Red Sox Fill Day 2 with Underrated College Arms and High School Talent

Early Moves Focus on Proven College Arms

The Red Sox surprised many fans by opting for an unranked prospect rather than chasing headline‑worthy, hard‑to‑sign talent on day two of the MLB Draft. Their fifth‑round pick, Lucas Davenport, a 6‑6, 230‑pound right‑hander from Baylor, fits a pattern of valuing raw velocity and upside. Following Davenport, Boston continued the theme with a string of sizable college pitchers, including Brett Lanman (6‑5, 230 lb lefty) and Josh Volmerding (6‑4, 210 lb lefty), both of whom have drawn similar praise for theirعمار physiques. The organization’s strategy appears rooted in a belief that size and arm strength can be molded into productive majors league contributors.

College Powerhouses Add Depth in Mid‑Rounds

Round 7 brought in Kide Adetuyi, a left‑handed pitcher from Florida Atlantic, while rounds 13 and 15 capped the college haul with Mason Lei (6‑4, 215 lb righty from Illinois‑Chicago) and Chase Frey (6‑6, 225 lb lefty from Grand Canyon). These selections reinforce the Red Sox’s focus on athletes who can add both stamina and swing‑and‑miss potential to the farm system. Craig Breslow’s reputation for liking “big” college arms, as seen in earlier drafts, seems to be guiding these decisions, especially after the team signaled it would not splurge on premium signees.

High School Stars Light Up the Later Rounds

Turning to high school talent, the Sox doubled up on top‑ranked prospects in the ninth and tenth rounds. Martin Shelar, an outfielder from Georgia’s Marist School, enters the system after ranking 65th overall by FanGraphs, 125th by Baseball America and 175th by MLB Pipeline. Meanwhile, Kaleb LaFavor, a 6‑7 right‑hander from Bishop Heelan Catholic High in Sioux City, already recorded 95 mph on the radar gun and brings a powerful extension that can net extra runs. Both players carry strong college commitments—Shelar to Mississippi State and LaFavor to Iowa—leaving Boston with options to develop them into professional contributors or retain them for future draft capital.

Full Day‑2 Draft Breakdown

• Round 5: Lucas Davenport, RHP, Baylor (6‑6, 230 lb)
• Round 6: Brett Lanman, LHP, Abilene Christian (6‑5, 230 lb)
• Round 7: Kide Adetuyi, LHP, Florida Atlantic
• Round 8: Josh Volmerding, LHP, California Polytechnic (6‑4, 210 lb)
• Round 9: Martin Shelar, OF, Marist School (GA)
• Round 10: Kaleb LaFavor, RHP, Bishop Heelan High (IA) (6‑7, 95 mph)
• 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 (6‑4, 215 lb)
• Round 14: Jase Evangelista, RHP, UNLV
• Round 15: Chase Frey, LHP, Grand Canyon (6‑6, 225 lb)
• Round 16: Colton Coates, SS, Louisiana Tech
• Round 17: Alex Kranzler, RHP, Vanderbilt
• Round 18: Ethan Offing, OF, Dutch Fork HS (SC)
• Round 19: Luis Calderon, RHP, El Shaddai Christian HS (PR)
• Round 20: Aiden VanDeHatert, RHP, Dallas Baptist (TX)

Overall, Boston’s day‑two strategy showcases a blend of raw, physically imposing college arms and high‑impact high school athletes who can contribute immediately. The moves suggest the Red Sox are balancing immediate roster needs with long‑term developmental projects, while staying within a controlled bonus pool. As the season’s second day of the draft closes, the organization’s selections position them to add depth without exhausting financial resources ahead of the upcoming trade deadline and free‑agency windows.