While things in Boston haven’t been what the Red Sox faithful would have hoped for, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding their farm system. They’ve got a bit of everything regarding prospect archetypes, and the upper minors are packed with players who could legitimately become part of the core that brings the Red Sox back to the postseason. A lot of what has gone right with the Red Sox farm system was initiated by Chaim Bloom, but Craig Breslow has continued to build on that foundation—focusing on pitchers with strong breaking stuff and optimizing swings for their hitters. Roman Anthony headlines what is now one of the strongest farm systems in baseball, but there are numerous success stories throughout the system. In a world where Kristian Campbell didn’t outshine Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer on our rankings, Jhostynxon Garcia might be the breakout prospect to watch. This system has everything from high-upside minor players like Franklin Arias to pitching prospects close to the majors like Richard Fitts and everything in between. Red Sox fans should be excited, as our top four prospects could be up early next year and fill some key holes in the extensive league roster.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
Below you'll find the top 5 players in the system with a full report for the #1 prospect in the system. The full rankings and scouting reports on all top 20 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5) as we publish them. We’ll also have additional content on Patreon for each team: Honorable Mentions, Top 10 players 25 years and under, and Team MLB Dynasty Rankings.
Top 5 Team Rank and Scouting Report for #1 System Prospect Below
1. Roman Anthony, OF
DOB: 5/13/2004, HT: 6-3, WT: 200, H/T: L/R, Acquired: 2022 Round 2C ($2,500,000 Bonus)
Highest Level: AAA, ETA: 2025, Rule V: 2026
OFP: 60
Hit: 55, Power: 60, Field: 50, Throw: 55, Run: 55
Risk: High
Scouting Report:
Roman Anthony, the crown jewel of the Red Sox 2022 draft, signed for nearly three times the slot amount, and his $2,500,000 signing bonus was the largest in the Sox draft class. Despite some early contact issues as an amateur, the Sox stuck with him and have been rewarded, as he’s in the conversation as the potential top prospect in all of the minor leagues. The offensive skills are loud, and the underlying data has always been strong, even as he’s developed a reputation for being a bit of a slow starter. He still managed to end the season in Triple-A and will debut sometime in early 2025. Anthony has plus in-game power with plus-plus raw, and he hits some absolute moonshots when he gets a hold of one to the pull side. His max EV sits around 116 for the 2024 season, and his 90% exit velocity is near the top of the leaderboards. His contact rates are slightly above average, and he does well in the zone. He makes sound swing decisions and will work a walk as well. Defensively, he’s capable of playing all three outfield positions and would be an asset in an outfield corner. His above-average arm and speed make him an excellent fit for the problematic Fenway Park right field. Anthony leads this exciting young group of prospects that should all hit Fenway in 2025. - Matt Thompson
Fantasy Spin:
Anthony has very little, if anything, left to prove in the minors after slashing .344/.463/.519 with as many walks as strikeouts across 35 games in Triple-A to close out the 2024 season. He should be strongly considered for an opening day spot in Boston’s outfield and should, at the very least, spend the majority of 2025 in the big leagues, where he will be a fantasy contributor across the board. As we saw in 2024, even the top prospects can struggle initially when making the jump to the majors, so remain patient if that is the case, as Anthony presents as much upside as any prospect likely to debut in 2025. - Kyle Sonntag