He has gone from potential bust to an elite prospect.

Michael Chavis is now in the conversation about players who could make it to Fenway Park this season.

Michael Chavis, who joined the Portland Sea Dogs in June, tied Bryce Brentz with the most home runs in the Red Sox organization last season, with 31. Staff photo by Carl D. Walsh

Hitting 31 home runs in a season will put you back on the radar. No one in the Red Sox organization had more. Bryce Brentz also hit 31, Rafael Devers 30 and Jeremy Barfield 28.

“The success I had in 2017 was important to me, mentally,” Chavis said. “I’m looking forward to building off of that and getting significantly better this year, and years to come.”

The Red Sox believe that might happen. This week Chavis will be one of 10 prospects taking part in Boston’s annual rookie developmental camp, designed for players the team believes are close to the major leagues.

Chavis, 22, is close. He shared his thoughts through a series of email exchanges.

“Growing up as a person and as a player was the biggest adjustment that I’ve made,” he said.

More adjustments are coming. Chavis is a third baseman, a position the Red Sox have taken care of with Devers proving himself major league-ready.

In the last few weeks of the Portland Sea Dogs’ season last summer, Chavis began working out at first base.

During the Arizona Fall League, designed for teams’ top prospects in a 30-game schedule, Chavis played first base for the first time.

“The first game I was actually kind of nervous,” he said. “I started realizing all the specific scenarios of plays that we hadn’t gone over, so I wasn’t sure where to be or what to do.

“But even after the first few innings, I was much more comfortable and relaxed. As I got more in-game reps through the fall league, I got more and more comfortable.

“I’m nowhere near an elite first baseman yet. I have a lot of work to do and I’m looking forward to getting better at it but I would say I am comfortable. It was an easier position to learn than learning to play third, coming from shortstop my first year.”

When Chavis was drafted in the first round (26th overall) in 2014, the Red Sox saw a potential power-hitting infielder. He was only 18 but Boston handed over $1.875 million to sign him.

The Red Sox pushed him in 2015 with an assignment to Class A Greenville. He struggled, batting .223 with 16 home runs.

In 2016, mostly in Greenville, Chavis contended with injuries. He played 81 games, hitting .237 with eight home runs.

“I had success in 2016 but it wasn’t consistent or to the level I knew I was capable of,” he said. “It was frustrating because of the injuries and how things played out.”

Sent to advanced Class A Salem last year, Chavis looked forward to proving himself by not trying so hard.

“Before, I wanted success so badly and wanted to prove how good I was, instead of just playing and letting that take care of itself,” Chavis said. “It made me try to force everything instead of letting my talent play out.

“(Last year), I became more process-oriented instead of result-oriented, and that is something that changed my approach to the game but also to life.”

And interestingly, he saw results quickly, like a three-home run game on April 19. He hit 12 home runs in Salem’s pitcher-friendly park. In 59 games, Chavis batted .318 with 17 home runs and earned a promotion to Double-A Portland on June 22.

Chavis arrived at Hadlock Field with a reputation as a hitter with strength and quick wrists.

In his first at-bat with the Sea Dogs, on the first pitch, a 92 mph fastball, Chavis launched a ball over the left- field wall.

He hit 14 home runs for Portland last summer.

“The success was a result of focus and mental strength,” Chavis said. “I have always known what I was capable of doing, and I know I’m capable of doing significantly better than last year.”

Chavis will continue to look for consistency – despite his success in Portland, he did hit .250 – as he prepares for the 2018 season.

Although the Red Sox have made no announcements, Chavis is almost assured to get an invitation to major league spring training when camp opens next month in Fort Myers, Florida.

In April, expect Chavis to be in Triple-A Pawtucket. He’ll probably play third base with a few shifts at first, where Sam Travis also will be playing.

Then we’ll see if Chavis can swat his way to Fenway.

THE ROOKIE CAMP involves eight players who wore a Sea Dogs uniform and another who is expected to be in Portland this year. Among those invited are pitchers Jalen Beeks, Williams Jerez, Bobby Poyner, Ty Buttrey and Justin Haley, and infielders Chavis, Josh Ockimey and Chad De La Guerra.

Others include pitcher Mike Shawaryn, who was 8-7 with a 3.81 ERA in Greenville and Salem last year; and infielder Esteban Quiroz, 25, a free agent signed out of the Mexican League.

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