Don’t Panic Over Red Sox Sliding In Latest Farm System Rankings
The Red Sox farm system continues pumping out top-tier talent
The kids are all right. MLB Pipeline dropped on Tuesday its midseason update of the top 100 prospects in baseball as well as the top 30 prospects for each club. The Boston Red Sox placed four players in the top 100: Shortstop Franklin Arias (No. 24), left-hander Payton Tolle (No. 28), outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (No. 78) and right-hander Kyson Witherspoon (No. 94).
On Wednesday, MLB Pipeline released its in-season rankings of all 30 organizations’ prospects, taking into account player movement ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline. The Red Sox dropped to No. 11, down from No. 3 before the start of the season.
“The Red Sox had three of baseball’s 12 best prospects — Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer — to start the season but all of them have graduated to the big leagues,” MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo wrote Wednesday. “The cupboard is far from bare, however.
“Arias, Garcia and outfielder Justin Gonzales are the latest highlights from an international department doing fine work. Tolle and fellow lefties Brandon Clarke and Connelly Early are examples of the organization’s improved pitching development,” the trio added.
As for Boston’s trio of rookies, Anthony continues to impress, hitting .340 as the Red Sox’s leadoff hitter and moving up to No. 3 in MLB.com’s latest American League Rookie of the Year poll.
He also signed that massive eight-year, $130 million contract, ensuring he will be a core player for years to come.
Campbell made the big-league club out of spring training but struggled, which earned him a ticket back to Triple-A Worcester. He’s hitting .280 in 40 games for the WooSox, while also learning how to play first base.
Mayer is on the injured list with a sprained right wrist and his return to the lineup remains uncertain. He was hitting .228 with four home runs and 10 RBIs before getting hurt.
