Red Sox Spring Training: Prospect Watch

This is the second installation of the Prospect Watch, where we provide weekly updates and analysis of the top prospects in the Red Sox system.  There are currently 10 of the Red Sox top 30 prospects in camp with the team.  The following is an update on their performance through the first two weeks of Spring Training:

1. Yoan Moncada (ranked #1 by Soxprospects.com and MLB.com)

The 20-year-old has appeared in two games this Spring, with both appearances coming at second base.  Moncada is 2-for-4 with one strikeout and one walk.  Moncada is 7-for-7 in defensive plays, with two putouts and five assists.  He has also turned two double plays.

2. Brian Johnson (ranked #6 by Soxprospects.com and MLB.com)

Johnson has made two appearances this Spring.  He is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA.  In 4.2 innings of work, Johnson has given up five hits and one walk, while striking out four.  Opponents are hitting .263 off him this Spring.

3. Sam Travis (ranked #7 by Soxprospects.com and MLB.com)

The first baseman has appeared in nine games for the Red Sox this Spring.  Through his first 12 at-bats, Travis is batting .500 with one HR and seven RBIs.  Travis is top five on the team this Spring in both SLG (.833) and OPS (1.233).  He is also 39-for-39 on defensive plays.  Based on how Travis has looked so far, the Red Sox may have two formidable replacements for Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval whenever it comes time for them to leave Boston, with Travis at first and Travis Shaw at third.

4. Deven Marrero (ranked #8 by Soxprospects.com and #9 by MLB.com)

The second baseman has appeared in eight games this Spring.  Through his first 18 at-bats, Marrero only has three hits (.167 BA) and one RBI, with three walks and two strikeouts.  Marrero has played a team-high 43 innings in the field and is 23-for-23 on defensive plays, with 17 assists, six putouts and five double plays.

5. Marco Hernandez (ranked #13 by MLB.com and #13 by Soxprospects.com)

The shortstop has appeared in six games this Spring.  Through his first 13 at-bats, Hernandez has a .538 BA, .600 OBP, .846 SLG and 1.446 OPS, all of which fall within the top five in those categories for the team overall.  He has four doubles, six runs, four RBIs and stolen one base.  Hernandez has played 37 defensive innings this Spring and is 19-for-21 on defensive plays, with 14 assists, five putouts, five double plays and two errors.  As we continue to see more of Hernandez, it continues to become more clearer why the Red Sox felt comfortable trading Javier Guerra during the offseason.

6. Pat Light (ranked #15 by MLB.com and #16 Soxprospects.com)

Light has appeared in three games this Spring and pitched 4.2 innings overall.  He has surrendered nine hits and two walks, while striking out only one batter.  Light’s current ERA is 5.79 and opponents are hitting .409 off him this Spring.

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7. William Jerez (ranked #18 by Soxprospects.com and #20 by MLB.com)

Jerez has appeared in four games this Spring, pitching four innings overall.  He has given up two hits, including one HR, one walk and struck out two batters.  Other than the one mistake, which resulted in a two-run HR, opponents are only hitting .143 off him this Spring.

8. Noe Ramirez (ranked #21 by Soxprospects.com, but not ranked in top 30 by MLB.com)

Ramirez has pitched in five innings over four appearances this Spring and has yet to give up an earned run.  However, he has allowed nine men to reach base (five hits, four walks), resulting in a high WHIP of 1.80.  Ramirez also has five strikeouts.

9. Bryce Brentz (ranked #24 by Soxprospects.com and #30 by MLB.com)

Through eight appearances this Spring, the outfielder is 0-for-11, with nine of his outs coming by way of a strikeout.  His .154 OBP is one of the lowest on the team this Spring.  Brentz has also played 25 errorless innings this Spring in the outfield.

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10. Kyle Martin (ranked #28 by MLB.com and #31 by Soxprospects.com)

Martin has appeared in three games and pitched four innings.  He has given up three hits and three walks, while striking out five batters.  Opponents are hitting .231 off him.