Much of the attention surrounding the Red Sox’s farm system heading into 2025 revolved around three players: Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell. But by the end of the year, all three lost their prospect status. Now, the mantle of the system is led by Franklina Arias, Connelly Early, as well as other youngsters who remain after several trades.
Salem Red Sox
The Salem Red Sox were home to several interesting international free agents for Boston in 2025. However, a few of those are no longer with the organization.
We’ll start with Justin Gonzales, who is still in the organization. The 19-year-old Gonzales performed exceptionally well as an 18-year-old, as he slashed .298/.381/.423 with 29 extra-base hits over 81 games. Gonzales also made consistent contact, as well, as the 6’4” outfielder had a Whiff% of 22.4%.
Freili Encarnacion, who played as a 19-year-old last season, cracked 10 home runs and 25 extra-base hits with Salem. He struggled in Greenville with a .199 AVG (.599 OPS) but performed well in the Carolina League.
Infielder Yoelin Cespdes, who was given a seven-figure bonus nearly three years ago, slashed .227/.292/.376 as a 19-year-old.
Arguably, the best performers were the pitchers.
Yhoiker Fajardo posted one of the best swing-and-miss rates (35.5%) as an 18-year-old. However, Fajardo, acquired for Cam Booser from the White Sox, wasn’t long for the organization. The right-hander was flipped for Willson Contreras in December.
The same can be said for Jesus Travieso, who, like Fajardo, is a hard-thrower who can miss a lot of bats. Travieso struck out 38 over 25.2 IP and posted a higher Whiff% than Fajardo, albeit in a smaller sample size. Nonetheless, it was an impressive year for Travieso, listed at 140 pounds in 2025.
Travieso was traded to Pittsburgh as part of the Johan Oviedo trade.
Greenville Drive
With many graduations from prospects to Major Leaguers, perhaps Franklin Arias can take the mantle as the next big Red Sox prospect.
By all accounts, he was able to perform at a high level in 2025 as a 19-year-old. Arias, who started 2025 in Salem, finished his time in High-A with a team-high 94 hits and the lowest Whiff% in the South Atlantic League. It’s also worth noting that his fielding percentage (.981 cumulative) improved immensely year-to-year. Arias committed seven errors at short across 101 total games.
Arias is one of several recent Latin American imports. Miguel Bleis, who joined the organization in 2021, hit 13 home runs for Greenville in 2025 before he moved to Double-A. However, Bleis (.554 OPS in Double-A) hit a wall with Portland.
As for the pitching, the headliner was Payton Tolle. Tolle, who flashed one of the best fastballs in the NCAA a year earlier, struck out 79 over 49.2 IP with the Drive, posting a Whiff% north of 40%. It was one of several stops Tolle had before he arrived to Boston.
He wasn’t the only big pitching prospect in South Carolina for the Red Sox, though.
Brandon Clarke, now with the Cardinals, struck out 43 over 28 innings and had a higher Whiff% than Tolle. Clarke’s biggest problem, though, was walks; he surrendered 25 free passes.
John Holobetz, whom the Red Sox acquired in April for Quinn Priester, was a ground-ball machine and somewhat reminiscent of a young Priester. Holobetz also struck out 62 over 63 innings with the Drive.
Portland Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs’ pitching staff had a lot of talent, aside from Payton Tolle, who had only five starts in Maine before moving to Triple-A.
Arguably, the headliner was Connelly Early, the former UVA lefty who went from Double-A pitcher to late-season hero for the Red Sox. But before that, Early left his mark on the Eastern League. The left-hander struck out 96 over 71 innings for the Dogs, and his 34.3% Whiff% was eighth-best in the circuit (min. 450 induced swings).
Former Southern Miss pitcher Dalton Rogers made up for a bad 2024 in High-A with a good year in Portland. Rogers conceded just three home runs over 84 innings and struck out a team-best 101 batters. He had a GB% north of 44% and a 29.3% Whiff%.
David Sandlin, acquired two years for John Schreiber, struck out 86 over 82 innings.
As for the offense, it wasn’t a dynamite group, as the Red Sox didn’t have a standout hitter. It was a contrast from 2024 when Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, and Kyle Teel all played at one point in Portland.
There were some bright spots, though.
Former first-round pick Mikey Romero belted eight home runs and 30 extra-base hits before he moved to Triple-A. Blaze Jordan, now with the Cardinals, slashed .320/.415/.513 with six home runs and 17 extra-base hits over 44 games, showing that power he’s had for years.
Franklin Arias, who will likely start 2025 in Double-A, had four extra-base hits (two home runs) in 10 games with Portland to finish out the year.
However, there were also some down years.
James Tibbs, acquired in the Rafael Devers trade and moved a month later for Dustin May, only hit .207 with the Dogs. Former seventh-round pick Caden Rose struck out 119 times over 86 games and posted the second-worst Whiff% (43.7%) in the Eastern League.
Worcester Red Sox
Before Roman Anthony took center stage in Boston, he had a fantastic year with the WooSox.
Anthony posted the second-highest Barrel% (20.3%) among International League hitters, an obscene number. He rarely expanded out of the zone, hit for power, and flashed the elite tools that he wound up showing in Boston during the second half of the 2025 campaign.
It was also a big year for others in Worcester. Blaze Jordan posted a .821 OPS with 18 extra-base hits over 44 games. Mikey Romero (.469 SLG, 13.9% Barrel%) held his own and hit for power. Marcelo Mayer showed an advanced approach before he was promoted midseason.
Kristian Campbell also logged significant time with the WooSox, albeit in a different context. Campebell was the only one of the “big three” to make the Red Sox’s roster out of camp. And, Boston gave him a hefty extension shortly after his debut. However, after he scuffled in May, Campbell found himself back in Worcester.
His numbers weren’t bad. Campbell slashed .273/.382/.417 with eight home runs and 21 extra-base hits over 73 games. The Whiff% (27.4%) was roughly where it was for him in the Majors.
As for the pitching staff, the likes of Tolle and Early both pitched at the level and did well. Not a shock. However, the WooSox’s pitching staff included some unheralded names who might not be as prominent as those two.
Shane Drohan, a former Rule 5 pick by the White Sox in 2024, was slowed by forearm inflammation but pitched very well when healthy. Drohan struck out 67 and walked 16 over 47 frames. The fastball sat primarily 93-95 MPH and capped out at 96 MPH.
Then, there’s Tyler Uberstine. Uberstine, after a brief stay in Portland, struck out 102 over 91 frames. The Whiff% was nearly 30% on the 26-year-old, who was added to Boston’s 40-man roster in November.
A lot of swing-and-miss up from Ubertstine, who works with a slider, cutter, curveball, mid-80s changeup, and a four-seamer that ran up to 95-96 MPH in Triple-A.
Early Projected Top 5
- Franklin Arias
- Kyson Witherspoon
- Connelly Early
- Payton Tolle
- Mikey Romero
Even though Early and Tolle have Major League experience, Kyson Witherspoon has a fleshed-out arsenal and could move very fast in the Red Sox organization. Hence, why we have the 2025 first-rounder ahead of the two left-handers.
Aside from those three, much of the focus will be on whether Arias can push his way to Boston.
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