Red Sox minor league awards for July

Apr 21, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park prior to the game between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox farm system honors selected players in certain categories each month. For July the list contains some names that need some research and a few that may be on the fast track to quick advancement within the system.

The Red Sox have a high ranked system, but that is not necessarily reflected in team results as several farm clubs – like their MLB counterpart, are firmly buried in the basement. In the minors that means little since the key is development and several gems may be on the roster of a last place team.

Sox Prospects is a site that provides profiles on players as does MLB Prospect Watch. Both of which have been used for biographical and statistical information.

Mar 9, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; A detail view of Boston Red Sox baseball cap and sunglasses in the dugout during a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Hitter: Javier Guerra – Greenville Drive

(.366/.398/.554, 5 HR, 17 RBI)

A 19-year-old shortstop who bats left-handed and a native of Panama. The Red Sox system currently has Javy ranked as their number seven prospect and he is ranked at number 88 in MLB.

Guerra is not fast, but displays exceptional instincts at short with good range to both sides. Guerra’s arm is accurate and strong, but what has developed this season is his bat – especially with some power from the listed at 5’11” and 165 pounder.

Greenville can hit and leads the league in several categories and Guerra is a big part of it with a season slash of .296/.343/.494 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI. Guerra also appears to hack away with a K% of 24.2 and a BB% of 5.8. In 34 at bats for August Guerra has not walked.

Greenville is a long way from Boston in both distance and talent requirements, but Guerra is now on the scouting map thanks to a very respectable 2015.

Sep 12, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a ball and glove prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Pitcher: Anderson Espinoza – Gulf Coast League Red Sox

(ERA 1.69, WHIP 1.06, .190 Avg.)

Another International signing (1.8M) from Venezuela, where the Red Sox have been doing numerous signings. Espinoza is only 17-years-old and stands 6’ and 170 pounds with obvious room to grow.

Despite his frame Espinoza reaches an attention getting mid 90s fastball and a decent and sweeping curve. Espinoza is also working on developing a change to work off that fastball. For the season Espinoza has tossed 28 innings, with a 0.96 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

Espinoza started the 2015 in the Dominican Summer League (DSL) where he worked 15 innings with a 1.20 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He also fanned 22 in his 15 innings.

Sox Prospects currently ranks Espinoza seventh in the system.

May 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of a glove and Boston Red Sox hat in the dugout prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Reliever: Nick Duron – GCL Red Sox

(1-0, 0.82 ERA, 14 K, 11 IP)

A big (6’ 4”, 190) right-hander drafted in 2015 out of Clark Community College in the 31st round. The 19-year-old started out in the GCL and has been a force in the GCL in his 10 games with an ERA of 1.10, WHIP at 0.92 and two saves.

What does get attention on Duron’s stat chart is the 23 K’s and only three walks allowed. Too bad this is the GCL and not Pawtucket as Duron would be in Boston.

Sox Prospects and MLB Prospects do not have Duron ranked – yet.

Defense: Yoan Aybar – GCL Red Sox

(13 Games in CF, 7 Games in RF, 1 E)

The 18-year-old Aybar’s name has been a regular occurrence on BSI’s farm system report for the GCL Red Sox. Aybar is an international signing from the DR who slashed .271/.317/.411 in 56 games in the DSL in 2014.

The young outfielder is a left-hander with excellent defensive skills and instincts in the outfield who is still physically developing at 6’2” and 165 pounds. Defense is not the key to his advancement, but offense is.

In 35 GCL games Aybar is slashing .286/.306/.357, but the power numbers are minimal with five doubles, a pair of triples and no home runs. Aybar has only average speed with four steals in nine attempts.

Currently ranked 22nd on Sox Prospects Aybar is a long way from advancement to Triple-A and MLB.

Apr 25, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; A detailed view of practice baseballs before the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Base Runner: Mike Myers – Greenville Drive

(16 R, 7 2B, 3 SB)

Myers was a 12th round selection in the 2012 draft and is a 21-year-old right-handed bat and fielder. Last season at Lowell, Myers struggled with a slash line of .215/.248/.330 with no home runs in 56 games.

This season Myers has advanced up a notch to Greenville and the change has been a positive with a slash of .297/.366/.431 and five home runs and 38 RBI for the hard hitting Drive.

Base runner usually has an accompanying caveat of speed and/or a distinct ability to be an adept runner and Myers has shown that with 11 steals in 13 attempts.

Myers is currently ranked 51st on Sox Prospects.