Sep 1, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) points to left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (not pictured) after he scored on his RBI single eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2. Mookie Betts, 21 years old
Betts was yet another member of the 2011 draft class, as the Red Sox took the diminutive second baseman in the fifth round, and he has exceeded expectations in a big way since starting his Minor League career. Betts had a relatively quiet debut in 2012, slashing just .267/.352/.307 with the Low-A Lowell Spinners, showing athleticism and a good on-base percentage but not much more.
However, he broke out in style last season. Betts caught the eyes of scouts and prospect analysts with a phenomenal season between Single-A Greenville and High-A Salem as he raked to the tune of a .314/.417/.506 slash line, 15 home runs, and 38 stolen bases. After such an excellent season, however, the question remained of whether Betts would be able to repeat that type of performance.
So, Betts has gone out and been even better in 2014. In 99 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, Betts slashed a remarkable .346/.431/.529 to go with 11 home runs and 39 stolen bases. In addition to his impressive Minor League performance, Betts has also been very good since joining the Major League squad, as he has hit .288/.359/.466 in 34 games for the Red Sox. Needless to say, it’s no longer looking like Betts’ Minor League performance was a fluke.