As the Boston Red Sox chug through another mediocre season or worse, something special is happening in Portland – Three of the top prospects in the Red Sox organization are having promising seasons. The Red Sox Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, has been home to Roman Anthony, Marcelo Meyer, and Kyle Teel. Their play this season could be a sign that there is some exciting baseball on the horizon at Fenway Park.
Boston Red Sox Future
The trio joined the Sea Dogs last year with differing results: Anthony played 10 games with Portland and was on fire, Meyer played 43 games and started hot but ended up getting hurt on a slide and was placed on the injured list, and Teel played 9 games and continued to hit as he’s done throughout his minor league career.
Roman Anthony was a Red Sox 2nd-round compensatory pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. A center fielder out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Anthony was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year as a senior and won back-to-back state titles in his final two years of high school. He has had a meteoric rise through the Red Sox farm system going from the Florida Complex League in 2022 to AA by the end of 2023 (5 levels in 2 years). He has all the tools to become an all-star caliber outfielder in the majors. He’s a 4-tool player (hit for average, and power, defend, and throw) but doesn’t quite have the elite speed to make him a 5-tool player. He’s the number two prospect in the Sox organization and the 15th overall prospect by ITD. You should see Anthony roaming the outfield at Fenway by the middle of 2025.
Marcelo Meyer was the 4th pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. A gifted all-around shortstop from Chula Vista, CA who was expected to be the number one overall pick but slid to the Red Sox at pick four and Boston happily scooped him up. Meyer started his professional career as the top prospect in the Red Sox minor league system and is currently the eighth overall prospect by ITD. Meyer is back healthy now and having a tremendous season so far – the shortstop has 21 doubles to go along with six home runs and 29 RBI, an OPS of .855, and he’s slugging .486. Meyer’s offensive game is back on track after the injury troubles, and his defense has always been elite. The 21-year-old California native is regarded as one of the best defenders in his draft class. He should travel North with the Sox out of spring training next year.
Kyle Teel is the third-ranked prospect in the minors for the Red Sox, as well as the 28th overall prospect by ITD and one of the best catching prospects in baseball. The Red Sox selected Teel with the 14th pick of the first round in the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia. Teel is an excellent defensive catcher, frames pitches exceptionally well, has a strong arm to control the opponent’s run game, and handles a pitching staff with a tremendous amount of poise and leadership for a young player. His defensive abilities will allow Teel to get to the big leagues earlier than some expected. If his offense and power potential can keep up with his defense, Teel will be one of the best catchers in the American League in no time. The Sox catcher should see time on the big league club early in 2025.
The Red Sox lack star power except for Raffy Devers, and potentially Triston Casas (if he can build off last season), but help is on the way. Baseball experts have said for years that teams that are strong up the middle can contend. The Red Sox have potential all-stars arriving at Fenway Park in 2025 up the middle at catcher, shortstop, and centerfield (although Anthony may end up as a corner outfielder). They should bring some excitement back to Fenway Park and give Red Sox Nation something to cheer about. It may have been difficult to watch the Red Sox struggle the last few years, but the future is coming, next year, and it looks bright.
