Red Sox bringing Moncada to Majors

The Minors haven't proven to be much of a challenge for Yoan Moncada. The Red Sox feel he's ready for a new test.

Boston will promote MLB.com's No. 1 overall prospect to the Majors on Friday, a day after big league rosters expand from 25 players to 40. The move was not unexpected, but it was far from a certainty that the 21-year-old would get the call.

Moncada started the season on a roll with Class A Advanced Salem, slashing .307/.427/.496 in 61 games with the Red Sox before earning a promotion to Double-A Portland on June 21. After blasting four home runs in Salem, he crushed 11 in 17 fewer games with the Sea Dogs, improving his slugging percentage 51 points.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Cuba native, who signed for a $31.5 million bonus in March 2015, took a big leap forward in the power department this season after posting a .278/.380/.438 slash line with Class A Greenville last year. He has 53 extra-base hits in 105 games this season across two levels compared with 30 in 81 games with the Drive.

Earlier Wednesday, it was announced that Moncada will be one of 21 Top-100 prospects heading to the Arizona Fall League this season.