Top Red Sox prospects to watch at Spring Breakout

This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

For fans who love to follow prospects -- or, more specifically, Red Sox prospects -- the big day is almost here.

On Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla., the Sox will field a squad of the premium players in their farm system against the top prospects of the Atlanta Braves.

• FAQ: Braves-Red Sox Spring Breakout

It is part of the inaugural event called Spring Breakout, in which a series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams composed of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates the sport’s budding talent.

Here are eight players you should pay close attention to Saturday in a game that can be seen or heard on the following platforms: MLB Network, MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), NESN, Red Sox Radio Network, SXM App, ESPN+ and Gameday.

The rankings in parentheses are where MLB Pipeline ranks each player within the Boston farm system.

Marcelo Mayer (No. 1)

The buzz started with Mayer from the second the Red Sox took him with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 Draft. Mayer was the top-rated position player entering that Draft, so there was an element of surprise the shortstop ended up with Boston. However, Mayer was hindered by injuries the last two seasons, slowing his development. The good news is that he’s healthy entering 2024, and Spring Breakout will give the left-handed hitter the perfect chance to showcase his skills.

Roman Anthony (No. 2)

The 19-year-old center fielder turned heads earlier in Spring Training when the Red Sox called him up from Minor League camp to make a couple of starts. It’s hard to believe Anthony graduated from high school less than two years ago. He was already at Double-A Portland by the end of last season, and he looks fully developed from a physical standpoint. The left-handed hitter with a sweet swing and a slick glove looks forward to putting his plethora of skills on display Saturday.

Kyle Teel (No. 3)

Boston’s first-round pick from last season is the rare catcher who projects as a two-way stud. By getting drafted by the Red Sox, Teel has a golden opportunity to get some tutoring sessions from Jason Varitek. Boston’s longtime former captain is now entrenched on the team’s coaching staff, and Teel will benefit greatly from that mentorship.

Ceddanne Rafaela (No. 4)

While Rafaela is busy trying to lock down the starting center field job for the Red Sox, he will suit up alongside fellow top prospects on Saturday. If there’s a top candidate to make a jaw-dropping play in the outfield in the Spring Breakout game, it would have to be Rafaela, The Curacao native was born to play defense. If Rafaela’s offense can start to catch up, Boston could have a high-impact player.

Miguel Bleis (No. 5)

Bleis has all the tools to be a star but his 2023 season ended after just 123 at-bats due to a left shoulder subluxation. Spring Breakout is the perfect time for Bleis to return to the limelight. The right-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic has plenty of raw power, but he needs to find a way to make more contact.

Yoeilin Cespedes (No. 9)

The 18-year-old, the prize of the team’s 2023 international signing class, stood out in the Dominican Summer League with an advanced hitting approach for his age. Spring Breakout gives fans a chance to see him against much stiffer competition. Cespedes has drawn a lot of comparisons to Howie Kendrick, who had a 15-year career in the Majors. One thing Cespedes is working on is pitch recognition against offspeed pitches. A shortstop for now, a lot of scouts think Cespedes will wind up at second or third.

Nazzan Zanetello (No. 10)

Who could forget the way this energizer bunny from St. Louis was basically bouncing off the walls at Draft headquarters in Seattle last summer when the Red Sox took him in the second round? Yet another shortstop in a Boston farm system loaded with them, Zanetello is known for impressive bat speed from the right side -- which could turn him into a 25-homer type of player at some point, particularly if he plays half of his home games at Fenway Park.

David Sandlin (No. 16)

New to the farm system after a Spring Training trade brought him over from the Royals, the right-hander has a fastball that sits in the mid 90s but occasionally gets up to 97 or 98 mph. Sandlin is a strike thrower with an impressive mix of pitches. He would be rated higher in the farm system if not for an oblique injury that forced him to miss the final three months of last season. In a Boston system that is light on starting pitching, Sandlin should stand out assuming he stays healthy this season. Look for him to start the season at High-A Greenville.