5 Questions: Chris Mellen from SoxProspects.com

As the 5 Questions series continues, we have a special treat. This edition will feature questions focused on the minor-leagues, with a specific emphasis on the Boston Red Sox minor-league system. The writers over at SoxProspects.com do a fantastic job scouting and ranking players in the Red Sox system and have become a premier source for minor-league information since their creation in 2003. They receive around 15 million page views a year, which is a testament to the accuracy and depth of information they provide. We were lucky enough to have SoxProspects.com‘s Director of Scouting and Senior Columnist, Chris Mellen, agree to answer some questions and give us some insight into a handful of topics. Without further ado, here is a minor-league Special Edition of 5 Questions.

1. As an expert in the realm of scouting and player development, how different do you think it is mentally and/or physically to change levels? Is it considerably different mid-season?

Regardless of when a prospect is promoted up a level, there is usually a period of adjustment both on the mental and physical side. First, the level of competition improves and it can take some time for a player to get a feel for the new challenges ahead of them. That can entail a pitcher experiencing less of a margin of error for making mistakes within the strike zone for instance. Or, a hitter may consistently see sharper secondary offerings than previously experienced in a lower level. Mentally, just having a change of scenery or change in the routine can pose challenges as well after being promoted to a new level. I do see that there is a pretty big difference when moving up a level and it can take players an extended period of time to regain the overall level of comfort that they previously displayed. As for the question on being considerably different mid-season, there really isn’t much of a difference in terms of the new game action challenges that a player faces, but having to move and be in a brand new place after settling into one starting off the season jumps out as an added adjustment.

2. There has been a ton of excitement surrounding SS Jose Iglesias since he has arrived in the Red Sox organization. When do you think he will be at the major-league level? Given that Marco Scutaro and Jed Lowrie are in front of him on the depth chart, where does he fit in?

Iglesias surely is an exciting prospect and one who’s defensive ability is off the charts. The smoothness, fluidity, and instincts he shows certainly point towards him being an impact player on the defensive side of the game and he has the potential to be a perennial elite caliber major league defender for many seasons to come. Offensively, he has excellent hands and generates great batspeed, showing the knack for being able to get the bat on the ball consistently. However, he’s still rough in regards to his plate discipline and has an extremely wide strike zone. Much of the offensive development ahead of him will center on becoming more selective at the plate in order to choose better pitches to attack and not chase ones just off the plate or in spots where he can’t do much with them. I see him as a potential September call-up this season, with the chance if a need arises later in the season to fill in with spot duty. 2012 is likely when we could see him challenge for a full-time spot on the roster and get a shot to win the starting job.

3. Of the 3 top outfielders in the Red Sox system (Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick, and Che-Hsuan Lin), who do you feel has the greatest long-term potential? Why?

I feel that out of those three Kalish has the greatest long-term potential and a good chance to be a fixture in the Red Sox outfield for seasons to come. He has a very well-rounded game, highlighted by his exceptional plate discipline, developing power, and strong defensive ability. After seeing a lot of the three players during their rise up the ranks of the Red Sox minor league system, Kalish is at the top for me. He’s a pure five-tool player and looks like he can round into an above-average starter at the major league level in his peak seasons. Both Reddick and Lin are talented players, but both also still have some work to do on key needs in order to have long-term offensive success in the big leagues.

4. Drake Britton is a pitcher that has flown under-the-radar for most Red Sox fans. He has jumped from 10th to 5th on the SoxProspects.com overall prospect list since September. Now that he is past his Tommy John surgery in 2008, where do you see his career trajectory headed? Is he a legitimate future major-league star? As a lefty, does he have a higher likelihood of making the majors sooner?

As you mentioned, Britton suffered a setback in 2008 when it was discovered he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery. I had seen him throw prior to being shutdown that season with Lowell and something just didn’t look right with his stuff. Since returning to full health, Britton has made strong strides on the mound, especially with his fastball command and ability to spot up on either side of the plate. His curveball has also returned to form after surgery and it has the potential to be a well above-average pitch for him at the major league level, showing tight rotation and a lot of depth. His movement up the rankings has been a reflection of those gains he made in 2010. Britton has some work ahead of him to polish off his arsenal though. He’s still working on his third pitch, a changeup. I feel the progress that can be made with this offering will push him to continue to project as a future starter in the big leagues as he reaches the upper levels of the system. If he can round his repertoire out to have three solid pitches to work with, I see him having a good chance at being a front of the rotation type of starter. I’m not sure if being left-handed is going to push him to the majors faster, but it does give him some options and he could slide into a late inning reliever type of role if his changeup doesn’t come along, given the plus fastball velocity he shows and good feel for his curveball.

5. Lars Anderson was one of the most talked about prospects a few years ago, labeled as the next great thing in Boston. Since that point, he has had a few hiccups in his career and now finds himself behind newly acquired 1B Adrian Gonzalez. Do you think Anderson has the chance to make the major-league club at some point this season? Could he be a viable DH option if David Ortiz does not return in 2012?

2011 is no doubt a big year for development and consistency with Anderson. As you mentioned, he’s had some extended adjustment periods since reaching the high minors and now finds himself behind Adrian Gonzalez, who looks like he’s going to be manning first base for the Red Sox for a long time. Anderson definitely has a chance to contribute to the big club at some point this season. Over the course of the long baseball season, injuries occur or needs arise due to a number of factors. By proving that he can consistently handle Triple-A pitching this season, Anderson can put himself in position to be at the top of the list should the big club need to call someone at his position up. It will be interesting in 2012 to see the direction that the organization will go to fill the DH slot if David Ortiz does not return. Anderson could certainly be in that mix if he can continue to polish off his approach and make some adjustments with how he handles inside pitching. It could be possible, however, that he’s utilized as a trade chip during the summer, especially if he shows he’s back to trending as a future big league regular, which would make him attractive to a team looking to move an established player and get a young player back in return.

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