The Red Sox claimed four spots on MLB Pipeline's preseason Top 100 Prospects list in left-hander Payton Tolle, shortstop Franklin Arias, left-hander Connelly Early and right-hander Kyson Witherspoon.
Of that quartet, only Arias was ranked on the 2025 preseason Top 100, though he wasn't alone -- Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer have since graduated. Tolle and Early had impressive breakouts to elbow their way into such status, while Witherspoon slid on after going 15th overall in last year's Draft out of Oklahoma.
More Boston prospects could make similar leaps this season as well. Here's a look at three players -- none of whom have reached the upper Minors -- who could obtain Top 100 status before long.
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Juan Valera, RHP
Valera has only made 27 starts over 43 outings across three seasons in part because he missed half of 2025 with right elbow soreness, but the 19-year-old's upside is apparent. With power stuff, he's a ready-made big league reliever at minimum -- and potentially a No. 2 or 3 starter with some improvements to his pitch mix.
Standing 6-foot-3 at 205 pounds, Valera already averages 97.1 mph on his fastball and touches triple digits, and he could grow into even more velocity. The four-seamer naturally has cutting action, and he's also added a two-seamer with interesting movement. The Dominican native leans heavily on his upper-80s slider, which consistently lands for strikes and may get more whiffs if he can develop another viable secondary offering.
Valera has a little-used changeup for lefties and a cutter for righties, but neither yet approaches average. Could one of those take a step forward in 2026? That may help him leap into the Top 100, especially as he faces his biggest challenge yet with an eventual likely promotion to Double-A this season.
Justin Gonzales, OF/1B
The Dominican native stands out in Boston's 2024 international class for, well, his size. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Gonzales already has plus raw power and projects to have an above-average hit tool to match, appearing to be quite a bargain for a $250,000 signing bonus.
Despite his size, Gonzales is a promising defender too. The 19-year-old moves well currently but could slow down as he ages. The Red Sox have played him at all three outfield spots, although he likely fits best in right, where his cannon arm (he was also heavily scouted as a pitching prospect) plays well. If nothing else, he would be a solid defender at first base.
Still, Gonzales' value will derive largely from his bat. His flat bat path has led to too many ground balls, which could cut into his power production, but he has time to correct that. Gonzales was the youngest player to appear in the High-A South Atlantic League last season, and with strong swing decisions and contact rates (particularly against velocity), he has the makings of a big-time slugger.
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Marcus Phillips, RHP
In 2025, Tolle went from an interesting college starter the Red Sox selected with their second Draft pick to one of the most dynamic pitching prospects in the game. One year later, Phillips is a great candidate to follow in his footsteps, especially considering Boston's penchant for developing arms in recent years.
Phillips shares plenty of similarities with Tolle as a physically imposing pitcher. Both get exceptional extension on their low-three-quarters releases -- although Phillips has more velocity at the same point in their development but less carry on his heater. The Tennessee product arguably has a better slider and changeup, although the latter pitch was rarely used in his junior season.
The 21-year-old did not pitch competitively after the Red Sox drafted him 33rd overall, so it will be interesting to see how his stuff translates to pro ball, most notably the fastball shape. His command also bears watching, as his delivery can be jerky and likely limits his potential in that department.