Red Sox: Bryce Brentz, Rusney Castillo named 2017 IL All-Stars
Pawtucket Red Sox outfielders Bryce Brentz and Rusney Castillo were named to the 2017 International League All-Star team.
The outfield depth of the Boston Red Sox has never been stronger. While the young core of Killer B’s patrols the outfield grass at Fenway, the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox have also been privy to the organizational depth when it comes to outfielders.
Yesterday, both Bryce Brentz and Rusney Castillo were named 2017 International League All-Stars at their respective outfield positions. A tribute to their strong seasons from beginning to end, Brentz and Castillo highlight a list of just 10 players named to the IL All-Star team.
Brentz, the Red Sox 2010 1st-round draft pick, has put together a dominant season at the plate with a line of .273/.337/.534 and an OPS of .871. He’s also added 30 home runs, 20 doubles, 83 RBIs, and 117 hits in 115 games to his body of work for the year.
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Castillo, as we all know, was brought in by the Red Sox in August of 2014 after he signed a 7-year, $72.5 million deal. While the deal has ultimately been a loss, Castillo has proven to be the dynamic and flashy outfielder down in Pawtucket that we were promised way back in the summer of 2014.
On the season, Castillo has put up a line of .314/.350/.507, an OPS of .857, 15 home runs, 22 doubles, 14 stolen bases, 43 RBIs, and 109 hits in just 87 games.
For Brentz, this season may finally see him rewarded with an extended look at the Major League level either this September or next season. Having been a member of the organization for eight years now, he’s played just 34 total games in a Red Sox uniform. Hopefully this complete year at the plate he has put together can remedy this injustice.
For Castillo, this season could see him rewarded with the Red Sox fourth outfield position heading into the 2018 season. While his annual salary north of $11 million through 2020 poses a financial issue for the Red Sox and their luxury tax purposes, if Castillo can parlay this year into a successful 2018 campaign on the big league roster he is a luxury the Red Sox can afford.
With both players seemingly coming into their own this year and being rewarded as such, the 2018 Red Sox outfield picture begins to come into focus with Chris Young potentially leaving via free agency at the conclusion of the year.
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However the future pans out for the franchises’ glut of outfield options, Dave Dombrowski can feel confident in knowing he has reliable options up and down the ladder.