Boston Red Sox’ ‘big, strong’ 18-year-old prospect belts two 110 mph homers

Red Sox 18-year-old prospect Justin Gonzales’ MLB Pipeline scouting report notes that “he generates huge exit velocities with his quick right-handed swing and prodigious strength.”

He’s showing some impressive exit velocities so far in extended spring training games.

The Red Sox player development X account posted a video Saturday of Gonzales belting home runs with exit velocities of 110.4 mph, 110.1 mph and 106.7 mph.

“He’s obviously got a physical advantage right now because he is like 6-6 and just a big, strong animal,” assistant GM Eddie Romero said earlier this month.

The outfielder/first baseman slugged .517 with five home runs, 11 doubles and four triples in 47 games (192 plate appearances) as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League last year.

He is expected to play for the Florida Complex League Red Sox when their season begins May 3.

Other Red Sox minor league updates from Saturday:

~ Nelly Taylor — a 22-year-old center fielder that MassLive highlighted earlier this week — went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs, two runs and one strikeout in High-A Greenville’s 16-8 loss to Hub City. He’s batting .298 with a .400 on-base percentage, .447 slugging percentage and .847 OPS in 13 games (55 plate appearances).

~ Zach Ehrhard — a 22-year-old who the Red Sox drafted in the fourth round out of Oklahoma State in 2024 — went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two walks and one run in Greenville’s loss. He has a .240/.433/.320/.753 line in 15 games (67 plate appearances).

~ Miguel Bleis — who Baseball America ranks Boston’s No. 9 prospect — went 2-for-5 with a run and strikeout in Greenville’s loss. The 21-year-old outfielder has struggled so far this season with a .182/.265/.341/.606 line in 11 games (49 plate appearances).

~ Antonio Anderson — a 19-year-old third baseman who Boston drafted in the third round in 2023 — has at least one hit in 10 of his past 11 games. He went 1-for-4 with two runs and a strikeout in Low-A Salem’s 6-5 loss to Hickory. He’s batting .317 with a .416 on-base percentage, .397 slugging percentage and .813 OPS in 17 games (77 plate appearances).

~ Freili Encarnacion — a 20-year-old first baseman who the Red Sox signed out of the Dominican Republic for $1.1 million in 2022 — went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and strikeout for Salem. He has a .284/.308/.514/.822 line in 18 games (78 plate appearances).

~ Both Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland got postponed due to rain Saturday.

• Boston Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony ‘sore’ after coming out of WooSox game
• After Boston Red Sox’ early trade for prospect, they see ‘bunch of tools’
• Red Sox prospect ‘The Password’ batting .340; Marcelo Mayer’s average up 84 points
• Boston Red Sox ‘breakout’ prospect has .400 OBP, showing ‘pure strength’
• Top Boston Red Sox prospect starting to heat up; Franklin Arias hitting .385