Boston Red Sox: 5 players who will spark excitement in 2021
The Boston Red Sox have had a relatively quiet offseason. There have been a few MLB rumors to get excited about, but so far the team hasn’t done much to improve a 2020 roster that finished last in the AL East.
The re-hiring of Alex Cora as manager and the return of starting pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and eventually Chris Sale will in itself make the team better, but there isn’t much excitement surrounding the team going into 2021.
Or, should we say, there isn’t much confidence the team will be in position to compete. However, there are some young players to get excited about.
All at the age of 25 or under, the Red Sox have some young stars on the rise. Some have already showed glimpses and others, like the player named below is quickly rising through the farm system to give the big league team a jolt.
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No. 5: Jeter Downs
Wouldn’t it be ironic if a player with the name Jeter became a star for the Boston Red Sox?
Ranked No. 71 on the Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list, Jeter Downs is on the trajectory to be just that.
Acquired in the deal that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Downs is a player who “could provide offensive thump at a middle-infield position,” according to Baseball America.
Can Jeter Downs be on the 2021 Boston Red Sox roster before the season is over?
Given the team’s need for a second basemen, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Downs on the big league squad at some point in the season. There was no minor league season in 2020, but Downs tore it up in 2019 playing between High-A and Double-A.
In 119 games played, he hit .276 with 24 home runs, 86 RBIs and 24 stolen bases.
If he comes up and plays second base, just imagine the infield the Red Sox would have with Rafael Devers as third, Xander Bogarts as shortstop, Downs at second and this next exciting young player holding it down at first base.