Red Sox Prospect Watch: C. Marrero, Ramos raking

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Mar 22, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Rusney Castillo (38) at bat against the Miami Marlins during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Triple-A Pawtucket

Chris Marrero continues to hammer the ball at Pawtucket, but it hasn’t resulted in a call up to the big leagues for him. In seven July games, the former Washington Nationals first rounder has gone 15 for 32, with three doubles, a triple and four homers, good for eight RBI and a video game-like .469/.500/1.000 slash line. His yearly numbers are ..298/.354/.518 with 16 homers in 309 at-bats.

If Rusney Castillo had Marrero’s numbers he would be back in the majors. While Bryce Brentz has done well in his recent stint (.925 OPS in 33 plate appearances), he wouldn’t have gotten a chance if Castillo was living up to his potential. Castillo is four for his last 25 with seven strikeouts and one walk. His .238/.291/.324 batting line is one of the reasons he was outrighted from the 40 man roster.

Henry Ramos had his own power surge over the last five games including hitting for the cycle on July 4th. He was eight for 24 in that span, with a double, triple and three homers. Two walks and seven RBI to go along with six runs scored were also part of this run. Since his June 6th promotion, Ramos has posted an encouraging .303/.319/.541 with five homers and 24 RBI in just 29 games

Next: Double-A Portland

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Andrew Benintendi (16) hits a sacrifice RBI against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Double-A Portland

Yoan Moncada has started to put up numbers that could lead to his promotion to Triple-A. In six July games, he is 10 for 23 with three doubles, a triple and three homers with 10 RBI. In 15 Portland games, Moncada is pounding the ball to a .317/.358/.619 batting line in 63 at-bats. He has stolen four bases at Portland to go along with the 36 he had in Salem.

Andrew Benintendi now has more Double-A games of experience and his numbers at the higher level are ascending to those High-A numbers. The Arkansas product is another Red Sox player heating up in July, going seven for 21 with four walks and no strikeouts. He has a double, two triples and two homers among his hits. In 173 Double-A at-bats Benintendihas posted a .283/.344/.497 line.

Mauricio Dubon has struggled of late at Portland. The 21 year old shortstop is just four for his last 25. He has knocked in three runs in that span and stole a base. For his time in Portland, his batting line stands at .235/,291/.373. While at Salem, Dubon slashed .766 for his OPS and stole 24 bases. In 13 games at Portland he has just that one steal.

Next: High-A Salem

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 /

High-A Salem

Rafael Devers is another hitter flourishing in the month of July. The 19 year old is 12 for 26 with six doubles, a triple and a homer in that brief span of games. His /ops for the season, which stood at .504 at the end of April has climbed all the way to .703 today. Over his last 13 games, Devers has pounded a 1.050 OPS. He is showing by his improvement, he will be ready for Double A by the start of next season.

Danny Mars has turned some heads with the progression of his base stealing abilities. After 15 and 16 his first two seasons, the 2014 eighth rounder has already swiped 20 bags this season. With the departures of Moncada and Dubon, Mars has the most runs scored on the team with 42. While the speed is a strong point, the 15 extra base hits in 268 at-bats has to be a cause for concern as the speed is not so overwhelming as to compensate for being only a singles hitter.

Trey Ball has taken a big step back over his last two starts. In that span he has allowed 10 runs over eight innings, allowing eight hits but an alarming 10 walks while striking out seven. Of course all players have their bad games and as a young professional, Ball is no exception. Even with his terrible last two outings, he still holds a 3.36 ERA, allowing just 55 hits in 67 innings. The 39 walks in his season is certainly a concern.

Next: Low-A Greenville

May 5, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baseball glove on turf before an MLB game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /

Low-A Greenville

Kyri Washington had a tough last five games, going two for 15, both doubles, but managed to draw eight walks in that span. He also came around to score twice in the last five games. The ability to draw walks, even when the hits are not coming, is an encouraging skill especially at this lower level of the minors. Washington has a .283/.339/.556 batting line this season, slugging 17 doubles, four triples, and 12 homers while driving in 55 runs in 59 games.

Anderson Espinoza is continuing the growing pains of any young talented playe, allowing six runs over 8.2 innings over his last two startsr. He has exceeded the 80 pitch mark in two of his last three starts, with 87 and 92. His last time out, he allowed four earned runs over five innings, striking out three and walking none. On July 1 he allowed his first ever professional home run. Considering, it took 120 innings for that to happen, it was an impressive feat to go that long before allowing a home run. Hopefully, he can continue to be stingy allowing the home runs. In 71 innings this year, he has a 4.18 ERA, allowing 71 hits, walking 25 batters and striking out 65.

Josh Ockimey has tailed off somewhat since his hot start to the season. After a 1.016 OPS through May, he slumped to a .766 mark in June. Remember these are still young players adjusting to the grind of a full season. Ockimey has already exceeded his total number of games in a season, with 73. He is just five for his last 41 with 14 strikeouts. The Philadelphia native was able to slug two homers during that span and walk four times. His yearly numbers are still very good, .271/.402/.488 including 12 homers on the season.

Next: Short Season Lowell

Sep 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Casey Janssen (44) throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Nationals 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Short Season Lowell

Casey Janssen has been in Lowell for the last two weeks, getting in shape for a possible return to the majors. The acquisition of Brad Ziegler is not good news for his chances, but either way, he needs to perform on the field to get a chance anywhere, if not Boston. This week was better for him, posting scoreless appearances over his last two outings, on back to back days, logging 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, striking out one batter and walking none.

Roldani Baldwin came back to Earth this week, going just three for 18, after a scorching start that had him leading the league in hitting. The Dominican-born catcher is still slashing .333/.385/.463 on the year on 69 at-bats for Lowell. He has also spent time at Greenville this season, posting a .658 OPS in 102 at-bats there.

Tyler Hill, the Spinners right fielder, is fourth in the New York Penn League with a .343 mark in 70 at-bats. The 19th round selection of 2014 out of high school in Delaware, has also knocked five doubles and three triples on the season, good for a .500 slugging percentage. This is a mark hitters look for, much like a .300 batting average. Hill has stolen three bases on the season, but has been caught on four occasions.

Stay tuned each week to Red Sox Prospect Watch so you might know the guys that are traded from the system when the Red Sox try to build their championship team for this season.

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