Red Sox number one draft choices – failures and successes
By Rick McNair
The Future
The 2013 draft has no one of note as number one pick Trey Ball has stalled. In 2017 the lefty was 7-12 with Portland (AA) and quite hittable with a 6.71 ERA. No one else in the draft class is projected for everyday contributions. But 2014 may be different with Chavis and Sam Travis part of that group. Michael Kopech was also a number one selection and his ceiling is quite high – only for the White Sox.
Andrew Benintendi is a rare number one pick who languished in the minors for a grand total of 151 games before bypassing AAA and joining the Red Sox. This kid is the real deal from a draft class that appears rather bleak.
The 2016 and 2017 class have Groome and last year’s number one choice right-hander Tanner Houck as the ones to watch. Groome has been slowed by injuries, but at just 19-years-old his development is still in the raw stages.
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Houck started ten games for the Lowell Spinners (Short Season A) and finished 0-3 with a 3.63 ERA. Expect Houck and Groome to be in the rotation for the Greenville Drive (Low A) to start 2018.