Boston Red Sox

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium

Track Record: Paulino's hand-eye coordination stood out when the Red Sox signed him for just over $200,000 in 2018. In pro ball, that trait has been evident in tandem with a discerning eye and impressive bat life that permits him to generate steady, hard contact to the gaps. Paulino has had strong performances in each of his three minor league stops. He put up a .985 OPS in the Dominican Summer League in 2021. He had 58 extra-base hits for Low-A Salem in 2022 and ranked top 10 with a .203 isolated slugging percentage among players in their age-19 seasons or younger. Signed as a shortstop, Paulino has moved all over the field in pro ball, playing short, second base, third base and center field in 2022.

Scouting Report: Though physically unimposing, Paulino is live-bodied, controls the strike zone well (12% walk rate), makes reliable contact (19.5% strikeout rate) and has a good sense for those pitches that he can hit hard, with lots of well-struck line drives interspersed with occasional pull-side pop. He's a good athlete who plays solid defense at second and third base with the ability to fill-in as a starter at shortstop with fringy defense. Paulino started getting time in center field in 2022. While he's at a very early stage of his development there, he has the athleticism to have a true super-utility profile. Paulino shows solid speed on the bases, contributing to a well-rounded profile.

The Future: Paulino has a future as a solid bottom-of-the-order super-utility player. He should open 2023 in High-A Greenville, with a likely big league ETA in 2025. Boston's depth of middle infield options could make him a trade candidate, but his versatility makes that something other than a foregone conclusion.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: As a slender amateur in Venezuela, Gonzalez impressed by shaping three pitches while exuding physical projection. After the Covid shutdown year of 2020, Gonzalez emerged with a mid-90s fastball that overpowered hitters in 2021. But a lack of strength and suboptimal conditioning left Gonzalez with wildly inconsistent mechanics through much of 2022 in Low-A Salem, resulting in a 5.28 ERA and 14.8% walk rate through 17 starts. He responded well to a mid-year challenge to take ownership of his career. Added strength helped him harness his delivery to finish with a 2.43 ERA, 30.4% strikeout rate, and 8.6% walk rate in his last eight starts, split between Salem and High-A Greenville.

Scouting Report: One evaluator described Gonzalez as a 'freaky mover,' a hyper-mobile pitcher who generates incredible length in his delivery. His ability to stay on his back leg yields a low, down-the-mound release point that allows his fastball, which sits 94-96 mph and tops out at 99, to jump on hitters and get above bats, a potentially elite fastball. His curve and changeup show average or better potential, and he developed a cutter/slider at the end of 2022 that will be part of his mix in 2023.

The Future: Gonzalez has mid-rotation upside if he can throw enough strikes to get there, with plenty of fastball to be a late-innings arm if his starter development stalls. Gonzalez will start 2023 in High-A Greenville.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: The Red Sox scouted Murphy at San Diego as a pitcher with untapped potential, a lefty with a good fastball who they felt was using in the wrong part of the zone (down instead of up) and who had putaway stuff but tended to nibble with two strikes. In his 2019 pro debut in short-season Lowell, Murphy immediately showed an eagerness to embrace data-driven tweaks to his plan of attack. In two years since the lost 2020 campaign, Murphy has advanced to Triple-A while pitching 253 1/3 innings, fifth most in the minors).

Scouting Report: Murphy features a three-pitch mix anchored by a fastball that sits 92-94 mph and tops out at 96, complemented by an above-average changeup and an average slider. He's delivered occasionally dominant outings but has mostly shown an ability to work to gameplans while offering a steady supply of five- to six-inning outings. He seemed to lose steam as the 2022 season progressed, with his velocity ticking down and his ERA rising in each month of the year.

The Future: Murphy has shown the building blocks of a potential No. 5 starter, and after being placed on the 40-man roster, he's likely to open 2023 in Triple-A as a depth option for the Red Sox. It's possible his stuff could play up in a multi-innings relief role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 55. Control: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Jordan showed prodigious power on the amateur showcase circuit before he started shaving. That carrying tool made him one of the top high school talents in 2020--particularly given that he was still 17 at the time of the draft after reclassifying from the 2021 class--but questions about his hitting and future position left him on the board for the Sox in the third round, with the team signing the No. 89 overall pick away from Mississippi State with a $1.75 million bonus. Jordan had a strong age-19 season at the dish with Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville in 2022, hitting .289/.363/.445 with 12 homers, 45 extra-base hits, and an 18% strikeout rate.

Scouting Report: Though Jordan has 70-grade raw power with the ability to clear the fences to all fields, the trait made only occasional appearances in 2022. Instead he maintained a more controlled swing that allowed him to cover the plate with an approach geared from center to right-center. While that yielded a high batting average and OBP, Jordan had a high groundball rate and did little damage against good fastballs. Still, he showed athleticism and strength in his swing to suggest a future ability to take chances and drive the ball with more frequency. While Jordan played both infield corners, his lack of speed and range suggest a future first base/DH profile.

The Future: Jordan should open 2023 back in Greenville but stands an excellent chance of advancing to Double-A. If his approach evolves to tap into his power, that could eventually yield a middle-of-the-order slugger.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 65. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: After shifting around the infield in high school, Hickey moved behind the dish full time at Florida. Though raw defensively, Hickey showed enough while hitting .316/.436/.539 in 2021 during his one full college season to convince the Red Sox to sign the draft-eligible redshirt freshman to an above-slot $1 million bonus. In his first full pro season, Hickey hit .263/.415/.522 between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville.

Scouting Report: Hickey features little wasted motion in the box, staying balanced through a short stride before unloading on pitches with a powerful hip turn to produce plus raw power. His calm initial move buys time to recognize pitches and contributes to an excellent approach in the lower minors, punishing pitches in all quadrants. Defensively, Hickey remains raw with plenty of cleanup to do in his blocking, receiving, and framing, though an automated strike zone could lower the bar. He has average raw arm strength but must sharpen his footwork and transfer to allow it to play. Runners succeeded on 87% of steal attempts against Hickey, a number that will have to change markedly for him to stick at catcher. Hickey does embrace the challenge of his position and plays with an edge to prove doubters wrong.

The Future: If Hickey emerges as a below-average defensive catcher, he'd have standout offensive potential at the position. If not, he might still bring enough as a hitter to play at DH or first base.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The Sox signed Bonaci for $290,000 on the basis of his good hands, strong arm and ability to switch-hit. His middle infield defense and bat-to-ball skills stood out early in pro ball, but in 2022, his already solid plate discipline improved, leading to a .262/.397/.385 line with 28 steals and as many walks (89) as strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Bonaci showed excellent plate discipline but arguably lapsed into passivity while batting lefthanded, where he hit .257/.413/.357 with a 20.5% walk rate. He hit .279/.330/.523 righthanded, showing more thump and a more aggressive approach from that side. He produces a lot of liners and groundballs to the opposite field, but Bonaci went from no homers and 11 extra-base hits in through June (57 games) to six homers and 20 extra-base hits in the last three months (51 games). Though his speed is fringe-average, his feel for the game allows it to play up, and he took smart chances on the bases. Defensively, he proved capable at short and above-average with good range at second while also providing solid defense at third with a plus arm.

The Future: Bonaci's skill set of a disciplined switch-hitter with solid contact skills and the ability to handle three infield positions suggests a player with a utility profile. If the late-season power gains were a sign of double-digit home runs in his future, there's a chance for more upside as a regular who could hit at the bottom of a lineup.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 40. Speed: 45. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: After signing as a projectable righthander with a fast arm for $75,000, Perales quickly emerged as a potentially electrifying pitcher who showed mid-90s velocity after a few months in the Red Sox academy in the Dominican Republic. The 2020 Covid shutdown and non-elbow arm injuries limited him to just two professional innings entering the 2022 season. Once on the mound, Perales overpowered hitters in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, earning a promotion for a season-ending stretch in Low-A Sale, where he struck out 31% of hitters.

Scouting Report: Perales overwhelmed FCL hitters even when throwing nothing but fastballs, sitting at 94-97, topping out at 99 with ride from a low release height. Pushed to lean more frequently on his secondaries, Perales showed a power slider that flashed plus. It was especially effective against righties, but he couldn't control it consistently and he would sometimes slow his arm speed on it, allowing hitters to spit on pitches out of the zone. His changeup was fringy but showed promise as a third piece in a developing mix. Though capped at three innings per outing in 2022, Perales will continue to develop as a starter, learning to navigate lineups multiple times in 2023.

The Future: Perales has mid-rotation upside, but the variance of his potential outcomes is immense. If he doesn't start, his fastball makes it easy to see a future late-innings reliever if he can stay healthy. He'll likely open 2023 in Low-A Salem.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: When the Red Sox selected Lugo out of Puerto Rico and signed him to a $1.1 million bonus, they believed the nephew of Carlos Beltran would stick in the middle of the infield and grow into plus power. After he hit just four homers and slugged .364 in his first full pro season in 2021, a cleaned-up swing and a more hitter-friendly environment in High-A Greenville (before a season-ending promotion to Double-A) led to a .282/.338/.492 line with 18 homers and 54 extra-base hits in 2022.

Scouting Report: While Lugo showed solid bat-to-ball skills in 2021, a late trigger and some small rough mechanical edges resulted in a ton of grounders and flat liners. In 2022, he changed his mindset to drive the ball in the air. That adjustment, complemented by a smoother setup, allowed Lugo to unload on pitches in front of the plate to the pull side with average power. His strikeout rate remained a modest 19.8%, but his lack of selectivity is likely to compromise his hit tool. With average speed and arm strength, Lugo showed fringy range at short with 20 errors in 73 games and moved to second and third once Marcelo Mayer got to Greenville. He'll also get a look in center in 2023 as he looks for a true defensive home.

The Future: Lugo's emerging power suggests a promising versatile righthanded bench player or a low-end regular. If he takes to the outfield or tightens his plate discipline, he could elevate that profile.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Signed by the Astros for $450,000 in 2015, Valdez's first four minor league seasons proved undistinguished. After working to stay back on the ball to help him better track pitches and drive the ball to the opposite field, Valdez in 2021 hit a career-high 26 homers, two more than he hit from 2016-19. He followed that with a bonkers performance (.327/.410/.606 with 21 homers in 82 games) for Houston's Double-A and Triple-A teams in 2022 before becoming the lead piece in a deadline deal for catcher Christian Vazquez. Valdez saw his numbers fall with Triple-A Worcester, but the Red Sox added a near big league-ready bat to their 40-man roster.

Scouting Report: Valdez coils with a pronounced crouch and sizable leg kick before exploding into the ball, holding back little while driving balls in the air to all fields, especially against righties. Despite his pre-swing movement, Valdez doesn't have too much swing-and-miss to his game, though his strikeout rate did tick up after the trade. His strength and bat-to-ball skills create the potential for an average hitter with above-average power, though with major questions about his position. A below-average runner, Valdez has limited range at second makes that him a below-average option there, and he doesn't look better at third base or left field.

The Future: Defensive development will determine if Valdez is an up-and-down bat or carves out a stable role as a bat-first platoon contributor off the bench, though there's a chance he could be more. He will open 2023 in Triple-A but should get big league opportunities.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Wong spent three seasons in the Dodgers system as a catcher with the athleticism to move around the infield, but after heading to theRed Sox as the third player in the Mookie Betts deal, he has stayed almost exclusively behind the plate. Wong has developed a solid reputation inside the organization for his work with pitchers. His offense took a step forward in 2022 with a more selective, contact-oriented approach with Triple-A Worcester, though he scuffled in 27 big league games.

Scouting Report: After struggling to control his strikeout rate in past years, Wong committed to a flat bat path with minimal pre-swing movement in 2022. That led to fewer swings-and-misses and more walks, but also a preponderance of liners and groundballs while rarely tapping into his wiry strength. Still, he has a chance to get on base enough to be a serviceable bottom-of-the-order hitter who runs extremely well for a catcher with average speed. Pitchers gave him solid reviews for his game-calling and his framing numbers in both Triple-A and the big leagues were solid. Wong has a plus arm and averaged 1.92 seconds on his pop times in the big leagues, though runners were successful on 15 of 18 stolen base attempts.

The Future: Wong should have a decent run as a big league backup catcher, a role that may be his starting in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: While Coffey garnered consideration as a pitcher in the draft thanks to a mid-90s fastball and quality slider, the Red Sox tabbed him with the No. 41 overall pick and signed him to a slightly-below-slot bonus of $1.8475 million based on his upside as a power-hitting infielder. Coffey played 11 games in the Florida Complex League, going 4-for-32 with seven walks and 11 strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Coffey's swing features power from the ground up, with a rhythmic leg kick, powerful torque, and considerable bat speed. He possesses average pull power with the chance for more. There are small edges to his swing that will require cleaning up in order to develop his timing to the point where he can feature a fringy to average hit tool, but he showed good swing decisions and swings against breaking balls to suggest promise. Coffey played short, second, and third in his debut. He has the body control and athleticism to handle short, but some evaluators see him as better suited for third given his arm strength and limited speed. He's a fringy runner now who projects as below-average as he gains size.

The Future: Coffey has the size, strength, and athleticism to become a power-hitting infielder who provides strong defense at third and fringy to average defense in the middle infield. He'll compete for a spot in full-season A-ball in spring training but could open the year in extended.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Signed by the Astros for $300,000 as an 18-year-old in 2017, Abreu was unimpressive in his first three pro seasons. After he overhauled his approach to focus on selectivity with an eye towards damage, he blasted 16 homers in 82 games in High-A in 2021. He followed that in 2022 by drawing the second-most walks (114) in the minors while hitting a combined .247/.399/.435 in Double-A, with the Red Sox acquiring him in the trade deadline deal for catcher Christian Vazquez.

Scouting Report: Though Abreu's selectivity can veer into passivity, he swings with bad intentions, creating three true outcomes potential. With Houston, Abreu closed off his front shoulder, then exploded with a rotational swing to generate average power. The Red Sox asked him to square up his stance, hoping that in doing so, it would become easier for Abreu to get to pitches in different parts of the zone. His basestealing instincts help his average speed play up as he went 31-for-34 on stolen base attempts in 2022. Despite a fire hydrant frame, Abreu moves well enough to be respectable in center and good in the outfield corners with a solid-average arm.

The Future: The Sox added Abreu to the 40-man roster, seeing him as a potential fourth outfielder with a number of paths to contribute. He should open 2023 in Triple-A.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Despite a Bunyan-esque senior year at Notre Dame in which he hit .302/.473/.767 with 22 homers in 47 games, position questions and some uncertainty about his sought-after signing bonus left Kavadas on the board on day three of the 2021 draft. The Sox pounced and signed the slugger for $250,000. In his first full pro season, Kavadas hit .295/.460/.603 with 24 homers in 96 games between Low-A and High-A before tailing off in Double-A Portland, finishing second in the minors in OBP (.443) and 12th in OPS (.990).

Scouting Report: Kavadas is unabashed about his desire to hit a homer every time he hits, but he's selective in his efforts to do so. Early in counts, he looks for a pitch either middle-in or middle-away to hammer in the air, something he did with exit velocities up to 110 mph. His power grades as at least plus, and Kavadas showed the ability to leave the yard to all fields while handling velocity in the lower levels. As command improved in Double-A, his quality and frequency of contact declined, suggesting a below-average to fringe-average future hit tool. A plodding runner, Kavadas can make routine plays at first but projects as a below-average defender with a below-average arm.

The Future: Kavadas' career will be defined by his bat, and more specifically by the development of his hit tool. He's an intelligent hitter, and if he finds ways to limit his holes, he could be a DH who sees some time at first. If not, he may see time as an up-and-down lefthanded bench bat.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 65. Speed: 20. Fielding: 40. Arm: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Cespedes signed with the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic on Jan. 15, 2023, and received one of the higher bonuses in the class.

Scouting Report: Cespedes is on the smaller end of the scale relative to most big bonus prospects, but scouts highest on him love his hitting ability. Some scouts consider him one of the best pure hitters in Latin America for this year, with excellent hand-eye coordination that leads to a high contact rate. He has an aggressive approach that he will have to rein in to become a more selective hitter, but he still has the bat-to-ball skills to make contact with pitches in the zone or off the plate. There's some surprising power for his size, too, with home run power in games.

The Future: Cespedes is an offensive-minded shortstop who could fit at second or third base. He should make his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Field: 45. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Brannon mashed 20 homers as a high school senior, tying a North Carolina record that had previously been set by his father, Paul, a Mariners draftee in 1990. The Red Sox signed him to an over-slot bonus of $712,500 as a ninth-round pick in 2022, then Brannon made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Scouting Report: Brannon is a formidable physical presence, a broad-shouldered teenager with made-for-catching, tree-trunk legs. He funnels all of his strength into his swing, resulting in some tape-measure shots. It's an all-or-nothing approach that has allowed him to pulverize fastballs but has made him vulnerable to chasing secondaries out of the zone. Behind the plate, Brannon has good hands, a plus arm and excellent flexibility with a hunger to develop his defensive game.

The Future: Though mindful of the considerable risk attached to the high school catching demographic, the Red Sox viewed Brannon as having the tools and intangibles to be a worthwhile bet. He has a chance to emerge as an everyday big league catcher with offensive impact.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: In high school, Rodriguez-Cruz was a reed-thin 17-year-old up to 94 mph with four pitches, showing the projectable physical traits and strike-throwing ability to suggest an attractive ceiling. The Red Sox took him in the fourth round--their highest selection of a high school righthander since Michael Kopech in 2014--and gave him a slightly below-slot bonus of $497,500. In his 2022 pro debut, Rodriguez-Cruz had a 1.88 ERA with a 26.1% strikeout rate and 9.3% walk rate in 38 1/3 innings, mostly in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Scouting Report: Even as he has room for considerable strength gains, Rodriguez-Cruz works with a fastball up to 95 mph and features good extension, getting on hitters quickly. The athletic righthander isn't shy about attacking the strike zone with his fastball as the headliner of a mix that also includes a curveball that could be a tick above-average pitch, as well as a changeup and a fringy slider.

The Future: Rodriguez-Cruz has a mix that gives him a chance to emerge as a starter, most likely at the back of the rotation, so long as either his changeup or slider develops into a viable third big league pitch. He finished 2022 in Low-A Salem and likely will spend much of 2023 there.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Slider: 45. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High

Track Record: Largely unrecruited out of high school, Meidroth played just 19 games at San Diego before taking full advantage of regular playing time in 2022, hitting .329/.440/.544 with 10 homers. He improved his stock by holding his own in the Cape Cod League, leading the Red Sox to take him in the fourth round and sign him to a below-slot bonus of $272,500. Meidroth dominated in his pro debut, hitting .309/.424/.559 with four homers and more walks than strikeouts in 19 games with Low-A Salem.

Scouting Report: A stocky 5-foot-10 player whose raw tools are easily overlooked, Meidroth has excellent hand-eye coordination, getting the barrel to the ball with a flat bat path and a high contact rate. Once in pro ball, he embraced suggestions about small posture tweaks, with a more upright stance allowing him to more frequently pull the ball in the air. The results came so quickly that it created optimism about the possibility of 40- to 45-grade power along with an excellent hit tool. His limited arm makes his best fit second base, where his range grades as below-average, but his reliable hands and clock make him serviceable. He may also see time at third and short.

The Future: Meidroth may get pushed to High-A Greenville to start 2023, and has a chance to hit his way to a profile in the mold of a righthanded version of Tommy La Stella.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Speed: 30. Fielding: 45. Arm: 40.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Kelly has taken the road less traveled. Signed by the Athletics out of Division II Newberry College for $500, released twice (by the A's in 2018 and the Angels during the pandemic in 2020), and having non-Tommy John elbow surgery before the Red Sox signed him as a minor league free agent in late 2020. Once with the Red Sox, Kelly cleaned up his mechanics to unlock more power on his fastball, making his changeup even more effective, and he excelled in the upper minors to earn a season-ending callup to Boston in 2022.

Scouting Report: Kelly, who posted a 36% strikeout rate in the minors in 2022, tunnels a mid-90s fastball (sitting 93-96 mph, topping out at 97) with a low-80s changeup that features both depth and fade to avoid barrels. He also has a cutter/slider that he employs as a third offering, chiefly against righties, to open the plate. Kelly possesses good command within the strike zone, resulting in generally weak contact, including against big league hitters who posted an average 85.5 mph exit velocity against him.

The Future: Though he lacks wipeout stuff, Kelly's ability to throw strikes and limit hard contact suggests a ready-made middle-innings profile. He could be a frequent big league contributor in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 40. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: Rogers enrolled at Southeast Louisiana as a freshman, but after the Covid year cut short his freshman campaign, he transferred to Jones College, then transferred again as a sophomore to Southern Mississippi. As a multi-inning reliever, he struck out 37.7% of hitters while limiting opponents to a .128 batting average. Rogers then had a brief Cape League stint as a starter, the role in which the Red Sox hope to develop him after signing him to a below-slot bonus of $447,500 as a third-round pick in 2022.

Scouting Report: Rogers is a diminutive lefty who hides the ball well while driving down the mound to create good extension and a low release height. That combination, along with the ride and arm-side run on his 93-94 mph fastball (which tops out at 96), has given hitters fits at the top of the zone. He's leaned heavily on his fastball to this point, though he has two secondaries  a low-80s changeup and low-80s slider  with the shape to develop into weapons if he can control them.

The Future: The Sox will develop Rogers as a starter, hoping that his control will improve to the point where his tantalizing mix can play to its fullest potential. If everything coalesces, he has the pitches to emerge as a No. 4 starter. If control remains elusive, Rogers could become a middle-innings lefty with high strikeout and walk rates.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: The Red Sox were drawn to Ravelo as a defensive magician whose lightning hands created a number of did-you-see-that double takes at shortstop. The team signed Ravelo for $525,000. After a respectable pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021, he hit .197/.303/.265 in 2022, spending most of the season in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League before a promotion to Low-A Salem.

Scouting Report: Ravelo dazzles with his hands and flash, effortlessly executing between-the-legs or behind-the-back glove-to-hand transfers that would be unfathomable for most players. He has at least plus range and an above-average arm to profile as a true shortstop. The question is whether Ravelo will hit enough to be more than an up-and-down player. He's working to calm down his leg kick to improve timing, and at the end of the year, he drove some balls while hitting lefthanded in Salem to suggest a hint of power, but he will have to improve his swing decisions to make more regular contact. He doesn't have a single extra-base hit while batting righthanded, casting uncertainty over his future as a switch-hitter.

The Future: Ravelo is so good defensively that he doesn't need to hit much to forge a big league path, but he will need more strength and development as a hitter to get there.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 30. Power: 30. Speed: 45. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.