​Those hoping to see the Red Sox splash big money on hard-to-sign targets on day 2 of the MLB Draft were instantly let down. The team used their fifth-round pick on Lucas Davenport, a Baylor University pitcher who entered the draft unranked by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Davenport stands out physically at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, and his selection kicked off a mini-run on large college pitchers that Craig Breslow seems to favor. Following Davenport, Boston selected a string of tall, projectable left-handers and a few notable college arms: sixth-rounder Brett Lanman, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound lefty from Abilene Christian; eighth-rounder Josh Volmerding, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound lefty from California Polytechnic State University; and thirteenth-rounder Mason Lei, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-handed pitcher from the University of Illinois-Chicago. The run culminated with fifteenth-rounder Chase Frey, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound lefty from Grand Canyon University.
The notable moments on day 2 came from two higher-ranked high school players the Sox drafted in consecutive ninth and tenth rounds. Ninth-round pick Martin Shelar is a Georgia-based outfielder from the Marist School, known for his significant power potential. He has a strong commitment to Mississippi State and carried varying prospect rankings: FanGraphs placed him 65th overall, Baseball America had him at 125th, and MLB Pipeline listed him at 175th. On the tenth round, Kaleb LaFavor, a 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa, emerged as another standout. LaFavor already can reach 95 mph with his fastball and projects well due to his extension. He was rated the 171st-best prospect by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, with Baseball America pegging him at 465th, and he remains committed to the University of Iowa. Breslow’s strategy suggests a willingness to fund a robust bonus pool in hopes of luring these talented high school stars away from college, a bet that’s understandable given Iowa City’s recent reputation for party-town lore and the potential it represents for the organization.
Here is the complete day 2 roster as it stood, listing each pick by round, player, position, and school or origin:
Round 5: Lucas Davenport, RHP, Baylor
Round 6: Brett Lanman, LHP, Abilene Christian
Round 7: Kide Adetuyi, LHP, Florida Atlantic
Round 8: Josh Volmerding, LHP, California Polytechnic State
Round 9: Martin Shelar, OF, Marist School (GA)
Round 10: Kaleb LaFavor, RHP, Bishop Heelan High School (IA)
Round 11: Wills Maginnis, SS, Georgia State
Round 12: Jacob Webster, SS, Oak Hills High (CA)
Round 13: Mason Lei, RHP, University of Illinois-Chicago
Round 14: Jase Evangelista, RHP, UNL V R (note: university shorthand for UNL or similar)
Round 15: Chase Frey, LHP, Grand Canyon
Round 16: Colton Coates, SS, Louisiana Tech
Round 17: Alex Kranzler, RHP, Vanderbilt
Round 18: Ethan Offing, OF, Dutch Fork High School (SC)
Round 19: Luis Calderon, RHP, El Shaddai Christian High School (PR)
Round 20: Aiden VanDeHatert, RHP, Dallas Baptist
As the draft progresses, Breslow’s appetite for signing bonuses appears to be the engine behind these selections, especially with several players who could head to college if not enticed by a compelling offer. If the Sox can secure favorable deals for these high schoolers and college-bound arms, Breslow’s strategy might pay dividends down the line, potentially yielding a deeper pool of talent that could contribute to the organization’s future success.