With the college hitters and college pitchers out of the way, it's time to look at some of the high school bats the Red Sox might be interested in ahead of next week's MLB Draft.
Despite the risk that comes with taking guys out of high school, with a less extensive and reliable track record to evaluate, the Red Sox didn't shy away from high school hitters last year, taking prep bats Triston Casas and Nick Decker with their first two picks.
Here are a few of the younger hitters Boston might be interested in next week.
1. Nasim Nunez, SS, Collins Hill HS (GA)
A slick-fielding shortstop out of Georgia, Nunez has arguably the best glove of any middle infielder in the draft. Nunez brings good athleticism, great hands and a strong arm to the position, and his defense very well might be at a pro level already.
The downside is a light bat — the senior switch-hitter has quick hands but limited power, and while he can drive balls into the gap he's still adjusting to hitting left-handed and lacks real power as an undersized shortstop.
Nunez is a high-upside guy as a good athlete, a plus runner and an elite fielder, and if the bat comes along, he could be an excellent prospect.
There is, of course, the danger in drafting a guy that could decide to honor his commitment to Clemson and wait a couple of years, but such is the trouble of taking high schoolers.
Extremely athletic play by Collins Hill HS (Lawrenceville, Ga.) RHP Nasim Nunez. He is a Clemson commit. pic.twitter.com/pFXolVavfV
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 20, 20182. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Morgan Academy (AL)
Continuing the theme of middle infielders, Henderson is a very different prospect from Nunez, a big shortstop whose best tool is his bat.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior is one of the better hitters available at the position, with above-average power from the left side. He's a serviceable enough fielder that he could stick at short, in which case his profile as a good bat would be a premium at that spot, though plenty of scouts believe he might profile better at third base with a strong arm.
Regardless of where he ends up, Henderson's young for the class (he doesn't turn 18 until the end of June) and has plenty of room to develop. His commitment to Auburn brings up signability concerns, but again, that comes with the territory at this point in the draft.
How could a name like Gunnar Henderson NOT pick up some heat leading up to the draft?He jumped five more spots in today's BA 500 update. https://t.co/mb7Nl0Z6AK pic.twitter.com/8dTHSrM5IT
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 22, 20193. Sammy Siani, OF, Penn Charter (PA)
A smooth-swinging lefty, Siani naturally draws comparisons to his older brother Mike, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds a year ago. Sammy isn't quite the fielder his brother is and he's not as big, but he's a good athlete with a solid bat.
Siani has a decent arm but his athleticism serves him well in the outfield, while he has a chance to be a plus hitter with above-average power. At just 5-foot-10, he generates decent power for his frame with good contact ability and runs well. He doesn't have any particular elite skill, but with a great swing and good athleticism, he could profile anywhere in the outfield.
The Pennsylvania native is a Duke commit, but could very well follow in his brother's footsteps in choosing the professional route.
Sammy Siani Swing Stride #alliteration pic.twitter.com/UfrGp0VzEg
— Baseball PDS (@BaseballPds) February 16, 20194. Rece Hinds, 3B/SS/OF, IMG Academy (FL)
Hinds might have more raw power than anybody else in the draft.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Hinds is all power, both in the plate and in the field, with serious pop in his bat and a strong throwing arm. Perfect Game clocked him at 98 mph throwing from third, and his elite-level power is obvious.
The concerns are about the hit tool in general, and about whether Hinds can make enough contact for his exceptional raw power to matter. There's a reasonable comp to be made to Casas (profile-wise, Hinds hits and throws right while Casas hits from the left side), but the current Red Sox prospect had more polish and patience at the plate than Hinds does now, even if the LSU commit can launch batting practice fastballs 500 feet.
Where he ends up is another question: he's played a lot of shortstop at IMG but his size suggests a move to third base or an outfield corner. But if the hit tool materializes and that raw power can be properly harnessed, he could be a monster.
Looking for the biggest power in the 2019 HS class? Look no further than Rece Hinds. https://t.co/MYx35MwirK pic.twitter.com/JuH6haJnWf
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 21, 2018
