In the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft, the Red Sox picked a college middle infielder from the University of San Diego. Initially, this selection seemed uninspiring, unnecessary, and repetitive.
At the time, the Red Sox had Xander Bogaerts, expected to stay long-term, and Trevor Story, signed to a significant contract earlier that year. Moreover, their first two draft picks in 2022 also played shortstop. Additionally, in the 2021 draft, they acquired highly regarded shortstop Marcelo Mayer with the 4th overall pick.
However, circumstances changed dramatically. Bogaerts left the team, Story is sidelined for the season, and the Red Sox lack ready prospects. They now face a critical gap in the middle infield, with five different players, mostly underperforming, seeing time at shortstop in just 23 games. Second base has also seen subpar offensive production.
Consequently, Triple-A Worcester’s middle infielders could see opportunities soon. Vaughn Grissom, from the Chris Sale trade, is a top candidate after recovering from injury.
Nevertheless, due to ongoing challenges, the Red Sox may need to dig deeper into their minor league talent pool. Enter Chase Meidroth, who has already shown versatility at second base, third base, and shortstop this season.
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