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Red Sox Top Prospects Climb Ladder In Latest MLB Pipeline Rankings

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The development of baseball’s top prospects are always increasingly important. They represent the future of all 30 MLB organizations and help fans dream of what could become. For the Boston Red Sox, three youngsters came into 2024 inside MLB Pipeline’s top-50 prospects. Since then, all three have produced at impressive levels. And in the latest rankings by MLB, that’s paid off. Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel all climbed the ladder in the latest MLB Pipeline rankings released yesterday. 

Some movement in the top 10 stems from MLB debuts. Since May, two of the ten best prospects in baseball have made their way to the big leagues. Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes, ranked as the #2 prospect in May, has since dominated in the NL Central. Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford, ranked #4 in May, is also in the bigs at the moment. Both players’ departures have helped pave the way for risers on the list.

Red Sox Top Prospects Climb Ladder In Latest MLB Pipeline Rankings

Marcelo Mayer

Preseason: #15 – May: #12 – Current: #7

Mayer has been a member of MLB Pipeline’s top-15 prospects since 2022. He’s spent the 2024 season at Double-A (Portland Sea Dogs) and is dominating opponents. Mayer moved up three spots in May from his preseason ranking after crushing the month of April. The shortstop batted .308 with a .819 OPS. He followed up April with two more strong months, batting .287 in May with four home runs, and .333 in June. Mayer is ranked as the third-best infield prospect in baseball.

Mayer’s current MLB ETA sits at 2024, with speculation whether Boston will rush their top prospect to the big leagues this season. The California native sits just six players behind MLB’s top prospect. Those include Ethan Salas (SDP, C, #6), Walker Jenkins (MIN, OF, #5), Dylan Crews (WAS, OF, #4), Junior Caminero (TBR, 3B/SS, #3), James Wood (WAS, OF, #2), and Jackson Holliday (BAL, 2B/SS, #1). Mayer, the fourth pick of the 2021 MLB Draft, has just over 1,000 career at-bats in his minor league tenure. He has 36 homers, 160 RBI, and a .273 average over the course of his pro career. Mayer currently leads the Eastern League in doubles as well. 

Roman Anthony

Preseason: #24 – May: #18 – Current: #14

Anthony entered MLB Pipeline’s top-15 prospects for the first time in July. The 20-year-old has shot up the rankings since being drafted 79th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft. He dominated in 2023, posting a .272 average with 14 homers, 64 RBI, and 86 walks. Despite a decrease in batting production this season, there are still plenty of popping statistics for Anthony in 2024. His OPS sits just below .800 as his walk rate continues to be at an elite level. Anthony has played 60 games this season for the Sea Dogs.

Anthony started slow this season, having just a .205 batting average in the month of April. His stats have since risen dramatically. Anthony batted .280 in May with a .415 on-base percentage. His power skyrocketed in June, smacking five homers for a .559 slugging percentage. Anthony struck out just 15 times last month in 18 contests. For the season, he has 36 walks, which is good for a .358 on-base percentage. Anthony currently ranks as the fifth-best outfielder in minor league baseball. His MLB ETA is projected to be next season. 

Kyle Teel

Preseason: #40 – May: #31 – Current: #25

Teel represents the third and final top-25 prospect that Boston has. Playing in Portland like Mayer and Anthony, the catcher has shot up the rankings in 2024. Teel was drafted just a year ago, selected with the 14th pick of the draft. He dominated with a .363 average in 26 games in 2023. Teel hasn’t missed a beat this season. Currently, the University of Virginia product is batting .302 with a .854 OPS in 2024. Like Anthony, Teel struggled to start the year and batted just .213 in April. That quickly changed with a .357 average in May and a .314 rate in June. Teel’s power has shown in this campaign as well. After hitting just two home runs last year, he has eight this season.

Teel currently ranks as the fifth-best catching prospect in MiLB. He’s one of the largest risers since the preseason list, raising his standing by 15 places. The New Jersey native provides a valuable asset by hitting left-handed. Teel spent just 17 games below Double-A in 2023 before reaching his current level. In college, he finished top-ten in UVA history for home runs, runs scored, total bases, doubles, and batting average. Teel joins Anthony with an estimated big league ETA of 2025.

 

Photo Credit: © Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

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