It was another relatively good week in the Red Sox farm system. Despite Matt Barnes and Allen Webster facing a bit of adversity, Anthony Ranaudo and Garin Cecchini have continued excellent starts and Xander Bogaerts is rounding into form.
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.