Two Red Sox prospects excelling in the Arizona Fall League
Over the last few weeks, prospects from every organization have gotten some extended work in the Arizona Fall League. While the Red Sox sent eight prospects to the AFL, two players, catcher Brooks Brannon and infielder Max Ferguson, have stood out. The talented duo has been stellar at the plate and made the most of their time with the Mesa Solar Sox.
Of the eight players the Red Sox sent, Brannon was the highest-rated. He is ranked as the 50th-best player in the system by Sox Prospects and is showing why. Through 28 at-bats, Brannon has posted a .357 batting average and driven in two runs. The former ninth-round pick has also shown some power with two extra-base hits. After a strong ending to the regular season, Brannon has picked up where he left off.
While Brannon’s play has been encouraging, Ferguson has also made headlines. Ferguson has posted a .269 batting average in six games and driven in four runs. The talented infielder has also shown a flair for the dramatics with one walk-off hit. After struggling during the 2024 campaign, Ferguson has looked like a different player in Arizona.
As Ferguson and Brannon look to build on their success, they will also be trying to show why they should be part of the future. Brannon has shown flashes of brilliance at the plate, but Kyle Teel is one of the best catching prospects in baseball, and Connor Wong, at the very least, could be a solid backup. Brannon will have time to improve his game after finishing the 2024 campaign in Low-A.
Unlike Brannon, Ferguson is a lot closer to the majors. He finished the 2024 season in Triple-A, posting a .100 batting average in three games. It marked the second straight year he made it to Triple-A. He will need to get better at the plate in a Red Sox system full of talented infielders.
Through the first few weeks of the Arizona Fall League, the Red Sox duo have made the most of their playing time and provided excitement for the future.