Richard Fitts, one of three pitchers who the Red Sox acquired from the Yankees in December, landed just outside of the top 10 on MassLive’s Top 25 prospect list.
Fitts, who was dealt to Boston in the Alex Verdugo trade, is ranked Boston’s No. 11 prospect.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound righty, who turned 24 on Dec. 17, has excellent control. He posted a 3.48 ERA in 27 starts (152 ⅔ innings) for New York’s Double-A affiliate, Somerset, last season.
MassLive is releasing its Top 25 Red Sox prospect list in stages Monday-Friday. It began with the Nos. 25-21 prospects Monday and will conclude Friday with the top five prospects in the system. Below is a look at prospect Nos. 20-16.
This week’s MassLive prospect ranking schedule:
- Monday, Feb. 5: Prospects 21-25
- Tuesday, Feb. 6: Prospects 16-20
- Wednesday, Feb. 7: Prospects 11-15
- Thursday, Feb. 8: Prospects 6-10
- Friday, Feb. 9: Prospects 1-5
Mikey Romero. (Christopher Smith, MassLive.com)Christopher Smith
15. Mikey Romero, SS
Age: 20
Bats/Throws: L/R
How acquired: Drafted in first round (24th overall) in 2022 out of Orange Lutheran High in California. Signed for $2.3 million.
2023 stats: Florida Complex League (rehab assignment): 6-for-24 (.250 batting average), .379 on-base percentage, one double, four runs, four RBIs, five walks and four strikeouts in eight games. Low-A Salem: .217 batting average, .289 on-base percentage, .304 slugging percentage, .593 OPS, four doubles, two triples, 11 runs, nine RBIs, nine walks, 17 strikeouts, two steals in 23 games (105 plate appearances). High-A Greenville: 1-for-10 (.100) with four strikeouts in three games.
ETA: 2026
Report: The 2023 season was a lost year for Romero who was limited to just 34 games (144 plate appearances) because of a back injury. He began and finished the season on the IL. He dropped on Baseball America’s Red Sox top prospect list. But the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder is still young (he just turned 20 in Jan. 12) and so there’s plenty of time to climb back up the prospect rankings and reach the potential that made him the 24th overall pick in the 2022 draft.
Romero told MassLive he focused on barreling the ball when he did play in ‘23 and he feels good about the hard contact he made. “In Salem, you look at my stat line, it wasn’t that good,” he said. “But I was barreling the ball; hitting the ball really hard.” Baseball America wrote, “Romero has a sweet lefthanded swing with little stride or wasted motion. His barrel is a magnet for pitches all over the zone, producing gap-to-gap, line-drive contact.”
He had the chance to work on his defense and offense with Trevor Story while rehabbing in Fort Myers during the season. “Defensively, it’s all about cutting down angles and getting to the ball and getting the ball to first base and being able to put a good throw and getting yourself in a good position to make a good throw,” Romero told MassLive in September. “And that was a lot of what I learned from him — just getting yourself in the right position to make a good throw, whether that’s how you present your glove to the ball or just how you’re transferring the ball to your hand. I learned all that from him, especially on the run. Just trying to be more efficient and put good throws on first base.”
More info: Red Sox top pick with ‘sweet swing’ had life-changing event while rehabbing
Red Sox prospect Chase Meidroth playing college baseball at San Diego. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)AP
14. Chase Meidroth, 2B/3B
Age: 22
Bats/Throws: R/R
How acquired: Drafted in fourth round (129th overall) in 2022 out of San Diego. Signed for $272,500.
2023 stats: High-A Greenville: .338 batting average, .495 on-base percentage, .460 slugging percentage, .954 OPS, two homers, three doubles, 19 runs, 14 RBIs, 21 walks, 20 strikeouts, four steals in 20 games (97 plate appearances). Double-A Portland: .255 batting average, .386 on-base percentage, .375 slugging percentage, .762 OPS, seven homers, 16 doubles, one triple, 59 runs, 43 RBIs, 59 walks, 78 strikeouts, nine steals in 91 games (396 plate appearances).
ETA: 2025
Report: Meidroth led all Red Sox minor leaguers in on-base percentage minimum 290 plate appearances last season. He posted a .408 OBP in 493 plate appearances. He had 80 walks and 98 strikeouts (16.2% walk percentage, 19.9% strikeout percentage) in 111 games. He certainly has the ability to control the strike zone, something the Red Sox have put a lot of emphasis on recently when acquiring and drafting players.
“I like that part of my game a lot,” Meidroth told MassLive. “I like getting on base for the next guy. My phrase is always like, pass the baton, pass the torch. I’ve grown up with that. My college coach preached it. My high school preached it. So I’ve always grown up with that.”
The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder became the first member of the 2022 draft class to reach Double A. His numbers dipped a bit after his promotion but he continued to reach base (.386 on-base percentage, 14.9% walk percentage) at a high rate.
He doesn’t hit for power but he provides value with his on-base skills and ability to play multiple infield positions. He made starts at second base, third base and shortstop in 2023. He said tried to get a lot stronger this offseason. “My focus was strength and speed and trying to get more athletic,” he said.
Look for him to begin the 2024 season back at Portland
More info: Meet Red Sox rising prospect who has .564 OBP, grew up watching Kiké Hernández and surfs
Johanfran Garcia. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
13. Johanfran Garcia, C
Age: 19
Bats/Throws: R/R
How acquired: Signed an amateur international free agent out of Venezuela on June 1, 2022, for $850,000.
2023 stats: Florida Complex League: .302 batting average, .408 on-base percentage, .497 slugging percentage, .905 OPS, five homers, 10 doubles, two triples, 21 runs, 32 RBIs, 19 walks, 37 strikeouts, three steals in 42 games (179 plate appearances); Low-A Salem: .203 batting average, .279 on-base percentage, .305 slugging percentage, .584 OPS, one homer, three doubles, eight runs, five RBIs, five walks, 24 strikeouts, three stolen bases in 15 games (68 plate appearances).
ETA: 2028
Report: An NL scout who saw Garcia play in the FCL gave MassLive’s Sean McAdam the following scouting report in August, “Strong, muscular, durable, with a highly agile body with quick feet, and a take-charge, confident defender. A plus arm to all bases, and runs well for a catcher. Bat can be a Gary Sanchez-type power producer, with sound hitting actions, and the type of strength to drive the ball to the big part of the field. Projects as an above-average skill-position player, supplying a 5-hole bat.”
There’s so much talk about catcher Kyle Teel, Boston’s 2023 first round pick. But Garcia also has the potential to eventually be an all-around catcher in the big leagues. Of course, he’s much further away than Teel who reached Double-A Portland last season.
Garcia, who just turned 19 on Dec. 8, feels like he can recognize pitches well and drive the ball to all fields. He also has shown a strong arm, throwing out 38% of base stealers (45-of-118) in pro ball.
More info: ‘Muscular’ Red Sox C prospect has ‘5 hole’ power, cool reason for catching
Nazzan Zanetello. (AP Photo/Matt York)AP
12. Nazzan Zanetello, SS
Age: 18
Bats/Throws: R/R
How acquired: Drafted in second round (50th overall) in 2023 out of Christian Brothers College High School in Missouri. Signed for $3 million.
2023 stats: Florida Complex League: 5-for-36 (.139), .311 on-base percentage, three doubles, six runs, one RBI, nine walks, 15 strikeouts, five steals in 12 games (45 plate appearances). Low-A Salem: 1-for-2 (.500), one RBI in one game.
ETA: 2027
Report: Zanetello, a 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, models his game after Mookie Betts and some evaluators have compared him to Trea Turner. The Red Sox considered the shortstop one of the best athletes in the draft. They like his explosiveness, speed and strong work ethic. Director of amateur scouting Devin Pearson mentioned Zanetello’s five-tool potential and the athleticism to play “a really good” shortstop and center field. He made all his starts in the field at shortstop in his limited pro sample size in 2023. He likely will begin the 2024 season at Low-A Salem.
More info: Recent Red Sox draft pick models his game after Mookie Betts
Richard Fitts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)Getty Images
11. Richard Fitts
Age: 24
Bats/Throws: R/R
How acquired: Acquired in trade from Yankees for Alex Verdugo on Dec. 5. The Red Sox also received pitchers Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice.
2023 stats: Double-A Somerset: 11-5 record, 3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, .227 batting average against, 163 strikeouts, 43 walks in 27 starts (152 ⅔ innings).
ETA: Late 2024
Report: The 6-foot-3, 230-pound righty, who turned 24 on Dec. 17, has excellent control. He has averaged 10.0 strikeouts and just 2.1 walks per nine innings in his 49 minor league starts (264 ⅔ innings). Fitts told MassLive last month that he has better command of his fastball when he throws it harder and it’s ideal for him to throw it 95 mph or over. He said “the thing he hates the most is walks.” His four-seamer has vertical action. He considers his slider his best secondary pitch right now and he’s trying to throw it with more horizontal break. He also throws a changeup down.
A scout told MassLive after Boston acquired Fitts: “He has fourth or fifth starter upside. Fastball is occasionally plus, sitting at 95 mph and can touch 97 mph, and has a slider (85 mph) and changeup (85-88 mph) as swing-and-miss secondary pitches. Has solid command attacking the strike zone with his fastball and a good feel for setting up hitters. Delivery is somewhat deceptive. Has a low-walk rate and a solid strikeout rate and is mostly a groundball pitcher.”
He likely will begin the 2024 season in Triple-A Worcester’s starting rotation.
More info: Red Sox prospect from Yanks trade: ‘It’s all about trying to throw over 95′
