Boston Red Sox 2022 MLB Draft Report Card

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Best Pure Hitter: SS Mikey Romero (1) makes it three consecutive California high school infielders in the first round for Boston, and Romero showed his hitting chops during his 19-game 2022 debut. The sweet-swinging lefthanded hitter slashed .304/.368/.506 between the Florida Complex League and Carolina League and has plus hitting potential thanks to a smooth swing, good pitch recognition and bat-to-ball skills.

Best Power Hitter: C Brooks Brannon (9) was one of the most impressive home run hitters in the country during the 2022 season, and he slammed 20 home runs for his Randleman (N.C.) high school team. That power led to a huge over-slot deal ($712,500) in the ninth round and while he played in just five pro games this summer, he slashed .462/.533/.846 with two triples and a double. While the baseline stats are nice to see, his underlying exit velocity data is even more encouraging, with the best 90th percentile exit velocity mark (105 mph) of this Boston draft class.

Fastest Runner: OF Roman Anthony (2s) has the frame of a future slugger, but he runs well currently and when he gets up to top speed is an above-average and maybe even plus runner. He showed impressive baserunning skills in high school and looked to take an extra bag at opportune moments.

Best Defensive Player: SS Cutter Coffey (2) earned plus defensive grades and plus throwing grades coming out of the draft, while being a two-way player in high school. The Red Sox drafted him as a hitter and played him at shortstop, second base and third base in his professional debut this summer in the Florida Complex League. His range might be a tick on the lighter end for shortstop, but he could be an impact defender at either third base or second base if he does need to move off the position.

Best Fastball: LHP Dalton Rogers (3) was a dominant reliever for Southern Mississippi during the 2022 season while pitching off of his fastball at an 85% clip. The pitch has average velocity for a reliever (92-93 average and 96 mph peak during the spring), but the movement traits of the pitch allow it to play up. He throws from a lower release angle and the fastball has a shallow vertical approach angle, with 18 inches of induced vertical break—which translated into a nearly 40% whiff rate at the top of the zone.

Best Secondary Pitch: LHP Noah Dean (5) was the second college lefthander with big strikeout stuff the Red Sox took among the top five rounds. While he also pitched heavily off of a fastball, like Rogers, Dean earned plus reviews for his mid-to-upper-70s curveball that features solid two-plane bite and late tilt. The pitch generated whiffs near a 40% rate during the 2022 season with Old Dominion.

Best Pro Debut: Romero (1) would be a solid candidate for this category, but how about 2B Chase Meidroth (4), who played a larger portion of his pro debut games at Low-A Salem. As an age-appropriate 20-year-old with Salem, Meidroth slashed .309/.424/.559 with four home runs and five doubles, while walking more often (14.1 BB%) than he struck out (10.6 K%). Meidroth has a line drive swing and made plenty of contact in college, and showed those skills in his pro debut with a 5% swinging strike rate.

Best Athlete: Anthony (2s) has impressive raw power, arm strength, speed and the athleticism to be a good defensive corner outfielder—and maybe even get time in center field during the beginning of his career.

Most Intriguing Background: RHP Austin Ehrlicher (18) didn’t sign with the Red Sox by the deadline, but under the newly reinstated draft-and-follow rules, the junior college pitcher could still sign with the club for up to $225,000 a week before the 2023 draft. For those reasons he’ll be fascinating to watch next spring.

Closest To The Majors: Meidroth (4) has the zone control and contact ability to move quickly, especially compared to a Boston draft class that was heavy on high school hitters who should need more time in the minors.

Best Late-Round Pick (Or NDFA): The Red Sox were excited to sign LHP Nathan Landry (15) for $112,500 on day three. The former Missouri product was a plus command pitcher during the 2022 season, where he walked just 4.2% of batters faced, while throwing a fastball around 90 mph, as well as a slider and changeup.

The One Who Got Away: SS Gavin Kilen (13) was ranked as the No. 149 prospect in the class, but he slipped to day three of the draft before the Red Sox selected him in the 13th round. Kilen’s game is comparable to first-rounder Mikey Romero, though perhaps with a bit more impact on the defensive side than Romero. He’ll head to Louisville for his college career.