The Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A) began the season in the Boston Red Sox system, with prospects like as Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel leading the way.
Enter Matthew Lugo.
The Red Sox’s 2019 second-round pick is having a career-best season. Lugo began play on Friday with.288/.388/.622 and a 1.009 OPS. Most notably, his power is shining through in his early season performance with the Red Sox. He did hit 18 long balls in 2022, but he’s well ahead of that pace in 2024.
Lugo hit his 10th home run of the season on Friday.
He’s causing more damage at the plate and finding comfort with more reps in left field, including a highlight-reel catch while tumbling over the fence in foul territory. That versatility came with a packed infield that included Mayer, Nick Yorke, Blaze Jordan, Alex Binelas, and Eddinson Paulino.
Nonetheless, Lugo is making a significant contribution to a team that is gaining attention throughout the sport.
Lugo may not be a top-30 prospect in the system, but he is one of the breakout players in the Red Sox’s talented farm system.
