Red Sox Prospect Watch: Just a couple of games in

Pawtucket Red Sox

Triple-A is always kind of weird when it comes to prospects. A lot of veterans are in the league, waiting in the wings should the Major League team need them. So prospects aren’t as common as you’d expect. That being said, the Pawtucket Red Sox have a few to watch out for.

Let me get this out of the way now – just like last year, Rusney Castillo is killing it already. That contract’s not doing him any favors though. So he’s basically stuck there.

Sam Travis is obviously one of the first names you’ll think of after Castillo. The first baseman’s already had time in the Majors and held his own. He’s not great defensively, but he’s taking steps in the right direction.

The bat is the major selling point for him. He doesn’t have crazy power but isn’t completely lost in that area either. Contact is the name-of-the-game for Travis, and that doesn’t seem to have changed early on. He’s hitting .286 with one double and three RBI over 28 at-bats so far.

With Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland both hitting so well, Travis has no spot in the Majors right now.

Sticking with hitters, Chad De La Guerra had a breakout year in 2017. He’s come out of the gates in 2018 a little cold though. A .130/.200/.174 slash line isn’t pretty, but a good game or two could change that narrative fast. His ability to play multiple infield positions makes him a little more intriguing, but the Red Sox probably won’t need him this year.

Jalen Beeks has been solid since joining the Boston system in 2014 but was special in 2017. The left-hander is showing no signs of slowing down in 2018 either. He’s pitched eight innings so far, giving up just one earned run while striking out 16. The 24-year-old will probably see MLB time at some point this year.

Now let’s get to one of my “clients”.

Dedgar Jimenez looked pretty dominant in Advanced-A last season and didn’t miss a beat going to Double-A.

This year, however, he stumbled in his first start. The 22-year-old allowed four runs over 4 2/3 innings for the Portland Sea Dogs. His response was getting a shot in Triple-A and throwing six innings of two-run ball for Pawtucket.

Constantly doubted, this might be the year Jimenez finally gets the positive attention he deserves.