Five Years Later: Revisiting the Red Sox Top Prospects from 2020
A Blog By Dean
Few days ago I did a look back at the 2018 Red Sox top prospects. I thought it was a great piece of work, until I realized my list was incorrect. I pulled from an article that had multiple players that were not on the Red Sox in 2018. It was embarrassing, and something I thought I would never live down.
But I persevered, and I am back with another list.
In 2020, the Red Sox farm system was in transition. Mookie Betts had just been traded, Chaim Bloom had taken over, and a new wave of prospects was being counted on to shape Boston’s future. Five years later, that top 20 list is a mix of hits and misses. Some have become everyday big leaguers. Others are playing overseas, and a few are already out of baseball entirely. Frankly, no one on this list is moving the needle right now for Boston
Here’s a full breakdown of where Boston’s Top 20 Prospects from 2020 are now.
1. Jeter Downs (Rank #1, 2020)
Now: Playing in Japan with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (NPB)
MLB Career: .182 AVG | 1 HR | .533 OPS in 20 games
2. Triston Casas (Rank #2, 2020)
Now: Out for 2025 with a knee injury
MLB Career: .241 AVG | 45 HR | 120 RBI | .800 OPS
3. Bobby Dalbec (Rank #3, 2020)
Now: With Brewers’ Triple-A team (Nashville)
MLB Career: .222 AVG | 47 HR | 143 RBI | .713 OPS in 341 games
4. Bryan Mata (Rank #4, 2020)
Now: Still with Boston, pitching for Triple-A Worcester
MiLB Career: 30–27 | 3.59 ERA | 494 K in 469 IP
5. Gilberto Jimenez (Rank #5, 2020)
Now: Playing for Angels’ Double-A team (Rocket City)
MiLB Career: .300 AVG | 16 HR | 165 RBI | 72 SB
6. Noah Song (Rank #6, 2020)
Now: Active with the Boston Red Sox organization
MILB Career: 2-2 | 3.66 ERA | 54 K | in 51.2 IP
7. Jay Groome (Rank #7, 2020)
Now: With Padres Triple-A team
MiLB Career: 19–34 | 5.54 ERA | 504 K in 447 IP
8. Jarren Duran (Rank #8, 2020)
Now: Starting OF for Red Sox
MLB Career: .271 AVG | 37 HR | 170 RBI | 79 SB | .775 OPS
9. Thaddeus Ward (Rank #9, 2020)
Now: Active with the Orioles organization
MLB Career: 1–2 | 6.37 ERA | 30 K in 35.1 IP
10. Tanner Houck (Rank #10, 2020)
Now: Key piece of Boston’s rotation, currently on IL
MLB Career: 24–32 | 3.97 ERA | 449 K in 474.1 IP
11. Matthew Lugo (Rank #11, 2020)
Now: Playing for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025
MiLB Career: .266 AVG | 49 HR | 254 RBI | 64 SB
12. Nick Decker (Rank #12, 2020)
Now: Out of affiliated baseball since 2023
MiLB Career: .209 AVG | 33 HR | .700 OPS in 1,050 AB
13. C.J. Chatham (Rank #13, 2020)
Now: Out of affiliated baseball since 2021
MiLB Career: .293 AVG | 17 HR | .732 OPS
14. Brainer Bonaci (Rank #14, 2020)
Now: In Double-A Portland with Red Sox
MiLB Career: .272 AVG | 22 HR | 157 RBI | .777 OPS
15. Chih-Jung Liu (Rank #15, 2020)
Now: Still in Sox system, pitching in High-A
MiLB Career: 8–21 | 5.25 ERA | 347 K in 294 IP
16. Connor Wong (Rank #16, 2020)
Now: Sharing catching duties in Boston
MLB Career: .251 AVG | 23 HR | 96 RBI | .699 OPS
17. Cameron Cannon (Rank #17, 2020)
Now: Playing for Sioux City Explorers (independent ball)
MiLB Career: .244 AVG | 22 HR | 102 RBI | .692 OPS
18. Brayan Bello (Rank #18, 2020)
Now: One of Boston’s top starters
MLB Career: 30–28 | 4.39 ERA | 360 K
19. Antoni Flores (Rank #19, 2020)
Now: Released in 2022
MiLB Career: .226 AVG | 3 HR | 59 RBI | .635 OPS
20. Chris Murphy (Rank #20, 2020)
Now: In Triple-A Worcester, converted to reliever
MLB Career: 1–2 | 4.91 ERA | 49 K
Of the Red Sox Top 20 Prospects from 2020:
✅ 11 reached MLB
🔄 9 still active in the Red Sox system
🌍 7 playing elsewhere (Japan, indy ball, other orgs)
❌ 3 out of affiliated baseball
Biggest Success: Brayan Bello
Biggest Miss: Jeter Downs
Biggest Surprise: Matthew Lugo with the Angels
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