Boston Red Sox: Top 10 Prospects List for 2018
8. Alex Scherff, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/5/1998 (20)
2017 teams/levels played for: None
2017 Stats: None
Info: If someone would have told you in February that Scherff would have been available in the 5th round in June’s draft also signable, you would have been in your right mind to laugh right at them. However, due to a number of factors, that is exactly what happened, and now the Red Sox are hoping they have a future gem.
The summer before his junior year, Scherff was a guy who threw in the high-80s. By this past spring, he saw that velocity jump all the way to the upper 90s, topping out at 98. He attributes his velocity gain to better conditioning, dropping between 35 and 50 pounds between his sophomore year and being drafted, depending on reports.
Scherff does have an elite fastball, but he also has one of the best change ups in the entire 2017 draft class. His unique low 3/4 arm slot presents a challenge for hitters in locating the ball, but it also presents a challenge for Scherff in spinning an effective breaking pitch at this point.
Voted the Texas high school player of the year, the righty had a strong commitment to Texas A&M, according to most, and he ended up playing for three high schools in his four years, raising a red flag with a number of organizations. He was also the oldest high schooler in his draft class, and he will not make his pro debut until 2018, when he will be 20.
Scherff is exactly the type of high-end talent that Dombrowski thrives on finding, developing, and either producing into an elite piece for the major league level or getting enough minor league production out of to show off the skills and flip in a trade. His delivery needs a serious overhaul, and word from a few places is that he was working with a coach on his mechanics once the Red Sox drafted him, which is a big reason he did not debut in 2017.
7. Cole Brannen, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/4/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: rookie GCL Red Sox, short season A-ball Lowell Spinners
2017 Stats: .224/.383/.252, 181 PA, 0 HR, 10 SB, 34/41 BB/K
Info: It’s a rare thing for the state of Georgia to have a truly shallow high school draft class on the hitting side, but that was really the case in 2017. Brannen joined fellow outfielder Drew Waters in the top of the Georgia prep bats in 2017, though both were beaten in the goal to be first off the board by catcher Luis Campusano.
Brannen is the type of guy who you go to a ballgame not knowing his name and leave with his baseball card from the merchandise stand because he caught your eye so strongly. When he has a moment on the field, it has such flash and athleticism that it’s hard to see how he lasted to 63rd in the draft.
What he lacks in power, he makes up for with his feet
Brannen is not a big guy, standing 6′ even and listed at 170 pounds, which isn’t terribly far off. His swing is short and quick through the zone, and while that allowed for some positive contact ability and kept his strikeouts low, he really doesn’t offer a ton of power.
What he lacks in power, he makes up for with his feet. Brannen has speed that I’ve seen a pure 80-grade on, with most placing a 65 or 70 grade on it at present. However you want to rate it, he’s an absolute blazer, and it allows him to cover for average instincts and play a plus-level center field.
Brannen does have an athletic build with some natural strength and a powerful frame, and many said a broken hamate bone his senior year cost him the chance to show that he really has improved his ability to generate power, but in his pro debut, he didn’t show much power at all with 3 extra base hits in 143 at bats.
If the power shows up to even an average level, Brannen would rocket up this list and be a likely top 100 prospect in all the game, but for now, the Red Sox will work with him to develop his game and use that impressive athleticism in full-season ball very feasibly to open 2018.
Next: #5 and #6