Oct 23, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of the press box before game one of the MLB baseball World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Hitters
Marco Hernandez put together an outstanding season for the Sea Dogs. Hernandez was acquired from the Chicago Cubs as compensation for when the Cubs hired Theo Epstein away from the Red Sox to be their President of Baseball Operations in 2012. The Dominican shortstop batted .326/.349/.482 with five homers and 31 RBI in 69 games for the Sea Dogs. In July, he was promoted to Pawtucket where he batted .271/.300/.409 in 46 games. With Bogaerts seemingly the Red Sox shortstop for years to come, he may have to switch positions to get major league experience in Boston.
Sam Travis is one step behind Hernandez. The Indiana University product was drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Red Sox. One could consider him the best first base prospect in the Red Sox system. Travis started the year at High-A Salem where he slashed .313/378/.467 in 67 games there with five homers and 40 RBI. In late June, he was promoted to Portland where he continued to hit, posting a .300/.384.436 slash line with four homers and 38 RBI. The six foot, 195 pound Travis has a bit of speed as well, swiping 19 bases between the two levels of the minors. His lack of power may impede his progress, but that didn’t hurt Travis Shaw who has found his power stroke at the major league level (nine homers) after only five homers at Pawtucket this season.
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Manuel Margot is the most highly touted prospect of this group perhaps because he doesn’t turn 21 years old until September 28 of this year. Margot followed a similar path to Travis’ this year, starting the year at Salem and advancing to Portland, in the same week in June. Margot’s OPS was .741 in Salem then rose slightly to .745 in Portland. The young Dominican center fielder stole 39 bases this season, split almost evenly between the two levels (20 in Salem, 19 in Portland). Margot ended the season in spectacular fashion batting .441 with two doubles, three homers and 12 RBI to win player of the week honors in the Eastern League. His cycle in that week was the first in the history of Hadlock Field where the Sea Dogs play their home games. If Margot continues such hitting he could be at Fenway before the end of next season.