Mikey

Romero

Romero now has a 2.047 OPS this spring. The 21-year-old gets lost in the shuffle amidst Boston’s elite farm system. However, when Alex Cora was asked which prospects caught his attention this spring, he specifically mentioned Romero. Romero was a first-round pick in 2022 as an elite defensive infielder. As his frame has filled out, he has started to hit the ball with a little more authority, slashing .271/.312/.509 with 16 home runs in 78 games across High-A and Double-A last season. He doesn’t steal many bases, which will always cap his fantasy upside, but Romero should begin the year in Double-A and could give the Red Sox another high-end middle infield prospect or be a potential trade chip for a big-name asset this season.

Romero will receive a $2.3 million signing bonus after being selected by the Red Sox with the 24th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. A polished defensive shortstop, Romero has a shot to stick at the position, but doesn’t possess a ton of power or speed potential for fantasy managers.

This is a bit of a surprise, but it’s not a huge shock that someone fell in love with Romero’s defense. He could be a plus defender because of his actions and hands, and he also has a plus arm. The hit tool has a chance to be above-average thanks to his bat-to-ball skills, but there’s not much power here. Romero is a high-floor player because of the defense, but doesn’t project as a fantasy stalwart without a great chance -- at this point -- of power or steals.