'We're on our way there': See how the Red Sox view their top prospects going into important offseason

WORCESTER — With the MLB postseason heating up, and a World Series champion set to be crowned in the next 23 days, the Boston Red Sox have turned their attention to the offseason.

Boston hasn’t made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and the organization has plenty of work to do to make sure they’re playing baseball in October next year.

Following the on-field development of a few recent prospects like Jarren Duran , Tanner Houck and Wilyer Abreu , there are some pieces in place for the Red Sox to compete for a postseason spot in 2025.

“I truly believe this is the last struggle, to be honest with you,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the media in a news conference Sept. 30. “I think this is it. There were some positives, there (were) a lot of negatives. But I think where we are going as an organization, it’s gonna be fun again. It’s gonna be fun again, and it starts this offseason.”

For the Red Sox to be “fun” again, though, the organization will need even more prospects to take the next step forward to supplement whatever the club decides to do in free agency or the trade market this winter.

So as we turn our attention to Boston’s offseason, let’s look at the state of the Red Sox farm system while highlighting some of the top prospects that could find themselves in Worcester — and beyond — next season.

Boston’s ‘Big 4’ prospects

Much has been said about the top prospects in the Red Sox organization over the past year.

And rightfully so.

Boston currently boasts the No. 1 prospect in baseball in Roman Anthony , and six players in Baseball America’s Top 100 rankings.

Included in that group are a quartet of prospects dubbed the “ Big 4 ” in Anthony (1), Marcelo Mayer (11), Kristian Campbell (25) and Kyle Teel (26), to go along with other position players in Braden Montgomery (61) and infielder Franklin Arias (94).

Having that many prospects in the Top 100 can thrill fans, but Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham notes there’s still plenty of work to be done to ensure those prospects turn into future major leaguers.

“Definitely excited, but what also comes with that is the understanding that there’s still a lot of development to be had,” Abraham said. “It does not stop here. It does not stop once you get to the big leagues. It’s continued development throughout their careers, and that’s what’s going to allow them to make a mark on this game.”

Roman Anthony

Having the top prospect in baseball is a good place to start.

Anthony hit .291 with 18 home runs, 65 RBIs and 21 stolen bases across Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2024. The 20-year-old outfielder is the first Red Sox prospect to be ranked No. 1 since Andrew Benintendi in 2017.

“Continuing to move up the prospect rankings is a testament to his hard work, trust in his plan and willingness to never settle,” Abraham told the T&G last month. “(It’s) something that no doubt will continue until the day he takes off his cleats.”

Kristian Campbell

Although Anthony takes home the honor of being the top prospect this offseason, no one at the moment is receiving more attention (or awards) than Campbell.

The 22-year-old infielder was named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year , and MiLB’s Hitting Prospect of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year. Campbell slashed .330/.439/.997 with 20 home runs, 77 RBIs and 24 stolen bases across three levels (High-A Greenville, Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester) this year.

“It’s always special to be recognized for the hard work and dedication (a) player puts in on and off the field,” Abraham said. “The results aren’t always in line with the work, but when they are, like in Kristian’s case, it’s been very special to watch.”

Marcelo Mayer

As for the two other members of the “Big 4,” this marks the second straight season that Mayer finished on the injured list. A 21-year-old shortstop who hit .307 with 8 homers, 38 RBIs and 13 stolen bases with Portland, Mayer landed on the IL with lower back inflammation following his promotion to Triple-A Worcester in August.

Still, there’s optimism moving forward when it comes to the Red Sox’ 2021 first round draft pick.

“From what we saw from the time he was active this year, he had an awesome year,” Abraham said. “We saw a player really come into his own and embrace the skills and the type of player and top-end talent that he can be.

“Obviously, we would’ve loved to see that continue in Worcester,” Abraham added. “But I think overall the steps that he made, the work that he put in the past offseason, and I know the work he’s been putting in this offseason, (are) just setting him up for continued success and a guy that can be a middle of the order player in the middle of the field and a guy that can do that for a long time in Boston.”

Kyle Teel

As for Teel, the 22-year-old catcher continued his quick rise through the Red Sox farm system during his first full season in professional baseball.

Teel tallied a .288 batting average to go along with 13 home runs, 78 RBIs and 12 stolen bases during stints in Portland and Worcester, and currently ranks as the Red Sox’ fourth-best prospect.

“The skill set he has is ... a really awesome package,” Abraham said, “and one that we feel like can be impactful for years to come with the Red Sox.”

Pitching on the way to Fenway?

While the Red Sox cupboard is full of position prospects (not to mention outfielder Miguel Bleis, shortstop Yoelin Cespedes or infielder Chase Meidroth, among others), the pitching department remains a work in progress.

Once Craig Breslow was hired as the new chief baseball officer of the Boston Red Sox last year, the former Red Sox pitcher vowed to build a pitching “development pipeline” that can feed the Red Sox year after year.

With right-handed starters Richard Fitts and Quinn Priester, and relief pitchers Luis Guerrero and Zach Penrod, already getting a taste of Boston and landing on the Red Sox 40-man roster, let’s focus on a few other pitching prospects who could find their way to Triple-A Worcester and the big leagues next year.

Hunter Dobbins

With Dr Pepper helping fuel this right-hander for his starts , Dobbins delivered a buzz to the Portland and Worcester pitching staffs this past year.

At 25 years old, Dobbins went 8-5 across 25 starts and 125⅔ innings while striking out 120 and posting a 3.08 ERA.

With an uptick in velocity, and improvement with his secondary pitches and command, Dobbins has thrown himself into the mix of being one of the next possible pitchers to receive a promotion to Boston.

“We saw the success we had been hoping for,” Abraham said. “The guy has turned himself into someone who can be potential major league depth for us and certainly showed he can get guys out at Triple A.”

Wikelman Gonzalez

With Dobbins called up to Worcester and fellow right-handed pitcher Luis Perales landing on the IL following Tommy John surgery, Wikelman Gonzalez is perhaps Portland’s most intriguing pitching prospect.

After being promoted to Double A at the end of 2023 and being placed on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster, Gonzalez stalled out a bit with the Sea Dogs this past season.

The 22-year-old righty posted a 4-3 record in 25 appearances (19 starts) with a 4.73 ERA and 92 strikeouts across 83⅔ innings.

“Consistency is the biggest piece. We see another guy whose matured and grown up throughout his time here,” Abraham said. “He really has learned to understand the work in between outings and what that means in terms of the success that he’s going to have on the mound.

“We’ve tried a bunch of different things to allow him to have the success that he wants to have, and I think at the end of the year, we started to see things start to click.”

David Sandlin

Acquired from the Kansas City Royals in a trade for right-handed pitcher John Schreiber last November, David Sandlin split this season between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland.

The 23-year-old right-hander's stats won’t initially wow you — a 5.34 ERA across 18 starts — but his 82 strikeouts in 57⅓ innings show an ability to generate whiffs with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s.

“He’s got a swing-and-miss fastball, can challenge the top of the zone (and) post power stuff,” Abraham said. “He’s someone who is going to continue to get stronger, continue to build that foundation and be a guy who can be a workhorse for us that, and, when he’s on, can dominate at the highest level.”

The best of the rest for Red Sox prospects

With top prospects like Arias, Bleis, Cespedes and Jhostynxon Garcia (outfield) most likely needing a little more seasoning before making the jump to Triple A, the Red Sox also added two high-end talents to their prospect pool from the 2024 MLB Draft in Montgomery and Payton Tolle.

Braden Montgomery

Although he broke his right ankle during the NCAA Super Regionals with Texas A&M, Montgomery was still selected by the Red Sox with the 12th overall pick of this year’s draft and signed for $5 million.

The 21-year-old outfielder hit 27 home runs for the Aggies last spring and projects as a power-hitting switch hitter with a plus-arm from the outfield.

“We’re really happy that we got him at the spot that we did,” Abraham said. “A really good kid, a really good hard worker, a really good base to become a really strong player, and we’re really excited to get him out on the field and see what he can do more consistently once he’s healthy next year.”

Payton Tolle

Like Montgomery, Tolle didn’t make his pro debut this year after being drafted by the Red Sox in the second round — 50th overall.

The 6-foot-6 left-hander from Texas Christian University was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year after striking out 105 in 69 innings. Tolle has a fastball that ranges in the low 90s but can be deceptive due to his length and extension.

“Just another arm that has had a lot of success in college, that we’ll continue to develop his secondaries, continue to get him stronger and continue to get him to build that engine and hopefully throw a little harder as well,” Abraham said. “But really unique qualities to his stuff, unique fastball shape and someone we’re excited to see toe the rubber more consistently next year.”

Overall, Abraham and the Red Sox brass are optimistic about the state of the farm system.

The organization hopes the growth and development of some of their top prospects over the past few years — and this upcoming season — will help the big-league club secure their first playoff berth since 2021.

“Very pleased with the progress,” Abraham said. “I think there’s still a ways to go but creating that sustainable product, one that can continue to develop talent year in and year out is the goal, and we’re on our way there.”

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'We're on our way there': See how the Red Sox view their top prospects going into important offseason