Miguel Bleis quickly is becoming one of the most fascinating prospects in the Red Sox organization.
And the 19-year-old outfielder showed why Monday during Boston’s spring training game against Toronto, offering a glimpse of his electric talent despite the Red Sox’s 16-3 loss to the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.
Bleis, batting ninth and playing right field, went 1-for-2 with a two-run single in his first-ever Grapefruit League start. He also recorded an outfield assist.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, by any means, as Bleis struck out swinging and made an error, as well. But the highs were more than enough to offset the lows, as they highlight Bleis’ robust skill set at such a young age. He truly has five-tool potential.
“In my mind, I have to be the one who stays calm and keeps it neutral instead of getting too excited,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game, per MLB.com. “When they become big leaguers, they’re big leaguers. But there’s a process. … Just be patient. You’re going to go through ups and downs. When you’re up high, how will you act? When you’re down (low), how will you act? Be patient.”
Bleis’ two-RBI single came off All-Star right-hander Alek Manoah in the second inning. Down in the count 0-2 with the bases loaded, Bleis laid off a slider before shooting the next pitch — an inside fastball — into right field. Bleis subsequently sprinted from first to third on a single from Enmanuel Valdez, one of the prospects Boston acquired in last season’s Christian Vázquez trade.
This sequence came after Bleis gunned down a runner at the plate to end the bottom of the first inning. Bleis charged a single into right field and delivered an accurate throw home, nabbing Brandon Belt for the frame’s final out.
Of course, one shouldn’t put too much stock into one game, especially a spring training contest that was anything but flawless, personally or collectively. But Bleis, who signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in January 2021, is starting to shoot up prospect rankings despite not yet playing above rookie ball, a reflection of his raw talent and immense upside.
