The 2018 MLB Draft wrap up – every pick, every team
Boston Red Sox
Day One
Round 1, Overall 26 – Triston Casas, 3B, Florida HS
Round 2, Overall 64 – Nick Decker, OF, New Jersey HS
This is a huge upside play for the Red Sox, getting one of the best hitters in the high school class in Casas. He may have to move to first base in the end, but his power ability comes with a high-level ability to make contact as well. Decker is tremendously talented from a cold weather state. He’ll be fun to track as he builds his raw tools in the lower levels, but should explode up the minors once he can consistently access his tools in game.
Day Two
Round 3, Overall 100 – Durbin Feltman, RHP, TCU
Round 4, Overall 130 – Kole Cottam, C, Kentucky
Round 5, Overall 160 – Thad Ward, RHP, Central Florida
Round 6, Overall 190 – Devlin Granberg, OF, Dallas Baptist
Round 7, Overall 220 – Jarren Duran, OF, Long Beach State
Round 8, Overall 250 – Elih Marrero, C, St. Thomas
Round 9, Overall 280 – Brian Brown, LHP, North Carolina State
Round 10, Overall 310 – Grant Williams, 2B, Kennesaw State
Going after two big high school players in the first day of the 2018 MLB draft necessitated this second day of all college players, though it’s not without talent. Feltman and Ward both have major league caliber bullpen stuff that should move quickly through the farm system. Granberg has a very good balance of offensive skills, though no real defensive home, and Duran is a speed demon that can get on base and shows plenty of outfield range.
Day Three
Round 11, Overall 340 – Nick Northcut, 3B, Ohio HS
Round 12, Overall 370 – Chase Shugart, RHP, Texas
Round 13, Overall 400 – Dylan Hardy, OF, South Alabama
Round 14, Overall 430 – Nick Lucky, 2B, Pennsylvania HS
Round 15, Overall 460 – Andrew Politi, RHP, Seton Hall
Round 16, Overall 490 – Chris Machamer, RHP, Kentucky
Round 17, Overall 520 – Lane Milligan, C, Oklahoma City
Round 18, Overall 550 – Eddie Jimenez, RHP, Southeastern
Round 19, Overall 580 – Jonathan Ortega, 2B, Texas State
Round 20, Overall 610 – Kason Howell, OF, Texas HS
Round 21, Overall 640 – Brandon Howlett, 3B, Florida HS
Round 22, Overall 670 – Yusniel Padron, Miami Dade JuCo
Round 23, Overall 700 – Ryan Fernandez, RHP, Hillsborough JuCo
Round 24, Overall 730 – Logan Browning, LHP, Florida Southern
Round 25, Overall 760 – Caleb Ramsey, OF, Georgia HS
Round 26, Overall 790 – Korby Batesole, SS, Fresno State
Round 27, Overall 820 – Gregorio Reyes, LHP, Puerto Rico (no school)
Round 28, Overall 850 – Kris Jackson, RHP, Corban
Round 29, Overall 880 – Mason Ronan, LHP, Pennsylvania HS
Round 30, Overall 910 – Ryan Bliss, SS, Georgia HS
Round 31, Overall 940 – Connor Berry, RHP, Oklahoma
Round 32, Overall 970 – Brandon Perez, OF, Florida HS
Round 33, Overall 1000 – Adrian Torres, OF, Texas HS
Round 34, Overall 1030 – Jared Poland, 2B, Indiana HS
Round 35, Overall 1060 – Jeremiah Boyd, C, North Carolina HS
Round 36, Overall 1090 – Jake Dukart, SS, Oregon HS
Round 37, Overall 1120 – David Wentzel, SS, Baylor
Round 38, Overall 1150 – Art Joven, LHP, JC of the Sequoias
Round 39, Overall 1180 – Shane Selman, OF, McNeese State
Round 40, Overall 1210 – Zach Watson, OF, LSU
Bookending the third day were two players considered first day talents, so getting one of the two would be a very good thing for the Red Sox. Most likely, that would be Northcut, the 11th round selection. The rest of the third round was surprisingly high school focused, meaning that many of these selections will not be signing.
Overall Outlook
The Red Sox have used international signings to build up their farm system depth rather than the draft, instead focusing more on high upside in the MLB draft. This means that there will likely be as many as 15 players here that will not be signing with the Red Sox, but their first day picks and 11th round pick should give plenty of high upside.