The Red Sox system looks much different than it did 12 months ago when it rated as the third-best in baseball. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, who all ranked among the game's top 12 prospects, have since graduated to Boston. So did Carlos Narváez, Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts.
Dobbins and Fitts departed in trades this offseason, as did prospects Jhostynxon Garcia, Luis Perales, Brandon Clarke and Yhoiker Fajardo -- all of whom would have placed in the upper half of our new Red Sox Top 30. James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard could have done the same if they hadn't been sent to the Dodgers for Dustin May in July.
While a lot of talent has left the system, it remains in decent shape. Boston has more pitching prospect depth than it has in years, headlined by Top 100 prospects Payton Tolle, Connelly Early and Kyson Witherspoon.
Tolle and Early dramatically improved their stock in 2025, ending the season on the playoff roster. Witherspoon was the first of three Southeastern Conference right-handers the club selected in the first three rounds of the Draft last July, and Marcus Phillips (No. 9) and Anthony Eyanson (No. 10) also have considerable upside.
The Red Sox's international department has done strong work recently and has provided most of the organization's best position prospects: shortstops Franklin Arias and Dorian Soto (No. 8), outfielders Justin Gonzales (No. 6) and Enddy Azocar (No. 12). Dominican right-hander Juan Valera (No. 5) already can push his fastball to triple digits at age 19.
Here's a look at the Red Sox's top prospects:
1. Payton Tolle, LHP (MLB No. 19)
2. Franklin Arias, SS (MLB No. 31)
3. Connelly Early, LHP (MLB No. 56)
4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP (MLB No. 84)
5. Juan Valera, RHP
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2025 preseason list to the 2026 preseason list.
Jump: Payton Tolle, LHP (2025: 16 | 2026: 1)
He answered any questions about how his fastball-heavy approach would play in pro ball by going from the second round of the 2024 Draft to Boston in 13 months.
Fall: Conrad Cason, RHP/SS (2025: 17 | 2026: 30)
He's still intriguing as a two-way talent but won't pitch this season after having Tommy John surgery last August.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is plus and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Franklin Arias
Power: 55 -- Justin Gonzales (Enddy Azocar, Dorian Soto)
Run: 60 -- Nelly Taylor (Miguel Bleis, Harold Rivas)
Arm: 65 -- Conrad Cason
Defense: 60 -- Nelly Taylor (Franklin Arias, Miguel Bleis, Harold Rivas)
Fastball: 70 -- Payton Tolle
Curveball: 55 -- Kyson Witherspoon (Sadbiel Delzine, Anthony Eyanson, Yodanny Monegro)
Slider: 65 -- Anthony Eyanson
Cutter: 60 -- Kyson Witherspoon
Changeup: 65 -- Jake Bennett
Control: 60 -- John Holobetz (Jake Bennett, Gage Ziehl)
How they were built
Draft: 11 | International: 15 | Trade: 3 | Free agent: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2026: 7 | 2027: 8 | 2028: 8 | 2029: 2 | 2030: 4 | 2031: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 2B: 2 | 3B: 1 | SS: 4 | OF: 6 | RHP: 10 | LHP: 5