6 Red Sox prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 ranking

The Boston Red Sox had a disappointing season at the big league level, but the organization’s minor leaguers experienced plenty of success this year.

MLB Pipeline released its top 100 prospect rankings this week, with no shortage of Red Sox representation. In fact, three Boston minor leaguers were featured in the top 10.

No. 3: OF Roman Anthony

It should be no surprise that Roman Anthony, who was named baseball’s No. 1 prospect by Baseball America last month, soared up MLB Pipeline’s latest ranking. They named Anthony the No. 3 prospect in baseball, overtaking teammate Marcelo Mayer at the spot.

Since being drafted 79th overall by the Red Sox in 2022, Anthony has quickly ascended through the minor leagues, reaching Triple-A Worcester less than two years after initially being assigned to High-A Salem in August 2022.

The 20-year-old has yet to struggle at any minor league level. In total across each team in Boston’s system, Anthony is batting .284 with a .871 OPS and 32 home runs. He’s walked 174 times, driven in 141 runs, and stolen 38 bases. Anthony has committed eight total errors in center field, his primary position.

Worcester’s manager Chad Tracy talked about Anthony’s eye-popping skillset last month.

“He’s just really good; you’re talking about the top prospect in baseball,” Tracy said. “He’s just good, a really good defender, plays all three spots in the outfield, he can hit, he can hit for power, he can hit line to line. He’s just a good player. So guys like him, you get him here, you get him in the lineup, teach him little things as you go.”

No. 7: SS Marcelo Mayer

Marcelo Mayer dropped just a few spots in MLB Pipeline’s rankings, from third to seventh overall. The shortstop suffered a lumbar strain in the second half of this past season. The ailment marked the second consecutive year in which his season ended early due to injury (left shoulder inflammation in 2023).

The 21-year-old was promoted to Triple-A in August after playing 120 games with Double-A Portland dating back to 2022. However, Mayer didn’t play for Worcester this season due to his lumbar issue.

Nevertheless, MLB Pipeline believes in Mayer. Since being drafted by the Red Sox in 2021, he’s batting .274 with a .827 OPS in 272 games. Mayer has driven in 162 runs, hit 37 home runs and 81 doubles in the minor leagues.

He’s poised to become Boston’s next starting shortstop at the major league level and could make his debut in 2025.

Entering this past season, Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham praised Mayer’s talent.

“We feel comfortable and confident in the person and the player and the work that he’s put in,” Abraham said in January, per The Athletic‘s Chad Jennings. “If he’s on the field, we’re going to see success.”

No. 10: INF/OF Kristian Campbell

Similarly to Anthony, Kristian Campbell made a name for himself in 2024 as one of baseball’s best prospects. To put his meteoric rise into context, Campbell was previously listed 74th on MLB Pipeline’s ranking.

The 22-year-old collected several minor league awards upon the season’s end. Campbell was named the Red Sox’ Minor League Offensive Player of the Year and honored at Fenway Park last month. He was also named MiLB’s Best Hitter and Breakout Player of the Year earlier this week, plus Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star.

It might be hard to believe, but Campbell started the year at High-A, playing in 40 games for Salem. Then, he was promoted to Double-A, where he played 56 games. Before Campbell knew it, he headed to Triple-A for 19 games to close out the season.

Across those three levels, he shone bright, batting .330 with a .997 OPS. Campbell hit 20 home runs and 32 doubles, drove in 77 runs, and drew 74 walks.

In the field, he played four different positions: second base, shortstop, third base, and center field. Campbell committed just six errors (three at SS and 2B) despite playing all around the diamond.

Abraham recently dissected the player’s impressive season.

“Kristian really embraces change and the challenge of improvement. To see it happen so immediately and dramatically was exciting,” he said, per MiLB.com’s Jim Callis. “He has the ability to stay on an even keel, even while adapting to different positions during the season. He understands that the process is more important than the results, and that allowed for sustained success this year. Everything we hoped came together for Kristian because of the person he is.”

No. 25: C Kyle Teel

Alongside Anthony and Campbell, Kyle Teel has quickly ascended Boston’s minor league system since being drafted last year. The 14th overall selection appeared in just 17 games between the FCL Red Sox and High-A before reaching Double-A in ’23.

Teel spent the majority of 2024 with Portland (84 games) before being promoted to Triple-A, where he appeared in 28 contests. This past season, the catcher batted .288 with a .819 OPS. Teel’s 13 home runs, 88 runs, and 78 RBI helped him stand out alongside his many equally talented, high-ranking teammates.

Behind the dish, he committed 12 errors in 75 games. For a developing young catcher looking to become the next Red Sox star at the position, that’s not too bad.

Earlier this year, Abraham spoke about the challenge of playing catcher at the minor league level. He said Teel has responded well to learning the ins and outs of so many pitchers as he’s jumped from team to team.

“Defensively, he’s definitely working in the bottom of the zone, especially glove side,” Abraham said. “It’s always difficult for catchers. It’s just a tough place to receive. … Getting to know pitchers, really focusing on their strengths and really being a support for them.”

No. 54: OF Braden Montgomery

Although he has yet to accrue any minor league stats, Boston’s 12th overall draft pick earlier this year finds himself in the middle of MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings. Braden Montgomery played three seasons of collegiate baseball at Stanford and Texas A&M between 2022-24, and clearly made a name for himself.

The outfielder played in 61 games for the Aggies this past season. Montgomery hit 27 home runs and logged 85 RBI over that span. Both stats rank third all-time in one season in program history, according to the Aggies. He batted .322 with a 1.187 OPS, and walked 53 times.

The right-hander played 59 games in right field and pitched twice.

Montgomery broke his right ankle while competing in the Super Regional on June 8. The injury kept him out of Texas A&M’s College World Series later that month. While that’s kept him from making his minor league debut with the Red Sox, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said earlier this week that Montgomery will be ready for next season.

No. 95: SS Franklin Arias

Lastly, shortstop Franklin Arias rounds out Boston’s top 100 prospect appearances per MLB Pipeline. This year, the 18-year-old played in 51 for the FCL Red Sox before being promoted to Single-A, where he appeared in 36 contests.

Across those levels, Arias batted .309 with a .896 OPS. He hit nine home runs and logged 54 RBI, and scored 59 times. Arias drew 50 walks and stole 35 bases.

In the field, he played second base and shortstop, committing 12 errors.

Abraham discussed Arias’s performance and potential in August.

“He’s done a lot of things really really well,” Abraham said, per the Boston Herald‘s Mac Cerullo. “Obviously there’s going to be some adjustments and changes that will happen as he continues to progress but he’s had a really strong season so far and his skillset is pretty consistent and far reaching.”