A good number of prospects for the Boston Red Sox are vying for the same spots on the team that plays in the major leagues in the future.
Naturally born shortstops make up six of the Sox’s top-15 prospects, while outfielders make up five, with several of them aspiring center fielders (Ceddanne Rafaela fits into both categories).
Amidst the group of aspirant center fielders is Miguel Bleis, the top outfielder and Boston’s fifth-ranked prospect. This winter, he made some progress that might distinguish him from the rest of the Red Sox development team.
Bleis needed surgery to correct a dislocation in his left shoulder, which kept him out of action for the final several months of the Salem Red Sox season. The outfielder concluded the season batting just.230/.282/.325 in 31 games, which may have been a result of the shoulder problems he was dealing with for the whole of the season.
Christopher Smith of MassLive spoke with an MLB scout regarding Bleis’ potential as a prospect in the Red Sox system. They emphasized that while his propensity for injuries is concerning, his athletic prowess and hard contact rate are encouraging.
Regarding his “injury-proneness,” as the scout described it, Bleis has similar concerns. Bleis realized that in order to stay well and attract attention, he needed to adapt.
“I became aware of my body’s weakness. I therefore focused on getting my body ready to compete for an entire year in the United States during my offseason and rehabilitation. So I think I’m in a better place now than I was last year,” Bleis translated for MassLive.
Red Sox potential Miguel Bleis put on a lot of muscle to maintain his health.
Bleis gained nearly thirty pounds of muscle throughout his surgical recovery, and his appearance has dramatically changed. In the offseason, the 20-year-old also gained two inches in height. The young outfielder should be able to boost his power at the plate thanks to his increased muscle mass. Despite the potential decline in speed and explosiveness that could accompany such a significant increase in muscle, Bleis hasn’t noticed it.
Gaining muscle will help Bleis stand out in Boston’s competitive prospect pool. Rafaela and Roman Anthony are also vying to be the Red Sox’s starting center fielders in the near future, so Bleis’s goal of surpassing them in the running for the position should begin with building strength.
To make sure he can play more on the diamond than on the disabled list, gaining muscle is also a smart move. Before, Bleis didn’t think his body could withstand a whole baseball season, but his new appearance could significantly increase his longevity.
Bleis, who is only twenty years old, will probably start his season in Salem. He still has lots of time to develop his strength and skill set on both sides of the ball.
Although Bleis’s projected MLB debut isn’t until 2026, he may make the big leagues even sooner if he keeps making significant progress, such as gaining more than 30 pounds of muscle in a single offseason.
