Red Sox number one draft choices – failures and successes
By Rick McNair
2012
There are no stars on the horizon from the 2012 draft. Deven Marrero was the first pick and is probably a career role player relying on his defensive acumen to be kept employed. In parts of three seasons (2014-17) Marrero has 109 games in the books and an accompanying .208 average. Marrero’s value is his exceptional glove work, and there is still the possibility his bat could ultimately catch up to his glove.
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Left-hander Brian Johnson has not joined Owens on the departed list, but by spring training he may be elsewhere. Injuries have affected Johnson’s career, but so has control. The lefty may be focused on relinquishing starting and concentrating on the bullpen.
Right-hander Pat Light has appeared in 17 MLB games with an 11.34 ERA. The Red Sox traded Light to Minnesota for Fernando Abad. Light has moved on to both The Pittsburgh and Seattle organizations. In 2017 Light was in AAA going 4-2 with a 4.58 ERA.
One potential from the 2012 draft is Austin Maddox who certainly became surprise material in 2017. Maddox – a 27-year-old right-hander – came on strong in 13 games down the stretch for the Red Sox allowing just one earned run in 17.1 innings. Can Maddox make the 2012 draft get a high grade?