Red Sox Prospect Watch: Heading into the All-Star break

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BOSTON – APRIL 04: Fireworks explode before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees on Opening Night at Fenway Park on April 4, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

As mentioned, the Red Sox may need to worry about catching depth at some point in the near future. They have two intriguing names in Double-A in Jhon Nunez and Austin Rei.

Nunez is slashing .259/.318/.338 with one triple and one home run, as well as six doubles. The switch-hitter has 13 RBI and 17 runs scored, as well as two steals in 139 at-bats. All of this is happening after a hot start in Advanced-A that (coupled with the return of Roldani Baldwin) led to a promotion to Portland.

Then there’s Rei, who personally I’m very high on. The right-handed hitter has battled injuries throughout his career but seems to be figuring things out at the plate. Last season he hit just .223 but boasted a .330 on-base percentage and 30 doubles.

This year started off slow for Rei. The 24-year-old has gotten scorching-hot at the plate though. His average has risen to .244 and he holds a .363 OBP. Rei isn’t hitting doubles at the pace he was last year (9) but his five home runs are just one off a career-best. There’s plenty of potential on the defensive end as well.

Danny Mars dropped his average to .257 this week. He did so thanks to finishing off the week 0-for-6. That was after a massive game, however. The switch-hitter smacked his 14th double and second home run of the season in the same game. His average falling two points this week may seem like regression, but the slash line is still filling out nicely.

The 24-year-old now holds a .257/.329/.354 slash line with three triples to accompany those 14 doubles and two homers. He’s driven in 17 runs and scored 41 more while stealing 13 bases in 15 attempts.

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Josh Ockimey did his best to raise his average last week, getting it back up to .267. He didn’t stop mashing either. The first baseman has 15 doubles and one triple, as well as 12 home runs on the year. He’s driven in 43 runs and scored 35 more.

Kyle Hart and Mike Shawaryn both saw their ERAs rise just a little bit this week. They both did so in eight-strikeout performances.

Hart’s ERA now sits at 3.74, the eight Ks were two higher than his previous season-high though. Shawaryn on the other hand, now has a 3.65 and the eight strikeouts merely tie a previous high (done twice) from this season.

Travis Lakins saw his streak of 15 1/3 straight innings without allowing an earned run come to an end this week. He still boasts a 2.93 and has 35 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings.

Matthew Gorst posted a 1.59 ERA over 28 1/3 innings in Advanced-A this season. The 23-year-old has been even better in Double-A, with nine innings under his belt and still a flawless 0.00 ERA.

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