Final Pawtucket Red Sox grades
By Rick McNair
Mar 12, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Sean Coyle (80) waits for the ball during a spring training baseball game at McKechnie Field. The Boston Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Prospects stalled
The prospect rich Boston system saw some rude realities strike in 2015 at Pawtucket as former top ranked prospects slipped appreciably in 2015 while some just stalled.
Sean Coyle, a player I thought would take a huge leap at Pawtucket, just crashed and burned with a .159 average. Injuries had some impact, but Triple-A pitching had a greater impact. Grade F
Garin Cecchini (.213/.286/.296) got hot in July (.293) and thoughts of turning the corner surfaced. Then came August and a .193 month and back to the dregs. Cecchini barely finished above .200 and his time with the organization may be over. Grade D
Bryce Brentz may also be finished with the organization as his once promising right-handed power bat vanished like a 401(k) in 2009. Brentz season ended to a thumb injury and that was not self-inflicted. At a soon to be age 27 the former first round pick continues to be mired in disappointment. Grade D
Deven Marrero (.256/.316/.344) still has not had the bat catch-up to his world class glove. Another first round pick who surfaced briefly in Boston (.143, 1/7) and was recently brought up for September. Merrero was a competent performer for the PawSox, but that bat means a stall. If Merrero hits at the MLB level as he has at Pawtucket he would find a home somewhere. Just think of Bradley and former Red Sox shortstop, Jose Iglesias – who both took patience and time with their offense. The glove is just too good to give up on. Grade C+