Thursday, June 19, 2025

Off Day News: 2022 Draft Revisited (6/19/25)

Its another off-day and since we're just under a month away from the 2025 MLB Draft, its time to take a look back at the 2022 group of draftees and how they're doing today.



1st Round - SS Mikey Romero

One of the reason's why the Boston Red Sox have a lack of depth at first base and catcher is former Sox GM Chaim Bloom drafting a high school shortstop in the first round three years in a row. In 2022 he took Mikey Romero out of Orange Lutheran High School. Romero looked to be living up to his billing with 15 hits in 9 games to end 2022 with the Salem Red Sox but crashed his second season. In 2023 he played just 34 games due to injury but rebounded in 2024, hitting 16 home runs between the Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs. This year so far he's played in 38 games but he's hitting .250 with 7 home runs. He plays well when he's healthy and he's knocking on the door to Worcester. He's only 21 years old so he's got plenty of time to make the majors.

Currently - AA



2nd Round - SS Cutter Coffey

As mentioned before, former Sox GM Chaim Bloom kept drafting shortstops in the top fifty and 2nd round pick Cutter Coffey out of Liberty High School was no different. Coffey had just 76 hits in 98 games in 2023 and was hitting just .238 for the Greenville Drive when he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays last July for backup catcher Danny Jansen. He hit just .185 to end the year for the Vancouver Canadians but turned it around this year. He's hitting .278 with 5 home runs and 36 rbis so he's knocking on the door to AA. The Sox gave up a potential star for 30 games of Danny Jansen.


Currently - High A



2nd Round Compensation - OF Roman Anthony

The Red Sox got this pick as compensation for the Detroit Tigers signing Eduardo Rodriguez after the 2021 season.....and what a "trade" that was. Anthony was an 18 year old outfielder who attended the same high school as Anthony Rizzo and he started off slow for Salem, hitting .189 to end 2022 and .228 to start 2023. Then he exploded in Greenville, bashing 12 home runs and hitting .294 to earn a late call up to Portland. There he had 12 hits in 35 at-bats to end the season. In 2024 he was part of the "Goldust Trio" with Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer hitting 18 home runs and driving in 65 between Portland and Worcester, hitting .344 in Worcester particularly. He was hitting .288 with 10 home runs this year before finally making his major league debut on June 9th. Currently he's struggling hitting .121 with one home run and 5 rbis. Still, Dustin Pedroia didn't light the world on fire at the end of 2006 so judge slowly. Just the fact he's got this far is remarkable in itself.


Currently - MLB



3rd Round - LHP Dalton Rogers

Ex-Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom finally drafted a pitcher in the top 100 with pick number 99 in the third round when they chose Southern Mississippi left handed pitcher Dalton Rogers. Dalton started out strong at the beginning of 2023 by allowing just 6 earned runs in 21 innings for Salem but has been straight batting practice since. He was 2-6 with a 5.52 ERA in 17 starts for Greenville in 2023 and 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 2024. He did seem to figure it out this year allowing 3 runs in 20 innings to earn a call up to Portland....where he's currently 2- with a 5.92 ERA. If he's struggling in AA that's not a good a sign. 2 picks after the Sox took Rogers, the Chicago White Sox took right handed pitcher Jonathan Cannon. Cannon made his ML debut last year but is 7-17 with a 4.55 ERA combined for Chicago. Cannon's record may not be great, but at least he's in the majors. Rogers has a long way to go.


Currently - AA



4th Round - 2B Chase Meidroth

Bloom scored with his fourth round pick, San Diego University second baseman Chase Meidroth. Chase had 4 home runs in 19 games to end the 2022 season in Salem then broke out in 2023. He hit .338 with 2 home runs for Greenville to earn a call up to Portland. He hit .255 with 7 home runs to finish the season there. In 2024 he was on the fabled Worcester team with the "Goldust Trio" of Mayer, Teel and Anthony where he hit .293 with 7 home runs and 57 rbis. If it wasn't for the numbers game, he might have gotten the call to Boston in September. With the outfield and infield crowded, Meidroth was apart of the trade along with Teel to send Garrett Crochet to Boston. Crochet has become Boston's ace while Meidroth is currently hitting .269 with 2 home runs, 9 rbis and 9 steals. He's having a pretty good start to his career, but with the logjam in the infield the Sox had and desperate need for an ace, you'll make that trade 10 times out of 10.


Currently - MLB



5th Round - LHP Noah Dean

The next pitcher drafted with Old Dominion left-hander Noah Dean in the 5th round. Dean struggled in Salem in 2023 by going 2-8 with a 6.29 ERA but was 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA to begin 2024. He was batting practice in Greenville going 0-1 with a 6.38 ERA to finish the season. This year he's currently 1-2 with a 4.61 in Greenville. At least Rogers got to AA, Dean is struggling in A ball. Luckily no one else drafted after Dean in the 5th round made the majors, but it would suck if he didn't get out of A or AA in the next year or two.


Currently - High A



6th Round - RHP Alex Hoppe

Taking yet another pitcher, Bloom chose right handed pitcher Alex Hoppe out of UNC Greensboro. His ERA went up every year from 2022 (2.97 at UNC), 2023 (3.93 at Greenville) and 2024 (5.43 at Portland). This year he was 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA with Portland before getting the call to Worcester. So far with the WooSox he's 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA in Worcester. Not exactly a good career trajectory, just like Wyatt Olds. Worst yet, 7 picks after the Sox took Hoppe, the San Francisco Giants pitched starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong. Hayden made his ML debut last year and is currently 2-1 with the Giants and scheduled to pitch this Saturday against the Red Sox. Bet the Sox wish they had him instead of Hoppe unless Alex turns it around.


Currently - AAA



7th Round - RHP Caleb Bolden

The Sox first real definitive miss was taking right handed pitcher Caleb Bolden out of Texas Christian University with their 7th round pick. He allowed 9 runs in 9 innings to end 2023 in Greenville and was 1-2 with a 3.88 ERA for Portland last year. This year he got rocked in his only start before going on the Injured List. He was just removed from the list five days ago so it would be unfair to judge his season, but he's already 26 and in AA. Worst yet, four picks after Bolden was chosen, the Houston Astros took AJ Blubaugh who made his ML debut on April 30th. Once again, bet the Sox wish they had Blubaugh right about now.


Currently - AA



8th Round - RHP Jonathan Brand

With their 8th round pick, the Sox took Miami Ohio Univerity right handed pitcher Jonathan Brand. He had a good season for Salem in 2023 going 4-2 with a 2.58 ERA. Last year he didn't allow an earned run in 11 innings for Greenville to get the call to Portland. He was 2-3 with a 4.67 ERA to finish the season. This year he started in Greenville and allowed just 1 run in 6 innings before coming back to Portland. He pitched so well he got a cup of coffee with Worcester. Currently he's in Portland with a 1-1 with 2.57 ERA, which is fine, but 7 picks after Brand was chosen the Giants took outfielder Wade Meckler. Meckler made his ML debut in 2023 but is hitting .260 with the Sacramento River Cats currently. Hopefully Brand can keep momentum going.


Currently - AA (formerly AAA)



9th Round - C Brooks Brannon

In the 9th round, the Sox took Randleman High School catcher Brooks Brannon. He looked strong out of the gate in 2023 when he hit 3 home runs in 9 games for Salem but last year he hit .251 with 6 home runs for the Sal Sox. This year at Greenville he's hitting .265 with 5 home runs and 30 rbis. He's only 21 years old and the Sox are devoid of catchers so they're going to hope Brannon can develop.


Currently - High A



10th Round - RHP Isaac Coffey

The Sox might have found something with their 10th round pick, right handed pitcher Isaac Coffey out of Oral Roberts University. He was 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 11 starts for Greenville in 2023 to earn a call-up to Portland. He was 7-4 with a 3.92 ERA to end the 2023 season. Last year he was Portland's best pitcher going 11-4 with a 3.17 ERA and just missed the call to Worcester. This year he didn't allow a run in 6 games in Portland to earn the permanent call to Worcester. Currently he's 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA but has only pitched in 5 games this year. Too early to judge with another few months left in the season. 2 picks after the Red Sox picked Coffey, the White Sox took first baseman Tim Elko who has 4 home runs in 18 games this season. With bullpen injuries and ineffectiveness, you never know if and when Coffey makes his debut.


Currently - AAA



11th Round - RHP Marques Johnson

The Sox drafted Long Beach State Univeristy right handed pitcher Marques Johnson with their 11th round pick. He was 2-2 with a 6.55 ERA in Greenville before he was traded to the San Francisco Giants in July of 2023 for Mauricio Llovera. He didn't allow a run in 18 innings for the San Jose Giants to end the season and was 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA last season. This year he's allowed 6 runs in 26 innings for the Eugene Emeralds. He's going to be 25 in July and still in A ball but at least he's proven to get A hitters out. He was called up to Richmond just yesterday. Too bad the Sox gave him up for a rental that accomplished nothing.


Currently - AA


12th Round - LHP Hayden Mullins

In the 12th round, the Sox selected Auburn University right handed pitcher Hayden Mullins. Just like Matt Litwicki in 2021, Mullins was an injury risk as he pitched in just 23 games for Auburn and didn't make his franchise debut until August of 2023. He was 3-5 with a 3.94 ERA in Greenville last year and allowed 2 earned runs in 17 innings to earn the call up to Portland this year. Currently he's 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA and it looks like he's on the right track. Just two picks after the Red Sox took Mullins, the Chicago White Sox took infielder Brooks Baldwin who's got 3 homers for the ChiSox this year. Lot of 22 draftees on this year's White Sox it seems.


Currently - AA



13th Round - SS Gavin Kilen

The Sox first non-signee was their 13th round draft pick, high school shortstop Gavin Kilen. Kilen spurned the Sox to sign with Louisville University where he hit .265 in 2023 and .330 with 9 home runs last year. He transferred to Tennessee this year and he hit .357 with 15 home runs for the Vols, recently appearing in the college world series. He looks like a star in the making and a future top pick, so good on the Sox for knowing the talent....but they drafted him 3 years too soon.


Currently - NCAA


14th Round - SS Travis Sanders

The Sox next wasted draft pick was in the 14th round when they drafted yet another high school shortstop in Travis Sanders. He chose to attend Texas Tech instead and transferred to Baylor for the 2025 season where he hit .335 with 8 home runs. He burned the Sox for Texas Tech and burned them for Baylor.....he's gonna love MLB free agency down the road.


Currently - NCAA


15th Round - LHP Nathan Landry

The Sox whiffed again in the 15th round when they chose left handed pitcher Nathan Landry out of Missouri University. He was straight batting practice, going 1-1 with a 7.54 ERA for Greenville in 2023 and was 2-1 with a 5.24 ERA for Greenville last season when he was released in August. Usually teams don't give up on guys after 2 seasons, Wyatt Olds for example was batting practice for 3 full seasons before figuring it out this year. Something else might have been up, but either way he was given the boot and wasn't pitching in the pros as of 2025.


Currently - Out of MLB


16th Round - RHP Garrett Ramsey

Another Sox swing and miss was their 16th round pick, right handed pitcher Garrett Ramsey out of Southern Mississipi University. Once again this was a weird turn of events. He was struggling for the Florida Complex in 2023 going 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA before getting a cup of coffee with Salem to end the season. Then he was released in spring training on the eve of the 2024 season. Just like with Nathan Landry, something else must have been going on to give up on a prospect THAT quickly.


Currently - Out of MLB


17th Round - OF Deundre Jones

To complete the bizarre trifecta of releases, look no further than 17th round pick Deundre Jones out of Lutheran South High School. Jones hit .191 with 2 home runs in 28 games with the Florida Complex in 2023 before he was cut in spring training on the eve of the 2024 season. Again, he played 28 games in rookie ball, something else must have been a factor to cut him so soon. Maybe GM Craig Breslow wanted to wipe the slate of any underperforming Bloom picks.


Currently - Out of MLB


18th Round - RHP Austin Erlicher

When the "draft & follow" rule was re-instituted, the Sox used it on 18th round pick Austin Erlicher out of Santa Rosa Junior College. The Sox let Austin pitch for Santa Rosa in 2023 and he got hurt at the end of the season which kept him out for most of 2024 as well. He pitched in just 2 games for Salem to end 2024 but so far has been healthy for Salem. So far he's 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA so judge slowly on this one.


Currently - Low A


19th Round - RHP Jaret Godman

Ex-Sox GM Chaim Bloom drafted Wyatt Olds in 2021 despite being terrible in his senior season at Oklahoma University. He didn't learn his lesson as he drafted right handed pitcher Jaret Godman after Godman had an ERA over 6 in his junior and senior seasons. Ironically Oklahoma won the national championship in 2022 with him. His incompetence carried over to the pros where he allowed 7 runs in 7 2/3 innings in 2023 for Greenville. He voluntarily retired in spring training 2024 and it takes a lot of smarts and balls to say "You know what, I'm just not that good". Good luck to Godman wherever he is now, at least he has self awareness.


Currently - Out of baseball


20th Round - RHP Connor Butler

With their final pick in the 20th round, the Sox selected Biola right handed pitcher Connor Butler. Biola stands for Bible Institute of Los Angeles and why the Sox wanted to draft a future youth pastor that had a 4.50 ERA his senior year at a little known Division 2 school, ask Chaim Bloom. Not surprisingly Butler pitched in 23 games between the Complex and Salem while allowing 23 runs in 2023. He was released along with a ton of others in spring training on the eve of the 2024 season. Not that 20th round picks are can't miss prospects, but at least they could have TRIED drafting someone who had a chance of making it. Nothing against Butler himself, he did his best, but what was Bloom thinking?


Currently - Out of baseball


UFA - RHP Matt Donlan

This poor bastard got a raw deal for sure. Following the 2022 draft, the Sox signed UConn catcher Matt Donlan due to his New England heritage. Between 2022 and 2024 he played in just 37 games and had just 17 hits. Matt wanted to try his luck as a pitcher and ended up blowing his arm out, requiring Tommy John surgery that's going to take him out of this year as well. Still, not much you can expect from an undrafted rookie free agent.


Currently - AA


UFA - SS Bryant Zayas

Here's a redemption story. Shortstop Bryant Zayas was recruited by North Carolina University but chose to sign with the Red Sox as an undrafted rookie free agent. He hit .242 with a home run in 32 games with the Complex in 2023 but was one of the many released during spring training in 2024. Zayas ended up committing to Lynn University, a Division 2 school in Florida and this season he hit .295 with 3 home runs in 38 games. Its a wonder why the Sox gave up on him so quickly, but kudos to him for landing on his feet and possibly getting another shot down the road.


Currently - NCAA





So far the 2022 draft has produced 2 major leaguers in Roman Anthony and Chase Meidroth with Alex Hoppe, Jonathan Brand and Isaac Coffey at least making AAA. Mikey Romero, Dalton Rogers, Caleb Bolden, Marques Johnson, Hayden Mullins and Matt Donlan are in AA with Cutter Coffey, Noah Dean and Brooks Brannon in High A. Austin Erlicher is in Low A with Nathan Landry, Garrett Ramsey, Deundre Jones, Jaret Godman and Connor Butler out of baseball. Gavin Kilen and Travis Sanders never signed and Bryant Zayas was released but are back in college with Kilen and Sanders. Still a little early to judge the younger guys that were taken out of high school like Romero, Brannon, etc but taking all those pitchers in a row and none of them have shown outstanding stuff is a bad sign. Still, it took 4 years for Hunter Dobbins to make his ML debut so any of these guys could make it next year. 2021 was the last good season for the Sox so they picked low in every round. Still, two of their guys made the majors already in just three years so it wasn't the worst draft ever.

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