Ex-Boston Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom was sent packing in September 2023 after an epic collapse that sank the team into last place. Bloom's inactivity at the trade deadline was one of the big reasons why. Still, he did leave the Sox with one last draft that would somewhat pan out. Let's take a look at how the class of 2023 is doing three years later.
1st Round - C Kyle Teel
One of the bright sides of finishing in last place in 2022 was the Sox got the 14th overall pick. The Sox scored when they took Virginia University catcher Kyle Teel. The word on him was he had a major league ready bat right away and they weren't kidding. Teel hit .363 with 2 home runs in 26 games for the Florida Complex Sox, Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs to end the 2023 season. In 2024, he was part of the "Goldust Trio" with Marcello Mayer and Roman Anthony in Portland and the Worcester Red Sox hitting .288 with 13 home runs. Then came the trade. The Red Sox sent Teel, Chase Meidrorth, Wikelman Gonzalez and Braden Montgomery to the Chicago White Sox for ace Garrett Crochet in December 2024. Teel made his ML debut with the White Sox in 2025 hitting .273 with 8 home runs. Unfortunately he hasn't played this year due to injuries but when he comes back, he's going to be a terror for years. Meanwhile Crochet has barely pitched this year and might get shoulder surgery. Either way this was a slam dunk for Bloom for sure.
2nd Round - SS Nazzan Zanetello
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, we get another spectacular whiff in the second round. For the fourth year in a row, the Red Sox took a high school shortstop in the top 50 when they took Nazzan Zanetello 50th overall. He hit a pathetic .156 for the Salem Red Sox in 2024 and just .173 for Greenville in 2025. He had 2 hits in 18 at-bats this year before being put on the Injured List. Quite simply this guy can't hit, at all. Even a utility infielder can hit .200. Worse yet, five guys drafted after Zanetello in the second round made the majors so far including the Seattle Mariners' Ben Williamson. One of the reasons Chaim Bloom is no longer the GM is botching too many top draft picks. This was one of them.
3rd Round - SS Antonio Anderson
Wait, you think Chaim Bloom was done botching top picks? Oh ho ho, sit down son. Learning nothing about drafting nothing but high school shortstops, Bloom said "HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ONE??" In the third round the Sox took North Atlanta High School shortstop Antonio Anderson. You won't be surprised but....he can't hit either. He hit just .186 in 100 games for Salem in 2024 and just .248 between Salem and Greenville in 2025. This year he's hitting .176 and its fairly obvious he can't hit just like Zanetello. Worse yet, four guys have made the majors from the third round after Anderson including the Houston Astros' Jake Bloss. The bottom line is one of the reasons the Sox are in the shape they've been in the last few years is too many swings and misses in the first three rounds.
4th Round - RHP Matt Duffy
Bad luck runs deep in this draft and that goes for fourth round pick, right handed pitcher Matt Duffy out of Canisius University. He pitched in just 3 games to end the 2023 season but seemed to find himself in 2024. He went 4-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 21 starts for Salem....and blew his arm out in 2025, having Tommy John surgery. He should be back in July but its a shame he lost essentially 3 years of his career. He might still make an impact, but that was a big set back.
4th Round - SS Kristian Campbell
Chaim Bloom scored and then the organization failed fourth round pick Kristian Campbell. When Xander Bogaerts signed with San Diego, the Sox got an extra fourth round pick and they used it to pick the Georgia Tech infielder. He lived up to his billing hitting .309 to finish the 2023 season between the Complex in Greenville. He shined in 2024 hitting .330 with 20 home runs between Portland and Worcester which bopped his way to the Boston Red Sox opening day roster. He was damn near American League rookie of the month in April before faltering in May and June. He was sent back to Worcester where he hit .273 with 8 home runs to end the season. This year he's completely falling apart hitting .223 with just 2 home runs...in Worcester. Whatever current Sox GM Craig Breslow's Driveline spreadsheets they did, they ruined Kristian. On top of that, Breslow signed him to a four year extension at 7 million a year so he's going to be their Rusney Castillo until 2028. Bloom made the right pick, but Breslow blew it.
4th Round - SS Justin Riemer
With the fourth round pick the Sox got for compensation to losing Nathan Eovaldi, Bloom picked....ANOTHER SHORTSTOP! Justin Riemer tore his ACL just 12 games into his 2023 season for Wright State and Bloom chose him for whatever reason knowing he wasn't going to play until late in 2024. He hit .252 between the Complex and Greenville in 38 games and with a full season in 2025....he hit .231 between Salem and Greenville. He was traded after the season to the Oakland A's organization for Ryan Watson. He hit .213 in 29 games for Single A and just .182 for the Midland Rock Hounds in 9 games before going on the Injured List. This was a misfire and worse yet, the New York Mets took AJ Ewing just one pick after Riemer in the draft. Bloom's nonstop shortstops clearly didn't work.
5th Round - LHP Connelly Early
Somehow Bloom, the master of drafting shortstops that can't hit....might have drafted the next Red Sox left handed ace in the fifth round. Connelly Early was taken out of Virginia University and his record was 3-9 in 2024 but with a deceptive 3.99 ERA in 23 starts. In 2025 he dominated the Portland Sea Dogs going 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 15 games to get sent up to Worcester. He was 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA for the WooSox when injuries and ineffectiveness forced the Boston Red Sox to call up Early on September 9th. He was 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA and started the ill-fated Game 3 playoff game against the New York Yankees and Cam Schlittler. This year he's 5-4 with a 3.30 ERA and looks to be a future stud. He'd have an even better record if the Sox had a decent offense so he might be a 20 game winner if his health holds up & Boston gets better bats. Say what you will, but Bloom scored on this one.
6th Round - RHP CJ Weins
The Sox have a habit of making bad trades lately and 6th round pick, right handed pitcher CJ Weins might be another one. Weins was 0-2 with a 4.81 ERA out of the Salem bullpen when he was traded in July 2024 to the Detroit Tigers for Trey Wingenter. Wingenter, much like everyone else Breslow got at the 2024 trade deadline, totally sucked. Meanwhile Weins found himself as he went 3-1 with a 3.95 ERA for the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2025. This year he's 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA for the White Caps and a promotion to AA looks imminent. He may make it, he may not, but the bottom line is the Sox traded him for nothing in the end. Worse yet, 15 picks after Weins, the Philadelphia Phillies took George Klassen who had a cup of coffee with the Los Angeles Angels this year. That's more than the Sox got out of Weins....or Wingenter for that matter.
7th Round - OF Caden Rose
It was back to normal in the seventh round when the Sox took Alabama University outfielder Caden Rose in the seventh round. He hit just .232 with 4 home runs between Salem and Greenville in 2024 and last year hit just .160 in 86 games for Portland. This year he's only hitting .248 with one home run and that's not going to get him very far. Thankfully no one else from the seventh round has made it yet, otherwise this would be yet another wasted pick.
8th Round - RHP Trennor O'Donnell
More bad luck in the 8th round when the Sox took right handed pitcher Trennor O'Donnell out of Ball State University. At first this pick seemed like a mistake when he went 3-7 with a 4.00 ERA in 2024 with Salem and then 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 2025 before he had internal brace surgery. He JUST came back with a rehab start on the 12th with the Florida Complex so the jury is still out on this one. Worse yet, 4 picks after O'Donnell the Milwaukee Brewers took Craig Yoho who got in 2 games for the Brewers this year. That's more than O'Donnell so far.
9th Round - RHP Blake Wehunt
One of the reasons Chaim Bloom doesn't have a job is drafting bums in college and expecting anything out of them. 9th round pick Blake Wehunt was 4-4 with a 4.83 ERA for Kennesaw State which doesn't scream top prospect. Naturally Blake went 1-6 with a 4.42 ERA for Greenville in 2024 and 2-8 with a 5.68 ERA for Portland in 2025. This year he's 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA and if he's struggling already, he won't even make it to Worcester. No other 9th round pick has made the majors yet so the Sox are safe on that front....for now.
10th Round - LHP Ryan Ammons
You gotta feel for the Red Sox' 10th round pick, left handed pitcher Ryan Ammons out of Clemson University. He never got to pitch for the Florida Complex Sox due to injury and he was traded in December to the New York Mets for current Sox reliever Justin "Incinerator" Slaten. Out of the bullpen he had a damn good 2024 season for the St. Lucie Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones going 4-4 with a 2.18 ERA. Last year he was 7-2 with a 2.92 ERA for the Cyclones and this year was supposed to be his breakout year. Instead he is missing the entire 2026 season due to injury. Slaten has had his ups and downs with the Red Sox but you'll make this trade 10 times out of 10. Maybe Ammons will come back stronger in 2027.
11th Round - OF Nelly Taylor
In the 11th round, the Boston Red Sox chose outfielder Nelly Taylor out of Polk State. Much like most o the draft, this one looks like a bust too. Taylor hit .233 with 8 home runs in 2024 between Salem and Greenville before hitting just .216 with 7 home runs in 2025 for Greenville. This year he's hitting a paltry .174 with 3 home runs for Portland. If he can't hit AA pitching, the likelihood of hitting AAA or major league pitching seems remote. Worse yet, one pick after Taylor the Chicago White Sox took Rikuu Nishida who played 12 games for the White Sox this year. That might be more than the Sox get out of Taylor.
12th Round - RHP Max Carlson
In the 12th round the Sox took right handed pitcher Max Carlson out of UNC. Once again this looks like another wasted pick as in 2024 looked good, going 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA between Salem and Greenville. He regressed in 2025 going 3-1 with a 4.08 for Greenville in just 11 games due to injury. This year he's 2-1 with a hideous 6.46 ERA for Portland and if he's struggling at the AA level, what's he going to do when he gets to AAA if at all? Worse yet, 9 picks after the Sox chose Carlson the Seattle Mariners took Logan Evans who's in their starting rotation. The Sox blew this one too.
13th Round - RHP Cade Feeney
The Sox made a similar mistake in the 13th round when they took right handed pitcher Cade Feeney out of North Dakota State. Feeney was 0-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 20 games for Greenville in 2024 before missing all of 2025. He returned to Portland and Worcester this year where he's allowed 28 runs in 37 innings between them. Once again, if he's struggling against AA batters, doesn't look likely he'll make the show. No other 13th round pick has made the majors so this one hasn't come back to bite them...yet.
14th Round - LHP Jojo Ingrassia
In the 14th round the Sox took left handed pitcher Jojo Ingrassia out of Cal-State Fullerton. He looked to be the real deal early when he went 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA for Salem in 2024 but pitched just 17 innings and 4 games in 2025. This year he's allowed just 3 runs in 20 innings for Greenville and a call up to Portland looks in the cards. While he seems to still have hope, 11 picks after the Sox took Ingrassia, the Atlanta Braves took Mitch Farris who's currently in the Los Angeles Angels bullpen. Hopefully Ingrassia can develop because the Angels are the ones enjoying the fruits right now.
15th Round - OF Phoenix Call
The first non-signee came in the 15th round when the Sox took Calabasas High School outfielder Phoenix Call. He spurned the Sox and ended up going to UCLA. His batting average in 3 years has been .222, .256 and .216 although he did get a walk-off HBP a few weeks ago. Call better pick up the hitting or he may not be drafted again once his time is up. No other 15th round pick has made the majors so this hasn't come back to haunt them yet. Sox might have dodged a bullet here.
16th Round - RHP Isaac Stebens
It was an unfortunate turn of events for their 16th round pick, right handed pitcher Isaac Stebens out of Oklahoma State. Stebens allowed just 1 earned run for Salem in 2024 before being promoted to Greenville. He was 3-3 with a 3.68 ERA to finish the season. Last year he was Greenville's best pitcher, going 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA and 9 saves although strangely didn't get a call to Portland. This was supposed to be the year, right? Well he had internal brace surgery in in spring training and won't be back until next year. Its a shame that he looked like he was getting it only to go down, see you in 2027 Isaac.
17th Round - OF Dylan Schlaegel
Another wasted pick came in the 17th round when the Sox took Legacy High School outfielder Dylan Schlaegel. He told the Red Sox to piss off and enrolled in Dallas Baptist instead. After red shirting 2024, he hit just .250 in 2025 but this year he hit .279 with 12 home runs. Granted, he's not exactly playing in the SEC so who knows how he'd do in the pros until the time comes. Nobody else has made the majors from the 17th round so this pick didn't bite the Sox too hard, but the fact they got NOTHING out of it is just bad scouting.
18th Round - LHP Zach Fogell
Its one thing for someone like Isaac Stebens to get hurt in the pros, its another to get hurt no matter where you are. Such was the case for 18th round pick, left handed pitcher Zach Fogell out of Brown and UConn. So Fogell had a miserable season at Brown in 2019 and then missed the next two years because not only did Covid wipe out the 2020 season, but famously the Ivy League didn't play in 2021. He was garbage in 12 games for Brown in 2022 and then because he had another year of eligibility left, he chose to play 2023 at UConn. He was 8-1 with a 1.49 ERA as a 23 year old and the Sox took a chance on him. He pitched in just 3 games to end the 2023 season but flourished in Greenville in 2024. He was 5-2 with a 3.32 ERA for the Drive but was hurt to start the 2025 season. He pitched in 8 games and decided to have Tommy John surgery in July. He probably won't pitch this entire season as well and its a shame because he'll be 26 in July. Injuries and idiotic Ivy League decisions derailed his career badly.
19th Round - OF Stanley Tucker
At first it seemed like yet another wasted draft pick when the Sox took Texas A & M outfielder Stanley Tucker in the 19th round. He had just 10 hits in 67 at bats for the Complex and Salem to end the 2023 season. He suffered a torn labrum 69 games into the 2024 season and suffered a season ending wrist injury early in 2025. Now he's healthy and he recently got promoted to Portland after hitting .304 with 4 home runs for the Salem Ridge Yaks. Nobody else from the 19th round has made the show so this pick doesn't hurt just yet. Still, injuries suck....and there seems to be a lot of them in this draft.
20th Round - RHP Robert Orloski
The final wasted draft pick was right handed pitcher Robert Orloski out of Middleton High School in the 20th round. He chose not to sign and instead went to University of Texas San Antonio. He had an awful freshman season going 3-5 with a 5.94 ERA but rebounded in 2025 going 8-0 with a 3.36 ERA. Unfortunately he got hurt in his first game in 2026 and missed the whole season. The Sox may have dodged a bullet here if he can't get healthy and do better. 20th round picks are cucka anyway but at least others have at least signed.
UFA - C Drew Ehrhard
Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time. After the 2023 draft the Sox took 2021 draft pick Zach Ehrhard's older brother Drew out of Tampa University. He played in just 32 games in 2023 and 2024 as a backup catcher and hit .235 with Portland in 2025. This year he was hitting just .132 in Portland when he retired to become the Boston Red Sox' bullpen catcher. Oh yes, after Alex Cora and his whole coaching staff was fired earlier this season, Drew was hired to be the bullpen catcher. Not bad for a guy hitting .132 in AA.
UFA - RHP Cooper Adams
You gotta feel for undrafted rookie free agent Cooper Adams. Adams was 8-3 with a 5.03 ERA for Mt. St Mary's private college so who in their right mind would take a flier on him? Well the Sox did and in 2024 he was 2-5 with a 5.08 ERA right on cue. Then something weird happened. He was 2-3 with a respectable 3.95 ERA for Greenville last year then got a 10 game cup of coffee in Portland where he was unhittable, going 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Would he capitalize in 2026? NO! He's currently 6-3 with a 6.34 ERA for Portland and it looks like he's hit the wall. For an undrafted guy, getting this far is an accomplishment. If he gets released or is hammered in AAA, he can say for 10 games he had it all.
This draft was a titanic disaster with the exception of Kyle Teel, Connelly Early and Kristian Campbell...and the Sox might have ruined Campbell. The worst was drafting high school shortstops in the second and third rounds, which they didn't need, and they sucked anyway. Apart from Early, none of the pitchers look like they'll pan out and there were definitely a ton of injuries, can't really blame Bloom for that. Still, the name of the game is development and almost none of these guys did and we're 3 years in. That's an indictment on Bloom and one of the main reasons he's not here anymore. Another reason the Sox are in the shape they're in is they get no help from the minors due to bad drafting. Hopefully that changes one of these days.
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