Jim Bowden, a former Major League Baseball general manager who now works as an MLB analyst, on Thursday released an updated top 50 prospects list for The Athletic.
Two Red Sox farmhands cracked the rankings: Marcelo Mayer at No. 14 and Triston Casas at No. 39.
This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, as Mayer and Casas are widely considered Boston’s two top prospects. But it’s another indication that better days could lie ahead for the Red Sox despite their inconsistent 2022 season.
Here’s what Bowden wrote about Mayer, a 19-year-old shortstop currently stationed at High-A Greenville:
“Mayer has strong bat-to-ball skills and plus bat speed. He can hit high velocity in all areas of the strike zone and he consistently makes sweet-spot contact. He uses the entire field and has above-average raw power with elite back spin, which means the doubles will turn into home runs as he develops. He has soft hands and quick feet at shortstop with range to both sides, and his instincts and baseball IQ are impressive.”
And here’s what the ex-MLB exec wrote about Casas, a 22-year-old first baseman who’s currently at Triple-A Worcester and on the cusp of reaching the majors:
“I’m not sure why the Red Sox haven’t given Casas an opportunity in the majors (here’s what Chaim Bloom had to say about that), but I still think he’ll be their long-term answer at first base. Casas has a minor-league career on-base percentage of .380, and I think that will translate to the majors. He’s hit 22 doubles and 10 home runs in 297 plate appearances this season and profiles as a 40-doubles, 20-home run bat in the majors someday.”
It’s worth noting Bowden approaches his rankings a bit differently, relying on his own evaluations (based on what he’s seen in person and/or via video) rather than regurgitating the industry consensus. And players promoted to the big leagues before this week were not eligible for his list.
But the inclusion of Mayer and Casas among Bowden’s top 50 reinforces the upside of those two players. Mayer, the fourth overall pick in 2021, has done nothing but impress since joining the organization, while Casas, the 26th selection in 2018, has little left to prove in the minors now that he’s been raking for the WooSox since returning from an ankle injury.
