Red Sox' Nazzan Zanetello on when he began playing shortstop, where he thinks he'll play in the system
Growing up, Nazzan Zanetello didn’t start to play shortstop until he was 13-years-old. Fast forward five years later, the Red Sox drafted the teenager out of Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis as a shortstop.
With Trevor Story locked into that position at the big league level through 2027 and top prospect Marcelo Mayer penciled in as the next shortstop following Story, Zanetello might have to move off the position to fast-track to Boston.
Oh, yeah. So growing up, I didn't play shortstop until I was 13. I'm always played third base,” said Zanetello on the To the Show We Go Baseball podcast.
“I’ve never played second and then I had a switch when I was 13, 14, then I kind of players started playing shortstop then and it kind of just came naturally. I was always an athlete, more athletic on longer land. So kind of just helped out with like the range of mobility standpoint, and then kind of just getting familiar with that with that position, that angle, making those throws and making those plays on.
“I got better as I got older, and then last fall I was Team USA, I played third base and centerfield on a stacked team so that was that was kind of the other primary the other secondary positions. I’ve never played second so for like if I were to make a switch it kind of be back to third or in center field.”
Despite the Red Sox having Story and Mayer as shortstop options for the future, Boston told Zanetello they drafted him with the intention of keeping him as an infielder.
“Whenever I first got drafted, there were talks with David Pearson about splitting time at shortstop, shortstop and time and center. So whenever I got down to the FCL, I was kind of expecting a split time. But I've yet to play outfield I've yet to train with the outfielders. So I feel like I'll stay until there and develop as an infielder for the Red Sox,” said the top prospect.
Wherever the Red Sox decide to play Zanetello, he is open-minded to switching positions and developing wherever he can to get to Fenway Park.
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