The Boston Red Sox have a wealth of talent in their outfield, but one name hasn't quite reached the heights once anticipated: Miguel Bleis.
A few years back, the buzz around Bleis was electric. MLB.com's prospect writers even predicted he'd rise to become the Red Sox's top prospect. Fast forward, and Bleis has yet to move beyond Double-A.
Bleis joined the Red Sox as part of the 2021 international signing class, snagging a $1.5 million bonus at just 16 years old. Expectations were sky-high, but instead, Peyton Tolle, a left-handed pitcher, now holds the title of Boston's No. 1 prospect, ranking 19th in MLB Pipeline's top-100.
The Red Sox's outfield is thriving with Roman Anthony, who transitioned from being baseball's top prospect to a burgeoning superstar. He's joined by talents like Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Wilyer Abreu. Yet, Bleis remains absent from this lineup.
"Bleis still shows four plus tools-raw power, speed, arm, and center-field defense-that earned him the largest bonus in Boston's 2021 international class," MLB.com notes. "However, his aggressive approach at the plate and difficulty in adding strength have been hurdles." Last season, Bleis hit .222/.300/.385 with 14 homers and 27 steals over 107 games in High-A and Double-A, making his mark on the bases and in the field.
While Bleis is close enough to the majors to keep hopes alive, the stardom once envisioned seems elusive. His journey to the big leagues isn't over, but the path hasn't unfolded as initially hoped.