Matthew Lugo is showing his potential in winter ball
In 117 games between two levels, he posted a .282 batting average and a career-high 79 runs batted in. While the twenty-one-year-old terrorized opponents, Lugo flashed his power with 53 extra-base hits. That included 18 home runs. He entered the 2022 campaign with five in his minor league career. As he impressed offensively, he struggled defensively, which has been a point of emphasis in winter ball.
Through his first 33 games with the Criollos de Caguas, Lugo has six errors. Over the last three weeks, his versatility has been tested as the former 69th overall pick has played three different positions. He has turned 13 double plays in that span and excelled regardless of where he is on the diamond.
As the Red Sox 12th best prospect prepares for the 2023 campaign, he will be looking to build on what he did this year. He rarely looked overmatched at the plate in 2022, except for his three-game stint in Portland. In 12 at-bats, he posted a .083 batting average. However, he has bounced back with a .267 batting average in 33 games in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
While the 2022 campaign didn’t end as expected, Lugo saw his stock rise. The talented shortstop showed why he was a high draft pick and was exposed to more advanced competition. For the first time in the minors, Lugo displayed that, at times, he can be a power threat.
As Lugo shifts his focus to 2023, he will look to continue his rise to the majors. He has had his first taste of Double-A and could start their next season. The Carlos Beltran High School product is beginning to stand out in a system full of promising middle infielders.
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