The Red Sox closed out Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft by selecting catcher Kyle Teel out of the University of Virginia (No. 14) and Christian Brothers College High School shortstop Nazzan Zanetello (No. 50).
On Day 2, the Sox drafted 10 more players, three shortstops, six pitchers and one outfielder. Here is a complete look at the prospects drafted on Day 2:
Round 3: 83rd overall - SS Antonio Anderson, North Atlanta High School
With their third-round pick, Boston selected North Atlanta High School shortstop Antonio Anderson with the No. 83 pick overall.
The 18-year-old was regarded by Baseball America as the No. 68 prospect in this year’s draft class. The Georgia native is currently committed to playing college baseball at Georgia Tech.
Anderson, a switch-hitter, batted .438/.522/.723 with 10 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 51 RBIs, 32 runs scored, four stolen bases, 23 walks, and 15 strikeouts in 34 games for North Atlanta this spring, per his MaxPreps page.
The 6-foot-3 infielder “is a polished hitter who understands the strike zone and recognizes pitches well,” according to his Baseball America scouting report. He “has a smooth stroke from both sides with good rhythm and balance. He shows more in-game power from the left side, but scouts think he has more raw power as a righthanded hitter. He’s got a chance for above-average on-base skills with above-average power potential as he fills out a frame that should get taller and stronger.”
Defensively, Anderson looks to project elsewhere than shortstop. Anderson “might profile better at third base. He has solid arm strength and has been into the low 90s as a pitcher, with reliable hands and actions as well that could suit the hot corner,” added Baseball America.
Round 4: 115th overall - RHP Matt Duffy, Canisius College (Buffalo, N.Y)
The HIGHEST draft pick in program history. Congrats Matt and good luck in Boston!
— Canisius Baseball (@GriffsBaseball) July 10, 2023
🗞️ - https://t.co/FOub14Io9Z#Griffs pic.twitter.com/ipg0ZH39MF
The Sox took their first pitcher in the 2023 MLB Draft, selecting Canisius College (Buffalo, N.Y) right-hander Matt Duffy with their fourth-round pick at No. 115 overall.
Duffy, 21, was ranked as the No. 474 prospect in this year’s draft class. The native of Ontario, Canada is coming off a 2023 season where he posted a 4.13 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 119 strikeouts to 28 walks in 14 starts (80 2/3 innings) for Canisius.
The MAAC Pitcher of the Year offers a pitch mix consisting of a below-average fastball that sits between 88-92 mph and tops out at 94 mph, a 78-81 mph changeup, and a slider that sits in the mid-to-upper 70s. Duffy “consistently filled the strike zone” throughout his college career, per Baseball America.
Duffy is currently committed to transferring to South Carolina for his senior year. It’s unknown if he has agreed to an under-slot deal with the Red Sox and getting him to forgo his final collegiate season. The recommended slot value for the 115 overall pick is $580,200. Boston will have until August 1 to agree to a deal with Duffy.
Round 4C: 132nd overall - SS Kristian Campbell, Georgia Tech
All Glory to God! Excited to be a Red Sox!! pic.twitter.com/pXXdaPLwvA
— Kristian Campbell (@K_Camp24) July 10, 2023
The Sox had two compensation picks in Round 4C of the 2023 MLB Draft, and took Campbell with the first one.
The Red Sox received this pick as compensation for extending a qualifying offer to longtime shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
The 21-year-old was ranked No. 255 overall by Baseball America. The right-handed hitting Campbell had an impressive sophomore season batting .376/.484/.549 with 16 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 24 RBIs, 50 runs scored, four stolen bases, 17 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 45 games (217 plate appearances) for the Yellow Jackets this past season.
Campbell offers “elite contact rate,” according to Baseball America. He “crowds the plate and hits against a slightly closed-off front side. He has plus hand speed that allows him to turn on pitches that sometimes look like they might hit him, and sprays the ball all over the yard.”
Campbell, who does not turn 22 until next June, became the fourth position player Boston selected with their first five picks. The 132nd overall selection in this year’s draft comes with a recommended slot value of $492,700.
Round 4C: 133rd overall - SS Justin Riemer, Wright State
Boston received this pick as compensation for extending a qualifying offer and then losing righty Nathan Eovaldi in free agency to the Rangers.
Riemer was selected after the Sox selected Campbell out of Georgia Tech. The 21-year-old got off to a strong start this year prior to tearing his ACL in early March.
He batted .323/.563/.645 with one double, three home runs, seven RBIs, 12 runs scored three stolen bases, 15 walks, and just two strikeouts in his first 12 games (48 plate appearances) for the Raiders.
“My biggest strengths right now are my bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline,” Riemer said. “They are things I take very seriously and something I knew I did a good job on last year, given my strikeout percentage. I can play it to my advantage, and I worked on it this offseason to do even better.”
Defensively, Riemer has played both middle infield positions. Last season, he made 30 appearances at second base and 16 at shortstop.
The 133rd overall selection in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $487,800.
Round 5: 151st overall - LHP Early Connelly, University of Virginia
The second pitcher picked.
Early posted a 3.09 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP with 100 strikeouts, 23 walks in 19 appearances (18 starts) over 87 1/3 innings pitched.
The 21-year-old spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Army where he won back-to-back Patriot League titles. He posted a 2.23 ERA in 36 1/3 innings as a freshman and a 3.26 ERA in 85 2/3 innings as a sophomore.
What a day for Connelly Early in his 2nd start of the week!
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) May 14, 2023
6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 SO.
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/WUKCCf4WpU
Early moved into Virginia’s starting rotation for the postseason, making three quality starts in the NCAA tournament. This includes striking out 10 batters in Virginia’s regional-clinching win over East Carolina. He pitched seven scoreless innings with eight punch-outs in a win over Duke in game 2 of the Super Regional. Early allowed just two runs in five innings against TCU in the College World Series.
In his only season with the Cavaliers, he was teammates with Teel, who the Sox drafted with the 14th overall pick.
The southpaw throws from a three-quarters arm slot and offers a three-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball, a sweeping slider, a curveball, and a changeup which is considered his second-best pitch in his arsenal. The MLB.com broadcast said that his changeup might end up being his best weapon and his secondary pitches are inconsistent.
The 151st overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $408,500.
Round 6: 178th overall - RHP CJ Weins, Western Kentucky
The 22-year-old spent the first two years of his college career at Wabash Valley Community College before he transferred to the University of South Carolina.
After entering the transfer portal last year, Weins ended up at Western Kentucky as a grad student.
Weins made 27 appearances for the Hilltoppers this past season, posting a 4.25 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 42 strikeouts to eight walks over 31 innings of relief holding opposing hitters to a .170 batting average against.
The righty, who will turn 23 next month throws from a low slot and features a three-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball, curveball and slider, per SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall. The Chicago native has experience closing out games, he saved eight games for Western Kentucky this past season.
He was the third hurler selected by the Sox alongside Duffy and Connelly. The club is looking to sign Weins to a below-slot bonus, the 178th overall pick comes with a $320,000 slot value.
Round 7: 208th overall - OF Caden Rose, University of Alabama
The 21-year-old batted .261/.383/.503 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBIs, 45 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 26 walks, and 40 strikeouts in 48 games (186 plate appearances) for the Crimson Tide this past season.
Rose primarily played in center field but also has experience at second base. He did not commit an error in 105 opportunities this season.
B7 | MY. GOODNESS. CADEN. 🕸️💎 #SCTop10
— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) May 25, 2023
3-2 Alabama#RollTide || 📺 SEC Network pic.twitter.com/xcN567DDje
The Alabama native was a two-sport athlete playing both baseball and football while in high school. Rose received an offer to play quarterback at Nebraska in 2018, but he turned that down and opted to play for Alabama.
Rose will turn 22 in November, he was the first player selected out of the SEC by the Sox this year. The 208th overall selection in this year’s draft comes with a slot value of $250,300.
Round 8: 238th overall - RHP Trennor O’Donnell, Ball State
O’Donnell posted a 2.93 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 97 strikeouts to 32 walks in 16 appearances (15 starts) spanning 92 innings of work this season.
The 22-year-old held opposing hitters to a .214 batting average as a senior and was named to the All-MAC Second Team.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound righty operates a fastball that sits between 90-92 mph and a slider. The Southlake, Texas native is likely to agree to a below-slot deal with the Sox. The 238th pick comes with a slot value of $201,000.
Round 9: 268th overall - RHP Blake Wehunt, Kennesaw State
The 22-year-old began the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Southern Mississippi. He was briefly teammates with current Sox left-handed pitching prospect Dalton Rogers.
After transferring to the Owls this season, Wehunt posted a 4.83 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 80 strikeouts to 23 walks over 76 1/3 innings in which opposing hitters batted .279 against him.
Blake Wehunt (@KSUOwlsBaseball) opens up 90-91, has shown good feel for CH in low-80s (clip). ‘23 elig. pic.twitter.com/JMWeD3voXh
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) April 14, 2023
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Georgia native throws from a three-quarter arm slot and offers a low-90s sinker and a low-80s change-up, according to SoxProspects.com. The 268th overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a recommended slot value of $178,600.
Round 10: 298th overall - LHP Ryan Ammons University of Clemson
Door closed. 🚪 🐾 @Ryanammons21
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) May 26, 2023
On to the next. 🐅 pic.twitter.com/Li3rNSOAgz
Ammons opened the 2023 season as a starter but after a left forearm strain that sidelined him for two months, he was utilized out of the bullpen.
The southpaw finished his redshirt junior season by posting a 5.40 ERA with seven strikeouts to five walks over 10 innings of relief in which he picked up five saves.
Overall, Ammons went 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA over 13 games with a 1.250 WHIP. The 6-foot lefty has a 94 mph fastball and a breaking ball, according to SoxProspects.com. It’s unknown how the Red Sox will utilize Ammons once his in the system.
The 298th overall pick in this year’s draft comes with a recommended slot value of $167,900.
