Red Sox Prospects Who Can Still Make an MLB Impact in 2024

The Boston Red Sox have welcomed rookies Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela to the starting lineup this season, while Cooper Criswell has joined the starting rotation, and there could be more young talent on the way before the season is over.

Injuries have created a variety of opportunities in the starting lineup, while the pitching staff has experienced some regression after a terrific start to the year and could eventually turn to in-house reinforcements.

Ahead, we've highlighted three prospects who can still make an MLB impact in 2024, focusing solely on players who have not yet appeared in the majors.

1B Niko Kavadas

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 22: Niko Kavadas #35 of the Scottsdale Scorpions bats during the game between the Glendale Desert Dogs and the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday, October 22, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Veteran Dominic Smith is hitting .217/.320/.321 for an 82 OPS+ with two home runs in 122 plate appearances filling in for the injured Triston Casas at first base, so it's a bit of a head scratcher why we haven't already seen Niko Kavadas in the big leagues.

The 25-year-old is a burly 6'1", 235-pound slugger who hit 22 home runs during his senior season at Notre Dame before going in the 11th round of the 2021 draft.

His age and risky profile as a right-handed hitting first baseman with limited secondary value has kept him from ranking high on prospect lists, but he has shown solid on-base skills and playable power throughout his time in the minors.

He is currently hitting .258/.420/.546 with 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 37 RBI in 53 games at Triple-A.

RHP Richard Fitts

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Richard Fitts #80 pitches during an exhibition game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 26, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

The Red Sox acquired right-hander Richard Fitts during the offseason in the deal that sent outfielder Alex Verdugo to the rival Yankees, and he immediately became one of the top pitching prospects in the Boston system.

The 24-year-old finished 11-5 with a 3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 163 strikeouts in 152.2 innings in a full season at Double-A last year, and he has continued to impress this spring while moving up the ladder to Triple-A.

On May 29, he tossed seven innings of one-hit ball against the Charlotte Knights, and if he can string together a few starts like that it would make keeping him in the minors extremely difficult.

2B Nick Yorke

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FT. MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Nick Yorke #38 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the first inning of a Spring Training Grapefruit League game against Northeastern University on February 23, 2024 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Nick Yorke has seemingly been a top prospect in the Red Sox system for a decade, but he only joined the organization in 2020 when he was taken No. 17 overall on the strength of his polished offensive game.

The 22-year-old is a .275/.356/.436 hitter over four minor league seasons, and he is swinging a hot bat right now with a .409/.519/.727 line in six games since he was promoted to Triple-A.

The Red Sox have gotten virtually no offensive production from the likes of Vaughn Grissom, Emmanuel Valdez and Jamie Westbrook at second base, so it might not be long before Yorke gets his first crack at staking claim to the starting job.

A bit further down the ladder in Double-A, Marcelo Mayer is also a candidate to help address the middle infield void, but Yorke will almost certainly beat him to the big leagues.