The Red Sox don’t usually draft for fit, but Saturday might be the time to bend that rule.
Boston holds the 20th overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft, which gets underway in Philadelphia at around 2 p.m. ET. After reaching the playoffs a year ago, the Red Sox are in position to add another college bat, and there’s a strong case that Mississippi State’s Ace Reese is the name they should target if he’s still available.
Reese checks a lot of boxes for where Boston is headed. He’s viewed as a third baseman, though there are questions about his defense. Some scouts believe first base could be his long-term home, while left field is another option, especially at Fenway Park, where that spot is more manageable for outfielders who aren’t burners.
The bigger draw is the power. Reese has launched 45 home runs over his last two seasons with the Bulldogs, doing it in just 119 games.
That kind of production stands out anywhere, and while college numbers don’t translate cleanly to the majors, the raw pop is impossible to ignore. His .336/.432/.721 line backs it up, and it looks a lot like what he posted in 2025.
Boston has taken SEC college players with its first-round picks in each of Craig Breslow’s first two drafts, and Reese would make it three straight. The Red Sox may need right-handed bats in general, but the more urgent issue is obvious: they need more home run punch. They’ve been stuck in the bottom third of the sport in long balls, and Reese would give them a chance to change that.
Of course, getting to 20 may be the whole challenge. Nineteen teams will have a shot to grab him first. But if the 21-year-old slugger is still there when Boston is on the clock, the Red Sox should make the pick without hesitation.
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