Major League Baseball is in full swing, and that means everyone is thinking about the future. In most cities, this means next season; Sometimes, that means the bigger picture, the next three to five years. The old adage says you either sell the gains or you sell the hope. We here at CBS Sports want to offer as much hope as we can this time of winter by evaluating each team’s farm system.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that every team has an equally good farm system – some, as you’ll discover along the way, lack that connection. This does mean, however, that CBS Sports will spend the next few weeks studying the top three prospects in each organization. We define “odds” as retaining their rookie eligibility for the 2023 season, so if a young player misses out, that’s probably why.
These rosters and ratings are formed after conversations with scouts, analysts, and player development types. There is also direct evaluation and bias in the mix. Keep in mind that rating a player is a difficult task, and it’s okay if you disagree with the ranking. These are opinions, and they have no real impact on the future. You can check out our list of the top 20 winter ones by clicking here.
With that in mind, let’s get to it by dissecting a Boston Red Sox.
1. Marcelo Mayer, SS, No. 9 on the top 20 list (2023 Seasonal Age: 20)
Meyer, who participated in the 2021 draft that CBS Sports ranked as the best prospect in the class, fell back to the Red Sox in the fourth overall. That seemed like a boon for Boston then and now, as he hit . 280 /.399/. 489 with 13 home runs and 17 steals across two levels in 2022 – and he did it despite being several years younger than his regular opponent. In addition to being a good hitter who can add more power as he matures, he is a promising defender with smooth movements and a good arm. The only tool Mayer expects to be below average is his speed. Obviously, this will not hold him back.
2 – Triston Casas 1B (2023 Seasonal Age: 23)
Casas, Boston’s first-round pick in 2018, made his major league debut last season, putting him in position to graduate from the prospects’ squad this spring. In 95 major league games, he hit .197/.358/.408 (113 OPS+) with five home runs. The book on it is still very much the same, as its perfect version would contribute to the average, on-base, and slow. Casas showed some of that docile nature during his big-league stay. He has well above average raw power (evidenced by his 30-minute rush) and his disciplined approach has seen him chase just 17 percent of the pitches thrown to him out of the area. Casas’ willingness to work big, combined with his league-leading swing and miss rate, will result in some hitting, but there is little danger that he will turn out to be a full Gallo. Casas looks ready to take over first base for the Red Sox.
3. Rafaella CF/SS Sedan (2023 SAM: 22)
Rafaela has emerged during the 2022 season as one of the most interesting prospects in the Red Sox organization. Although he was originally a starter (and continued to hit the dirt), he has become one of the best defensive players in the minors over the past couple of years thanks to his good speed and positional sense. Rafaela enjoyed a breakout season last season, hitting .299/.342/.539 with 21 home runs and 28 stolen bases in 116 games split between High- and Double-A. He’s shown an ability to shoot balls consistently, and while he rarely walks, he delivers more juice than you’d expect from his short, lanky frame (MLB lists him at 5-foot-8, 152 pounds). Rafaela could make his big league debut late in the season, depending on how things go. It has both a high ceiling and a floor.