Red Sox Prospect Watch: Benintendi promoted, Wilkerson excels

Benintendi promoted, Wilkerson lights out, updates on some Red Sox players trying to get back to the majors

The big news this week was Andrew Benintendi‘s promotion to Portland after tearing up High-A to the tune of a .976 OPS and just nine strikeouts in 135 plate appearances.  We will take a look at what he is doing in Portland so far.

In a surprise move this week, Blake Swihart was promoted to the majors to replace Brock Holt while he deals with a concussion-related injury, as he was placed on the 7-day Concussion Disabled List. He has played 11 games in left field so this apparently qualifies him better than others who have played way more. Roenis Elias was in the majors last year but are in AAA trying to get back up to the bigs, is he going to get another opportunity beyond the two days he was up so far this year?

In response to a Twitter comment, we will take a look at some other promising players at Salem.  In this vein, the weekly column will now take a look at four players at each level instead of three.  We are just four weeks away from the start of the Short-Season Lowell Spinners season which will be previewed in the coming weeks. Marco Hernandez, profiled last week is now back in the majors again. So, remember the names you see here, they could be in Fenway the next time there is an opening.

Let’s get started

Next: Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox

Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox

Roenis Elias has not pitched for the Red Sox like he did for the Mariners for whom he made 49 starts (3.97 ERA) over the course of the last two seasons. While Joe Kelly was rehabbing an injured shoulder, the need arose for a spot starter. Due to Elias’ struggles (17 walks in 21.2 innings) at that time, he was passed over. The Red Sox hope he has turned a corner in his last two starts, he has walked just two in 11.2 innings. In his last start, Elias walked none over 7.2 innings, striking out 13 batters, allowing two runs on five hits. For the season he has a 4.96 ERA over 32.2 innings, striking out 33, walking 19. His .311 batting average against is troubling along with the 19 walks, but hopefully he can get back his Seattle ways

Sam Travis impressed all Spring Training with his hitting. While he has not been spectacular, he has posted a .281/.338/.438 batting line so far this season in 146 at-bats, slugging five homers and knocking in 23. Three of his homers came over two games last weekend, driving in seven runs. Over his last ten games, Travis is batting .237 (nine for 38)

Kyle Martin had a slow start to his season, but has come on of late. The 6-7 Texas A&M product was drafted in the 9th round in 2013. After a 5.40 ERA in April in 10 innings, something clicked in for Martin. In 11 May innings, he has allowed just five hits and one run for a 0.82 ERA. Over his last five appearances, he has fired 9.1 innings, allowing just two hits, walking three and striking out 13. He has walked just three while striking out 28 in 21 innings this season.  Perhaps the Red Sox might consider him as an option out of the bullpen later this season.

When the Red Sox decided to promote Swihart over Rusney Castillo to play left in Boston, that should tell you all you need to know about where the Cuban import is right now. While Castillo’s OPS improved from .555 to .673 from April to May, he has shown little of the ability that prompted the Red Sox to give him a $72.5 million deal. Rusney has six doubles in 117 at-bats this season with 12 RBI and three stolen bases. Whether he is just not motivated in the minors, or really just not that good, he is doing little to turn anyone’s head to get him back to the big leagues

Next: Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Andrew Benintendi was promoted this week to Portland after his fast start at Greenville (.976 OPS). His first few games have shown that perhaps the talk about him playing left field at Fenway this summer is not realistic yet. The 21 year old Arkansas product is just two for 15 in his first four games at Portland, striking out five times and walking just once. He has a double and two runs batted in so far. It is just the first week of course, and no one was sending him up to Boston quite yet, but even though there is a need in left field in Boston, fans need to understand that Benintendi still needs to develop and prove himself at the lower levels before moving up, just like any other player.

Justin Haley is now in his third season at Portland (the first was a partial season), so as he turns 25, he needs to show something soon to stay with the organization. He has been the Clay Buchholz of their minor league system, up and down. In 2014, a 1.19 ERA in 37.7 innings, then in 2015, a 5.15 ERA in 124 innings. A sparkling 14 innings in the Arizona Fall League twirling a 0.64 ERA. This year, a 2.87 ERA in 37.2 innings. True to form, he had a third of an inning disaster of a start this week after a four start run in which he allowed just three runs in 26 innings.

Jake Romanski is a name you could hear at the major league level as a backup. He is having a big year for average this season, hitting at a .333/.361/.392 clip with just 10 strikeouts in 102 at-bats. Romanski was drafted in the 14th round out of San Diego State in 2013. Defensively, he is very solid with a strong throwing arm, so he should be able to make the majors somewhere, if not Boston.

Aaron Wilkerson may need a new challenge above Portland. Signed out of an independent league in 2014, Wilkerson has excelled everywhere he has gone. In 80 innings including last season at Portland, he has a 2.02 ERA and 0.94 WHIP striking out 81 batters, walking just 25. This season, his ERA stands at 1.37, allowing a .158 batting average against in 39.1 innings, striking out 46. The Red Sox need to send the 26 year old to Pawtucket, to see how he fares there because Portland is too easy for him now.

Next: High-A Salem Red Sox

Low-A Greenville Drive

Anderson Espinoza has enormous potential with his near 100 mph fastball, but since his 11 strikeout effort of May 5th, he has continued to remind people he is a long way off from the majors. In his second start since that big day, he allowed three runs on seven hits (his highest total of hits this year), striking out four batters and walking one. The 18 year old Venezuelan has a 4.54 ERA in 33.2 innings this season, allowing 33 hits, walking 13 and striking out 42.

Roniel Raudes is another 18 year old pitcher, who is not as highly touted as Espinoza but is putting up good numbers this season. The 27th ranked prospect at soxprospects. com, Raudes is not the fireballer Espinoza is, using a low-90s fastball and an excellent curveball and pitch command to mow down hitters. He has a 3.09 ERA in 32 innings this season, walking eight and striking out 30.

Tate Matheny, profiled in last week’s Prospect Watch, has hit a rough patch. He is just two for his last 18, with a single RBI, no walks and six strikeouts. For the season, the 22 year old 2015 fourth round choice is batting .306/.352/.429 with six stolen bases and 15 RBI in 23 games.

Next: Red Sox Clay Buchholz Is The Heartbreak Kid

Jarred Cosart began his pro career as a starter but his big fastball, hitting 95 at times, has sent him to the bullpen, where he has flourished this season. The brother of the Miami Marlins Jarred Cosart, Jake has a 2.25 ERA this season over 11 appearances, totalling 20 innings, walking nine and striking out 27 batters. He typically throws between 30 and 45 pitches per appearance.

Stay tuned to BoSoxInjection.com for all your news an analysis on the next crop of Red Sox stars.