With the 207th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected
Will Turner, an outfielder out of the University of South Alabama. Turner is the 177th-ranked draft prospect in
Baseball America's Top 500 but is not included in
MLB Pipeline's Top 250.
Turner, 21, was projected as a potential Day 1 pick coming into the spring following a successful sophomore year at South Alabama and with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The left-handed hitting junior instead saw his draft stock fall after slashing .218/.409/.421 with 13 doubles, nine home runs, 24 RBIs, 49 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 56 walks, and 47 strikeouts in 56 games (268 plate appearances) for the Jaguars in 2024.
Well-regarded for his ability to get on base, MLB Pipeline notes that Turner lowered his hands to hit for more power this year. While he matched his career high with nine homers, he also got under the ball quite frequently, which led to the highest fly ball and pop-up rates of his collegiate career, per his Baseball America scouting report.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Turner is considered to be a strong athlete and plus runner on the base paths. Defensively, Turner is viewed as an above-average center fielder who has the instincts and arm strength to play the position. The Alabama native's toolset is undoubtedly intriguing, though there are some concerns when it comes to his batted-ball profile.
Turner, who turns 22 in September, joins first-rounder Braden Montgomery and fourth-rounder Zach Ehrhard as the third college outfielder to be taken by the Red Sox in this year's draft. The full slot value for the 207th overall pick is $274,600.
Photo Credit: Will Turner from usajaguars.com
