Red Sox Prospect Watch: Jarren Duran still lighting up Full-A

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 24: Sam Travis #59 of the Boston Red Sox runs to first base in the seventh inning during a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on May 24, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

The story of the Pawtucket Red Sox this year has to be the season of Sam Travis. Travis simply just wasn’t good at the plate to start the season. His average was low, and he wasn’t hitting for power or driving in runs either.

Heading into the last day of June, Travis was hitting .207 (in 49 games) on the season. The first baseman had six doubles and four home runs, as well as 12 runs scored and 17 RBI.

Since then (41 games), Travis is hitting .325 with six doubles and four home runs. This time though, he’s added 22 runs scored and 22 RBI.

There’s a reason the Red Sox are high on him. The right-handed hitter now has a .262 average with 39 RBI and 34 runs scored on the year. His 20 extra-base hits are much more respectable as well.

Rusney Castillo won the PawSox MVP award this year because – well – he doesn’t belong in Triple-A. He leads the International League with a .327 batting average. Meanwhile, the outfielder is tops on Pawtucket in doubles (30) and steals (13), as well as RBI (57) and runs scored (55).

Castillo deserves to be in the Majors, and that’s all I’ll say on the subject.

Tzu-Wei Lin is still having a fantastic season, with a career-best .317 average in Triple-A. He should get another chance in Boston as September rolls around.

Josh Ockimey has fixed things a little bit and is now back up to a .231 average in 15 games for Pawtucket. The first baseman has three home runs and eight RBI in that time. The average isn’t special, but it’s the raw power that’s so intriguing when it comes to the 22-year-old.

Chandler Shepherd is that MLB-debut I was talking about before. The 25-year-old isn’t having his best season in the minors but has shattered his old innings-pitched mark. Shepherd’s on the 40-man roster and it’s been teased that he’d be called up a few times this year. It’s tough to imagine he won’t get a chance in September.

Travis Lakins has allowed three earned runs in nine innings in Triple-A. Opponents are hitting .182 against the righty, who has 10 strikeouts as well. The 24-year-old has made vast improvements since making the switch to reliever and should factor into the Red Sox future nicely.

Mike Shawaryn was solid in Double-A all season long. The pitcher has looked even better in Triple-A though. Shawaryn has thrown 21 2/3 innings through four appearances (four starts). In that time, the 23-year-old has a 2.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP while striking out 24.

It’s starting to look like Shawaryn will get a nice long look at Spring Training next season.

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