Entering the 2024 offseason, the Red Sox had a Top 5 system in all of baseball. In the last 15 months, the graduations of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer, plus the trades of Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, and Jhostynxon Garcia, have significantly weakened the organizational depth. Things will get worse when Connelly Early and Payton Tolle graduate early this season. With the front office seemingly hesitant to spend in free agency, the next few drafts will make-or-break the future of the club. Here is a look at the top fantasy prospects for the Boston Red Sox.
Top Red Sox Prospects
The Top Tier
1) Connelly Early, LHP, Age: 23
2025 Stats (AA/AAA): 100.1 IP/2.60 ERA/31.9 K%/9.7 BB%
2025 Stats (MLB): 19.1 IP/2.33 ERA/36.7 K%/5.1 BB%
2025 was a whirlwind year for Connelly Early as he ascended three levels, beginning the year at Double-A Portland and finishing on the mound in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium. Somehow, it was a surprise to so many to see Early making a start in a winner-take-all, but the writing was on the wall. For two consecutive seasons, the 6’3″ left-hander has been remarkably consistent. Early has thrown at least 100IP in each season, finishing the year with a strikeout rate of at least 30% and a walk rate below 10%.
Early takes the kitchen-sink approach, throwing 6 different pitches at least 5% of the time. Based solely on PLV, five of the six pitches grade out above average, led by his slider and sweeper. Don’t sleep on his sinker, though, which he threw for an absurd 78% strike rate while averaging 18.7 inches of iHB. When it wasn’t missing bats, the sinker generated a 62.5% groundball rate. Early throws strikes at a high rate, missing plenty of bats and getting a ton of called strikes, as well. In a limited regular-season sample with the Sox, Early struck out 36.7% of the hitters he faced, aided by a 16.1% swinging strike rate. The combination of bat missing, strike-throwing, and pitchability gives Early a very high floor in fantasy.
2) Payton Tolle, LHP, Age: 23
2025 Stats (A+/AA/AAA): 91.2 IP/3.04 ERA/36.5 K%/6.3 BB%
2025 Stats (MLB): 16.1 IP/6.06 ERA/25.7 K%/10.8 BB%
Early wasn’t the prospect to make an incredible rise last season, as 2024 second-rounder Payton Tolle climbed four levels before his debut with the Sox. 2025 was the first season as a pro for Tolle, who tossed 91 2/3 innings over three MiLB levels, posting a 3.04 ERA and 30.2% K-BB rate. Most of his work came at High-A, where he made 11 appearances before getting his first promotion in late June. From there, it was six outings at Double-A, three with Triple-A, and then seven with the big club.
Tolle goes about things very differently from Early. The 6’6″, 250lb TCU alum relies on a big frame with a high-octane heater. His fastball averaged nearly 97mph from the left side, landing in the zone 59% of the time with a 15.9% swinging strike rate. As if the velocity wasn’t already overwhelming, Tolle gets 7.5 feet of extension, giving hitters even less time to react. Hitters had mixed results against the four-seamer, batting .283 with a .321 BABIP, but also a miniscule 28.2% hard-hit rate. In addition to the fastball, Tolle features a changeup and cutter. Each had a swinging strike rate of 20% but graded out well below average outside of his extension. Of the two, Tolle is most likely to open the season in Triple-A, but projects to be an early call-up if attrition occurs in the rotation.
3) Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Age: 21
2025 Stats (NCAA): 95 IP/2.65 ERA/31.8 K%/5.9 BB%
Next up in the trio of high-end starters is 2025 first-rounder Kyson Witherspoon, a right-hander from Oklahoma who did not debut following the draft. Witherspoon was highly impressive for the Sooners, making 16 starts and logging 95 innings in his final season in Norman. He averaged over 11 Ks per nine with a sub-6% walk rate while holding opposing hitters to a .204 average against. That’s a pretty impressive line in the talent-rich SEC, and it propelled him to #15 overall.
The stuff is really sharp for Witherspoon, headlined by an upper-90s heater with plenty of explosion. A hard slider and a cutter offer similar velocity bands, giving just enough variance from the four-seamer. The final two offerings in his arsenal are an above-average curve and a serviceable changeup. It’s not hard to see a frontline starter in the profile, especially with his ability to pound the zone and miss bats with multiple pitches. Plus, the Red Sox’s recent track record of leaning heavily into breaking pitches, which he’s already established as plus offerings in his profile. 2026 will be the beginning of a meteoric rise for Witherspoon.
4) Franklin Arias, SS, Age: 20
2025 Stats (A/A+/AA): .278 AVG/.335 OBP/.388 SLG/8 HR/12 SB/10.1 K%/7.2 BB%
Many outlets have Arias as the top prospect in this system, and for good reason. The Red Sox signed Arias in the J15 class of 2023, and he immediately performed in his debut. In his age-17 season, Arias hit .350 in the DSL. An aggressive assignment pushed Arias to the Complex and ultimately Class A in 2024, and as an 18-year-old, he hit .309 with nine homers and 35 steals. Not to be outdone, Arias made his way up to Double-A, maintaining an excellent batting with power and speed, while still posting an elite 10.1% strikeout rate as a teenager.
The bat-to-ball skills are outstanding for Arias, maintaining an overall contact rate of 89.1%. Hitting for average, while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, is likely his calling card in the long run. I have concerns about the potential power output, but if he can get to 15 homers per season, there is value to be had. Arias also does not project to provide much on the bases, even with his smaller frame, and he has mediocre speed. The 20-year-old has been a recent faller in my personal rankings as the floor is high, but the upside seems very limited. Still, Arias is one of the best and safest prospects in this system.
5) Yordanny Monegro, RHP, Age: 23
2025 Stats (AA): 33.2 IP/2.67 ERA/35.8 K%/5.8 BB%
Unfortunately, it will be a bit longer until we see Yordanny Monegro on the mound again. The 23-year-old had Tommy John surgery in late June, giving him an early 2027 timeline before he throws meaningful innings as a pro. Over the last 18 months, things were starting to come together for Monegro, who finally found the feel for all of his pitches and was much more consistent with throwing strikes. Just before his injury, Monegro threw 33 ⅔ innings at Double-A, averaging over 13 strikeouts per nine and boasting a 29.9% K-BB rate.
At 6’4 “and 180lbs, Monegro has a big frame but could use a little extra bulk to improve durability. The development of his slider ahead of the 2023 season gave him an extra spark, jumping his strikeout rate by over 14% in his first season, and those high strikeout totals have held. The slider is a clear outlier in his arsenal, although his curve has flashed as a plus offering in the past. His fastball shape is flat, so the velocity has to compensate, which it does not. On his best day, Monegro reaches 95 mph with the heater, which offers minimal differential in velocity from the slider. The lack of a third pitch for Monegro still gives me reliever vibes, but the gains he’s made in command have provided a little hope that he can stick as a back-end rotation option.
6) Dorian Soto, SS, Age: 18
2025 Stats (DSL): .307 AVG/.362 OBP/.428 SLG/2 HR/1 SB/15.1 K%/8.6 BB%
The Sox gave Dorian Soto a $1.5M bonus in last year’s J-15 class, the biggest of their International signing period. In his pro debut, Soto looked the part, hitting .307 with a pair of homers and a 106 wRC+ as a 17-year-old in the DSL. It wasn’t an overly exciting stat line, but a sub-18% strikeout rate without any huge red flags early on is a win for a teenager in his debut.
Physically, Soto is tall and skinny, standing 6’4″ and 180 lbs. He is a switch-hitter who is already using his long levers and strength to tap into his raw power. His batted-ball distribution was nearly identical to the pull side and to the opposite field, and with 14 extra-base hits, that gap-to-gap power was on display. Soto was aggressive early on, swinging over 50% of the time, but sustaining above-average contact rates. One thing that stood out was a player who stole just one base in five attempts, yet runs reasonably well and is pretty athletic for his size. It may be an indication of a long-term trend or just a small sample. Assuming a return to the DSL in 2026, I expect the now 18-year-old to fare much better in his second stint.
7) Justin Gonzales, 1B/OF, Age: 19
2025 Stats (CPX/A/A+): .281 AVG/.363 OBP/.390 SLG/4 HR/12 SB/15.9 K%/9.5 BB%
When you look at Justin Gonzales, you see the physicality and frame of a young David Ortiz. Gonzales is just 19, but already has a well-developed body at 6’4″, 220 lbs. Just after signing with the Red Sox early in 2024, the young slugger had a monster season in the DSL, slashing .320/.391/.517 with five homers and a 140 wRC+ at age 17. This season was just as strong, as Gonzalez posted a solid batting average with a little less power but equally impressive walk and strikeout rates as an 18-year-old who reached High-A.
The raw power Gonzales possesses hasn’t translated into significant power production as a pro, as he’s hit just nine homers in over 600 plate appearances. Most of that can be attributed to a ton of ground balls, specifically a 57.4% rate in 2025, up nearly 11% over the previous season. Gonzalez has shown a good feel to hit, evidenced by above-average bat-to-ball skills despite an aggressive approach. With a swing rate of over 50%, Gonzales isn’t passive at the dish, yet has yet to post strikeout rates above 20% in either of his two seasons. Once that groundball rate can tick up, we’re going to see a big offensive output from a big kid, possibly as soon as 2026.
Prospects Dynasty Managers Should Know
8) Jake Bennett, LHP, Age: 25
2025 Stats (A/A+/AAA): 75.1 IP/2.27 ERA/21.5 K%/6.4 BB%
Acquired in a one-for-one prospect trade this offseason, Bennett lands with the Sox after parts of two seasons with the Nationals, including missing all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bennett is a big kid (6’6″, 235) who gets outstanding extension down the mound and uses it to his advantage. His four-seamer sits in the mid-90s, supported by a sinker, a plus changeup, and a slider. The big left-hander missed bats at a decent clip in 2025, but doesn’t have the strikeout production to show for it. It will be interesting to see what the slider-happy Red Sox do with Bennett’s third pitch.
9) Josue Brito, 1B, Age: 18
2025 Stats (DSL): .284 AVG/.497 OBP/.606 SLG/9 HR/13 SB/20.4 K%/26.1 BB%
One of the top-performing hitters in the DSL this summer, Brito made a name for himself. In 43 games, the 18-year-old hit .284 with nine homers and 13 steals, plus a walk rate of over 26%. He ranked among the top of all qualified hitters in nearly every offensive category AND converted a save as a pitcher. Do not worry, he’s not projected as a two-way player as the bat is way further along.
10) David Sandlin, RHP, Age: 24
2025 Stats (AA/AAA): 106 IP/4.50 ERA/23.4 K%/8.8 BB%
Sandlin was acquired from the Royals in 2023 and has provided decent production for the minor leagues, but has yet to show what the hype was all about. The 24-year-old has a high velocity fastball, often flirting with triple-digits but also lacking consistency. He also throws a slider, curve, and splitter, with the latter being his best offspeed pitch. Up and down performances have pushed him into a relief role, a position where he could actually have sustained success in shorter spurts.
11) Freili Encarnacion, SS, Age: 20
2025 Stats (A/A+): .240 AVG/.307 OBP/.430 SLG/18 HR/11 SB/24.4 K%/5.4 BB%
Encarnacion was a 2022 International free agent who struggled to find his footing early in his career. A back injury in 2023 limited him to just eight games at the Complex, and he never really looked right the following season. 2025 brought out the real Encarnacion as the raw power in his profile showed up in-game en route to an 18-homer season. There needs to be improvement in his contact rates, but if it all clicks, this is a 30+ homer bat with plenty of run production.
12) Mikey Romero, SS, Age: 22
2025 Stats (AA/AAA): .245 AVG/.300 OBP/.452 SLG/17 HR/5 SB/27.0 K%/7.0 BB%
Romero was a first-rounder in 2022 who took a while to come into his own before a breakout year in 2024. The power has ticked up over the past few years now that he’s cut down his groundball rate, but he’s sacrificing contact to sell out for the power. At best, Romero is a utility player in the majors but has just enough offensive upside to carve out a regular role.
13) Anthony Eyanson, RHP, Age: 21
2025 Stats (NCAA): 108 IP/3.00 ERA/33.9 K%/8.0 BB%
After two years at UC San Diego, Eyanson made his way to Baton Rouge and helped pitch the Tigers to a National Title. The 6’2″ right-hander relies heavily on his slider, which was highly effective during his time with LSU. The Sox love their sliders/sweepers, but developing the rest of his stuff will be the challenge. As currently constructed, the lack of a consistent supporting arsenal has Eyanson ticketed for a relief role.
14) Miguel Bleis, OF, Age: 21
2025 Stats (A+/AA): .222 AVG/.300 OBP/.385 SLG/14 HR/27 SB/23.9 K%/9.3 BB%
As an 18-year-old in 2022, Bleis obliterated the competition in the Complex League, raising his stock to record levels. That was really the last time that Bleis looked like a star after injuries, off-field issues, and poor performances crippled his stock. After finally eclipsing 100 games in 2025 and still just 21 years old, Bleis still has time to salvage his value and make an impact in the majors.
15) Johanfran Garcia, C, Age: 21
2025 Stats (CPX/A+): .261 AVG/.328 OBP/.464 SLG/12 HR/1 SB/28.6 K%/8.0 BB%
With his brother ‘the Password’ now in Pittsburgh, Johanfran Garcia, aptly named ‘the User Name’, has the stage to himself. The youngest of the Garcia brothers is definitely a power hitter, with contact rates barely above 65%, but respectable averages because of the quality of his contact. Defensively, he offers enough to be a backup catcher at the next level, as long as the bat can hold up.
The Next Five
16) Juan Valera, RHP, Age: 19
2025 Stats (A+): 38 IP/5.45 ERA/27.5 K%/6.0 BB%
Hard-throwing teenager with a projectable frame who showed impressive command with four pitches and bat-missing ability en route to a 27.5% in High-A.
17) Yoeilin Cespedes, 2B, Age: 20
2025 Stats (A): .227 AVG/.292 OBP/.376 SLG/10 HR/11 SB/21.2 K%/8.6 BB%
Short, stocky middle-infielder who had a strong showing in the Complex in 2024, but came back to Earth with a sub-.700 OPS in a 105-game sample in Class A.
18) Hayden Mullins, LHP, Age: 25
2025 Stats (A+/AA): 101.2 IP/2.21 ERA/30.0 K%/12.4 BB%
Smooth left-hander features a four-pitch mix with high strikeout potential and backed it up with a 2.21 ERA across two levels in 2025.
19) John Holobetz, RHP, Age: 23
2025 Stats (A/A+/AA): 124.2 IP/3.03 ERA/24.0 K%/4.0 BB%
Talented right-hander acquired from the Brewers in early April, turned in 124 2/3 innings with a 3.03 ERA and 20% K-BB rate in his pro debut, reaching Double-A in the process.
20) Henry Godbout, 2B, Age: 22
2025 Stats (NCAA): .309 AVG/.397 OBP/.497 SLG/8 HR/6 SB/8.4 K%/11.5 BB%
2025 Stats (A+): .341 AVG/.473 OBP/.477 SLG/0 HR/1 SB/10.9 K%/16.4 BB%
A collegiate bat from Virginia who has an advanced hit tool and patient approach, but lacks the power to be an impact bat long-term.
