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Boston Red Sox: Top 10 Prospects List for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 27: A baseball bag with the Boston Red Sox logo sits on the grass before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 27, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won 2-0. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 27: A baseball bag with the Boston Red Sox logo sits on the grass before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 27, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won 2-0. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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10. Bryan Mata, RHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/3/1999 (18)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Greenville
2017 Stats: 17 GS, 77 IP, 3.74 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 8% BB, 22.7% K

Info: Deceptively large for his age, Mata stands a very mature 6’3″ tall and looks much more like 185-190 pounds than his listed 160 pounds. He’s significant projection at this point after signing in January of 2016 out of Venezuela at just 16.

Mata showed very well in the Dominican Summer League at 17, with a 2.80 ERA in 61 innings and a strikeout per inning pitched. In 2017, the Red Sox jumped Mata all the way up to low-A. He responded well, with a 3.74 ERA over 77 innings, posting a 26/74 BB/K and a 1.31 WHIP.

While he’s already bigger than his listed weight, Mata has the sort of frame that still projects well. That bodes well for Mata, as he already possesses a fastball that sits in the low-90s and can reach into the mid-90s with relative ease in his delivery.

While he’s already bigger than his listed weight, Mata has the sort of frame that still projects well.

Currently, he makes a living off of the fastball and locating it well as his curve and change, though both flashing above-average in movement and deception, still are a long way off in their development.

Mata has the type of raw stuff and frame currently to profile well as a low-end #3, high-end #4 starter, but if he can fill out that frame with a few more ticks of velocity and/or really get ahold of his secondary stuff, he could certainly profile more as a frontline guy.

The Red Sox haven’t been afraid to push Mata thus far, so he’ll likely open 2017 with their high-A club in Salem, but remember that he’ll still be 18 when the season opens, so it would not be surprising to see him struggle. If there’s anyone on this list who could make me look silly in a year, Mata’s the guy.

9. Roniel Raudes, RHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/16/1998 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Salem
2017 Stats: 23 GS, 116 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 8.6% BB, 18.5% K

Info: Nicaragua may not be a baseball hot bed, but Raudes is certainly working to turn some heads on the country. After impressing thoroughly by holding his own at 18 years old in the South Atlantic League, the Red Sox promoted him to Salem in the Carolina league in 2017.

With Salem, Raudes found that his elite control and command wasn’t quite as sharp and his lack of premium velocity was a real noted absence against the top pitchers in the Carolina League. It didn’t help that balls fell in at a near-.350 clip against Raudes all season.

What was impressive, however, was to watch Raudes improve over the season. He had his best strikeout rate in the final month of the season, but he fought through a .400+ BABIP in the month as well. It’s notable that Raudes did not face a single batter younger than him the entire season in 2017.

His fastball is looking like it may top out sitting around 90 with a peak of 93 or so. His change has tremendous arm deception along with excellent movement as well. The curve is more of a power curve, working in the low-80s with tight spin and a sharp break that can often look more like a slider than a curve.

With that mix, Raudes will rely on his excellent location to be a quality back end starter as he likely does not have a bullpen repertoire. He’s only going to be 20 in 2018 and will likely open the season in AA, giving him a real chance for a late season call up before he hits 21 if he performs well next season, quite an impressive floor to have for any prospect.

Next: #7 and #8

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