BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox Prospect Watch: Benintendi promoted, Wilkerson excels

By Drew Peabody

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks batter Tyler Spoon (8) congratulates runner Andrew Benintendi (16) after Benintendi hit 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 batter Tyler Spoon (8) congratulates runner Andrew Benintendi (16) after Benintendi hit 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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Apr 2, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Red Sox infielder Mauricio Dubon (7) is tagged out at second base by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Jio Mier (58) during the seventh inning at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Red Sox infielder Mauricio Dubon (7) is tagged out at second base by Toronto Blue Jays infielder Jio Mier (58) during the seventh inning at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

High-A Salem Red Sox

Mauricio Dubon was drafted in the 26th round of the 2013 draft out of high school in Sacramento, California. This lower round may have left the shortstop with something to prove as he is performing like some of the other more highly touted prospects there. The Honduran-born Dubon, has posted a sparkling .333/.408/.415 batting line this season. He has also stolen 13 bases in 37 games. Like Benintendi, if he continues to dominate at Salem, he could be promoted as well, though he is blocked at shortstop at the major league level for the next decade at least.

Nick Longhi has joined the Salem hit parade as well (team batting average is .278, next highest is .260). The 30th round choice from 2013, has ridden a hot May (.340/.438/.509) to an outstanding batting line for the season, .310/.387/.423. Though he had seven home runs last season at Greenville, he has not connected this season, though he has 29 RBI in 37 games. Longhi is eighth in the league in batting average currently. The Red Sox organization is quite deep at the first base position, it would seem.

Trey Ball is starting to live up to the promise the Red Sox saw in him when they made him the seventh overall pick in the 2013 draft. After a tough year last year at Salem (4.73 ERA in 129.1 innings), the 6-6 lefty is off to a great start this season. After four starts covering 23 innings, Ball has a 1.96 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, allowing just 14 hits, walking nine and striking out 15 batters.

David Sopilka is so under the radar that even a usually very thorough site like soxprospects.com has just a cursory report on him “Catcher from Venezuela. Solid defensively. Below-average hitter.” Maybe there is something in the water in Salem, but Sopilka has put up numbers like never before this season. After a .640 OPS last season at Greenville, Sopilka has raked this season so far in 52 at-bats posting an excellent .365/.441/.538 batting line. The 22 year old Venezuelan perhaps has figured some things out, but let’s see how he pans out over the next couple months before getting too excited.

Next: Low-A Greenville Drive

Home/Red Sox News