Boston Red Sox: Potential prospect help for 2016

Jun 24, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park as the Boston Red Sox take batting practice prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Is there potential prospect help for the 2016 Boston Red Sox? This is a glance at some possibilities.

In the spring of 2015, the Boston Red Sox prospect list had both quality and depth. Quality, of course, is difficult to define until there is a measurement at the major league level, but three certainly came to the front of the prospect pack – Henry Owens, Blake Swihart, and Eduardo Rodriguez. All three have certainly energized the fan base as long-term contributions are expected. Just the lust of other GM’s in discussing deals quantifies the talent.

The Red Sox also benefited from a prospect or two that suddenly surprised – Jackie Bradley and Travis Shaw are entrenched into that category and both do have some question marks swirling around their 2015 performance. For Bradley was the real player the one who faded in September or the one that was dazzling for almost two months. Just Bradley’s defense is enough to give some measure of continued positives.

For Shaw, the discrepancy in certain stats is mystifying. The home (.319) and road (.224) averages are a stark reminder that Fenway can be very friendly indeed. But another statistic jumps out: Shaw, a left-handed hitter, batted .329 against lefties and .243 against righties. An unusual figure considering a young player being exposed to the rigors of MLB pitching.

There were other Pawtucket players who arrived in Boston and contributed, but to a relatively small degree as compared to the five mentioned – with Bradley being essentially a non-rookie. So will there be any surprises in 2016? Yes – there will be since there always is – so I will go and wander out to my prognostication limb and put down some possibilities.

Jul 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson (61) pitches during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Johnson actually performed – at least to this observer – with more consistency and talent than Owens and Rodriguez at Pawtucket. Johnson even managed a six inning “perfect” game in which he was removed – against his will – after 74 pitches. That pitch count thing that eventually proved to be management solid.

Johnson suffered a late-season elbow strain that has certainly put a Joe Btfspik (Thanks to Al Capp) black cloud over his 2016 season. In 2015 Johnson was an élite International League pitcher – quite possibly the best in the IL. The 1.10 WHIP, 2.53 ERA and decreasing walks demonstrated just that. Johnson was actually the lynchpin of that staff.

Good behaviors are rewarded and in baseball you substitute behavior with performance and Johnson got the call to Boston for a start and his first career loss at the MLB level. A 4.1 inning performance in which Johnson allowed four runs and a jittery four walks. That was virtually it for 2015 as medical issues shut Johnson down.

Expect Johnson to be at Pawtucket. A former (2012) first round pick who is now 25-years-old and will be the alpha dog of the PawSox rotation. I fully expect Johnson to continue to impress and if in Patriot tradition, it becomes “next man up” on the pitching staff then that is Johnson.

Contributions from young players also can take another route and that is their value to other teams. Pitching is at a premium and if Johnson picks up in the IL where he left off in 2015 the Johnson chip becomes even more valuable. Areas of need other than pitching can be resolved by a trade and a young, talented and controllable pitcher can certainly supply that.

Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

I have written about Marco Hernandez a few times and find his path to development intriguing. Hernandez is a PTBNL that was shipped to the Boston system to complete the deal that sent Felix Doubront to the Cubs. A PTBNL is usually an after-thought and one who is on the cusp of being a legitimate prospect.

Hernandez discovered some type of hitting elixir when he reported for duty at Portland in the Eastern League. Hernandez made the EL All-Star team and slashed .326/.349/.482 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 282 at bats. The OBP certainly shows that Marco is not one to bleed a count.

The next path for Hernandez was a call-up to Pawtucket where his initial foray into the IL was disappointing, but Hernandez recovered from advancement shock and produced a solid slash of .271/.300/.409.

Expect the now 23-year-old Hernandez to be starting at Pawtucket. Being added to the precious 40-man roster virtually insures that. The left-hand hitting Hernandez is best suited – according to scouting reports – at second base, but Hernandez has spent the bulk of his minor league career at short and has also seen duty at third. Expect him to move around since that is what the Red Sox have a tendency to do. Even some outfield innings would not surprise.

I expect Hernandez to have a potential future for Boston as a reserve infielder. At Pawtucket, there will also be Josh Rutledge and unless Rutledge is traded expect him to be the first call-up if a need arises, but do not discount Hernandez – after all, David Ortiz was once a PTBNL.

Oct 1, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Deven Marrero (16) slides past New York Yankees catcher John Ryan Murphy (66) to score during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Deven Marrero certainly has one part of the baseball equation – the glove – firmly under control. Marrero will be in competition with Hernandez and Rutledge for any openings of the infield variety that may surface during 2016. Where the issue with Marrero rests is another part of the equation – the bat.

A former first round selection that has been “held back” by the stick. At Pawtucket Marrero slashed .256/.316/.344 in 375 at bats and the real negative was 87 strike outs. The strike out syndrome followed Marrero to Boston, where a 33.9% whiff percentage accumulated in 53 at bats.

Marrero is a smart player and intelligence in baseball is at a premium. Marrero knows his limitations and will do exactly what he did at Pawtucket and move runners along. Situational baseball and being able to execute it is a plus to a player with limited offensive skills.

In Boston Marrero moved around the infield and I remember several plays that were of exceptional quality. Don’t expect Marrero to be a flashy player as you will get acrobatics that will make you baseball heart flutter. What Marrero does have is above average range, great instincts, a plus arm, and good footwork.

Marrero also is a player with value for a team that thinks defense first. Pitchers love a Marrero since he covers their mistakes with some quality defensive play, so if a body is needed in Boston that rings out “defense first” expect Marrero to get the call. Likewise, if another team needs a good glove man this is your guy, but just think Marco Scutaro – early on he couldn’t hit, either, and ended up an All-Star.

May 25, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; General view of third base during the ninth inning of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. The Twins win 7-2 over the Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Travis appears to be a slightly smaller version of Billy Butler. A stocky first baseman that will not be on the Olympic sprint squad. Travis, now 22-years-old, moved up from Salem A+ to Portland during 2015 and the right-hand hitter didn’t disappoint with a Portland slash of .300/.384/.436 and what draws my attention 33 walks and 34 strikeouts. Sam knows the strike zone.

Travis shuttled off to the Arizona Fall League and continued to hit posting a .344 average, but the power one expects from a first base player has yet to materialize – maybe it will during 2016?

Travis will get his reps at Pawtucket and I will not discount the possibility that he will be in Boston during the core of the season. I didn’t think Shaw would every see a Fenway sunset in 2015 and look what he did?

As with other prospects, a value may exist outside the organization and never discount the possibility of a trade. If Hanley Ramirez shifts to first base successfully that could be – at least temporarily – a block on Travis. But the potential that his bat may suddenly develop some more power could have this prospect skyrocket.