Friday, October 16

Welcome to this edition of the Red Sox Beat newsletter.

With the 2026 season in the rearview mirror, it seemed like the perfect time to assess the farm system.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow shook things up at the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline with a bold strike, dealing three of the team’s top five prospects at the time (Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and Enddy Azocar) to the Orioles for Adley Rutschman.

The move signaled that the Red Sox had shifted into win-now mode, though it didn’t pay off in the playoffs, as the Yankees swept Boston in two games in the American League Wild Card Series.

However, Breslow knows that maintaining a strong farm system is vital for the sustainability of even the top contenders.

The club's Minor League system saw many positive developments in '26. Additional impact is projected in '27 from the most recent class of draftees.

Here is a categorical summation of where things stand.

3 players who forced their way onto the radar this year

Franklin Primera

One of the last international free agents the Sox signed in their '25 class and at a modest bonus of $10,000, Primera was solid in the Dominican Summer League in his first exposure to pro baseball. But the catcher took it to another level in a '26 season that started with 32 games in the Florida Complex League and continued with 46 games at Single-A Salem.

At both levels, the right-handed hitter hammered the baseball, finishing his season with a slash line of .367/.499/.581, 16 doubles, 13 homers, and 53 RBIs in 267 at-bats. He is Boston’s No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline.

A catcher who can hit is always a plus, and the prevailing thought from scouts is that Primera can stay behind the plate as his career progresses. Primera is 19 years old, so he still has some development ahead of him.

Jack Winnay

Given the recent success of Boston-area products Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice with the rival Yankees, there has been much consternation among Red Sox fans about those local players thriving somewhere else. Perhaps No. 23 prospect Jack Winnay will start to dull that narrative. The corner infielder hails from Newton, Mass., and went to Belmont High before a strong college career at Wake Forest that compelled the Red Sox to take him in the 13th round of the '25 Draft.

In his first full pro season, Winnay showed encouraging power (17 homers in 345 at-bats) and patience (.405 on-base percentage), splitting time between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. While it’s easy to imagine the right-handed hitter one day taking aim at Fenway’s Green Monster, he needs to improve his range on defense so he isn’t typecast as a DH.

Blake Wehunt

It looks like Boston’s ninth-round selection in 2023 out of Kennesaw State (Ga.) could be a late bloomer at 25. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound righty averages around 94 mph with his fastball, but it plays even more with his extension of 6.8 feet. He also has a six-pitch mix, which includes a fastball, curve, slider, splitter, sweeper and his new toy -- a sinker. 

While Boston’s No. 16 prospect was much more overpowering at Double-A Portland (72 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings) than after his promotion to Triple-A Worcester (32 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings), his ability to get ground balls made him effective at both affiliates, where his ERA (3.52 at Portland, 3.47 at Worcester) stayed remarkably consistent. Look for Wehunt to become a depth starting option for the Red Sox at some point in '27.

2 possible breakout players in 2027

Kaleb LaFavor

With LaFavor in mind as a Day 2 pick, the Red Sox purposely went under slot on some of their earlier picks so they could secure this electric high school lefty from Iowa. Part of the allure? Some Jacob Misiorowski vibes, helped by LaFavor’s 6-foot-7, 195-pound frame and projectable velocity.

“With Kaleb, I guess if we're trying to dream big here … in a Jacob Misiorowski mold,” Red Sox amateur scouting director Jake Bruml said in July. “He fits the bill. He’s someone our area scout and special acquisition specialist did a great job of identifying and having a great process with.”

LaFavor didn’t back away from the comparisons to one of his idols.

“I like it. I think I can live up to that,” LaFavor said during a recent visit to Fenway. “I just need to put my head down and work in the weight room.”  

Owen Hull

The left-handed hitter from UNC was the 67th overall pick in July’s Draft, and the Red Sox are plenty excited about his bat. In his brief pro debut for Single-A Salem this summer, Hull did little to diminish the optimism, slashing .337/.436/.531 with 10 doubles, three homers, 20 RBIs and 16 walks in 117 plate appearances.

It isn’t hard to imagine the 22-year-old Hull rising swiftly through the farm system, given his ability to control the strike zone and make hard contact. Power might come in time for Boston’s No. 8 prospect, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He also has the quickness to stay in center field in pro ball. 

1 big question for next season

When will Franklin Arias get to Fenway?

This is front and center on everyone’s mind after the tremendous season the prized shortstop from Venezuela put together on offense and defense. The defense has always been a calling card for the right-handed hitter, who turns 21 next month.

But the immense improvement on offense was the story of the season for Arias, who appears to be knocking on the door to get his opportunity in Boston. One issue is that entrenched veteran Trevor Story is under contract for one more season.

But it’s hard to ignore the eye-popping stats Boston's No. 1 prospect put together (.323/.400/.557, 28 doubles, 25 homers, 91 RBIs) over 117 games and 449 at-bats. He played his first 75 games of ‘26 at Double-A and the final 42 at Triple-A, looking equally comfortable at each level.

To subscribe to Red Sox Beat, visit this page and mark "Red Sox Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Red Sox or that they're checked as your favorite team.

View Online

© 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Please review our Privacy Policy.

You (mlb-newsletters@mlb.com) received this message because you registered to receive commercial email messages or purchased a ticket from MLB. 

Please add info@marketing.mlbemail.com to your address book to ensure our messages reach your inbox. If you no longer wish to receive commercial email messages from MLB.com, please unsubscribe or log in and manage your email subscriptions.

Postal Address: MLB.com, c/o MLB Advanced Media, L.P., 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.