MLB Insider Gives Fascinating Red Sox Prospect Stamp Of Approval

Red Sox prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is starting to get attention beyond the Boston organization.

Garcia, one of Boston’s most intriguing and fast-rising prospects, is now just one step away from the big leagues. The Red Sox promoted the 22-year-old, nicknamed “The Password,” to Triple-A Worcester.

Before Garcia got the call, The Athletic’s Keith Law — one of the top prospects writers in the industry — got a chance to see him play with Double-A Portland. Garcia’s fascinating skill set — good and bad — was on display, but Law walked away sounding overall pleased with what he saw from the outfielder.

In that game, Garcia hit a moonshot of a home run.

“It was an awful pitch,” Law wrote, “but Garcia did what you’re supposed to do with those, and the power he showed was impressive.”

One reason Garcia is moving up a level, as Law notes, is improved plate discipline. Garcia has struggled at times with making good swing decisions, but his walk rate improved. Law observed him chase some fastballs in that game and labeled the discipline as a “moderate concern.”

However.

“He can mash, though; even if the walk-rate boost turns out to be a mirage, this is real power, and he seems like, at worst, he’ll be a low-OBP slugger, probably in right field.”

Garcia has been as advertised through a couple of games with the WooSox, going 3-for-9 with a home run and three strikeouts.

SoxProspects.com has him ranked No. 13 in their organizational rankings. It wouldn’t be surprising if he started those rankings, but even if you read their scouting report, there’s reason to be bullish on The Password. As Sox Prospects observes, Garcia is a “hard worker who has developed substantially in all areas since he signed.”

If he can improve the discipline and swing-and-miss, though, he could soon be among the handful of young players knocking on the big-league door. Not bad for an international free agent plucked out of Venezuela in 2019.