Boston, July 12, 2026 — The Seattle Mariners selected Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese with the 24th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Friday. For the Boston Red Sox, the failure to land the left-handed slugger represents a missed opportunity to address a critical power void.
Reese, 21, posted a .340/.450/.680 slash line with 28 home runs in the 2025 season. His average exit velocity of 112 mph and 70-grade raw power are elite. The Red Sox lineup, currently over-reliant on Rafael Devers, lacks consistent left-handed thump. Boston’s farm system has no hitter with Reese’s projected ceiling.
SI.com’s analysis from July 10 explicitly urged the Red Sox to “pounce” on Reese if he slid due to signability or positional concerns. He did not slide. The Mariners grabbed him at No. 24.
Why Boston needs to act
According to the Clarion Ledger’s Mississippi State MLB draft tracker, Reese was the first Bulldog off the board. Incoming signee Rocco Maniscalco and pitcher Ben Davis were also selected. For Boston, the calculus is simple: Reese’s power ceiling exceeds any current Red Sox prospect, including Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, or Kyle Teel.
A 247Sports scouting report describes Reese’s “light-tower power” and swing adjustments that project 30-plus home runs annually in the majors.
The ‘if possible’ clause
SI.com’s piece framed Reese as a “must-pounce” target if he fell into competitive balance rounds or if Boston traded up. The Red Sox did neither. Reese’s position questions—tweener status between third base and first base/DH—did not deter Seattle.
What the data shows
| Metric | Ace Reese (2025) | Red Sox Top Prospects (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Slash Line | .340/.450/.680 | Mayer: .278/.361/.452 |
| Home Runs | 28 | Anthony: 18 |
| Avg Exit Velo | 112 mph | Teel: 106 mph |
| Raw Power Grade | 70 | 60 (highest) |
Fan and analyst reaction
MLB Network analysts called Reese “the best pure power bat in the draft” on Friday’s broadcast. Social media reaction in Boston was immediate: “Red Sox front office asleep at the wheel,” posted one account with 12,000 followers. Local media in Boston echoed the sentiment, pointing out that missing on Reese could haunt the franchise for a decade.
The bottom line
Boston’s front office, led by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, must now pivot. The draft tracker shows no remaining power bats of Reese’s caliber. The Red Sox cannot afford to watch franchise-altering talent get selected without a fight. If Reese reaches his 40-homer ceiling in Seattle, Boston will have to answer for its inaction.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Who is Ace Reese?
- A: Ace Reese is a Mississippi State third baseman drafted 24th overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 2026 MLB Draft, known for his elite power and 28 home runs in 2025.
- Q: Why should the Red Sox have drafted Ace Reese?
- A: The Red Sox lineup lacks consistent left-handed power, and Reese’s 70-grade raw power and 112 mph exit velocity exceed any current Boston prospect.
- Q: What did analysts say about the Red Sox and Ace Reese?
- A: SI.com urged the Red Sox to ‘pounce’ on Reese if he slid due to signability or positional concerns, but Boston did not trade up or select him.
- Q: What are Ace Reese’s key stats?
- A: Reese posted a .340/.450/.680 slash line with 28 home runs in 2025, with an average exit velocity of 112 mph and 70-grade raw power.
Extended Reading
For full coverage of Mississippi State’s draft class, see the Clarion Ledger Mississippi State MLB draft tracker (July 12, 2026). For SI.com’s full analysis of Boston’s “must pounce” strategy, see the OnSI section from July 10, 2026.