Inside The Red Sox

Introducing Red Sox's Larger-Than-Life Teenager With Unlimited Potential

File this one away for future seasons...
Jackson Roberts|
Mar 5, 2019; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; A detailed view of a Boston Red Sox cap, sunglasses and glove in the dugout during a spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Mar 5, 2019; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; A detailed view of a Boston Red Sox cap, sunglasses and glove in the dugout during a spring training game between the Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

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Spring training is a perfect time to reassess the future of a Major League Baseball organization, and the future appears nothing but bright for the Boston Red Sox.

It's been fun to see the youth movement take shape in Boston, and a lot of the most exciting names are already making an impact at the major league level. But as the next wave of prospects climbs the ladder, those who worry about Boston's lack of power should take notice of a certain youngster in particular.

Take this as a sign: If you aren't familiar with 19-year-old Red Sox first baseman/outfielder Justin Gonzales, this spring is your best chance to climb onto the hype train.

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Here's what we're hearing about Justin Gonzales

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Feb 18, 2019; Lee County, FL, USA; A general view of a Boston Red Sox helmet as Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) walks on the field during a spring training workout at Jet Blue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Virtually everyone with boots on the ground in Fort Myers is raving about Gonzales, the Red Sox's No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Here's just a sampling of some of the reports:

First, Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said Sunday that Gonzales was one of the five prospects who had stood out the most to him during camp, per Nat Gordon of WEEI.

Gonzales was also captured on video on one of the back fields ripping a ball on a frozen rope to the warning track in dead center field (credit to Nick John of Talk Sox).

Andrew Parker of Baseball Now has also been on the Gonzales beat this spring, and is one of many Red Sox prospect hounds who reports that the 19-year-old looks a lot bigger in person than the 6-foot-4, 210 pounds he's listed at on the various online rosters.

Last season, Gonzales had a .753 OPS and only four home runs in his 93 minor-league games. That lack of home run power is keeping him off the national radar, and it could change at any minute if he channels his physical gifts into increased launch angle.

Buy stock now, Red Sox fans. Gonzales, in a couple years, will be pushing hard for a spot in the middle of the Boston lineup.

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Jackson Roberts
JACKSON ROBERTS

Jackson Roberts is a former Division III All-Region DH who now writes and talks about sports for a living. A Bay Area native and a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, Jackson makes his home in North Jersey. He grew up rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots, and Warriors, and he recently added the Devils to his sports fandom mosaic. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Boston Red Sox On SI, please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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