Salem and Greenville
While Rafael Devers has been the man with the highest expectations, there is a player who currently is having arguably the best season of any prospect. Also, he might be the one prospect who is the highest rising player in the system. This praise goes to the current first baseman of the Salem Red Sox: Josh Ockimey.
The former 5th round pick of the 2014 draft, Ockimey has had an amazing season in Class-A Advanced Salem. He is currently hitting .309 with an OPS of .922 in 162 at-bats this season. You hope that a player is able to get 550-600 at-bats in a season. With Ockimey being roughly a third of the way there, you can clearly see this is not just a hot streak.
Also, Ockimey has managed to slug 7 home runs this year. With power being his best tool, Josh Ockimey is showing it off this season. Many Red Sox scouts were in love with his power during pre-draft workouts. Also, there was a report that he was hitting mammoth home runs over the Green Monster during those same workouts.
Ockimey profiles a lot like another first baseman prospect in the system: Sam Travis. Both have their bat as their best tool, and both are not viewed as plus defenders. It is clear that both players have to play first base in order to be successful.
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With the emergence at the major league level of Sam Travis, Josh Ockimey might be blocked. With that being said, he could be an integral piece of a trade. If the Red Sox wanted to acquire a starter or another reliever, Josh Ockimey would be a valuable asset to another organization.