Boston Red Sox 2016 minor league All-Star predictions
Catcher All-Star
The Red Sox have a very special dilemma with Blake Swihart and Christian Vazquez in that both are two potentially elite catchers. The catching talent is certainly in Boston, but the rest of the system is rather sparse. Catchers with some MLB experience are now in Pawtucket for support in case of trade or injuries.
Ben Moore, Jordan Weems, Danny Bethea, Jordan Procyshen and a host of others scattered throughout the system and the DSL all have one common trait – they can’t hit! The bats are duds and the defense comes in varying level of ability, but to choose one that will rise above the rest, it will be Tim Roberson
Roberson spent 2015 at Portland where the 26-year-old hit .300 in 57 games. The right-hand hitter has moved up incrementally in the system since signing in 2011 as an undrafted player. Roberson, however, has actually played very little at catcher appearing in only 22 games in 2015 as a backstop. Expect Roberson to split catching chores with Jake Romanski at Portland. Too bad Jon Denney blew up his career.
All-Star: Roberson
Outfieldeld All-Stars
The Red Sox have some question marks in Boston with Rusney Castillo and Jackie Bradley. The next line of replacement parts is located in Pawtucket with Brentz, Ryan LaMarre, and even Chris Dominguez. If desperation strikes there is Allen Craig. The system at the lower levels is sparse with one notable exception – Andrew Benintendi.
Benintendi just may be a rare find with power, speed, exceptional defense, a great OBP and the ability to hit for average. The stats have been repeated endlessly and the 2016 progress report will be interesting. Benintendi progressed enough to trade off talent. Benintendi may even surpass Moncada during the season.
When we did daily results during the season Yoan Aybar came up frequently when examining the GCL Red Sox. The 18-year-old is a lefty and very raw, but the potential is being noted. Excellent defensive skills and virtually no power – yet.
Danny Mars has a great name and Mars is a 21-year-old switch hitter with no power. A good defensive player with an average arm capable of playing all three outfield spots. Mars uses his above average speed – 13 steals in 16 attempts – and is your basic contact hitter who may develop some gap power. I look for Mars – a 6th round selection – to work his way into the regular lineup and get a .300+ average in the books for 2016.
The Red Sox minor league system does have a sudden shortage of talented young players, but things can change rapidly during the season and with the draft.
Starting Pitchers All- Stars:
The hot prospect on the pitching front is Anderson Espinosa. Only 17-years-old the right-hander is on everyone’s trade list when discussing swaps with Boston. Mid 90s fastball, good control, a killer change and a curve that may turn out to be his best pitch. Espinoza will be at the Faux Fenway in Greenville in 2016, but for how long?
Michael Kopech impressed one and all at Greenville in 2015 and especially the MLB testing protocols when Kopech grabbed a 50 game suspension. Kopech is a hard thrower with developing skills with a curve, slider and change. The 19-year-old is a power pitcher with a very high ceiling and 2016 will have Kopech tested at the next level in Salem.
William Cuevas went 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA in a combined Portland and Pawtucket season. The 25-year-old right-hander is certainly not in the rarefied prospect atmosphere, but throws strikes and keeps the ball down. I saw Cuevas at a late season Pawtucket game and he does have the ability to move the ball around with three pitches, but don’t expect anything above 92+ on the radar gun. Cuevas may be the only starter with the PawSox without MLB experience.
Trey Ball has been a disappointment since being drafted in the first round in 2013. A left-hander who is physically very similar to Henry Owens and also in pitch selection. The 20-year-old left-hander is simply not a hard thrower who relies on his ability with multiple pitches. A career BB/9 of 4.0 summarizes the primary issue and that also adds on pitching consistently behind in the count. Ball will start at Salem and move on to Portland with a sudden discover of control.
Relief Pitchers All-Stars:
I am truly fascinated by the 27-year-old right-hander Jorge Marban. Marban has flown more than a Senior Captain at Delta having stays in the United States, winter leagues, Australia and a few years of Independent Leagues.
Last season Marban went 7-2 with three teams in the Red Sox folder and posted a 1.31 ERA. Marban is smooth as one would expect with his extensive resume and can show a decent fastball and work three more pitches from it. The problem? A 4.8 BB/9. In 2015, the H/9 was 6.5 and that was in line with his entire career. In 13 PawSox innings, Marban issued four walks and one was intentional. I expect that BB/9 to decrease to 3.0 and the PawSox will have a solid reliever capable of multiple innings.
In 2015, the Red Sox transitioned Pat Light from starter to the bullpen and it just may pay off for the 24-year-old lanky right-hander. A hard thrower (94-97 MPH) with a skill set that includes a curve, change, and slider. As with many young pitchers, the developmental blockade is control and Light is not the exception. At Pawtucket it was 26 walks in 33 innings and that was reflected in a 5.18 ERA. Expect Light to tone down the walks and provide bullpen stability. Former first round (2012) pick.
I hate pitchers who walk batters and walk them in flocks so during 2015 Chandler Shepherd got my attention. Shepherd issued 10 walks in 67 innings in 2015 and for some reason managed six in 11.1 innings in the Arizona Fall League. Maybe a rattlesnake scare? Reports are his fastball is in the low 90s and mixes in a slider and curve. In 2015 at Salem Shepherd closed and was rewarded with six saves in 23 relief appearances.
Expect the former starter to continue his efforts out of the bullpen with Portland. Control gets attention and is a big plus, so reasonable progress could mean a trip to Pawtucket.
A 28-year-old left-hander who is a reasonable bet to walk more than he strikes out and is also coming off surgery. Daniel Rosenbaum does not throw exceptionally hard (low 90s would be an exaggeration), can change speeds and has a WHIP that some batters would relish as an average. To top it off, this is his second organization.
Rosenbaum will have a surprisingly good year with Portland and maybe beyond. Enough of a good year that he may even project as a situational lefty. Rosenbaum is truly my pitching long (very long) shot.
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Sources: Sox Prospects/MLB Prospect Watch