This Under-The-Radar Red Sox Prospect Could Headline Next Youth Wave

Before the start of the 2025 season, NESN.com is evaluating several noteworthy prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization, using insight and analysis from industry experts to gauge each player’s outlook for the upcoming campaign. Next up: Yoeilin Cespedes.

The Red Sox revamped their entire farm system over the last five years with elite position players. Their top trio of prospects — Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony — all are capable of making their MLB debuts this season.

So, what’s next beyond that group?

It’s not a tier that’s nationally raved about at this time, but there’s still plenty of young talent among position players in the highly ranked Red Sox system.

Yoeilin Cespedes brought plenty of power to the Dominican Summer League and is another middle infielder for Red Sox fans to do their homework on. He’s a long way down the road, as we still need to see a healthy amount of experience at Boston’s minor-league affiliates. But Cespedes has a ton of raw talent and overall ability.

Here’s how Cespedes got here.

Background
Cespedes just passed his two-year anniversary of landing with the Red Sox as an important signing in the international bonus pool. He enters his age-19 season with hopes of a full year of growth in affiliated ball.

Cespedes earned respect around the organization with six home runs in the Dominican Summer League in 2023. He eclipsed hitting .300 in the DSL and continued that trend in 2024 when he played in the Florida Complex League.

The Red Sox have yet to see Cespedes in affiliated ball. He earned a promotion to Low-A Salem but never played there after suffering a hamate bone injury during batting practice.

His affiliated debut will be an early story to watch in the Red Sox system this season as the youthful prospect takes an important step in his baseball journey.

“Just continues to impress when he got up to Low-A,” Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes told NESN.com. “He’s still only 18. … He’s a pretty exciting player.”

Scouting Report
Cespedes impressed early with his hard contact and raw power on display in the DSL. His development remains in its infancy, but there’s reason for the Red Sox to be impressed.

“A guy who impacts the baseball, hits it really hard and swings the bat really fast,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham told NESN.com. “He can play shortstop or second base. Really strong. Really mature. Has a really good understanding of how he needs to improve and what he needs to do to get there.”

Ian Cundall, director of scouting for SoxProspects.com, described Cespedes as a “very physically mature” prospect when speaking with NESN.com. Cundall harped on his power, though he believes Cespedes is capable in totality rather than presenting a standout tool in the Red Sox system.

Most-likely outcome: Utility player.

Cespedes is limited up the middle in the infield, and Cundall alluded to a potential shift to left field based on the 19-year-old’s physical skill set.

Best-case scenario: MLB regular.

Cespedes probably will hit his way to The Show. The Red Sox need to decide what position that’s at.

Fenway forecast
Cespedes is still multiple seasons away, perhaps in line for an MLB role by 2027. That’s fine for the Red Sox, especially given their current short-term infield configuration.

SoxProspects.com ranking: No. 7
Graduations and continued production in 2025 could land Cespedes among the top five by season’s end.