Draft preview: Sox's highest pick since '67

BOSTON -- The excitement for the Red Sox of getting their highest first-round selection in the MLB Draft (No. 4 overall) since 1967 is tempered slightly by the memory of what it took (a last-place finish in 2020) to get there.

But the Red Sox plan on using this rare opportunity to get the type of impactful player that will help ensure they don’t pick fourth again anytime soon.

“I guess I’ll start it off by saying hopefully this is the last time we have the fourth pick,” said Red Sox director of amateur scouting Paul Toboni. “But no, I think we all view it as a tremendous opportunity. When I say ‘we all,’ I mean our scouting group, more broadly our front office.

“I think we want to draft a kid that really sets the tone for the rest of the Minor Leaguers and eventually his fellow teammates in the big leagues. That’s with his work ethic, with his competitiveness, his love for the game and just his overall character.”

Of course, the big question is whether that tone-setter will be a pitcher or a position player.

In recent years -- heck, in recent decades -- the Red Sox have done well with drafting and developing strong position players. They’ve done just as well on the international market, and if you need proof, just look at Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers starting at shortstop and third base respectively at the upcoming 2021 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard.

Pitching has been a different story. The last All-Star starting pitcher the Sox drafted and developed was Clay Buchholz (class of 2005).

This Draft could be their chance to break that drought.

Vanderbilt has two intriguing right-handed aces in Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. There’s a chance one of those pitchers could be there for the taking for Boston at 4.

If that’s the case, the Sox might have a hard time saying no.

The Sox are doing their best to figure out what their competitors will do before they pick, but that’s hard to read.

“Just like we like to keep all of you on your toes sometimes, I think other organizations will probably be keeping us on our toes,” said Toboni.

The Red Sox have a bonus pool of $11,359,600, including $6,664,000 for their first-round selection.

Day 1 of the The 2021 Draft will air live on MLB Network and ESPN on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET from Denver’s Bellco Theatre and feature the first 36 picks.

Day 2, which will span rounds 2-10, begins at 1 p.m. ET on Monday. The Draft will conclude with rounds 11-20 on Tuesday, starting at 12 p.m. ET. MLB.com will simulcast MLB Network’s broadcast and provide live coverage on all three days.

To view when teams pick, the Top 200 Prospects list, mock drafts from analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, scouting video and more, visit MLB.com/Draft. Follow @MLBDraft and @MLBDraftTracker on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying and to get each pick as it’s made.

Toboni was asked if he could say how many players the Sox are considering at No. 4.

“I won’t give an exact number. I think there’s actually more downside to eliminating players that might be in consideration, doing that early, as opposed to letting the conversations play out,” Toboni said. “Really up until the final day, you’re really never sure what momentum might be created by people in the room, by what agents are saying, by what kids are telling you. I think keeping as many players alive as possible so that it doesn’t affect your ability to dig deep on that number of players is a smart thing.”

Papi out of hospital, in good spirits
Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who was recently in the hospital recovering from surgery, reports that he’s doing much better.

“I’m not 100 percent yet,” Ortiz said. “I’m like 80 percent. But I just got to Los Angeles and I’m doing some stuff [for FOX].”

Ortiz, meanwhile, is fired up about the 2021 Red Sox. Big Papi played for three World Series championship teams, so he knows what those teams look like. Does he think this team has a shot?

“A hundred percent,” Ortiz said. “Look at their lineup. They switch out and one night, one guy will come into the lineup and gets the job done. Then you have the consistency from [Xander] Bogaerts, [Rafael] Devers and J.D. [Martinez], who is the heart and soul of the lineup. That’s how you win ballgames.”