While players like Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell have tended to dominate the conversation when it comes to the Red Sox farm system, Jhostynxon Garcia enjoyed a huge 2024 as well, flashing power potential that could one day put him in the heart of the Red Sox lineup.
Lately he’s also been getting pointers from someone who knows a thing or two about hitting at Fenway Park.
“I’ve been talking to David Ortiz,” Garcia said via translator Carlos Villoria Benítez on Tuesday at Fenway Park. “He gave me a lot of tips and we’ve talked a lot about how to play in Boston.”
Originally signed for $350,000 as a teenager out of Venezuela, the 22-year-old Garcia was one of the breakout stars in the Red Sox farm system last season. The outfielder earned two promotions, rising from Low-A Salem to Double-A Portland, and following the season he was one of two Red Sox prospects added to the 40-man roster ahead of last month’s Rule 5 Draft.
Nicknamed “The Password,” Garcia was also one of seven prospects invited to this week’s Rookie Development Program in Boston, which he called a very nice experience and a crucial step in his journey.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Garcia said. “It’s a very important step for me in my career to be able to be here.”
Though Garcia’s power has become his calling card — he led all Red Sox minor leaguers with 23 home runs in 2024 — he is a well-rounded player who can play quality defense at all three outfield positions. Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham said he has strong range, a strong arm and has demonstrated consistency in the field, and now the key will be extending that consistency to the batter’s box.
“Pitch selection is so vital for him,” Abraham said. “When he swings at the right pitches, when he works a count and is able to drive a baseball pull side on the pitches he can handle, we’re talking about a guy that can impact the game in the middle of the order.”
Though the Red Sox could badly use another power-hitting right-handed bat, Garcia will most likely start the season at Double-A and shouldn’t be considered a likely MLB contributor in 2025. Still, Abraham said that if Garcia continues to progress he could conceivably make his debut later in the year, putting him in position to compete for a spot in 2026 and beyond.
“I don’t think it’s unrealistic to say he’s finishing the season in Triple-A,” Abraham said. “And because of the 40-man knocking on the door to potentially be a big leaguer and impact the game.”
Perales, Mayer on the mend
Abraham also provided injury updates on top prospects Marcelo Mayer and Luis Perales.
Mayer, who sat out the final month of the season with a back injury, is fully healthy and is on track for a normal spring training. The shortstop didn’t come to Boston for Fenway Fest or the Rookie Development Program this weekend due to what Abraham described as “a cough” — the club’s thinking was flying cross country from southern California to cold, snowy Boston wouldn’t be a great idea — but Mayer did post a video to social media on Tuesday showing him taking swings with no apparent back discomfort.
Perales, meanwhile, is now about six months out from Tommy John surgery and is progressing nicely in his rehab. The expectation is he will still miss the entire 2025 season, though if all goes well he could complete his recovery by the start of the offseason, giving him a chance to fully ramp up for a return in 2026.
