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Red Sox Prospect Watch: Benintendi cools off, Ockimey rakes

By Drew Peabody |
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks runner Andrew Benintendi (16) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Virginia Cavaliers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks runner Andrew Benintendi (16) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Virginia Cavaliers won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
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This week’s Red Sox Prospect Watch will look at a slightly different group of players.  A wider variety of players, you might not see elsewhere.

Jul 12, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; World infielder Rafael Devers grabs a ground ball against the U.S. Team during the All Star Futures Game at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; World infielder Rafael Devers grabs a ground ball against the U.S. Team during the All Star Futures Game at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

There are still the big names like Benintendi and Moncada, but there are also lesser-known prospects, except to the most ardent fan.  Some guys might not meet the traditional definition of prospect but they are included to keep an eye on guys who might be able to help the team this year.  Some are higher round draft choices and those have drawn our attention from their stellar performance.

The Watch will also include some guys who have had a taste of the big leagues this season and are trying to make their way back.  They might be ones we have seen a lot of in Boston or ones that we have only seen just a bit this year.  While the bigger names will likely stay on from week to week, the variety of players should keep your interest more than just the same star prospects.

The way the Red Sox offense has been performing of late, it doesn’t seem like they will ever need any help from the minors, but spots always open up.  Injuries can come out of nowhere, and the depth of prospects will be necessary to continue winning games as they have in 2016 as they hope to march to the playoffs.

Next: Triple-A Pawtucket

Apr 17, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox player Marco Hernandez (40) bats during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox player Marco Hernandez (40) bats during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Triple-A Pawtucket

40-man roster spot holder Sean Coyle maybe be in line for a demotion. The second baseman is now 0-for-15 in May and 1-for-30 in his last ten games. His slash line is an embarrassing .121/.194/.227 in 66 at-bats this season.

Blake Swihart is struggling in his return to the minors. He is posting just a .217/.302/.289 batting line in 83 at-bats at AAA. If he isn’t hitting in Triple-A, it won’t matter much if he can play left field. With the way the Red Sox offense is firing on all cylinders, his performance would have to be incredible to break back into the majors anyway.

Marco Hernandez has had two stints so far in the majors this year totaling seven days. He is just two for his last 15 over his last four games, cooling off after a 10-for-19 stretch when he returned to Pawtucket on May 2 after his last Boston stint. The shortstop is slashing .326/.376/.442 in 86 at-bats with five doubles, a triple, a homer, and eight RBI for Pawtucket.

William Cuevas was another Red Sox who had a brief stay in the bigs this year, all of two days. Those numbers aren’t as important as what he is doing in Pawtucket this year, which is continuing to pitch well. Over his last two starts, Cuevas has thrown 13 innings while allowing three runs on seven hits. For the season, Cuevas has a 4-1 record with a 3.13 ERA, allowing just a .190 batting average while walking 15 and striking out 24 in 31.2 innings.

Next: Double-A Portland

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
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 /

Double-A Portland

Williams Jerez struggled this week in two appearances. The 40-man roster pitcher gave up two hits and a run in a third of an inning in his first appearance. In his second appearance, he was touched for six hits and a walk over 2.1 innings while throwing 36 pitches. Jerez struck out three in that second appearance, allowing two earned runs. He has a 4.19 ERA over 19.1 innings, allowing 25 hits and walking nine, while striking out 15.

Nate Freiman was three-for-eight with three RBI in his debut with the Red Sox organization. The six foot, eight inch former major leaguer may not fit the strict definition of a prospect at the age of 29, but if the Red Sox need a guy in a pinch due to an injury, Freiman could be an option. He did strike out four times, which might be a symptom of being out of the minors for a few weeks.

Teddy Stankewicz bounced back from an eight earned run start on May 3, to twirl six innings on May 9, allowing two runs on six hits, hitting two batters, walking one and striking out four. The 2013 second rounder has a 3.48 ERA in 33.2 innings this season, allowing 29 hits and seven walks for a 1.07 WHIP

Next: High-A Salem

Mar 9, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Yoan Moncada (22) reaches to tag Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte (6) in the second inning of the spring training game at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Yoan Moncada (22) reaches to tag Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte (6) in the second inning of the spring training game at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

High-A Salem

On Tuesday, when he had a scheduled day off, some speculated Andrew Benintendi might be heading to Double-A Portland. The Red Sox had no such promotion in mind. The Arkansas product has cooled a bit going 5-for-20 with three RBI over his last five games. He has a 1.019 OPS over 123 at-bats this season with just nine strikeouts, no more than one in any game.

Rafael Devers is starting to find his stroke. Over his last five games, he is 6-for-18 with a walk, a homer and an RBI and four runs scored. He doesn’t have those sparkling season-long numbers yet. His slash line sits at .193/.287/.333 so far this season.

Yoan Moncada continues to produce offensively. He was 4-for-17 over his last five games with four walks, a homer and five RBI. Moncada stole two bases over that span as well. The Cuban signee has a .325/.455/.518 slash line so far this season, justifying the Red Sox’ $63 million investment.

Next: Low-A Greenville

May 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Red Sox warm up prior to a game against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Red Sox warm up prior to a game against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Low-A Greenville

Anderson Espinoza reminded fans who might be thinking he is on his way to the big leagues tomorrow, he is just a developing 18-year old. After 11 strikeouts in his prior start, Espinoza returned to Earth with an ordinary 57 pitch start of 1.2 innings in which he allowed two runs on three hits, walking three and striking out three. Remarkably, in his 87 professional innings he has yet to allow a home run.

Josh Ockimey continues his torrid hitting. His batting line has risen to a tremendous .303/.453/.616. Over his last five games, the 20-year old from Philadelphia is 7-for-15 with six walks, three doubles, two homers and nine RBI. If this performance continues, Ockimey will crack the list of top Red Sox prospects. He was ranked 37th at soxprospects.com to start the season, but now ranks 26th.

Next: Red Sox offense knocking on the door of historic pace

Tate Matheny might have been known at first for the last name of his father, former catcher and now St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. This year he is starting to make people forget who his dad is. After being drafted in the fifth round in 2015, Matheny struggled at short-season Lowell to a .181/.233/.218 batting line. After a good start, Matheny has exploded in May, putting up a .441/.441/.706 batting line with two doubles, two triples and a homer in 34 at-bats.

Stay tuned each Saturday for another edition of Red Sox Prospect Watch.

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