The Red Sox added another athletic shortstop, drafting Nazzan Zanetello out of Christian Brothers College High School with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
The pick was the Red Sox' final selection on day one of the draft. Earlier in the night, the Sox selected catcher Kyle Teel out of the University of Virginia with the No. 14 pick overall.
“I feel like I’m walking on air right now,” Zanatello said. “[Red Sox fans] can expect to see me in Boston pretty soon. They’re going to get the hardest worker in the draft and a lot of upside from me. I was talking almost every day with [the Red Sox]. . . . The Red Sox are getting a five-tool player and a five-tool person.”
With the 50th pick in the 2023 #MLBDraft we have
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 10, 2023
selected SS Nazzan Zanetello of Christian Brothers (MO). pic.twitter.com/ymomcZz07v
The 18-year-old is a right-handed hitter and has committed to play at Arkansas next year. Zanetello said he has an above-slot agreement with the Sox (the slot is worth $1.698 million).
“Man, it was just a dream come true cause I remember my first Little League team was the St. Louis Red Sox,” Zanetello said, on a Zoom call with reporters. “And it was just a huge sigh of relief, man. Finally get to stand up from that table in there.”
Zanetello was ranked the No. 52 overall prospect in the draft class and has five-tool potential.
“Zanetello has a wiry 6-foot-2 frame with room to add more muscle, and his strong hands and wrists produce plenty of bat speed and 25-homer potential,” wrote Baseball America on the new Sox prospect. “He doesn’t have the prettiest right-handed swing but makes a lot of hard contact. He also shows good control of the strike zone and produced against quality pitching throughout the summer.”
The Red Sox plan on developing him at shortstop and in the outfield.
“While Zanetello has clocked run times that earn grades from anywhere from 45 to 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, the consensus is that he’ll probably have solid speed once he’s physically mature. His athleticism and strong arm help him make plays at shortstop, where he projects as an average defender. The Arkansas commit has looked solid in stints in center field and should provide similar glovework if he shifts to third base,” wrote Baseball America.
He had a .421 batting average to go with nine home runs, 33 RBI, 21 stolen bases and an .813 slugging percentage to make himself one of the most sought-after prospects in the draft.
“He’s one of the best athletes in the draft, in my opinion,” said Amateur Scouting Director Devin Pearson. “He’s explosive. He’s got speed. He’s got the ability to play a really good shortstop, athletic enough to play a really good centerfield.”
On Monday afternoon before the Home Run Derby from T-Mobile Park, Zanetello was at the All-Star workout and remained overjoyed that he was selected by the Red Sox.
A dream come true for Nazzan Zanetello! pic.twitter.com/6Aib1eDCEx
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 10, 2023
“I’ve been floating the whole time. I got to put this jersey and hat back on this morning and I was like, ‘I get to do it again,’ said the Sox second-rounder.
File under cool ASG moments:
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 10, 2023
Our All-Star meets our 2nd-round pick! pic.twitter.com/CT3wjgGEXv
“Last night I didn’t take it off. My mom told me to take it off to go to dinner so I would get anything on it. I didn’t want to take it off. It just feels like a dream come true. I can’t even put into words, I can finally live my lifelong dream of becoming a professional baseball player and take the first step.
“I went to breakfast this morning, and I’m in there with my dad, looking around, Marcus Semien walks past me. Clayton Kershaw comes in. Salvador Perez comes in. I turn around, Nolan Arenado is holding his baby. Being able to be a part of that, and when I saw this morning that this is going to be the rest of my life, I can’t even put it into words. It’s crazy.”