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  "description": "Full scouting reports with tool grades for the top 20 prospects in the Red Sox system",
  "path": "/boston-red-sox-2026-top-20-prospects/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-08T17:29:20.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.prospectslive.com",
  "tags": [
    "Rafael Devers",
    "Brandon Tew",
    "Daniel Barrand",
    "Gabriel Estevez",
    "Grant Carver",
    "Matt Seese",
    "Mitch Stachnik",
    "Nate Jones",
    "Trevor Hooth",
    "2026 Team Prospect Lists - Prospects LiveProspects LiveProspects Live Staff",
    "Payton Tolle",
    "Connelly Early",
    "Franklin Arias",
    "Kyson Witherspoon",
    "Juan Valera",
    "Anthony Eyanson",
    "Dorian Soto",
    "Justin Gonzales",
    "Yordanny Monegro",
    "Jake Bennett",
    "Henry Godbout",
    "John Holobetz",
    "Marcus Phillips",
    "Gage Ziehl",
    "Yoeilin Cespedes",
    "Mikey Romero",
    "Enddy Azocar",
    "Miguel Bleis",
    "Hayden Mullins",
    "Johanfran Garcia",
    "Payton Tolle",
    "Connelly Early",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "## Team Outlook\n\nBoston has been making a lot of moves to bring in pitching in order to make a serious run in 2026.That being said, trading Rafael Devers, then trading half the return away, is rough. The Red Sox finished third in the AL East last year, losing to the Yankees in the Wild Card. After graduating a big three of hitting prospects in Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer, the Red Sox now boast high end pitching at the top of their farm system. Payton Tolle and Connelly Early both debuted last year and look like rotation mainstays of the future, though their immediate spot is unclear. They also added the likes of Kyson Witherspoon and Anthony Eyanson via the draft. Hitting wise it could be a few years before Franklin Arias and potentially Dorian Soto provide more high end internal help. Still, having high end hitters graduating then following it up with high end arms the next year is a recipe for long term competitiveness. The Red Sox will hope that's true as they aim to win the division for the first time since 2018.\n\n## About Our Top 20 Lists\n\nProspects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.\n\n**We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale**. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.\n\nIn addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.\n\n**Evaluators** : Brandon Tew, Daniel Barrand, Gabriel Estevez, Grant Carver, Matt Seese, Mitch Stachnik, Nate Jones, Trevor Hooth\n\nFind all the Top 20 Lists here:\n\n2026 Team Prospect Lists - Prospects LiveProspects LiveProspects Live Staff\n\n## Top 20 Prospects at a Glance\n\n1. Payton Tolle, LHP - 60 OFP\n2. Connelly Early, LHP - 55 OFP\n3. Franklin Arias, SS - 55 OFP\n4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP - 50 OFP\n5. Juan Valera, RHP - 50 OFP\n6. Anthony Eyanson, RHP - 45 OFP\n7. Dorian Soto, SS - 50 OFP\n8. Justin Gonzales, 1B - 45 OFP\n9. Yordanny Monegro, RHP - 45 OFP\n10. Jake Bennett, LHP - 45 OFP\n11. Henry Godbout, 2B - 45 OFP\n12. John Holobetz, RHP - 45 OFP\n13. Marcus Phillips, RHP - 45 OFP\n14. Gage Ziehl, RHP - 45 OFP\n15. Yoeilin Cespedes, 2B - 45 OFP\n16. Mikey Romero, 3B - 45 OFP\n17. Enddy Azocar, OF - 40 OFP\n18. Miguel Bleis, OF - 40 OFP\n19. Hayden Mullins, LHP - 40 OFP\n20. Johanfran Garcia, C - 40 OFP\n\n## Scouting Reports\n\n _Find Scouting Reports and Tool Grades in each toggle section_\n\nExpand All Reports\n\n### 1. Payton Tolle, LHP - 60 OFP\n\n#### Scouting Report\n\nHT: 6-6 WT: 250 H/T: L/L\nHighest Level: AAA\nETA: 2026\n\n****OFP: 60****\n\nRisk: Moderate\n\nFastball: 70 - (95-99 T101 mph)\nCutter: 55 - (89-93 mph)\nCurveball: 45 - (81-85 mph)\nSlider: 55 - (85-88 mph)\nChangeup: 50 - (88-92 mph)\nCommand: 50\n\n _****Scouting Report****_\n\nTaken in the 2nd round of the 2024 MLB Draft, 50th overall by the Boston Red Sox out of TCU where he went 7-4 with a 3.21 ERA and a 13.8 K/9 for a signing bonus of $2M, Payton Tolle is widely regarded as the Red Sox top prospect. Tolle shot up through the Red Sox system with impressive speed, making his MiLB and MLB debut within 4 months of each other, on the heels of his impressive 5 pitch mix most notably including his double plus fastball, as well as a cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Aside from his pitch mix, the burly lefty looms atop the hill with his powerful, sturdy 6'6\" 250lb frame, throwing from the left side out of a lowered 3/4 arm slot that adds some rise to his pitches as well as creating an awkward approach angle for batters, making it difficult to pick up his pitches out of his hand. Along with his release point, Tolle utilizes an otherworldly 7.5ft of extension, near identical to teammate Aroldis Chapman, and 99th percentile in all of Major League Baseball. Though Tolle already possesses great stuff in his repertoire, this extension takes amplifies his effectiveness, allowing him to take his arsenal to the next level. Tolle's calling card on the hill is swing and miss, posting an MiLB best 22.1% SwStr% carried on the back of his elite fastball which he throws 64% of the time, sitting 95-99 and topping out at 101, a near unhittable offering as it explodes out of his hand with almost 7 inches of tail and rising action. As for the rest of his pitch mix, he throws a cutter that runs quickly into the hands of RHH with rise and some slider-esque break that plays well off of his 4SFB, a frisbee slider that breaks quickly down and in towards righties, often used as a backdoor offering to freeze hitters, a changeup that is very effective when placed down in the zone with its late tailing and downward movement, and a curveball that he utilizes as a chase pitch, often burying it down in the zone. In utilizing this pitch mix, aside from his cutter, Tolle tends to sit middle to outer half when locating his pitches, starting his breaking balls on the outer half of his arm side, allowing them to work their way back into the zone. Although it is his best offering, Tolle will find more success diversifying his pitch mix and sequencing with more intent rather than throwing his fastball >60% of the time, which will keep hitters on their toes rather allowing them to sit fastball the whole AB. Given the depth of the Red Sox rotation, Tolle will likely start the upcoming season in AAA Worcester, where we will continue to develop his secondary offerings, as well as shore up some command issues, lowering the 10.8% BB% that he posted in his stint with the Red Sox this past season, which will allow him to continue to make strides to reach his potential as a front-line starter. __- Nate Jones__\n\n### 2. Connelly Early, LHP - 55 OFP\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Boston Red Sox 2026 Top 20 Prospects",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-08T17:29:20.000Z"
}