Earlier than the beginning of the 2024 season, NESN.com is evaluating a number of noteworthy prospects within the Boston Crimson Sox group, utilizing perception and evaluation from trade consultants to gauge every participant’s outlook for the upcoming marketing campaign. Subsequent up: Nick Yorke.
The Boston Crimson Sox have constructed up an amazing farm system, notably with affect place gamers. Budding names comparable to Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel may dominate conversations in regards to the future. On the identical time, Boston has expertise all through the system that could also be deserving of extra consideration.
Chase Meidroth suits that construct.
The 2022 fourth-round choose has risen rapidly by means of the minor leagues and positions himself for a 2024 season that would go a great distance in figuring out the ceiling of his future.
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With that in thoughts, right here’s the whole lot it is advisable know in regards to the 22-year-old infielder.
Background
Like a number of infielders within the Crimson Sox system, Meidroth’s baseball journey started in California, rising up in The Golden State and taking his abilities to the College of San Diego. Meidroth mashed by means of the West Coast Convention, hitting .319 with a .949 OPS in his faculty profession.
Sporting the Crimson Sox uniform wasn’t a brand new expertise for Meidroth when Boston chosen him within the fourth spherical of the 2022 MLB Draft. That summer season, the infielder impressed with the Yarmouth-Dennis Crimson Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League. From there, a swift path of development started for Meidroth.
His high quality plate method and total defensive versatility, which led to some spotlight performs, allowed the San Diego product to rise quickly. Meidroth reached Double-A inside his first full minor league season and confirmed that he might play there. In 91 video games with Double-A Portland, Meidroth obtained on base at a .386 clip whereas posting a .762 OPS.
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Meidroth actually has room to develop, however he has answered the bell to carry down his spot at every cease alongside the best way by means of the Crimson Sox system.
Scouting Report
Meidroth’s recreation is constructed on working deep in counts as a excessive on-base offensive participant who challenges pitchers to assault the zone.
“The largest factor with him is you simply know you’re getting a top quality at-bat,” Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com advised NESN.com just lately. “Final yr, his method metrics had been elite. He doesn’t miss within the zone. Like the whole lot, it’s simply straight contact on pitches within the zone. He doesn’t chase and sees a ton of pitches. Works counts. Kinda like that table-setter when you already know you’re going to get a five-, six-pitch at bat each day out with him.”
Defensively, Meidroth has principally performed second base, although he confirmed the power to play third as effectively in an infield with Mayer and Nick Yorke to date. Whereas he isn’t flashy, the infielder may be stable.
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“I truly assume he can play a bit of third base,” Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes advised NESN.com just lately. “I’ve seen him make some performs there. I noticed it on the Cape, too. I’m not off that man being a utility man who can hit a bit of bit.”
Lengthy-term, these qualities give Meidroth an opportunity to maintain carving his path by means of the minor leagues.
“The way in which his high quality of contact works, I believe he’s going to be a high-OBP, high-contact, low-slug man,” Cundall mentioned.
Probably state of affairs: Fill-in infielder
Meidroth nonetheless wants time within the minors. He may even see alternatives to fill in relying on infield wants for the Crimson Sox at instances. In any other case, Boston ought to let him maintain growing as a stable total possibility.
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Greatest-case state of affairs: MLB utilityman
Meidroth has the possibility to determine himself on the main league degree if his whole offensive recreation and defensive stability elevate in 2024. If he can just do that, Boston might have a stable inside addition to make to the bench within the close to future.
“I don’t know if the logjam is as relevant to him as a result of I believe he’s obtained a greater likelihood and is most definitely a backup on the main league degree,” Cundall added. “Meidroth simply is somebody I might see carving out an extended profession as a bench bat.”
Fenway forecast
Meidroth will want some motion in entrance of him, however might actually see time filling in for accidents or as a late-season callup. What yr that occurs in stays to be seen.
“His draft yr was two years in the past and he’s already most likely going to start out in Triple-A this yr, I might guess,” Cundall defined. “I might see him going again to Portland, however he obtained 325 plate appearances there final yr. … If he goes to Double-A, it’ll most likely solely be for a month or two. However he’s undoubtedly shot up the system. He’s put himself in place the place perhaps subsequent yr or the yr after we’re speaking about him as an possibility for major-league depth.”
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SoxProspects rating: No. 14
Boston has elite expertise rising nearer to the present amongst its place gamers. Meidroth ought to rise on the record if his recreation stays constant and people prospects graduate the system.