Like top prospects? Me too.
Glad we’re on the same page.
So, when the Portland Sea Dogs came to town, a team that features three consensus Top 100 prospects in the game — and that’s three of the first 52 in FSS Plus analyst Joe Doyle’s preseason rankings — we sure weren’t going to miss it. Between Matthew Lugo, Nick Yorke, Eddinson Paulino, an injured Blaze Jordan and others, there’s plenty more to watch than just the names you know…but we focused on those top three Boston prospects when the Sea Dogs came to Bridgewater, NJ to face the Somerset Patriots in the Double-A version of the Boston-Bronx rivalry
Marcelo Mayer, SS — Boston Red Sox (FSS Plus No. 1 Prospect)
Mayer went No. 4 overall in 2021 behind only Henry Davis, Jack Leiter and Jackson Jobe. Then a prep shortstop, the now six-foot-three, 188-pounder has hit everywhere he’s been in his steady climb up Boston’s system, now including Portland after struggling there last season, likely due to a shoulder injury he tried to play through.
| PICK | PLAYER | POS | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Davis | C | Pirates |
| 2 | Jack Leiter | RHP | Rangers |
| 3 | Jackson Jobe | RHP | Tigers |
| 4 | Marcelo Mayer | SS | Red Sox |
| 5 | Colton Cowser | OF | Orioles |
| 6 | Jordan Lawlar | SS | D'Backs |
| 7 | Frank Mozzicato | LHP | Royals |
| 8 | Benny Montgomery | OF | Rockies |
| 9 | Sam Bachman | RHP | Angels |
| 10 | Kumar Rocker | RHP | Mets |
The tools are there besides perhaps running — he typically grades out to be below average on the basepaths — and he’s shown that he can handle shortstop for now, although there seems to be an increasing belief among evaluators that he’ll eventually find himself at third. The bat will likely be what gets him to the big leagues and keeps him there, as he’s shown a propensity to not only hit for average, but also for power, particularly to the pull side gap as a lefty bat. The 21-year-old has been a doubles machine throughout his career, but particularly this season, where he’s already got 16 of them in his first 159 Double-A plate appearances.
It isn’t if, but when for Mayer…seeing a promotion to Triple-A around the All-Star break certainly wouldn’t be shocking, if not earlier. After that? An MLB ETA of 2025 would seem to be in play.
Roman Anthony, OF — Boston Red Sox (No. 2)
In some circles, Anthony is considered the slightly better prospect over Mayer, although most have Anthony as Boston’s second-best. Still just 20 years old, the six-foot-two, 200-pounder was a steal at No. 79 in the 2022 MLB Draft, and there’s a little bit of everything in his profile.
There’s a ton to like here; consistent hard contact, the ability to potentially stay in center field, and some power that’s been plus in the past. It hasn’t been a big year from a production standpoint just yet; .241 with just three homers in his first 133 at-bats, but remember he’s very young for the level. The Red Sox will almost surely keep him in Portland for the majority of the year, if not all of it, as he gains valuable experience against some players further along in their development process.
Kyle Teel, C — Boston Red Sox (No. 3)
Taken at No. 14 overall just last year, Teel is already in Double-A. A well-rounded and polished college catcher out of Virginia, the Ridgewood, NJ native put up some monster numbers at the NCAA levels and actually got to Portland at the tail end of last season.
Has the athleticism and the arm to keep him behind the dish, and enough bat to where he’ll be in the lineup one way or the other should he run into some issues with having to share the catching position at the big league level. Still only 22 years old, the six-foot, 190-pound backstop is likely on track to see Fenway at some point next season as well.
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