17-year-old prospect Yoeilin Cespedes has been rising through the ranks and even got compared to a revered Red Sox player.
The Boston Red Sox hope for great things in young prospect Yoeilin Cespedes, who has been developing his skills in the Dominican Summer League this past year.
Cespedes has quietly crept onto the public radar with his awesome performances in the DSL of late, and while other prospects are ahead of him on the major league track (Ceddanne Rafaela, Bryan Mata), the 17-year-old shortstop is certainly turning heads this summer.
As one of the younger members of Boston's farm system, Cespedes, who signed with the Red Sox last offseason, has been on a scintillating tear in his first professional season. In 24 games, Cespedes is slashing .340/.369/.528 and has whacked three homers and 17 RBIs.
He just got his own dedicated article, too, as written by Baseball America's Alex Speier (subscription required.)
Speier said of Cespedes:
"It's early to get too carried away by his performance. Still, at the start of his professional career, the shortstop is showing signs of not only significant in-game power but a surprisingly mature approach that allows him to get to it with unusual frequency. Already, Cespedes looks like one of the top-hitting prospects to come through the organization's academy since Rafael Devers a decade ago."
Red Sox prospect Yoeilin Cespedes gets compared to Rafael Devers
Fellow Dominican Rafael Devers is in his seventh season in Boston and has grown into one of the club's most reliable third basemen, on pace to become the Red Sox's all-time leader in extra base hits by the end of this year.
For Cespedes to already get a character comparison to Devers is a compliment above all compliments. Per Baseball America, the 17-year-old may be young, but he plays with a maturity that could see him turn into a star power-hitter in the not-so-far future.
As with all their prospects, the Red Sox can't let their expectations fly too high, though. 2023 marks Cespedes' first and only season with the team, and he's sure to hit a roadblock or two on his long-winded path to Fenway Park.
If and when Cespedes makes the leap into the majors, the fans will be ready to cheer his name.