Red Sox Over/Under: Yoan Moncada and Dustin Pedroia

Just how long will it be until Boston Red Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada will see action in Triple A or MLB games. How many starts does Dustin Pedroia have left?

Scott Lauber of The Boston Herald discussed baseball, and life in the U.S., with the 20-year-old Cuban infielder and the family he lives with: “’My wife will go upstairs and hit him with a pillow if he sleeps too late,’ said David Hastings, the certified public accountant from Gulfport, Fla., who has acted as Moncada’s agent since the switch-hitting prodigy left his native Cuba in 2014. ‘He’s still just a kid.’”

That kid is the future second baseman for the Red Sox. With a ton of money riding on this investment in Moncada’s services, the club must be wondering when the kid will be man enough to take the throne.

At the moment, King Pedroia still sits high as the leader of Fenway’s infield, and he has no intention of vacating that throne any time soon.

Lauber is also quick to remind all of us that Moncada “wasn’t invited to big-league camp for spring training and is expected to open the season at Single-A Salem, three levels away from the majors. As much as it wouldn’t be unprecedented for him to play at Fenway Park this season, the notion is equally far-fetched.”

However, expecting the Red Sox to let a talented asset sit in the majors for years, after all of the salary and international payments they have made for Moncada to make the move from his native country, is just as ridiculous.

The Red Sox will want to see a return on what they’ve spent their money on pretty soon. Will that be later in 2016? The start of 2017? Will that chaff one of the team’s current leaders on the roster?

Let’s play some Over/Under and see what Red Sox Nation thinks.

Contestant No. 1 – Yoan Moncada

• Moncada was supposed to play some winter ball in Puerto Rico with a team led by Alex Cora, but he bruised his hand. Lauber reported, “Instead, he has been working out 4-5 days per week at the Sox’ complex in Fort Myers. The results are evident. He nearly busted through a white T-shirt that he wore around the hotel Thursday.”

• The switch-hitting, 6-foot-2, baseball phenom hit a batting line of .278/.380/.438 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs in 81 games for the Class A Greenville Drive. What was more impressive is that line had started slow, as Moncada took time to find his bearings in a new environment. He had a hot later part of the season, paired up with his amazing speed. He was putting Flash-like recall into opposing catchers’ minds as he stole 49 bases in 52 attempts.

Contestant No. 2 – Dustin Pedroia

• Pedroia signed his long-term deal through 2021, with $85 million still coming to him. The price was based on his loyal service and success. He’s played 10 seasons, winning the Rookie of the Year Award, four All-Star appearances, and even the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
• His ability in the field and at the plate have never been strongly questioned, even at the current age of 32. The 5-foot-9 righty, both batting and fielding, have earned him career numbers of a .991 fielding percentage and a .299/.365/.441 slash line, with 118 homers and 588 RBIs, all with the Red Sox.
• Last season’s numbers at the plate were about the same, except the number of at-bats. Pedroia only played 93 games in 2015, the lowest since 2010 (75 games), due to numerous injuries. After playing in 160 games in 2013, Pedroia also had a drop-off in 2014 by playing 135 games. Not a huge margin, but after seeing the decline for the last two seasons, are there signs of Father Time creeping in?

Over/Under?: Moncada

• 2016 Triple-A regular season starts: 20
• 2016 MLB spring training games: 10
• 2016 MLB regular season games: 7
• 2017 MLB regular season games: 50

Over/Under?: Pedroia

• 2016 MLB regular season games: 100
• 2017 MLB regular season games: 75

Final Thoughts:

This author believes that Pedroia should have absolutely nothing to worry about from Moncada, next season. Sure, the brass in the Red Sox executive offices could change their minds and call up Moncada for a look in the spring; however, for Moncada to actually grace the MLB field for Boston, he will still need to prove himself in the minors. A trip for him to Pawtucket, however, should not be off the scope of possibilities, even if only a short stay.

The following season is a different matter. The Red Sox have already had to deal with injuries from their other veterans, and may lose patience, even from one of their stars. Even so, someone already on the roster like 2015 All-Star utility player Brock Holt could take Pedroia’s spot if he is injured again for any length of time.

When will it be time to see the youngster? Will Pedroia throw the hammer down and show why he bleeds Boston red for years to come? Have your say, here!