Franklin Primera’s breakout season has drawn a lofty comparison from one evaluator.
Whether it be Franklin Arias, Justin Gonzales, Anthony Eyanson or Franklin Primera, the minor league season has been full of breakouts from Boston Red Sox prospects. Of all the breakout seasons, Primera’s may be the unlikeliest of the bunch, as he went from a little-known international signee from Venezuela to one of the best catching prospects in the sport.
After beginning his first season playing in the United States with the Florida Complex League Red Sox, the 19-year-old wrapped up his campaign with the Single-A Salem Ridge Yaks on Sept. 6. In 46 games with Salem, Primera hit .329/.466/.494/.960 with five home runs, 10 doubles and 24 RBI. Overall, Primera hit .367/.499/.581/1.080 with 13 home runs, 16 doubles and 53 RBI in 78 games across the two levels. What was most impressive about Primera’s first stateside season was his command of the zone, as he walked more than he struck out (48:36).
After entering the season unranked on MLB Pipeline’s organizational top 30, Primera now finds himself as the No. 4-rated prospect in the organization, while being named to the publication’s All-Breakout team.
The 19-year-old’s breakout season has caught the eye of many in the industry, including the hitting coach in the FCL, Junior Zamora, who compared the young prospect to future first-ballot Hall of Famer and fellow Venezuelan, Miguel Cabrera.
“He has a little bit of Miggy Cabrera. That’s a lot to say, but when you watch him — body type, swing — he has a little bit of that. That’s a lot, I know,” Zamora told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
While becoming one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time, like Cabrera, is well above what even the 100th percentile outcome may be for his career, it’s always impressive to draw such lofty comparisons in just your first season of playing in the United States.
Primera now heads into the offseason with plenty of eyes on him as one of the biggest up-arrow prospects in the sport and one of the most highly touted players in the Red Sox system, where he’ll look to build on his breakout campaign.
Up next for the Sox
After taking two out of three games from the Kansas City Royals thanks to Sunday’s 4-1 win, the Red Sox are off on Monday before hitting the road for a six-game trip beginning in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. Patrick Sandoval (1-5, 4.58 ERA) gets the start for Boston, while Texas has yet to announce its starter. First pitch from Globe Life Field is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.
