Xander Bogaerts. Rafael Devers. Brayan Bello. All 3 are cornerstones for the Red Sox that originally joined the organization as international free agents. Next up is 18-year-old center fielder Miguel Bleis, who was the talk of the farm system in 2022 despite names like Marcelo Mayer and Triston Casas landing higher on prospect lists.
Bleis inked a deal with the Red Sox during the 2020-2021 international signing period for a bonus of $1.5 million. That was the largest deal handed out by the Red Sox in the entire class, as they fell in love with the toolsy 16-year-old. He ranked 21st on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects list at the time.
There was some buzz following Bleis’ name after his first year in professional baseball, as he found his footing in the Dominican Summer League. He played in 36 games and hit .252/.331/.420/.751 with 4 long balls and 6 doubles, despite not even being 18 yet. His body continued to mature as well, as he reached 6-foot-1 and saw his weight jump to 180 pounds.
When Bleis arrived in spring training ahead of the 2022 season, scouts were raving about his work in the backfields. His tools were constantly on display, which left Assistant General Manager Eddie Romero gushing over his skillset. It was clear Bleis’ stock was on the rise, but he wasn’t near the top of any prospect lists at the time.
SoxProspects.com ranked Bleis the No. 8 prospect in the Red Sox system back in April, Baseball America placed him at No. 20, and MLB Pipeline didn’t even include him on their Top 30 list.
Fast forward to the end of 2022, and Bleis has become one of the most hyped names in the Red Sox farm system. At just 18, he was dubbed the #1 prospect in the Florida Complex League by Baseball America, after slashing .301/.353/.542/.896 with 5 homers, 14 doubles, and 18 stolen bases across 40 games. Not to mention, “effortless” defense in center field where his speed, range, and arm all graded at least above-average.
Bleis seemed destined for a promotion to Singe-A Salem once the FCL wrapped-up, but a lower back injury caused the Red Sox to slow things until 2023. The focus was on getting him fully healthy for the offseason, which has gone as planned. He was scheduled to participate in fall instructs before Hurricane Ian ravaged Fort Myers.
It’s rare to find a legit 5-tool talent at any level of the minor leagues, but Bleis checks off all those boxes. He feels built for the modern game of baseball, where the likes of Julio Rodriguez have burst on the scene with the ability to impact every facet of the sport.
Now, it’s impossible to look at a top prospect list for the Red Sox farm system and not see Bleis’ name near the top. He ranks the No. 3 prospect in the system according to SoxProspects.com, No. 5 on MLB Pipeline, and No. 6 on Baseball America. Not to mention, Fangraphs has added him to their Top 100 Prospect Big Board at 59, between the likes of Jackson Jobe and Junior Caminero.
For anyone who follows prospects, it’s clear that there’s a long road of development to go. His estimated time of arrival in the big leagues is currently 2026. Yet, for those that remember the chatter surrounding Bogaerts and Devers early in their professional baseball careers, it feels very familiar.
From the batted ball data to the eye test, scouts can’t get enough of Miguel Bleis.
