1. Blaze Jordan, Red Sox infield prospect
Blaze Jordan is currently a third-base prospect, but scouts believe he will end up at first base due to “below-average speed and range.” He played 18 games at third, five at first, and DH’ed for four games in 2021.
2021 was Jordan’s professional debut and he split the minor-league season between Rookie ball and Low-A Salem. Over 28 games, he hit .324/.368/.590 with a .959 OPS, eight doubles, a triple, and six home runs. He scored 19 runs and drove in 26.
Even though Jordan has never played higher than A-ball, looking ahead, there isn’t much room for him in the infield. Rafael Devers currently plays third, Bobby Dalbec is at first, and it’s about to get even more crowded, because their #2 prospect Triston Casas is expected to debut in 2022, and he also plays first.
There is a discussion to be had about whether Devers should remain at third or inherit the DH throne from JD Martinez and David Ortiz, but barring some drastic changes this year, he’ll stay at third for now.
The Sox also recently traded outfielder Hunter Renfroe to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for their own homegrown outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and two prospects, Alex Binelas and David Hamilton. Binelas is also a 3B/1B, while Hamilton is a SS/2B.
MLB.com named Jordan as the organization’s prospect they expect to break out in 2022, but right now, it feels like he’s the odd man out Plenty of teams would be interested in a slugging infielder, though.