The Pitchers

• Allen Webster made a pair of starts this week and apart from some control issues in both starts, he was pretty good. In his first start on Tuesday, he allowed a run on 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5 in 5 innings. Today, he allowed just a run on just a hit but walked 5 in 5 innings. That will bring his season statistics to a very impressive 2.40 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 30 innings. He will remain the man to be called upon with any injuries in the big leagues.
• Matt Barnes continues the turnaround from his slow start with a quality start on Friday. He did allow 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk in 6 innings, but he also struck out 7 batters and lowered his ERA to 4.62. Although that doesn’t look impressive, with his peripherals (45 strikeouts to 13 walks in 37 innings), that should change soon.
• Rubby de la Rosa, like Matt Barnes, continues to shake off the demons that plagued him in his first several appearances. He continued that this week in one appearance on Thursday which saw him go 4 innings and allow just an unearned run on a hit and 4 walks. The walks are not very good, but de la Rosa still lowered his season ERA to 3.65 and he has 29 strikeouts in 24.2 innings to boot.
• Anthony Ranaudo did not compile his most impressive start yesterday as he went only 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Regardless of this most recent start, however, Ranaudo has had an excellent rebound year in Portland as he holds a 1.67 ERA, and should be due for a promotion soon.

The Hitters

Mar 15, 2013; Sarasota, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Bryce Brentz celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo homerun against the Baltimore Orioles during the top of the fifth inning of a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

• Xander Bogaerts has begun to break out of a mini-slump that he has been in recently. He batted .269 with 0 homers and 4 RBIs this week, bringing his season totals to .291/.367/.440 with 2 homers, 7 doubles, 4 triples, and 17 RBIs. The power hasn’t been quite so prevalent this year, but for a 20 year old in Double-A, Bogaerts has played very well and should be deserving of a promotion before year’s end.
• Bryce Brentz has been awfully hot of late and this week was a very productive one for the right fielder. He batted .345 with 1 home run and 5 RBIs this week and has been very good for Pawtucket lately. This brings his season totals to a solid .276/.325/.487 slash line and he has 7 home runs to go with 29 RBIs. It shouldn’t be too long before we see him manning the spacious outfield of Fenway Park.
• Garin Cecchini has been ridiculously hot all season long and this week presented no difference. This past week, Cecchini raked to the tune of a .500 average with 0 homers and 2 RBIs. Cecchini is now hitting .382/.477/.664 to start the year.

The Pitchers:

July 9, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA pitcher Matt Barnes (26) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

• Matt Barnes is finally turning his season stats around as this week, he recorded not one, but two great starts. On Tuesday, he allowed 5 hits and a walk while striking out 4 over 6 shutout innings. Yesterday, he was excellent again as he allowed a run on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7 over 5 innings. This brings his season record to 3-1 with a 4.65 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 31 innings.
• Rubby de la Rosa is also performing quite a bit better after a rough start to his season. In a pair of 4 inning relief appearances this week, he allowed a combined 6 base-runners while striking out 13 batters. After a slow start, this brings his season ERA to a decent 4.35 mark and he has 26 strikeouts to 10 walks in 20.2 innings pitched.
• Anthony Ranaudo has continued his rebound season with a pair of nice starts this week. On Wednesday, he went 6 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits and a walk. Today, he tossed 6 scoreless innings with 3 hits and 3 walks to 5 strikeouts. He is now 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 39 innings.

The Hitters:

• Xander Bogaerts continued the nice little upswing he has been on with a quality week here. He batted .250 with a triple and 3 RBIs and is now batting .296/.372/.452 with a pair of homers and 14 RBIs. If he continues to hit like this, he should be in Pawtucket before too long.
• Garin Cecchini just keeps piling onto his age 22 season in Salem by hitting .333 with a home run and 5 RBIs. Cecchini has kept his slash line  at a torrid .368/.463/.640 with 4 home runs, 22 RBIs, and 11 steals. So far, Cecchini has been doing it all this season and if a spot opens up in Portland, you can bet he’ll be filling it.
• Blake Swihart is beginning to break out of his early season slump, as he had a good week here. He batted .273 with a double and 2 RBIs and has brought his season slash line to .267/.353/.422 with 11 RBIs. His bat seems like it is coming along slowly, but if he can become a good defensive catcher and hit like he has in the minors, nobody is going to complain.

The Pitchers

• After making a successful major league debut last Sunday, Allen Webster is back down with Triple-A Pawtucket. In his start yesterday, he dealt with his first bit of adversity on the young season. He allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3 in 4 innings. His season’s numbers are still impressive, however, as he holds a 3.21 ERA and a 17:6 K:BB ratio in 14 innings.
• Henry Owens continued his red-hot start on the rubber in his Tuesday start, his fourth of the year. He allowed no runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6 in 6 innings. He earned his first win of the year and moved to 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA and a 22:6 K:BB ratio in 21 innings down in High-A Salem; a few more starts like this and the 20 year old could be pushing for a promotion.
• Anthony Ranaudo is the one who takes the cake this week, however. His revitalized 2013 season continues as he struck out 9 and allowed just 2 hits and no walks in 6 shutout innings yesterday. This brings the 23 year old to a 3-0 record and remarkable 0.83 ERA this year, and before long he could be penciled in as more pitching depth in the upper minors.

The Hitters

March 24, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (72) in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

• Xander Bogaerts got off to a very slow first week or so this year. That’s getting hard to remember lately because he has been seeing the ball very well over the last few weeks. This past week, he hit to the tune of .421 with a ridiculous 3 triples in the week– as many as he had in the entire 2012 season. Although he’s yet to hit a home run, his .308/.379/.423 line has erased any doubts conceived from his first week.
• Garin Cecchini has been the hottest hitter in the Red Sox system this year, and that pattern continued this week. On the week, he hit .478 with 1 homer and 7 RBIs and he is now hitting an excellent .373/.466/.640 with 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, and 8-11 steals in Salem.
• Sean Coyle, a more unheralded prospect, has been the second best hitter in the Red Sox system this year. He lived up to that hype this week as he batted .353 with 3 homers and 3 RBIs. The 21 year old second baseman is now hitting to the tune of .333/.400/.759 this season with 6 home runs and 10 RBIs.

The Pitchers

• Matt Barnes had gotten off to a terrible start to this season, but he threw his first good game of the year this week. He went 6 innings, striking out 7 while allowing just a run on 5 hits. That performance brings his season to a still unimpressive 7.71 ERA and 1.87 WHIP, but it’s better than what he had before that last start and his 11 strikeouts in 9.1 innings is a step in the right direction in Portland.
• Henry Owens‘ great start to the season continued this week as he made his third start of the season. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 in 5 innings. He was tagged with the loss, bringing his record to 0-1, but he has looked very good this season as he holds a 2.40 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 15 innings with High-A Salem.
• Anthony Ranaudo also continues his excellent start to the season with his start this week. The 6’7″ right hander went 5.2 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. This most recent start brings his season ERA to a remarkable 1.15 after 3 starts with Portland as Ranaudo appears to have turned a major corner after a terrible 2012 season.

The Hitters

March 24, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (72) against the Philadelphia Phillies works out prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

• Xander Bogaerts finally put his foot down and started hitting in the 2013 season. Although he is still homerless on the young season, he brought his average up to .266 and he has 5 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Another plus with Bogaerts’ 2013 season is that his walk rate has jumped tremendously from his time in Portland last year; he has six walks this year compared to just one in 93 plate appearances with the Sea Dogs last season.
• Bryce Brentz has cooled down a bit after a great first week as he sits with a .246 average to go with 1 home run and 8 RBIs to start the season. Still, one can’t overlook the fact that he is the closest decent hitting prospect to the majors. If Shane Victorino is forced to go on the DL after sustaining a minor injury in yesterday’s game, it will likely be Brentz coming to the majors to take his place.
• Garin Cecchini, on the other hand, has been the hottest hitter in the Red Sox system as he is hitting .327 with 1 homer, 5 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases. If he hits well enough in Salem, he could be looking at a mid-season promotion to Portland much like Xander Bogaerts drew last season.
• Deven Marrero, Boston’s 2012 first-round pick, is another one of Salem’s hottest hitters. After taking a 1-4 today, he is hitting .286 with 3 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Added onto that is the fact that Marrero is a great defensive shortstop and could be giving Jose Iglesias a run for his money in a few years, at least with the bat.

The Pitchers

• Matt Barnes has decidedly not been one of the fast starters in the Red Sox’ farm system. After a rough first outing where he allowed 2 runs in an inning, he started today and was awful– allowing 5 earned runs in 2.1 innings, good for an 18.90 ERA on the season. This coupled with Barnes’ fading down the stretch in 2012 is a little bit worrisome, but it’s still early and he ought to be able to right the ship in his next time out for Double-A Portland.
• Henry Owens continued to pitch well in his second outing of the season for High-A Salem, as he went 5 more innings and allowed 2 earned runs. He struck out 5 and now has a 1.80 ERA and 9 strikeouts in his first 10 innings of the season. The lanky lefty is off to a great start at Salem and hopefully 2013 can be the beginning of his transformation from a high-ceiling arm to an elite prospect.
• Anthony Ranaudo has seen his stock fall significantly since last season, but that didn’t seem to matter as he was lights out in his first start of the year in Portland. He struck out 6 and allowed just a run on 5 hits in his first 5 inning performance of the season. He was hampered by injuries and ineffectiveness all of last year so hopefully Ranaudo can get back to where he once was this season.

The Hitters

Jun 3, 2011; Austin, TX, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes infielder Travis Shaw (left) makes a play to first base over pitcher Kyle Hallock (right) against the Texas State Bobcats in the Austin regional of the 2011 NCAA baseball tournament at Disch-Falk Field. Kent State beat Texas State 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

• Xander Bogaerts‘ slow start at the plate has continued this week. He currently holds just a .189/.231/.189 slash line with 11 strikeouts in 37 at bats. This is nothing like the Bogaerts we saw last year, and hopefully this is just a slump and the 20 year old holds strong as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. If not, we could be blaming the WBC for one more thing.
• Garin Cecchini has continued his excellent start hitting at High-A Salem. The 22 year old is flat-out raking through his first 8 games as he holds a slash line of .387/.406/.548 with 3 doubles and 3 RBIs. If he keeps hitting at close to this pace, we ought to see him in Portland before year’s end.
• Travis Shaw drew some headlines after his fast start in Salem last year, but faded down the stretch once promoted to Portland. This year, he is getting off to a similarly fast start in Double-A, however, as he is batting at a .320/.469/.480 clip. Shaw’s pleasant mix of on-base percentage and power make him potentially an attractive option at first base in a few years.

Anthony Ranaudo- SoxProspects had Ranaudo ranked as the #2 prospect in the Red Sox’ system entering 2012. However, he came out of spring training injured and had to wait a few weeks before starting at Double-A Portland. While at Portland, he was nothing but disappointing as he posted a 6.69 ERA and walked 6.45 per nine innings, as many as he struck out. He never got a chance to recover, because he was injured again before you could say “ball four.” 2013 will be Ranaudo’s age 23 season, and while his ceiling is still high as a potential ace, 2012 was a showing of his floor of a reliever or even flameout. Ranaudo will start the season at Portland again, and if he has some success, he could reclaim his position as a top prospect in the Red Sox’ system.

September 17, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Jose Iglesias (58) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Iglesias- Unlike most people on this list, Iglesias actually did a pretty decent job in the minor leagues in 2012. Iglesias has shown little to no power, but he did bat .266/.318/.306 in Triple-A Pawtucket. Although those numbers are far from great, his world class defense makes up for it. The reason Iglesias is on this list is because of his terrible showing in the major leagues, as he batted .118/.200/.191 in 68 at bats. The signing of Stephen Drew will push Iglesias back to Triple-A to begin the year, where he will hopefully figure it out.

Ryan Lavarnway- Expectations were perhaps unrealisticly high for Lavarnway after a fantastic 2011 campaign which saw him hit 32 home runs between Portland and Pawtucket. He got off to a slow start in Triple-A, and while he somewhat righted the ship, finishing with a .295/.376/.439 line there, he also struggled in the majors. Brought up to Boston after the trade of Kelly Shoppach, he only batted .157/.211/.248 with bad defense behind the plate. The signing of David Ross will allow him to hit some more in Triple-A before he gets another shot in Boston.

4. Brandon Jacobs- Like Lavarnway, expectations were very high for Jacobs after a fantastic 2011 season where he batted .303/.376/.505. However, he suffered from a broken bone in his foot and dredged through a disappointing 2012 at High-A Salem, posting a .252/.322/.410 slash line while missing time. Those numbers don’t look awful, but Jacobs has the ceiling of a player who dabbles with all five tools and whether he starts back in Salem or in Portland, he’ll need to confirm or deny that prediction.

July 11, 2012; Reading, PA USA; Portland SeaDogs player Bryce Brentz (25) smiles after fouling off a pitch during the AA Eastern League All-Star game at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Eastern Division defeated the Western Division, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

1. Bryce Brentz- Brentz is one of those guys that about half of Red Sox fans love and the other half has more of a “meh” reaction. I’m not firmly in either category, but I do really love Brentz’s raw right-handed power, a trait which plays nicely into Fenway Park. In 2012, he batted .290/.349/.465 with 17 home runs between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. Although he is a bit too aggressive at the plate right now, he should be able to work on that with more practice. I think that Brentz should be a solid starting right fielder for the Red Sox sooner rather than later.

2. J.C. Linares- I was a bit surprised that Linares did not make his major league debut last September. He’s on the 40-man roster, and hit fairly well between Portland and  Pawtucket (.316/.364/.510, 16 home runs, 62 RBIs). Linares is no longer a true prospect at 28 and I would’ve expected the Red Sox to give him a cup of coffee, much as they did with Mauro Gomez, who is also 28. Maybe we’ll see him next year, but it looks like his days in the Red Sox organization may be numbered.

3. Henry Ramos- Ramos fits the stereotype of the high-ceiling, low-floor, very young Caribbean prospect. The Puerto Rican native signed with the Red Sox at the age of 18, and now 20, spent the year with Single-A Greenville. He put together a decent year there, at .254/.327/.408 with 8 home runs and 12 steals. He has potential to hit for solid average and speed, but that may be many years away at this rate.

Brentz is the only one of these prospects who I expect to really make a large impact at the major league level. If he continues his progression well, he could easily be up mid-season (especially with the injury problems the Red Sox have had in recent seasons). I could see either J.C. Linares or Henry Ramos being a throw-in in a trade for an outfielder or pitcher this offseason and maybe never see Fenway Park in person. Hopefully at least Brentz stays for a while though.

June 21, 2011; Omaha, NE, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) hits a RBI double during the first inning against the Virginia Cavaliers during the 2011 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

1. Jackie Bradley Jr.- Entering the 2011 season, Bradley was expected to be drafted very early, maybe in the Top 10 out of South Carolina. He injured his right wrist, however, and fell to the 40th overall pick, where the Red Sox were happy to take a gamble. So far he’s looked like Top 10 Bradley in the minors, as he had a very respectable season between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland as a 22 year old. Between the two levels, he hit .315/.430/.482 with 9 home runs and 24 steals. He projects as a leadoff hitting center fielder who plays good defense.

2. Manuel Margot- An unknown outfielder from the Dominican Republic, Margot had himself a very nice summer in the Dominican Summer League this year. He’s just 18, and is a high energy type player who would probably fit into the leadoff role. Margot is very speedy and should have the ability to hit for average and steal bases. However, it’ll also be a while until one even hears his name in prospect discussions.

There you go, potentially, the center fielder of the not too distant future and the center field of the very distant future. Bradley will probably start next year in Portland, where he had his share of struggles in 2012. However, he’ll likely earn a call up to Pawtucket at some point and may even see the majors toward the end of the year. All in all, Bradley and Margot are two of the more exciting prospects the Red Sox have to offer.

Aug 1, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ryan Kalish (55) catches a fly ball against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

1. Brandon Jacobs- Just a year ago, Jacobs would have been a Top 5 prospect for the Red Sox among many a baseball analyst. After being promoted to High-A Salem as a 21 year old, however, Jacobs fell hard. Missing some time due to a broken hamate bone in his foot, Jacobs’ numbers fell to .252/.322/.410 with 13 home runs and 17 steals, a far cry from the .303/.376/.505 with 17 home runs and 30 steals he put up in 2011. However, Jacobs is still very young and does have potential to hit for power and run well at the major league level.

2. Keury de la Cruz- The Keury de la Cruz of 2012 was very similar to the Brandon Jacobs of 2011. Out of nowhere, he exploded at Greenville, hitting .308/.352/.536 with 19 home runs and 19 steals after three subpar seasons in the low minors. De La Cruz has potential to hit for a decent average with decent power and to run well as a fourth outfielder or starter on a bad team.

3. Jeremy Hazelbaker- At 25 years old, Hazelbaker is getting a bit old to be a prospect. However, after the solid numbers he put up in 2012, he may not be a prospect for much longer. Between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, he put up a respectable slash line of .273/.335/.472 along with 19 home runs. He runs well, but not well enough to play center, and there’s a very good chance we could see him in 2013.

None of these prospects is particularly likely to make a huge impact at the major league level. However, any of them could probably be a major league starter at some point in their career. If Jacobs can recover from his injury, he could become a solid major league starter and I’d say he’s the most likely of these three to become one. Still, the Red Sox are probably best served going to the free agent market for this offseason.

July 8, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; World designated hitter Xander Bogaerts hits a single during the third inning of the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports via US PRESSWIRE

1. Xander Bogaerts- It’s pretty difficult to think of a solid reason not to be incredibly excited about Xander Bogaerts’ arrival in the majors. He’s just 20 years old (and will play most of the 2013 season at that age) and has shot through the minors, finishing 2012 at Double-A Portland. Between Portland and High-A Salem, Bogaerts raked to a .307/.373/.523 line with 20 home runs and 81 RBIs. He isn’t fantastic defensively, and will probably outgrow shortstop sooner rather than later– maybe destined for a corner outfield spot. However, his bat is immensely excited and he could be on the big stage by 2014.

2. Jose Iglesias- It wasn’t too long ago that Iglesias was the Red Sox’ top prospect due to his fantastic glove. His glove has stayed great, and he has Gold Glove potential even at this age. However, his hitting has stalled out as he hits for almost no power and relatively little contact. He wasn’t awful in Triple-A Pawtucket, at .266/.318/.306, but he was miserable in the majors– hitting just .118 in 68 at bats. Still, he’ll probably be on the major league roster in 2012 and it isn’t unreasonable to expect an average in the .230-.250 range with excellent defense even next year.

3. Deven Marrero- Marrero has drawn comparisons to Iglesias due to his strong defense not-so-strong offense approach. However, he’s probably closer to average on both sides of the ball, as he has a lower defensive ceiling but higher offensive ceiling. Drafted in the 1st round of the 2012 draft, he signed quickly and the 22 year old hit .268/.358/.374 with 24 stolen bases in Low-A Lowell. He’s probably destined to move relatively quickly through the minors and could be in the majors by late 2014 or 2015.

4. Jose Vinicio- Vinicio fits the same demographic as Iglesias and Marrero, with great defensive potential and decent offensive potential. As a small-framed (5’11″, 165 lbs) 19 year old, he uses his excellent speed to his advantage defensively and mixes in a good glove with a solid arm. For his size, he even has respectable power, knocking 3 home runs and a .371 slugging percentage in 2012. He’s destined to follow in Xander Bogaerts’ footsteps and start in Salem as a 19 year old, hopefully with similar results.

With a phenomenal mix like this, it’s very difficult to determine the shortstop of the future. Iglesias will probably start 2012 with the starting shortstop job, but his bat may take him out of the running before all is said and done. Bogaerts is the opposite, as he has an excellent bat, but his below average range may take him out of the running. That leaves Marrero and Vinicio, who may both enter the majors around 2015. It’s possible that we may see a flurry of moves in coming months, because (if there’s such a thing), the Red Sox have too many good shortstop prospects.

1. Garin Cecchini- Cecchini spent most of his first year in the Red Sox system sitting on the Lowell Spinners’ bench after a wrist injury. The 20 year old was placed at Single-A Greenville for the 2012 season, and was fantastic while there. Even beyond raking to a .305/.394/.433 slash line, Cecchini jacked 4 home runs, plated 64 runs, and even stole 51 bases. SoxProspects states that Cecchini has a sweet swing and potential to hit for average and some power. A decent third baseman, Cecchini needs to improve his footwork and reactions if he wants to stick there. Tribulations aside, however, Cecchini is one of the more exciting prospects in the Red Sox system and will almost certainly continue his trek through High-A Salem in 2013.

2. Kolbrin Vitek- Vitek was taken in the first round of the 2010 draft and had potential to hit for average and power through his career. Since the start of his minor league career, however, he hasn’t lived up to that promise. Vitek’s disappointing and injury-riddled 2012 campaign, in which he hit just .242/.284/.339 for Double-A Portland, lines up 2013 to be a make or break year. Vitek is probably a future outfielder, so the Red Sox should keep him in Portland and move him to the outfield. If his 2013 season is another bust, then the 23 year old’s days of prospectitude a probably over.

July 15, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks (64) hits a single in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Cecchini is an exciting bat and it’ll be fun to watch him move through the ranks. However, there’s an equal chance that he’ll be traded based on how well Middlebrooks held his own in 2012. Vitek is probably not in the future plans of the Red Sox, and they should trade him if another team sees the potential he’s so far lacked. Cecchini and Vitek rank #7 and #39, respectively on SoxProspects’ list and both could be interesting in the next year. However, it’ll obviously be more interesting to be watching Will Middlebrooks tear it up every night.

May 2, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington speaks with reporters prior to a game against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

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1. Sean Coyle- When Coyle was drafted in the third round of the 2010 draft, many viewed him as a potential heir to Pedroia. While it’s true that he has a similar size (5’8″, 175 lbs), his hitting has not backed up those comparisons. He’s still young at 20 years old, but his .249/.316/.391 slash line at High-A Salem  was disappointing enough to drop him from #11 at the beginning of the season to #34 now. Although strikeouts have been a big issue for Coyle, he also has plenty of power, knocking 9 home runs and 31 doubles this year. Despite his offensive struggles, he is a decent defender and may eventually fill a utility infielder role, but probably not much more.

2. Heiker Meneses- The small-framed middle infielder from Venezuela enjoyed a good year in 2011 between Salem and Portland, batting .356/.416/.575 and .265/.311/.301, respectively. However, at those same spots in 2012, he struggled. He had passable numbers in Salem, .272/.313/.392 with 2 home runs and 18 steals, but struggled mightily in Portland, hitting just .197/.282/.244 at Double-A. Although Meneses will probably never be a great hitter, he’s quite speedy and is a good, versatile fielder who could occupy a utility spot one day.

Aug 1, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Pedro Ciriaco (77) throws to first base against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Because of this lackluster appearance on the farm, I would strongly recommend the Red Sox hold on to Dustin Pedroia. As he is one of the top two or three second basemen in the league, that would be an obvious decision anyway, but this just emphasizes it further. If absolutely necessary, the Red Sox can rely on 26 year old Pedro Ciriaco, whom I’d trust before Coyle or Meneses. Hopefully, they won’t have to worry about Pedroia’s departure for a while though.

1. Travis Shaw- After being drafted in the ninth round of the 2011 draft, Shaw really exploded onto the scene in 2012. He started at High-A Salem, where he flat out raked, batting .305/.411/.545 with 16 home runs through 99 games. Shaw was promoted to Portland after that fast start and held his own in Double-A, batting .227/.353/.427 in 31 games. According to SoxProspects, Shaw displays very strong plate discipline and has the gap-to-gap power to be a starting first baseman one day. If he can improve his hands at first then Shaw, a former third baseman, should be fast tracked to the majors by 2014.

August 25, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mauro Gomez (50) hits an RBI single during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-US PRESSWIRE

2. Mauro Gomez- There’s no doubt that Gomez would rank higher on this list if it weren’t for the fact that he’s 28, practically a post-prospect. Regardless, Gomez had a great season at Pawtucket, winning the International League MVP after batting .310/.371/.589 with 24 home runs. He was promoted to the majors, where he hit quite a bit better than James Loney with a .275/.324/.422 over the last few months of the season. While he may not be the longterm solution at first base, I would take Gomez over several of the first basemen on this free agent market.

3. Michael Almanzar- Acquired as a 16 year old from the Dominican Republic, 2012 was the first time Almanzar did anything of note in the Red Sox organization. He played the entire season at High-A Salem, batting .300/.353/.458 with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases. The free-swinging 21 year old even stretched together a remarkable streak of reaching base 19 consecutive times. He’ll probably start the 2013 season at Double-A Portland with a chance to reach the majors by 2014.

Even though these players aren’t ranked too highly by SoxProspects’ ratings (#28, #27, and #51 respectively), I have faith that they can develop into solid major leaguers. Shaw and Almanzar are very young and raw enough that they could develop into excellent players. If the Red Sox can’t make a good trade, I’m all for Gomez starting the 2013 season as the starting first baseman, why not try? However, it’s Shaw that I think will be the first baseman of the next Red Sox dynasty.

Sep 22, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) speaks with fans prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Both Saltalamacchia, 27, and Lavarnway, 25, put up some decent numbers last season. During the 2012 season, Saltalamacchia played in 121 games, carried a .222 average, and collected 90 hits. Lavarnway only played 46 games, and ended the season with a .154 average.  According to the scouting reports found on The Baseball Cube, in the spots Saltalamacchia is weak, Lavarnway is solid and vice versa. For instance, Lavarnway was given a score of 61 (out of 100) when being judged in the “Contact” department, whereas Salty was only given a 23.

The Red Sox could also sign a free agent catcher, as there are a few experienced ones out on the market. The first option would be Mike Napoli, a former Texas Ranger. In 2012, he played in 108 games and carried a batting average of .227, better than the numbers posted by both of the Red Sox catchers. The 31-year-old has experience, and his stats over the past few seasons prove that he is constant. His batting average usually rests between .250 and .300. Should the Sox decide to sign Napoli, throwing tons of money his way would not be ideal. There are other options out there.

Another choice for the Sox would be to sign the 29-year-old former Bronx Bomber Russell Martin. He played a key role at the bottom of the Yankee’s lineup, and he has the potential to do the same for the Sox. The Bleacher Report comments that Martin “would be a good addition to virtually any team.”

Either way, the Sox are set in the catching department. They can stick with Saltalamacchia and Lavarnway and be fine. If a problem were to arise, they can easily experiment with some free agents or prospects making their way through the minor league system.

September 20, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway (60) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Just two years ago, the Red Sox appeared to be totally stacked with minor league catching. Guys like Ryan Lavarnway, Luis Exposito, and Tim Federowicz were all expected to make major league impacts within the next few years. Well, two years have passed and only one of them is still a part of the Red Sox organization, Ryan Lavarnway, and he only .157 this past season. There’s still hope for Lavarnway to be a solid big league catcher, as many players struggle with their first experience of playing everyday in the majors. However, he expired his prospect status and thus ended the “big three” of catching prospects. The Red Sox still have a couple of guys that are decent catching prospects though, notably Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez, and while they aren’t spectacular, they’re very solid prospects.

1. Blake Swihart- Swihart was the best catching prospect in the 2011 draft, and the Red Sox pounced on him with the 26th overall pick. While his first season in professional baseball wasn’t great, a .262/.307/.395 slash line with 7 home runs and 53 RBIs is far from disappointing. Those numbers are particularly impressive considering that he’s just a 20 year old catching everyday in Low-A Greenville. Swihart is very athletic and has potential to hit for average and some power as he fills out. The biggest question in Swihart’s development is whether or not he’ll remain at catcher, or move to third or second base, we’ll presumably continue to see his development next year in Salem.

2. Christian Vazquez- Vazquez is kind of like the anti-Ryan Lavarnway. While Lavarnway could always hit, but had difficulties catching, it’s exactly the opposite for Vazquez. He is rated as an excellent defensive catcher with a strong arm and great agility behind the plate. Hittingwise, he is unspectacular, as he stroked a .254/.344/.369 slash line between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. However, he struggled upon his promotion to Portland, hitting just .205 in 20 games there. Still, there’s plenty of time for the 22 year old Vazquez to sort himself out. Even if he doesn’t learn to hit like Victor Martinez, he could be a quality backup catcher simply because of his excellent defense.

Of those two prospects, who rank at #8 and #35 on SoxProspects’ list respectively, only Vazquez is really a true catcher. However, Swihart has received some praise as a smooth defensive backstop and should start at Salem next year. Also, though he’s not technically a prospect, it will be interesting to see how Lavarnway continues to develop next season; is a .250 batting average too much to ask?! It’s true that the Red Sox don’t have a blue chip catching prospect, but not many teams do, and I can see Swihart and Vazquez developing into very good players one day.

1.  Henry Owens- Owens’ first season in professional baseball was by no means flashy. However, if one digs into the stats from his 2012 season, spent at Single-A Greenville, there’s a lot to like. First and foremost is the fact that Owens is a strikeout machine, punching out a remarkable 11.51 per nine innings as a 20 year old. His ERA was a bit high at 4.87, but he’s still raw and had some issues with the walk at 4.16 per nine; however, that’s to be expected from a 20 year old in his first season playing everyday. Scouts view Owens as incredibly projectable, and he has a fantastic pitcher’s frame at 6’7″ and 200 lbs, and it looks like he could anchor a Red Sox rotation in the next few years.

2. Drake Britton- After a very promising start to his minor league career, Britton hit a wall in 2011 and fell straight down to a 1-13 record and 6.91 ERA at High-A Salem. At the beginning of the 2012 season, it was looking like his days as a top prospect may be done. However, he salvaged his season (and possibly career), pitching well at Salem before being promoted to Double-A Portland and pitching to a 3.72 ERA in 16 starts there. Overall, his season numbers were respectable, as he finished with a 7-12 record and 4.45 ERA. However, beyond the stats, there’s a lot to like about Britton. The lefty is a hard thrower, reaching the mid 90′s, and has a decent curveball. He may be destined for the bullpen, but he’ll try to disprove those rumors in 2013, presumably starting at Portland.

Aug 18, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Pawtucket Red Sox pitcher Chris Hernandez (35) pitches against the Buffalo Bisons during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

3. Chris Hernandez- Hernandez isn’t a guy on a ton of scouts’ radars, but I feel that he has a potentially very promising career. He isn’t a hard thrower, and apart from a good cutter, doesn’t really have excellent secondary pitches. However, he’s had success at every level of the minor leagues since being drafted in 2010 and that didn’t change in 2012. The 23 year old pitched to a 4-8 record and 3.13 ERA at Portland before being promoted to Pawtucket, where he put up a 3.59 ERA in 8 games (7 starts). Scouts think he’s destined for the bullpen, but I think the Red Sox should continue to start Hernandez as long as he has success, and that hasn’t stopped yet.

It’s true that the Red Sox don’t have quite the arsenal of lefties that some teams do. However, it’s hard to deny that there’s nothing there. Henry Owens (the Red Sox’ #9 prospect according to SoxProspects), Drake Britton (#12), and Chris Hernandez (#37) all have some excellent tools that could play well into long, successful careers. Look out for these guys in a few years, they may surprise you.

July 9, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; USA pitcher Matt Barnes (26) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of the 2012 All Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

1. Matt Barnes- The Red Sox took Barnes out of UConn in the first round of the 2011 draft and so far have not come to regret it. In his first season in the farm system in 2012, Barnes dominated the lower levels of the minors, pitching between Single-A Greenville and High-A Salem. As a whole, his debut season was very impressive, as he pitched to a 7-5 record and 2.86 ERA in 25 starts, even being nominated to the MLB Futures Game for Team USA (right). Barnes is a tall, projectable right-hander who throws a hard fastball in the mid 90′s as well as potentially above average offerings in his curveball and changeup. The 22 year old will probably start next season at Double-A Portland and will shoot for a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket and possibly Boston.

2. Allen Webster- Acquired in the mega-trade with the Dodgers this August, Webster has immediately slotted into high rankings in the Red Sox farm system. The 22 year spent the entire 2012 season at Double-A and did a pretty decent job, going 6-9 with a 3.86 ERA along with strong strikeout totals. For a sinker baller, Webster has consistently compiled these high strikeout numbers (along with high walk numbers) and throws relatively hard, often reaching the mid 90′s with his fastball. If he fails to develop his secondary pitches, he could be better suited as a reliever. However, there’s still plenty of time for the young Webster to develop and he’ll probably start 2013 in Triple-A Pawtucket with a shot to join the majors mid-season.

3. Brandon Workman- Since being drafted in the second round of the 2010 draft, Workman has been the epitome of consistency in the Red Sox organization. He continued that trend in 2012 by putting up strong stats between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, with a combined 10-8 record and 3.50 ERA. His strikeout to walk numbers are excellent, with a ratio of over 5.00 split between the two levels and he’s generally kept baserunners to a minimum, recording a WHIP of 1.10. Similarly to Webster, there are a few doubts over whether he can continue as a starter, as his fastball and cutter are his only true plus pitches. However, he’s shown no signs of weakness yet and will probably pitch at both Portland and Pawtucket next season.

As anyone can see, there’s plenty of hope to go around with these three starting pitchers, whom SoxProspects.com rank as 2nd, 4th, and 12th in the Red Sox system, respectively. These are just three of a large group of prospects that will probably debut with the Red Sox within the next couple of years and bring hope to a depleted franchise. I’ll be posting sometime later this week on the left-handed pitchers of the future, and it should be very exciting to watch all these players develop.

Satchel Paige the eternally ebullient, nonpareil pitcher advised: “Don’t  look back.”

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Josh Beckett, metaphorically, has evolved from a hemorrhaging hemorrhoid  to a rectal cancer that will kill any chance the Red Sox will get out of the Recovery Room and be alive for the Playoffs.

Smart money says that Josh would leap at the chance to go home to Texas, where he owns a vast hunting retreat, so let’s see if that is possible.

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