Elite Red Sox Prospect Miguel Bleis Dominates In Grapefruit League Debut
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Since Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom took over the front office, there has been a heavy emphasis on the farm system.
Now fans are starting to get a glimpse of the players Bloom has put his reputation on the line for.
One of the top prospects in the system made his Major League Baseball spring training debut Monday and did not disappoint.
Highly-touted outfielder Miguel Bleis -- the No. 5 Red Sox prospect according to MLB Pipeline -- started in right field, and threw out Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt at the plate by a country mile to kick off his debut in the bottom of the first.
Moments later, Bleis would step up against Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah and deliver a two-run, game-tying single. The 19-year-old looked comfortable at the plate and delivered against one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Bleis did make a notable blunder in right field in the third inning when he attempted to charge a ground ball to make another throw to the plate but pulled his head up too quickly and missed the ball entirely. That mistake can be chalked up to trying to do too much after nabbing one baserunner early.
Manoah got the better of Bleis in the second matchup, which ended with the youngster swinging at a nasty breaking ball.
The impressive debut comes one day following the strong 2023 Grapefruit League debut of shortstop Marcelo Mayer -- the No. 1 Red Sox prospect -- who doubled and grounded out to go along with smooth defensive play against the New York Yankees.
Bleis and Mayer could headline a young core of future Red Sox players that also includes the versatile Ceddanne Rafaela, second baseman Nick York, shortstop Mikey Romero and outfielder Roman Anthony among others.
The future is bright in Boston.
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