Red Sox fans were getting excited about Blaze Jordan from the get-go.
It started with the name -- which the Red Sox called out as the 89th overall pick in last June's MLB Draft -- and continued with those YouTube videos of the high school third baseman dominating home run-hitting contests.
A few months later, the optimism hasn't gone anywhere.
According to one American League scout who recently watched the Red Sox Instructional Camp workout in Fort Myers, Fla. -- which runs through Nov. 12 -- Jordan was one of the standouts.
"He jumped out for me," the scout said. "I was impressed with the strength in his hands, his ability to drive the ball to all fields, and the way the ball came off his bat ... and his obvious home run power."
Unlike Red Sox' first-round pick Nick Yorke, Jordan did not participate at the Red Sox' alternate site in Pawtucket, with these current workouts serving as the 17-year-old's first introduction to professional baseball.
Some of the finer points of the game Jordan has had to improve on are glove-positioning and mobility at third. Offensively, there is still work to be done when it comes to pitch selection.
Another prospect that piqued the scout's interest was outfielder Juan Chacon. The 19-year-old Venezuelan signed with the Red Sox for $900,000 in 2019 and has yet to play in a minor-league game. (Click here for SoxProspects.com's scouting report on Chacon.)