 2023, although something could happen, but he seems like he could a plus, very soon.

[mvp 78]

Late inning arm this year? I can see it.

[moonslav59]

Late inning arm this year? I can see it.

Do you see him staying a RP'er?

[mvp 78]

Do you see him staying a RP'er?

It's the best fit for him IMO.

[moonslav59]

It's the best fit for him IMO.

What is his biggest drawback from being a capable SP'er?

[mvp 78]

What is his biggest drawback from being a capable SP'er?

Health, he's a post-TJS guy. You can manage his innings better in the pen. His stuff can play up out there. His last fully healthy season was 2017.

[moonslav59]

soxprospects.com reports:

http://news.soxprospects.com/2023/01...p-players.html



Matthew Lugo was one of two players named the LBPRC Rookie of the Year, and recent signing Edwin Diaz was named the LBPRC MVP. Lugo hit .275/.360/.450 with six home runs in 120 at-bats, while Diaz hit .229/.375/.418 with eight home runs in 153 at-bats. Both players helped lead Caguas to a first-place regular season finish.

Jorge Alfaro, signed as a minor league free agent on January 16, led his team to a title. He only had 21 regular season at-bats for Licey but was ultimately named MVP of the LIDOM championship series. In the round-robin portion of the playoffs, he hit .383/.471/.633 with two home runs in 60 at-bats. He turned it up another notch in the championship series, hitting .417/.417/.667 with another home run.