Red Sox Prospect Watch: Start of the 2019 MiLB season
The 2019 MiLB season has started. Where did the Boston Red Sox prospects start their year and how’s it going so far?
Man does it feel good to be back. Baseball is here, more importantly – minor league baseball is here. With it comes the return of the weekly prospect watch.
Before we get into everything though, I’m starting on an extremely sour note. The Boston Red Sox made a move I don’t agree with at all. Anyone that’s ever read one of these prospect watches knows about a few of the Red Sox prospects. The ones I’m all-in on. I like to call them my “clients” as an ode to the great Paul Heyman.
Well, they cut one of the pioneers of that movement just a few days before the season – Danny Mars. Mars was almost immediately picked up by the Colorado Rockies and I still firmly believe he is severely underrated and could carve out a nice MLB career.
Sadly, it doesn’t appear that will be with the Red Sox anymore.
With that out of the way though, there are a lot of positives to talk about. With the new season comes new prospects to talk about. It also brings new homes for a lot of returning prospects.
We’ve already seen promotions and shakeups due to roster moves made by the Major League squad.
With all that in mind, there’s no reason talking about it anymore, let’s just jump right into everything.
The good news is there’s no one to really talk about at the Major League level when it comes to prospects. That means we get to jump right into the minor leagues.
Triple-A (Pawtucket Red Sox)
Surprisingly, the Pawtucket Red Sox actually have a good amount of prospects. They usually have a lot of veteran players that could contribute to in the Majors, but most haven’t been considered anything close to a prospect in years. This year however, there’s a nice mix.
At the plate, Sam Travis is back down there after starting the year with the Red Sox. He looked solid in the Majors, going 2-for-7 and has looked ready to go in Triple-A. Although he’s only 3-for-12 (.250) he’s already drawn four walks and smacked a double. This will be a big year for Travis and he looks to correct everything from the last two seasons.
Tzu-Wei Lin did a reverse Travis. He started the year in Triple-A (1-for-4 with a walk and a steal), was called up briefly, only to be sent back down when Dustin Pedroia was activated from the injured list.
Rusney Castillo meanwhile is off to a slow start, going 3-for-15 (.200).
The big name in Triple-A is obviously Michael Chavis. Chavis is the Red Sox number one prospect and many expect him to make his MLB debut at some point this year.
As of right now though, he’s struggling in Triple-A. He’s 3-for-17 with one home run and two RBI. This really isn’t a concern yet though. It’s extremely early in the year and things can change fast. Chavis has proven to be a quick adjuster and has a legit bat.
Another major prospect in Triple-A is Josh Ockimey. Like Chavis, he’s yet to catch on at the plate – going 2-for-15. Those two hits are a double and a home run though. They’ve led to three RBI and there’s obviously a lot of raw power there.
Bobby Poyner probably shouldn’t be in Triple-A right now. He is though, and has given up one run in 1 1/3 innings (two strikeouts). This is just a waiting game for Poyner though. The Red Sox bullpen will need help at some point, especially left-handed help. Don’t expect him to be here for long.
Trevor Kelley was awesome last season. He looked strong in Double-A (3.82 ERA) and lights-out in Triple-A (1.54 ERA). It all came together for a 2.88 ERA over 56 1/3 combined innings.
So far this year, he’s thrown 1 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. However, things haven’t exactly been smooth for the 25-year-old. He has a .286 BAA and 2.40 WHIP. Still, if he can keep runs off the board his stock will continue to rise.
Travis Lakins also saw his stock rise last year and in eerily similar fashion to Kelley. He had a great season in Double-A (2.61 ERA) but was ridiculous in Triple-A (1.65 ERA). Now the 24-year-old is starting off strong with a 3.00 ERA in 2019. He’s already struck out five in three innings and is definitely a call-up candidate this year.
Finally, there’s Mike Shawaryn. His first start of 2019 is a lot better than it looks. People will see the three runs given up in 5 1/3 innings (5.06 ERA) and immediately think the worst.
However, Shawaryn allowed just four hits and one walk (0.94 WHIP) and struck out seven in the process. Other than the three runs this was a phenomenal outing. Shawaryn is one of the top prospects in the Red Sox system for a reason. Barring an injury, the 24-year-old will at least get a spot-start in the Majors this year.
Double-A (Portland Sea Dogs)
Okay, I know it’s two games in for Jhon Nunez – but wow. The 24-year-old catcher is 5-for-7 with two doubles. He’s trying to firmly plant himself as the elite-catching prospect on the team with that .714 average. The switch-hitter has shown a lot of promise in the past and this could be the year he puts it all together.
The other two major hitting prospects on the roster are C.J. Chatham and Bobby Dalbec, and they aren’t disappointing either.
Chatham is slashing .333/.353/.533 with three doubles already. The shortstop has an elite bat and after a massive season last year is off to a hot start in 2019.
Dalbec might have the most power in the Red Sox minors. He’s slashing .286/.412/.500 with a homer and three RBI to this point. The third baseman had his breakout campaign in 2018 and we should expect a lot of home runs and RBI from him in 2019. We should also expect at least one promotion.
The pitching side of the Portland Sea Dogs is a lot of fun – with four major prospects.
First there’s Denyi Reyes – a personal favorite. After an absolutely bananas season last year, he’s back at it in 2019. Between Full-A and Advanced-A last season, the right-hander posted a 1.97 ERA.
In one game this year the 22-year-old has a 1.50 ERA. Reyes allowed just one run on two hits and one walk (four strikeouts) in six innings. So there are a lot of pretty numbers to go with that ERA, including a 0.50 WHIP and .095 BAA. This guy is out-of-this-world good right now.
Darwinzon Hernandez is ranked by the MLB as the Boston Red Sox best pitching prospect. There’s good reason for it too. Hernandez possess disgusting pitches that give him a lot of potential. He flashed that in his lone start so far this year, throwing five shutout innings. In that time he allowed just two hits while walking four. He also struck out 10.
Tanner Houck is another one of the top pitching prospects in the system. He looked great at the end of last year, but is starting off 2019 with a bad start. He allowed seven runs on 11 hits in four innings. Don’t be discouraged though. This is the 22-year-old right-hander’s first start in Double-A. He’ll adjust.
A lot of people wanted Durbin Feltman already in the Majors. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a part of that. That being said, it makes sense for him not to be there yet. Why rush things too much? Feltman’s got all the tools to be legit. Give him time to develop everything though and you minimize the threat of the Majors overwhelming him. Then you get your closer of the future for 15 years instead of 16.
Feltman’s allowed one run in two innings so far, walking as many batters (2) as he’s struck out (2). That will all change soon enough, but this is quick proof that giving him more time is the right move.
Advanced-A (Salem Red Sox)
Jarren Duran burst onto the scene after being drafted last year with a ridiculously dominant start to his career. He definitely set a record for fastest ever to gain “Hunter Noll Guy” status.
The 22-year-old has started 2019 like I was preparing for – hot. He’s collected a hit in all four games, posting a .400 average. The left-handed hitter already has a steal and triple (neither should be a surprise) as well as two runs scored. He’s legit.
Marino Campana isn’t off to such a hot start though. After smacking a homer in his first game, the 21-year-old hasn’t collected another hit since. He’s 1-for-14 on the year with seven strike outs.
Don’t be discouraged though. Campana has shown to be an extremely streaky hitter. He’ll also be 21 the entire season. The right-handed hitter has one of the most underrated power bats in the system and before all’s said and done, will turn some heads in 2019.
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- Jeter Downs’ official departure will continue to haunt Red Sox
Campana isn’t the only one struggling, as Pedro Castellanos also has just one hit so far (1-for-15). That one hit is a double, and he does have two RBI though. Both are encouraging as he struggled to get extra-base hits and RBI in 2018. He’ll also spend all of 2019 as a 21-year-old and this slow start shouldn’t discourage anyone as history shows he’ll break out of it.
Left-handed corner infielder Garrett Benge is 3-for-14 so far and right-handed corner infielder Michael Osinski is 4-for-11. To show you how crazy stats are early on. Despite how small the difference is in hits and at-bats, Benge is “struggling” with a .214 average, while Osinskis is hot with a .364 average. Both had strong seasons in 2018 and we should expect more of the same this year.
Victor Acosta is just 1-for-6 but the outfielder hasn’t really got much time so far. It’s confusing what the Red Sox are doing with him, as it’s hard to tell what they think of him. The outfielder can do a little of everything though and should get his fair chance.
There aren’t as many top pitching prospects in Greenville, but there are still some obvious people to pay attention to.
The most obvious is Bryan Mata. The 19-year-old gave another reason why in his first start of the year. Mata allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings, picking up win number one. The right-handed pitcher hit two batters but didn’t walk any (which was a major problem in the past for him). He also struck out three and posted a fantastic .190 BAA and 0.71 WHIP.
Mata’s a truly elite prospect. If he stays in Advanced-A all year it will only be because he’s so young and the Red Sox don’t want to rush him – not because he doesn’t deserve a promotion.
Eduard Bazardo‘s another name to watch closely. He’s made two starts, but only throw 5 1/3 innings. In that time, the 23-year-old has allowed just one earned run. The right-handed pitcher has a .211 BAA and 1.31 WHIP, striking out three. He’s dominated every step of the way in the Majors, and Advanced-A is a new step for him. With that in mind, he’ll be very interesting in 2019.
Then there’s Jhonathan Diaz. The left-hander had a fantastic season in 2018, posting career-bests in nearly every category. So far, he’s thrown just 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and one run. He also hit a batter, but struck out five. The .111 BAA and 0.37 WHIP are fantastic starts to a season that could catapult him into the Red Sox future plans faster than expected.
Full-A (Greenville Drive)
Triston Casas is the main attractive in Greenville at the moment. The Red Sox number two prospect is projected to be a monster hitter. Although he’s just 2-for-13 (.154 average), he’s shown flashes of that already. The left-handed hitter has a double and two RBI, as well as a steal on the young season.
Kole Cottam won’t steal many headlines, but he should. The catcher has a ridiculously legit bat. He’s just 2-for-12 with a double and one RBI on the year, but expect big things from him. The right-handed hitter has real power and in just his second year in the minors could be poised for big things.
Brandon Howlett was overshadowed thanks to a fantastic draft class by the Red Sox last season. The 21st-rounder could be a major steal though. Howlett’s a 19-year-old right-handed hitting third baseman. He’s got all the tools to be a great hitter and the athleticism to be a great fielder. Although he’s just 2-for-12 with a double so far, he’s shown more than the numbers.
Someone who the numbers have been kind to is Juan Carlos Abreu. The 21-year-old is off to a roaring start (3-for-8) and could be in for a big year. After spending almost three seasons in Rookie Ball, the outfielder broke out with a .330 average last season. That led to him getting a short preview in Short-A before starting 2019 in Full-A.
Abreu isn’t a highly-touted prospect but could change that if he keeps this up.
Alex Scherff finished 2018 off strong and started 2019 even better. The right-handed pitcher threw five shutout innings in his first start of the year. He allowed just two hits and one walk, while striking out four. The .125 BAA and 0.60 WHIP both bode extremely well for one of the Red Sox best pitching prospects.
dark. Next. BoSox Injection staff predictions for the 2019 season
Yoan Aybar is one of the more interesting prospects the Red Sox have. The 21-year-old left-hander has already continued that intrigue. In 2/3 innings he hasn’t given up a run or hit and struck out one. He’s also walked three though. Aybar has a really electric pitch repertoire which will always make him a must-watch.