Natanael Yuten: The Boston Red Sox prospect that not enough people are talking about
Boston Red Sox minor league content tends to be dominated by the members of Nut Town. Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel have reached Triple-A. Kristian Campbell is torching Double-A pitching. Braden Montgomery was a steal in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Behind those five, there's still plenty of talent, though. There have been several standouts this season. Most have been given their flowers. Not all of them, though.
Natanael Yuten was getting a decent amount of buzz early in the season. Then came some breakouts that overshadowed him. Campbell's become a star, and Jhostynxon Garcia isn't far behind his now-Double-A teammate. Meanwhile, Mikey Romero is healthy in Greenville and terrifying High-A pitchers.
Yuten, meanwhile, fell into a slump that lasted from the beginning of June to the middle of July. The left-handed hitting outfielder is back to racking, though. In fact, in August, he's slashing .351/.415/.514.
Yuten's clawed his way back up to a .250/.314/.399 slash line with 17 doubles, six triples, and six home runs. He's driven in 42 runs, scored 32 more, and stolen 11 bases. It's also important to note that the lefty is 12-for-40 (.300) with a .575 slug against left-handed pitching.
Those are respectable numbers, especially considering Salem's ballpark is notoriously terrible to hitters.
Yuten is an athlete. The 19-year-old was the Red Sox minor league baserunner of July. He's been solid in the outfield, as well.
One thing I've pointed out on Twitter is his proclivity for drama. Whenever Salem has needed a big hit late in a game this season, it feels like Yuten is stepping up to the plate. And it feels like he's always coming through.
One quick look at the numbers will tell you this isn't a random thought. Yuten is 15-for-33 with a double and a home run in the ninth inning this season. He's 4-for-8 with a triple and two home runs in extra innings. One of those home runs was an inside-the-parker because, well, drama.
The Dominican Republic native is a high-potential frame. Listed at 6'3", 143 lbs on MiLB (150 lbs on SoxProspects.com), there's clear room for mass/muscle.
Yuten also doesn't have a carrying tool, which is - potentially - why he's not even in the SoxProspects top 60. However, there is intriguing potential for a power/speed combination if he can add some muscle without sacrificing too much of his athleticism.
Jhostynxon Garcia is currently listed at 6'0", 163 lbs on MiLB. One look at him will tell you he's added a ton of mass/muscle. He has 21 home runs and has worked his way up from Single-A to Double-A in a single season.
Am I saying Natanael Yuten can do that next season if he works his ass off like Garcia did this offseason and puts on some lbs? No, that's ludicrous to expect a breakout like that three years in a row (Roman Anthony in 2023, Garcia and Kristian Campbell in 2024).
Can Yuten be a breakout candidate for the 2025 season, though? Absolutely. And 2024 is already giving us small signs of the movement with his clutch-hitting and athletic talents.
Show some restraint, though. The Boston Red Sox could have another prospect with crazy helium, but he's still only 19 and has a lot to work on physically before that can happen.
So when it comes to Natanael Yuten, look to the words of the great poet Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Folarin. "Limitations for cowards, this is Che mixed with Malcolm, this is anti-Mark McGwire, it takes patience for power."
Follow Hunter on Twitter @Hunter_Noll.
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