This is around the time that everybody else is posting their midseason top prospect lists, Baseball Prospectus two weeks ago and Baseball America this week. In these midseason lists, the Red Sox have come out pretty darn well so far with at least three prospects listed in most. So here at BoSox Injection, we figured that we would post our own (focusing only on the Red Sox, of course).
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, 20 years old, SS, Pawtucket Red Sox. Bogaerts has always been a fantastic bat, but as his status as a longterm shortstop has solidified, his prospect stock has soared. Most lists rank Bogaerts as a top 10 or even top 5 prospect in all of baseball, citing his potential 30-homer bat and decent contact skills as well as his potential to be a solid-average shortstop as well. The 20 year old is currently slashing .297/.391/.494 between Double-A and Triple-A this season.Jackie Bradley Jr., 23 years old, CF, Boston Red Sox. Bradley was looked on as a low-floor prospect at first, but now he not only lives up to that, but looks like he may have a pretty high ceiling as well. He should develop into an excellent defensive outfielder with a great arm that gets on base and has enough power to keep pitchers honest. He is tearing up the International League this year with a .297/.393/.530 slash line, and has improved throughout three stints in Boston.Garin Cecchini, 22 years old, 3B, Portland Sea Dogs. Perhaps no prospect in baseball has seen his prospect stock soar this year as much as Cecchini. Cecchini looks like he could develop into a pure-hitting third baseman, with great contact skills and solid power though his defense is a question mark. He got off to a tremendous start in Salem, and has continued that after a promotion to Portland; between the two levels, he has hit .358/.474/.545 and could be due for another promotion before season’s end.
Jun 28, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Allen Webster (64) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Allen Webster, 23 years old, SP, Pawtucket Red Sox. Webster came to Boston in the mega-trade with the Dodgers last year and has impressed since joining the organization. He looks like a power arm, with good enough secondary pitches to get by; his control is the main question right now. He has not pitched well in Boston, but has been nothing short of dominant in Pawtucket as he holds a 2.87 ERA, 10.13 K/9, and ridiculous .175 batting average against.Henry Owens, 20 years old, SP, Salem Red Sox. After a strange first season in the Red Sox organization in 2012 which saw him strike out 11.51 batters per nine innings but post a 4.87 ERA, Owens has settled down in 2013. He still looks like that tall, projectable lefty with all-around good stuff, and 2013 has seen him harness that stuff a bit. Pitching for the High-A Salem Red Sox, he has a 3.14 ERA with 10.15 K/9 and 4.50 BB/9.Anthony Ranaudo, 23 years old, SP, Portland Sea Dogs. Once a top prospect, Ranaudo had tremendous struggles as a 22 year old in Portland last year. However, this year he is performing well and back on top. Again, he looks like the potential ace that the Red Sox drafted in 2010, with a hammer curve and good fastball. He may never be an ace, but he’s performing very well in Portland with a 2.67 ERA and 9.30 K/9.Trey Ball, 19 years old, SP, GCL Red Sox.
Drafting Ball with the seventh overall pick this year was a bit of a surprise. However, he was certainly a deserving candidate. He is still relatively unknown as he is yet to pitch with the GCL Red Sox, but scouts have liked what they’ve seen in the young southpaw. He has an excellent pitcher’s frame
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
and throws in the low 90’s with a good change and good, if underdeveloped, curveball.
Matt Barnes, 23 years old, Portland Sea Dogs. That Barnes has fallen from third in this system down to eighth is more a testament to the strength of the Red Sox’ system than his lack of success this year. Barnes is still a projectable right-hander with an excellent fastball, a good curve, and a change that has average potential. However, he has had a few hiccups in Portland and currently has a 5.32 ERA and 1.52 WHIP this season.Blake Swihart, 21 years old, C, Salem Red Sox. All things considered, Swihart has come along as well as could be expected. He is developing into a good switch-hitter with a good plate approach from both sides. His catching prowess is developing at a fantastic rate as well, as he has done it all in Salem this year. The slash line of .261/.351/.409 isn’t great, but for a 21 year old, switch-hitting catcher, it’s not bad at all.Bryce Brentz, 24 years old, RF, Pawtucket Red Sox. Brentz is pretty much the same prospect that he has always been. He projects as a solid-average right fielder in most respects with above average right-handed power; he just hasn’t been given a chance at the major league level yet. His numbers in Pawtucket are quite solid though, as he is slashing .269/.319/.485 with 16 home runs.
March 24, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brandon Workman (95) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Workman, 24 years old, SP, Boston Red Sox. Workman is also essentially the same prospect that he has always been. He has had success at every minor league level, combining his plus fastball and good control to make up for his otherwise lackluster stuff. He is currently in Boston’s bullpen, but between Portland and Pawtucket, he combined for a 3.21 ERA and 108:30 K:BB ratio in 101 innings.Drake Britton, 24 years old, SP, Pawtucket Red Sox. It is seeming more and more like Britton’s future may be in relief. However, he had plenty of success starting in Portland this year, even earning himself a promotion to Pawtucket where he’s made one start thus far. He has a good fastball and solid secondary offerings, his main issue being control. Between Portland and Pawtucket, he has a 3.77 ERA and 87:35 K:BB ratio in 102.2 innings pitched.Jon Denney, 18 years old, C, GCL Red Sox. Denney was one of the biggest steals in the 2013 draft, as the Red Sox drafted the high-ceiling catcher in the third round. He has the potential to be an excellent hitter, with plus power and contact skills as well as enough athleticism to move positions if need be. He is tearing up the Gulf Coast League so far with a .357/.526/.500 slash line so far.Deven Marrero, 22 years old, SS, Salem Red Sox. Boston’s first round pick in 2012 has been solid but unspectacular in his first years in the minors. Just one of many light-hitting, strong-defensive shortstops in the Red Sox’ system, Marrero plays great defense and packs a bit
Feb 17, 2013; Fort Myers FL, USA; Boston Red Sox player Deven Marrero (82) poses during photo day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
more offensive punch than some other prospects. He has a .272/.353/.351 slash line in Salem this year.
Teddy Stankiewicz, 19 years old, SP, Lowell Spinners. Stankiewicz was another surprise, taken in the second round of the 2013 draft. However, like Ball, there’s a reason that the Red Sox picked him relatively early. He throws pretty hard, getting into the low-mid 90’s consistently with great control and decent secondary offerings. Stankiewicz will start in Lowell, but he is yet to pitch.Michael Almanzar, 22 years old, 3B, Portland Sea Dogs. Almanzar has always had fantastic potential, but it has taken him until last year to really come through with it. He is finally tapping into his plus raw power and making consistent contact in the higher levels of the Red Sox minor league system. With Portland this year, he is slashing .273/.335/.458 with 11 home runs.Manuel Margot, 18 years old, CF, Lowell Spinners. Margot is still incredibly young and raw, but he has as high a ceiling as just about anyone in the Red Sox’ system not named Xander Bogaerts. He is a speedy center fielder with good defensive tools to stay in center field, though is arm is somewhat weak. At the plate, he doesn’t have much power but he makes consistent hard contact and is slashing .260/.341/.325 in Lowell this year.Ty Buttrey, 20 years old, SP, Lowell Spinners. Ty Buttrey was one of the steals of the 2012 draft, as he fell to the Red Sox in the fourth round due to signability concerns. He did sign, though, and he has gotten off to a good start in the Red Sox’ system. The 6’6″ right hander throws in the low 90’s with a good curve and a change that’s getting there. He is currently pitching for the Lowell Spinners and has a 2.79 ERA, though he’s had some trouble missing bats.
Jun 16, 2012; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators pitcher Brian Johnson (35) pitches against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first inning of game four of the 2012 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Matt Ryerson-USA TODAY Sports
Brian Johnson, 22 years old, SP, Greenville Drive. Johnson is the prototype of the low-ceiling, low-floor pitcher. He won’t develop into anything great, but he has a decent chance to be a major league pitcher before long. The lefty has good control to go with a low 90’s fastball and a few decent offspeed pitches. He is currently injured, but before his injury he was pitching to a 4.03 ERA in Greenville.Keury De La Cruz, 21 years old, LF, Salem Red Sox. Keury de la Cruz exploded onto the prospect scene last year, having one of the best seasons of any Red Sox prospect. Though he doesn’t have a huge ceiling, he has used his good contact skill and solid power and speed to be a useful player. He is currently batting .285/.324/.427 while manning the Salem outfield.
