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Red Sox Prospect Watch: Spring Training is in Full Swing

By Mike El-Far

Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) works out prior the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) works out prior the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 6, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Sam Travis (59) hits a three run home run against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Sam Travis (59) hits a three run home run against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Non-Roster Invitees

The best part of Spring Training is seeing the young players who are still not MLB-ready, but can gain valuable experience.  Sam Travis is trying to prove that while he is very young, he also is ready to start his major league career.  Travis is hitting .313 in the Spring, with a great .875 slugging percentage.  That slugging percentage is good enough to be 3rd best on the team.  Travis has gotten 5 hits, and those 5 hits have all been for extra bases.

Travis shares the team lead in home runs, and it is not surprising to see at all.  Also, he was projected to hit roughly 25 home runs last year in Pawtucket before he torn his ACL in May.   His other two hits?  Two doubles, both which were absolutely crushed.  One of his doubles in featured below.

While Mitch Moreland and Hanley will more than likely play first base for all of 2017, it is pretty much assumed that Travis will be the everyday first baseman for 2018 and going forward.  Also, there is a chance that Travis can play in Boston this year if the circumstances are right.  If Pablo Sandoval either gets injured, or plays like he did in 2015, Travis could play third base this year.  Whenever he comes up, he will provide a lot of power to the lineup.

Speaking of third base, it has been somewhat of a tough position to fill in Boston.  Whether it was the over-hyped Will Middlebrooks, the disappointing Pablo Sandoval, or the recently traded Travis Shaw.  This position has been a pitfall of the Boston Red Sox.  But, the third baseman of the future is only a couple years away.  Rafael Devers, the best prospect in the system come May, has struggled this spring.

Next: Sandoval quietly having a great spring

Devers is currently hitting .091, as he has gotten 1 hit in 11 at-bats.  Clearly, that is not great.  But, Devers is only 20 years old, and is slated to spend most of the season in Portland.  He is probably not going to be ready until 2018, and will not play everyday for 2 years.  Even so, he has great power all over the field, and can make some great plays at third.

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