Red Sox Prospect Watch: Strong early impressions made

2 of 5

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 05: Alex Cora #20 of the Boston Red Sox is announced before the Red Sox home opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on April 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Despite it being early in the year, some Boston Red Sox minor leaguers are already making strong impressions on the season. Who’s building their resume?

The Boston Red Sox are considered to have one of the weaker minor league systems in baseball. I like to bring this up often because while they don’t have the star power, there are quite a few hidden gems.

Early on in the year, the Red Sox minors are already seeing massive returns from these prospects. While others are struggling out of the gate.

I’m a positive person though. I’m extremely optimistic and find it easy to see what a player is doing right, even when they’re struggling. Due to that, I can spot what a prospect can bring to a Major League team, even when the prospect doesn’t seem valued at the moment.

With that in mind, I should warn everyone, that if you’re a pessimist, this probably isn’t the series for you. I’m not going to pretend like someone isn’t struggling, but I’m not going to berate them either. Especially when there are obvious positives still coming out of their play.

The good news is, with so many minor league teams, it’s not hard to find players both excelling and floundering. That gives me plenty to write about each week. Expect a lot of Paul Heyman references, with some Fandango sprinkled in as well.

Without further ado, let’s jump right in with Triple-A, where some familiar names are starting off the season absolutely scorching hot.

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 12: Sam Travis #59 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at Fenway Park on September 12, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A)

Expect this to be a weekly thing – Rusney Castillo is killing it. He’s not exactly a “prospect” but he’s in the minors. Castillo is hitting .333 and leads the team in runs batted in (9) and runs scored (8), as well as steals (3).

On to the true prospects.

There’s a reason Sam Travis is the Red Sox number five prospect. Dude can rake.

As I’ve mentioned before, there’s no room for Travis on the MLB roster at the moment. That doesn’t mean his strong performance will go unnoticed though.

Through 13 games, the right-handed batter has a .346/.414/.462 slash line with five runs scored and eight runs batted in. The home runs haven’t come yet for someone who was expected to hit around 15-20 a year. He’s yet to mash 10 yet in a season. He’s showing some life though, with three doubles and one home run to his credit early on.

The 24-year-old has played 20 innings in left field this year, expanding his defensive portfolio. Meanwhile, he’s played 89 errorless innings at first base.

Chad De La Guerra is slashing just .132/.175/.184 so far this year. The infielder only has 38 career Triple-A at-bats though, so give him some time to adjust. He’s coming off a breakout season that saw career-highs in nearly every offensive category.

Williams Jerez has thrown six shutout innings for Pawtucket. The left-handed reliever’s allowed one hit and four walks in that time, en route to two saves. The 25-year-old could be an intriguing lefty-bullpen arm behind Bobby Poyner.

Speaking of Poyner, he’s back in Triple-A. After being activated from the disabled list, he was sent to the minors. This was nothing against his performance, he was fantastic in the Majors in fact. The Red Sox pitching staff is just getting healthy again, so there was no room for him.

He’s already got a perfect inning under his belt in Triple-A now. Expect Poyner back in the Majors the next time injuries come knocking.

Kyle Martin made a brief appearance in the Majors last season and appears to want to return. The 27-year-old has a 2.45 earned run average over 11 innings. He’s struck out 11 while opponents are hitting .167 against him.

Robby Scott is trying to find his way back the Boston as well. The left-hander has thrown 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one earned run. Meanwhile, he’s struck out 12 compared to just one walk.

Jalen Beeks broke out last season and only looks better in 2018. The left-handed starter has allowed one earned run over 14 innings (0.64 ERA). Opponents are hitting .192 against him and he’s already logged 26 strikeouts.

I can’t imagine many scenarios where Beeks doesn’t make his Red Sox debut this season.

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 19: Trey Ball of the Boston Red Sox, seventh overall draft pick, meets the media in the Red Sox dugout before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 19, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Gail Oskin/Getty Images) /

Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)

The Sea Dogs are home to plenty of scalding-hot and ice-cold players at the moment.

On the scalding-hot side for the hitters are Cole Sturgeon and Tate Matheny, as well as Josh Tobias and Esteban Quiroz.

Sturgeon is slashing .364/.446/.600 with nine RBI and 10 runs scored. He’s mashed four doubles and three home runs while stealing five bases in five attempts.

Meanwhile, Matheny has a .326/.348/.426 slash line with three RBI and 10 runs scored. He’s not hitting for extra-bases like Sturgeon, but that’s still a fantastic line. The 24-year-old also has two steals.

Tobias spent last year adjusting to Double-A and seems to have a grasp of it in 2018. The switch-hitter has a .327 average with one home run on the year. He’s scored eight runs and driving in three more as well. On defense, he’s trying out a new position with third base and doesn’t look bad.

Esteban Quiroz is the reason Tobias is no longer playing second. He’s looked fine in the field, but it’s his bat that’s been most exciting. The 26-year-old Mexican League product has a .306/.424/.612 slash line on the year. He leads the team in home runs (4) and RBI (13), while his 10 runs are tied for the team lead as well.

I’m officially adding Quiroz to my client list.

Pitching-wise, Mike Shawaryn still looks sharp. The right-handed pitcher has a 2.70 ERA in three starts (16 2/3 innings). He’s not the only one impressing though.

Adam Lau has a 3.60 ERA over five innings, that includes a save. The 23-year-old has shown improvement on his pitches this season. It’s showing early as opponents hold a .222 batting average against him this year.

Jake Cosart was ridiculous in 2016. In 2017 he was really really good. Now in 2018, he’s been fantastic. Yet, the 24-year-old isn’t showcased in the Red Sox top-30 prospect list.

Cosart hasn’t allowed an earned run over 7 2/3 innings (four appearances) this year. In that time the right-hander has eight strikeouts while opponents are hitting .111 against him. He also has a ridiculous 0.65 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).

More from Red Sox Prospects

25-year-old Matthew Kent is also putting up some crazy numbers. The lefty’s thrown 8 1/3 innings and has a 0.00 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. Oh, and opponents are hitting .080 and have struck out 11 times against him.

Someone I’ve always been a big fan of is Trevor Kelley. Definitely, consider him a “client” of mine. The reliever has a 1.80 ERA over five innings this season and has picked up two saves. This is coming on the heels of two really superb seasons, and he’s only getting better.

The 24-year-old right-hander has yet to walk anyone, and might not be in Double-A for too long this year.

Now for some of the colder players.

Josh Ockimey has returned from injury and just a .238 average on the year. He also has a home run and five RBI in 21 at-bats though.

Danny Mars is slashing .196/.241/.235 on the year. He’ll heat up though. In the meantime, he’s already stolen three bases. Just think how many he can steal when he starts getting on base again. The Red Sox thin outfield depth will be bolstered once Mars gets more recognition.

Teddy Stankiewicz has an 8.16 ERA. However, his last start drastically lowered it from the 14.04 that it was. His last time out saw the right-hander go six shutout innings, giving up two hits.

Kyle Hart has a 5.74 ERA but has looked fantastic in spurts. As has Trey Ball, whose ERA ballooned to 5.06 recently. As a reliever though, early on one-or-two bad starts can kill your numbers. Let’s see how he bounces back.

Dedgar Jimenez threw another solid game, but his ERA in Double-A sits at 5.40. With a strong Triple-A performance sandwiched between bad and solid Double-A starts, I’m not worried. His ERA will drop as he continues to pitch well.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 20: A view of the bullpen, also known as Williamsburg for Ted Williams, during the game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox on April 20, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Today marks the 100 year anniversary of the ball park’s opening. The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Salem Red Sox (Advanced-A)

Bobby Dalbec still isn’t hitting for average (.211). It’s hard to notice when he’s hitting the ball so hard though.

The right-handed hitting third baseman has five doubles and five home runs already on the year. He’s driven in 16 runs and scored nine more, while even stealing a base. The 22-year-old’s power is quickly morphing into next-level stuff.

Tyler Hill is slashing .255/.397/.294. The right-handed outfielder has just one extra-base hit (one triple), but he’s not here for power. His four steals in four attempts is the real draw here. That’s coming on the heels of a 42-steal season in 2017.

Santiago Espinal also has some steals on the season (2). The right-handed hitting 23-year-old is impressing more with the bat than anything though. He has a .310/.379/.466 slash line with five runs batted in and 16 runs scored. Errors have been a problem for the shortstop early on, but that’s something at should even itself out.

Daniel Gonzalez has looked fantastic on the mound. He’s thrown 15 1/3 innings in five relief appearances, going 2-for-2 in save opportunities. The right-hander has a 1.76 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He’s also struck out 24 batters while walking just one. Impressive command for anyone, let alone a 22-year-old.

Bryan Mata is still ridiculous by the way. He has a 2.03 ERA in three starts (13 1/3 innings). There have been control problems for the 18-year-old (13 walks and two HBPs). His stuff is fun to watch though. His fastball moves a lot, and his changeup and curveball can both be deadly if he finds command of them.

Roniel Raudes bounced back from a poor start on April 16 to twirl a gem on April 21. You’ve got to love to see something like that from a 20-year-old. He has a 3.86 ERA over 18 2/3 innings but has suffered from walks as well.

The right-hander is another pitcher with electric stuff that is still growing tons. This could be a big year development-wise for Raudes.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 08: Hanley Ramirez /

Greenville Drive (Full-A)

A healthy C.J. Chatham is looking ridiculously promising. The shortstop has a .381/.413/.476 slash line in 10 games. He doesn’t have exceptional power or anything, but Chatham is such a fantastic well-rounded player. This could be the year a lot of it comes together for the 23-year-old.

Okay, so Victor Acosta can hit. Last season the outfielder slashed .310/.368/.419. This year, he’s slashing .345/.424/.414 with two RBI and two runs scored. The 21-year-old right-hander is in his first Full-A season and should expect to see more at-bats as the year progresses.

Last week I announced Michael Osinski as the newest member of my Paul Heyman clientele. He’s still raking.

The 22-year-old holds a .333/.419/.444 slash line over 15 games. He has three doubles and one home run in that time. Most impressive is the 13 RBI and seven runs scored for the right-handed hitter though.