Red Sox Prospect Watch: Benintendi sizzles, Devers struggles
In this week’s prospect watch, we will take a look at what the top prospects at each level in the Red Sox organization are doing. Going forward this space will be used not only to look at the top prospects that you might know of, but also some under the radar guys that could be coming to Fenway in the next few years. This will not always be good news, just the best performers, but perhaps speculation on what might happen with a particular guy who is underperforming, or a guy who might be on the trading block. The player could be on the 40 man roster or maybe an older guy who might be about to break into, or return, to the big leagues.
Let’s get started, focusing on the top prospects in the organization, up and coming that avid Red Sox fans should have heard of by now.
Next: Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox
Jorge Marban is a 27 year old right hander whom Red Sox fans should keep on their radar. After two years in the Texas Rangers organization and three years in Independent Leagues, a Red Sox scout discovered him in Australia. While he struggles with his command at times, Marban used a plus split fingered fastball and mid 90s heat to post a 1.31 ERA in 62 innings between three levels including 0.69 in AAA Pawtucket in 13 innings in 2015. In 2016, he has continued his success and lack of control posting a 0.63 ERA in 14.1 innings but walking ten while striking out just seven and allowing seven hits.
Brian Johnson pitched just one inning after walking three and allowing two runs on a sac fly, striking out one. He threw only 26 pitches before the rains came and postponed the game. Johnson has struck out 21 in his 21 innings, but walked 14 while posting an even three ERA. He has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start. The walks are troublesome for someone who has always had excellent command, but it is still early in the season. Johnson was called up for one poor start (four earned runs in 4.1 innings with four walks) last season in Houston and is near the top of the list of potential call-ups when a starter in needed.
Sean Coyle has been on the 40 man roster for the Red Sox since November 2014 and little has gone right for the 2010 third rounder. He has not been able to get anything going at AAA since slamming 16 homers at AA Portland in 2014 earning that coveted 40 man spot in November of that year. In 2015, Coyle posted an anemic .159/.274/.302 batting line driving in just 16 runs in 148 plate appearances. 2016 has been no better thus far for Coyle. The five foot eight inch middle infielder has slashed just .143/.213/.268 with just three extra base hits in 56 plate appearances. He is just one for his last 20. Coyle has to be considered in jeopardy of losing his 40 man roster spot.
Next: Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Double A Portland Sea Dogs
Williams Jerez was looking like a bust of a second round pick out of a Brooklyn, NY high school in 2011. He was floundering as a position player (.529 OPS, zero homers in 353 plate appearances), when he was converted to pitcher in Spring Training of 2014. The lanky lefthander, posted a 2.54 ERA through three minor league levels over 88.2 innings in which he struck out 86. Jerez This earned him a 40 man roster spot in November of last year. He has continue to excel this year, posting a 3.24 ERA over 16.2 innings, striking out 12 and walking eight batters. His most recent week contained four innings over three games, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out four.
Teddy Stankiewicz was second rounder in 2013 out of high school. While not putting up spectacular numbers, he has used a four pitch mix to move up the minor leagues one level a year. He has shown good durability, making 25 starts and throwing 140 plus innings in each of the last two seasons. Thus far this season he has posted a 3.58 ERA over 27.2 innings, walking six and striking out 19. Batters have just a .235 average against him this season. Stankiewicz had a 1.13 ERA through his first four starts but hit a major speed bump in his last start allowing eight runs and nine hits over 3.2 innings.
Chandler Shepherd was drafted in the 13th round of the 2014 draft out of the University of Kentucky. The team thought enough of the right hander to include him in their Arizona Fall League team in 2015 where he posted a 3.97 ERA in 11.1 innings. Most noteworthy is he struck out 16 batters in those innings. Shepherd has continued that success this year posting a 1.88 ERA over 14.1 innings for Portland, walking three and striking out 18 with a nasty slider and a fastball that can touch 95. Over the last week, he has hurled 3.1 scoreless inning, allowing just one hit and walking one batter.
Next: High-A Salem Red Sox
High-A Salem Red Sox
Rafael Devers ( #4 rated by SoxProspects.com) has struggled mightily in his advance to Salem. The 19 year old third baseman is hitting just .151/.262/.280. This should be expected of someone three years younger than the average player in his league. Last year in Dominican Winter Ball he was fine, slashing .279/.340/.349 in 47 plate appearances. The young Dominican is starting to turn things around this year with a four for 17 stretch with three walks, a triple and eight RBI over the last week.
Andrew Benintendi (#2 prospect) is one of the hottest hitters anywhere in baseball. The Arkansas product, picked #7 by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2015 draft is living up to that slot, currently posting an fantastic .381/.442/.681 with 11 doubles, a remarkable seven triples, and a homer in just 105 plate appearances at Salem. It cannot be very long that he is at this level. He is riding a 23 game hit streak (hitting an otherworldly .450 over the last ten games), going an incredible 48 swings without a miss while striking out just seven times so far this season. The centerfielder could be in Boston before the end of the season at the rate he is going.
Yoan Moncada has been nearly as spectacular as Benintendi with the bat. The 20 year old Cuban second baseman (turns 21 on May 27) has posted a scorching .344/.475/.527 batting line with 11 extra base hits in just 93 plate appearances. Moncada has stolen 19 bases on the season as well. The Red Sox top rated prospect also has a strong throwing arm which should enable him to adapt to any position on the field as he goes through the minors. Over his last five games, he is seven for 19 with 11 runs scored, three steals, one homer and six RBI. He also, should not be at this level for much longer.
Next: Low-A Greenville Drive
Low-A Greenville Drive
Anderson Espinoza is perhaps the most highly touted prospect in the organization, considering he is only 18 years old and can touch 100 with his fastball. On Thursday night, Espinoza recorded his career high of 11 strikeouts in just five innings of work, allowing a run on five hits with a walk. The young Venezuelan fireballer has struck out 35 batters in 27 innings this season while posting an even 4.00 ERA. In his starts this season, his pitch count has not exceeded 78 pitches.
Josh Ockimey has blossomed this season into both an on-base and extra base hit machine posting a .276/.422/.940 batting line, though just three for 16 over the past five games (though two of the hits were doubles). The 20 year old Philadelphia native plays first base for the Drive. Ockimey was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. He has reached base in 21 of 23 games so far this season. A player to keep an eye on.
Next: Red Sox Rankings: Top-10 Base Stealers
Joseph Monge is Greenville’s leading hitter, posting a .317/.367/.427 batting line. He has hit six doubles and a homer so far this season. Over his past ten games he is batting .375. He has reached base in each of his last 15 games. The Bronx native was a 17th round draft choice of the 2013 draft.
Stay tuned to BoSoxInjection.com for weekly updates on these players, as well as other prospects, through the Red Sox system.