Red Sox infield prospect Cutter Coffey homers in first spring at-bat
Red Sox infield prospect Cutter Coffey earned his first big league call up this spring and made an impact in Saturday’s game against the Nationals.
Entering the game as a defensive replacement for third baseman Rafael Devers, Coffey entered the game in the top of the sixth. A half-inning later, he worked the count 1-0 and mashed a two-run homer off Nationals reliever Cole Henry.
The go-ahead two-run homer sailed over the wall in left giving the Red Sox a 3-2 lead.
Coffey finished the day 1-for-2, he flew out in the eighth inning.
The 19-year-old is looking to bounce back this season after poor 2023 campaign. Coffey entered last season as the Red Sox No. 23 overall prospect, according to Baseball America.
He was selected with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft out of Liberty High School, in Bakersfield. Coffey signed a $1.85 million deal with Boston and made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League, where he went 4-for-32 (.125) with 11 strikeouts in 11 games.
Overall last season, he played in 99 games and hit .210 with 16 doubles, two triples, six homers, 35 RBIs, 19 stolen bases while striking out 100 times and posting a .640 OPS.
Boston promoted Coffey to High-A Greenville in August as part of the organzations aggressive internal call ups. Coffey struggled in the jump from Salem to Greenville, slashing just .136/.253/.167 in 18 games for the Drive.
Coffey projects to start this coming season at third base for Greenville. The former two-way player offers a plus arm and profiles best from the hot corner. SoxProspects describes Coffey with having “potential above-average defense.”
