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Boston Red Sox: Rookie of the Year candidates for the near future

By Hunter Noll

SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Michael Chavis poses with Commissioner Allan H. Bud Selig after being chosen 26th overall by the Boston Red Sox during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 5: Michael Chavis poses with Commissioner Allan H. Bud Selig after being chosen 26th overall by the Boston Red Sox during the MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network Studio on June 5, 2014 in Secacucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – JUNE 28: Third basemen Bobby Dalbec #3 of the Arizona Wildcats hits an RBI single against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the first inning during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 28, 2016 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

4. Bobby Dalbec

Bobby Dalbec enjoyed a massive breakout season in 2018. The third baseman slashed .257/.361/.558 between Advanced-A and Double-A. He smoked 35 doubles and 32 home runs, as well as three triples. What’s more ridiculous is the right-handed hitter drove in 109 runs.

Dalbec has a bit of a strikeout problem and probably won’t be a .300 hitter. He has the most power out of anyone in the Red Sox minor leagues though and clearly has a knack for run production.

He’s also solid defensively with a cannon for an arm, and appeared at a few games at first base last season. This indicates the Red Sox might want him to learn another position to give him some flexibility in the lineup. If that happens, he’ll be available at both corner infield slots as well as DH. With no set first baseman for the future after 2019, Dalbec has an obvious opening on the roster.

Like Quiroz, he’s probably not going to qualify as a rookie in 2019. Dalbec appeared in 29 games for Double-A and is likely starting the year there. If things go well he should see plenty of time in Triple-A, but probably won’t see any time in the Majors.

That’s due to someone else that will be on this list, Michael Chavis. If the Red Sox run into injury or production problems at third base, Chavis would be the prospect to get the call before anyone else. The Red Sox also have a lot of flexibility at the position at the moment, so needing any prospects might not even be a case.

When Dalbec does arrive though, he’ll immediately inject more power into an already powerful lineup. A lineup that will protect him perfectly. He won’t be the saving grace that finally brings a little power into an all-contact lineup. He’ll have J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts mashing as well as Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers in the mix. Not to mention a number of other home run threats.

This means that Dalbec won’t be the guy pitchers refuse to throw to. They won’t have the luxury of pitching around him and hoping he strikes himself out. If he can stay patient (he did have 66 walks last season), Dalbec will get his pitches. When he gets his pitches, he brings in runs.

Dalbec is built to succeed in this Red Sox lineup. His power will play extremely well at Fenway, and plenty of base runners will be on for him to bring home. A 2020 ROY run is definitely in his future.

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