Three Red Sox Prospects to Watch in 2026

In the majors, the average 90th percentile exit velocity tends to hover around 104 mph, with 105 mph and above separating a player with elite power.

This is why Azocar is a fascinating prospect. Should he properly learn to utilize it and fix his launch angle (he had a 44% groundball rate in 2025, way too high for someone like him), he could quickly be promoted to High-A Greenville, where his offensive potential could be on better display in a more hitter-friendly park than Salem’s Carilion Clinic Field.

Juan Valera – RHP (No. 5 in BOS System)

Juan Valera is someone who should have been on people’s radar since 2024, when he made his stateside debut and made 18 appearances, where he struck out 68 batters in 63 1/3 innings, along with 28 strikeouts in 23 innings with Low-A Salem to close out the year.

2025, however, was a bit of a wash for Valera due to injuries. The 19-year-old made just 10 starts for High-A Greenville, going 1-2 with a 5.45 ERA. In those 10 starts, he only managed 38 innings, but did flash his potential, thanks in part to 46 strikeouts in that span. Valera tosses four pitches: a fastball that can top out at 100 mph and shows bat-missing ability, a slider that he can land for strikes or bury out of the zone if he’s trying to get whiffs, his sweeper that has a high spin rate, and his changeup that at times looks closer to a two-seam fastball.

A Versatile Mix

For someone his age, Valera is able to land all four pitches in the strike zone with decent control, as three of the four were able to hold strike rates of over 65%. And despite a fastball that can hit triple digits, his most dangerous weapon may be his advanced feel for spin based on his age. His sweeper in 2025 averaged just over 2,700 rpms and managed a 69% strike rate.

Pairing his fastball, which can be tough on hitters despite playing below its velocity, with his sweeper, Valera could turn into a dangerous pitching prospect should he stay healthy.

Henry Godbout – 2B (No. 10 in BOS System)

Of the three players mentioned, Henry Godbout has spent the least amount of time in the system. Drafted in the second compensation round of the 2025 draft, Godbout made his professional debut this summer for High-A Greenville, where he got into 13 games.

Across that small sample, he put on a show offensively, hitting .341/.473/.477 with six doubles and five RBI. When drafted, Godbout was viewed as a player who had very strong hand-eye coordination and was much more hit over power, showing that despite an above-average chase rate, he was tough to strike out and rarely missed pitches in the zone.

Refinement Could Work Wonders

Godbout has been viewed as a strong candidate for the team’s bat speed program, which has helped several players and prospects across the Red Sox organization. Along with the projection that he should add power to his game once he finishes filling in, Godbout is another infielder the team could see rise quickly through their system.

Of course, it’s his hit tool that makes him valuable. Godbout finished his 13-game stint with an 88% in-zone contact rate, demonstrating an ability to make contact with almost any pitch thrown his way. And if the infielder performs well through spring training, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him open 2026 with Double-A Portland.

The Last Word

While predicting a player’s future can be tough, one thing is for certain: the Red Sox have plenty of intriguing prospects throughout their system. Even if Anthony, Mayer, and Campbell are no longer prospects, the team has plenty of young players to watch and follow along in anticipation of a potential major league debut down the road.