Red Sox Officially Send Electric Prospect To Minor Leagues; Will We See Him In Boston Soon?

How long will it be before Valdez is in Boston?

The Boston Red Sox certainly are busy right now.

With Opening Day right around the corner, the team must finalize its 26-man active roster in the not-so-distant future. Also, with minor league spring training contests beginning Boston has begun the process of sending players down who won't begin the season with the big league club. 

One intriguing player Boston officially sent down to the minor leagues certainly is infielder Enmanuel Valdez. 

The #RedSox today optioned INF/OF Enmanuel Valdez to Triple-A Worcester.

The club also reassigned LHP Oddanier Mosqueda and RHP Chase Shugart to minor league camp.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 15, 2023

The young infielder made a big impression on the club so far throughout spring training. Boston acquired Valdez from the Houston Astros in 2022 in the deal centered around catcher Christian Vázquez. 

Valdez shined in 2022 and slashed .296/.376/.542 in 126 games across Boston and Houston's farm systems to go along with 28 home runs, 107 RBIs, and 35 doubles. 

Although he won't begin the season with Boston, that doesn't mean he won't find his way to Fenway Park at some point in 2023. Valdez is just 24-years-old and after a hot start to the spring had plenty of people speculating that he could've even snatched the starting second base job from Christian Arroyo if he kept up his level of play. 

Some even have compared Valdez's swing to two-time All-Star and 2020 National League Batting Champion Juan Soto. Although he may not be at the same level as Soto, it doesn't hurt to be compared to baseball's brightest young stars. 

Arroyo likely will be the team's Opening Day starting second baseman and will hold on to the job at least until newly acquired speedster Adalberto Mondesi is able to return to the field. If Mondesi has a setback returning from his torn ACL or Arroyo suffers an injury, expect Valdez back at the big league level very quickly. 

Another year of development in the minor leagues could only help Valdez, but it won't be long until we see him in Boston. 

More MLB: Red Sox Officially Announce Opening Day Starter; Did They Make Correct Choice?