Look at it this way: If the Red Sox didn't trade Mookie Betts there would only be one.
As it is, the Sox claimed just two players on MLB.com's Top 100 prospects list, with infielder Jeter Downs (who came over in the Betts trade) coming in at No. 49 and first baseman Triston Casas landing at No. 85.
Downs was ranked as the 10th-best shortstop prospect, while there were only two other first basemen ahead of Casas.
Downs has impressed during his stint with the Red Sox' taxi squad in recent weeks at Pawtucket, having shown mixed results during his time with the big-league club during Spring Training 1.0. Splitting time between Single-A and Double-A in the Dodgers' organization last season, the middle infielder hit a combined .276 with 24 homers and 24 stolen bases.
Red Sox left-hander Josh Taylor threw two innings of live batting practice in Pawtucket today. Stuff looked good and he made quick work of the minor league hitters. Here are a couple of pitches to Jeter Downs, @SoxProspects number two prospect. pic.twitter.com/bMJHrnDwWV
— Ian Cundall (@IanCundall) July 31, 2020Casas also participated in a few Grapefruit League games before his season was shut down. Just 20 years old, the power-hitting first baseman managed 20 homers and an .830 OPS with two separate Single-A teams in 2019.
As for how MLB.com ranked the Top 10 prospects for the Red Sox, after Downs and Casas it went: 3. Bobby Dalbec, 1B; 4. Bryan Mata, P; 5. Gilberto Jimenez, OF; 6. Noah Song, P; 7. Jay Groome, P; 8. Jarren Duran, OF; 9. Thad Ward, P; 10. Tanner Houck, P.
Also listed were MLB.com's rankings for players recently selected in the 2020 MLB Draft, with the Red Sox' top representative being third-round pick Blaze Jordan (No. 42). First-round pick Nick Yorke came in at No. 139.
