Surprise Prospect Explodes In Red Sox's First Win Of 2023 Grapefruit League Season

Boston got a massive performance from Lugo on Sunday

The Boston Red Sox earned their first win of the 2023 Grapefruit League season Sunday afternoon.

After a chaotic contest that saw Boston tie the Atlanta Braves on Saturday due to a new rules infraction, Sunday's matchup was a little more typical. The Red Sox took on the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park and was able to come away with an impressive 7-6 win. 

Boston fans got their first look of the spring at newly extended third baseman Rafael Devers, new first baseman Triston Casas, and former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Justin Turner, but it actually was under-the-radar prospect Matthew Lugo who stole the show. 

The 21-year-old didn't start Sunday's contest but eventually filled in for Enrique Hernandez at shortstop and certainly made the most of his opportunity. Lugo finished the day 2-for-2 with a double and a triple to go along with an eye-popping five RBIs. To make Lugo's day even more impressive, all of his RBIs came with two outs for Boston. 

Boston drafted Lugo in the second round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft and he has since shot up the Red Sox's farm system and even saw time with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in 2022. Lugo currently is the Red Sox's 12th-ranked prospect and performances like Sunday's show why. 

In 2022 the infielder finished the season slashing .282/.338/.492 to go along with 18 home runs, 10 triples, 26 doubles, and 79 RBIs. Lugo also stole 20 bases and impressed at second base, shortstop, and third base. 

It's not too surprising that Lugo has been able to find some success so far in professional baseball as he is the nephew of nine-time All-Star and former longtime New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. If Lugo can develop to even anywhere close to the player that Beltran was, he should be able to make an impact with the big league at some point over the next few years. 

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