FORT MYERS, Fla. — Miguel Bleis came into last season as one of the fastest rising prospects in all of baseball. The Red Sox top international free agent signing in 2021, the teenage outfielder established himself as the top position player in the Florida Complex League in 2022 and began drawing comparisons to five-tool superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr.
Then late last spring he suffered a left shoulder sublexation that required surgery, and just like that his season was over.
“You come into the season with your goals and your expectations about how you want things to go for you, then out of nowhere they tell you you can’t play anymore,” Bleis said this week via translator Daveson Perez.
Now on the mend and nearing a return to action, the talented outfielder is excited to get back on track.
“I’m limiting my expectations this year. I went into last year with a lot of expectations and then look what happened,” said Bleis, who turns 20 on Friday. “So this year I’m going in just focused on staying healthy and playing well and spending the whole year hoping to show people what I can do.”
Signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic, Bleis spent his first year as a professional at the Red Sox Dominican Academy. He came stateside in 2022 and dominated the FCL, batting .301 with five home runs, 27 RBI, an .896 OPS and 18 stolen bases in only 40 games. He also demonstrated great range and a good arm in center field, and coming into 2023 he ranked as high as No. 72 overall on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects list.
After missing most of the season due to injury Bleis has since fallen out of the Top 100 but is still viewed as the consensus No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox organization. Though he still isn’t cleared for game action, Bleis has taken part in workouts and live batting practice since camp opened and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
“He looks great. Obviously it’s been a long rehab process but he’s spent a lot of time in Fort Myers, he’s spent a lot of time at the academy,” said Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham. “He’s put on some really good weight, he’s strong, he’s swinging the bat fast, playing good defense, but he’s ready to go and in a really good spot.”
Born a month before the Red Sox began their historic 2004 World Series championship campaign, Bleis is described by those around the organization as a low-key and hard-working kid who is growing increasingly comfortable in his own skin.
He said his two favorite players are Acuña and San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., and while he doesn’t have the same style of play, Bleis said he follows them closely and studies what they do.
“The way that they play, they’re five-tool players and I see myself as a five-tool player too,” Bleis said.
Within the Red Sox organization Bleis said the player he most looks up to is Rafael Devers, who was similarly well-regarded as an international prospect after receiving an identical $1.5 million bonus in 2013. Though his exposure to the big league club has been limited, Bleis said he’s gotten the chance to talk to Devers a handful of times.
“We’ve done a lot of fundamental work this spring and I’ve gotten the chance to talk to Devers once or twice, but I haven’t had that chance to practice with a lot of them,” Bleis said, adding of Devers, “excellent person, excellent baseball player, just looks like a really good teammate.”
Though Bleis is regarded as a terrific all-around player, he is still a long way from the majors and still has to improve at everything if he hopes to reach his sky-high potential. Beyond staying healthy, Abraham said he’d like to see Bleis continue hitting the ball hard, refine his swing decisions and use his athleticism to play more aggressively in the field and on the basepaths.
“He has plus speed, range, just being aggressive towards the ball and being able to make some plays that some other players can’t would be good,” Abraham said. “He does have all-around talent, he’s an all-around player, so improving in all aspects of the game will be vital for him to have success in the upper levels.”
Barring any additional setbacks, Bleis will most likely start the season back at Low-A Salem, where he played 31 games last season and batted .230 with a home run, 16 RBI, 11 stolen bases and an underwhelming .607 OPS. Abraham wouldn’t rule out the possibility he could either start the year back in the Florida Complex League or even earn a promotion to High-A Greenville. It will all depend on how he completes his recovery and performs once he is fully cleared.
Either way, the talented outfielder’s future is still bright, and Bleis wants fans to know he’s doing everything he can to become the player everyone hopes he can be.
“(I want) them to know I’m working hard,” Bleis said. “We lost a very important year last year, but I want them to know I’m working hard on a very good comeback.”
Abraham also provided an encouraging injury update on shortstop Mikey Romero, the Red Sox first-round pick in 2022 who missed most of last season due to a back injury.
“He’s doing good, rehabbing, we’re hopeful he’ll be ready to break camp and be ready to compete to go to an affiliate,” Abraham said. “So he’s in a good spot.”
Abraham also said top prospect Marcelo Mayer, whose season was derailed by a shoulder injury last summer, is good to go as well and took live batting practice in Fort Myers on Tuesday.