Aug 30, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) singles in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The Mets defeated the Red Sox 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Position Players
With Pawtucket, there were many players who drifted through the locker room during the season. New additions throughout the season checker the roster either via promotion or being signed as free agents. Some players have been with the PawSox the entire season with, in some instances, a brief taste of MLB buffets during the season.
Get them out of the way – Bradley (.305/.382/.472), Swihart (.311/.363/.351), and Castillo (.282/.337/.385) all get an A for their Pawtucket contributions. Grade A
Shaw, after a slow start, ended up in the third slot in the batting order and finished with a .249 average. Grade B
That is the crème de la crème for Pawtucket on the offense. There may be three future MLB All-Stars out of Pawtucket position players in 2015.
If Allen Craig was 22-years-old and slashed .274/.368/.350 the result would be a serious prospect, but Craig is well past that stage. Attempting to put up numbers that will entice Boston or another team to take a chance just did not happen. For Pawtucket it looked good, for his future it did not. Grade B-
The versatile Jeff Bianchi slashed .262/.329/.315 in his limited duty. The downside is no power with no home runs and eight RBI in 42 games. Bianchi also made a brief appearance in Boston and is clearly a journeyman at this time. Grade C+
Carlos Peguero is a left handed bat with MLB experience that Boston picked up from the Rangers. Peguero, a 28-year-old left-hander, finished the season on the DL. Peguero was brought aboard for his potential power production and in 26 games hit seven home runs with 21 RBI. Did what was expected. Grade B+
Matt Spring is a career (age 30) minor league leaguer with most duty at catching. The bat has continually held him back and this season at Pawtucket showed why with an average (.184) well under the Mendoza Line. No surprise as that is Spring’s modus operandi. Grade C+
Boston is the fourth MLB organization for 27-year-old Carlos Rivero, who was acquired this season from Seattle in a cash transaction. Rivero slashed .248/.307/.308 in 28 games. Grade C+
The outfield twin for Rivero is Jonathan Roof who has also been with four organizations. Roof started 2015 in Portland (.234) before being moved to Pawtucket where he has slashed .214/.281/.292 in 48 games. Grade D+
Quintin Berry (.228/.329/.287) is best know for stealing bases and did that in Pawtucket with 35 in 41 tries. Grade C+
Mike Miller, like Weeks and Bianchi, is another infielder with versatility. Miller moved up from Portland (.273) and the 25-year-old right-hander has slashed .219/.258/.304 in 74 games. Grade C+
Humberto Quintero (.257/.284/.354) is a 12 year MLB vet who signed on with Boston in hopes of extending his MLB career. That did not happen in 2015, but Quintero was a contributor with some time at catcher and DH and providing, no doubt, some tutorial experience for Swihart and the young pitchers. Quintero can still throw as witnessed by a 39% CS. Quintero finished off with seven home runs and 33 RBI. Grade B
A surprise during the season has been Marco Hernandez (.271/.300/.409) the PTBNL in the Felix Doubront transaction. Hernandez first grabbed attention at Portland where Hernandez slashed .326/.349/.482 to earn the 23-year-old left-handed hitting shortstop a promotion to Pawtucket. Initial adjustment problems (a .220 August) are behind him. Grade B
And still another four organization player is Chris Marrero, the 27-year-old older brother of Deven. Marrero a corner outfielder and first baseman was signed as a free agent and slashed .262/.311/.422 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 61 games. A solid addition. Grade B-