The Boston Red Sox farm system has improved significantly in recent years. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and Co. will look to add another can't-miss prospect to the mix in the upcoming MLB Draft.
Last year, the Red Sox had the fourth overall pick and landed the consensus top prospect on the draft board: Marcelo Mayer. The young shortstop was projected by most experts to be selected No. 1 overall, but the Pittsburgh Pirates opted for Louisville catcher Henry Davis instead. Mayer has lived up to the hype so far in the minors, slashing .343/.397/.529 through 16 games this season with Low-A Salem.
This time, the Red Sox won't be on the clock until pick No. 24. The Mayer-level prospects will be long gone by that point, but Boston other recent first-round selections Triston Casas (26th overall, 2018) and Nick Yorke (17th overall, 2020) are examples of why this year's draft is worth your attention.
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Tomase: Pivetta, Bello leave Red Sox feeling bullish about future of rotation
So, who might the Red Sox consider taking with the No. 24 overall pick? With the 2022 draft only two months away, experts have started to put together their mock drafts. Here's a roundup of their early predictions for Boston's first-round selection.
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS, Ga.
Mayo: "Based on talent, Lesko is the best pitcher in this class, but it’s not easy to place a high schooler who just had Tommy John surgery. It’s quite possible he goes more in the middle of the first round."
Boston Red Sox
Keith Law, The Athletic: Max Wagner, 3B, Clemson
Law: "Wagner is one of the fastest risers in the draft this year after a stretch in April where he hit 12 homers in 14 games, putting him second in Division I right now behind Texas’ Alex Melendez. His pull-heavy approach would play very well in Fenway or Minute Maid, although I’m not sure he’s going to stay on the dirt."
Max Johnson, Sportsnaut: Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
Fabian originally was selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, but the two sides were unable to come to a contract agreement. Fabian returned to Florida for his senior season and is hitting .239 with 19 homers and a .999 OPS through 52 games.
Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report: Dylan Beavers, OF, California
Reuter: "Beavers hit .303/.401/.630 with 18 home runs and 49 RBI in 55 games in 2021, but he struggled in the Cape Cod League and didn't look great playing with Team USA over the summer. The 6'4", 206-pound outfielder is showcasing intriguing power potential once again this spring with a 1.078 OPS and 16 home runs in 50 games, and he has also trimmed his strikeout rate while raising his walk rate. The Red Sox have long shown a willingness to bet on upside, and Beavers could be one of the better power bats in the class."
Ryan Miller, Just Baseball: Landon Sims, RHP, Mississippi State
Miller: "Sims was separating himself as the best pitcher in the draft before having to undergo Tommy John surgery. Despite coming out of the bullpen for his first two years at Mississippi State, Sims became a starter this spring. His fastball is electric, reaching the upper 90s consistently, with one of the best sliders in college baseball. Despite his long-term home, Sims can have success starting or relieving."
Michael Dault, Through The Fence Baseball: Logan Tanner, C, Mississippi State
Dault: "His development over the summer looks great, but with known catcher names of Parada and Susac, Tanner could lose momentum as a first round selection. So far, though, he’s living up to preseason expectations."
The 2022 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 17-19.