Red Sox Prospect Watch: Can anything stop Jarren Duran?

Double-A (Portland Sea Dogs)

C.J. Chatham just hits. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter has a .343/.403/.478 slash line with nine doubles. Although he’s yet to hit a home run, he has 11 RBI and 10 runs scored – as well as one steal. He’s also a very solid shortstop defensively and has all the tools to be a great contributor in the Majors.

Bobby Dalbec is only hitting .206 to this point, with two doubles and two home runs. He has nine RBI and nine runs scored as well. The good news about the third base prospect is that his most recent game saw him post two hits and drive in a run. Things will turn around for the offensive juggernaut.

Brett Netzer mashed his first home run of the year on Monday – number three of his three-year career. Home run power will never be there, but the second base prospect can still hit. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter has a .282 average and six RBI so far.

Marcus Wilson was the prospect in the Red Sox – Arizona Diamondbacks Blake Swihart trade. He’s struggled at the plate since being traded, but like Dalbec was very promising in his last game. Wilson went 1-for-3 with two walks and a home run. He’s hitting .176 with Portland but has a .364 OBP.

Kyle Hart was part of a no-hitter for the Sea Dogs this week – going 6 2/3 shutout innings. The left-handed pitcher has a 2.74 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 23 innings. Opponents are hitting just .185 against him, as he has a 0.91 WHIP.

Daniel McGrath was the next pitcher in that game, throwing 1 1/3 innings. On the year, the lefty has a 1.80 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 10 innings.

The last pitcher in that no-hitter was Adam Lau. Lau has yet to give up an earned run on the year. In 7 2/3 innings, the right-hander has 14 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP. Opponents are hitting .120 against him.

Matthew Kent has given up one earn run in each of his last three appearances. All of those appearances lasted for more than four innings, and all three times his ERA rose – that’s how good his year has been. The lefty has a 1.25 ERA in 21 2/3 innings. I truly believe the Red Sox will give him a look this year.

Tanner Houck‘s been absolutely fantastic since his first start of the year. The righty has thrown 11 shutout innings in his last two starts and now has a 3.60 ERA over 20 innings. Houck has 21 strikeouts on the year and it’s clear why he’s one of the Red Sox top pitching prospects.

Denyi Reyes has a 6.87 ERA on the year. However, the 22-year-old looked great in his last start (5 innings, 3 hits, 1 run) and could be returning to that dominant form we saw all of last season.

Darwinzon Hernandez is back in Double-A after a brief stint with the Red Sox. He only went 2/3 of an inning, allowing five earned runs. This ballooned his ERA up to 5.91, but it’s still early enough that he can fix that quickly.

Speaking of fixing ERAs, Dedgar Jimenez is on a path to do just that. After two starts (3 2/3 innings) Jimenez had a 19.64 ERA (eight earned runs). However, the 23-year-old lefty went six innings in his last start, allowing just one run. This dropped his ERA to 8.38 and that will continue to fall rapidly for a little bit as he finds his footing this season. No doubt Baby Bartolo will correct himself.

Durbin Feltman has an “eh” 3.86 ERA. However, the righty has a 0.86 WHIP and .091 BAA. He’s struck out nine batters in seven innings and has one save on the year. Feltman is still very much the future at closer for Boston.