Red Sox Prospect Watch: Bobby Dalbec crushing once again

The Boston Red Sox have had some great prospect play in 2019. Third baseman Bobby Dalbec has busted out and now joined those ranks.

The Boston Red Sox have been on an absolute tear lately. Their play has brought new energy back into the entire system. It’s incredible how much it’s been noticeable throughout the organization – at every level.

Of course, Michael Chavis has been no small part of that. After a slight slump, Chavis busted out in a big way – snapping an 0-for-15 with a three-hit, five-RBI day.

The 23-year-old has a .282 average with two doubles and six home runs. He’s driven in 19 runs (in 20 games), to go along with 14 runs scored and two steals.

It will be interesting to see what the Red Sox decide to do when faced with a logjam in the Majors. Once players like Brock Holt and Dustin Pedroia return, it will be hard to put Chavis back down in the minors. His bat is clearly translating well to the Majors and he’s looked solid enough at second base.

Could he force them to designate a player for assignment? At this point, it wouldn’t be all that shocking.

Admittedly, there are no other real prospects in the Majors right now. I mean, Rafael Devers is still 22 (younger than a lot of actual prospects) but hasn’t been one himself since 2017.

Players like Marcus Walden don’t have much MLB experience but have proven their worth in the Majors (the currently injured Tzu-Wei Lin is another good example of this).

With that in mind, it’s good to know that a lot of talented players are proving their worth in the minors right now. They could be the next in line to get the call-up and help the Boston Red Sox on their path to another World Series ring.

Triple-A (Pawtucket Red Sox)

Jantzen Witte is a curious case. I covered him in a few Prospect Watch articles last season, and I believe this is his first appearance this year. He’s currently hitting .329 in Triple-A and .290 overall in the minors this season. The 29-year-old has never played a game in the Majors – but he’s proven to be solid in the minors.

Sam Travis has caught fire. The first baseman has an eight-game hitting streak at the moment – six of which are multi-hit games. That’s caused his average to rise from .211 to .273. He’s not just slapping singles either. The right-handed batter has six doubles and one triple, to go along with two home runs. He’s driven in 13 runs and scored 15 more while going 3-for-3 on steal opportunities. Travis is once again looking like that offensive juggernaut the Red Sox have hoped he could become.

The 25-year-old isn’t the only player for Pawtucket on a hitting streak. Josh Tobias is on a 10-game streak at the moment, raising his average from .167 to .264 in the process. The 26-year-old switch-hitter can play multiple positions around the field and has decent speed. He was struggling in Double-A but the fact that he’s found his swing a little bit in Triple-A is extremely encouraging.

Josh Ockimey probably won’t be a .300-hitter any time soon. However, he’s got plenty of power and he’s shown that off this season. The left-handed hitter already has six doubles and eight home runs in 2019, despite a .214 average. That’s led to a pretty solid 17 RBI and 17 runs scored. He’s currently on pace to shatter his old career-high in home runs (20).

Mike Shawaryn had another strong outing this week, giving up just two earned runs on three hits (no walks) in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander has a 2.79 ERA in 42 innings this season. He boasts a .224 BAA and 1.07 WHIP and has yet to go less than five innings in a start.

Teddy Stankiewicz had a fantastic week. The right-hander made two starts, giving up just two earned runs in 10 innings. He has a .250 BAA, which is drastically improved from last season. The 25-year-old also has a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings – but the 13 walks are a little worrying. Despite that, it’s hard not to be excited about this wonderful start for Stankiewicz.

Bobby Poyner‘s 5.54 ERA might be a little troublesome at the moment. However, the lefty has looked great in his last two appearances – giving up just one hit over two innings while striking out four.

Trevor Kelley is having no such problems this year. The 25-year-old righty has a 1.76 ERA over 15 1/3 innings pitched. Piggybacking off a fantastic 2018 – this should be the year he makes his MLB debut.

Josh Taylor has a 3.07 ERA and two saves in 13 appearances. The lefty has struck out 20 batters over 14 2/3 innings and has yet to give up a home run.

Travis Lakins has a 4.15 ERA in 11 appearances. The righty has been used sparingly recently though – which could throw off a rhythm. His one appearances in the Majors was solid – and that’s what should be focused on.

Matthew Kent is in Triple-A! The lefty had a 1.69 ERA in Double-A and now has a 3.60 ERA in Triple-A after giving up two runs in five innings in his only outing so far.

Double-A (Portland Sea Dogs)

What have I been saying? There’s no reason to worry about Bobby Dalbec. 10 days ago, the third baseman was hitting under .200 with just two home runs – now he’s on an absolute tear though. The right-handed hitter has picked up at least one hit in seven of his last eight games. In his last four games, he’s 8-for-16 with five home runs and seven RBI.

All of a sudden, Dalbec has a .250 average (.391 OBP) with five doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. He’s driven in 22 runs and scored 18 more – and one of the best hitting prospects the Red Sox have is back.

C.J. Chatham is another one of those “best hitting prospects” for the Red Sox. The shortstop is hitting .324 with 10 doubles so far. He’s driven in 15 runs and scored 14 more.

Kyle Hart had two strong starts this week and is now down to a 2.59 ERA on the season. The left-hander has 49 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings and has only given up one home run. He has a .190 BAA and 1.01 WHIP – keeping runners off the bases.

Denyi Reyes dropped his ERA from 7.01 to 5.74 with a spectacular start – giving up just one run in seven innings. He’s had a few fantastic starts but some miserable ones (like the eight runs he gave up in 3 1/3 innings) have really hurt his overall numbers.

Dedgar Jimenez continues the lowering of his ERA as well, as the lefty now has a 4.71 after giving up three runs in seven innings. This was his fourth straight start that lowered his ERA and he’s clearly trending up.

Tanner Houck struggled for the second straight outing, going just 2 2/3 innings – giving up three earned runs on five hits. His ERA is now 5.14 over 28 innings. The 22-year-old looked so dominant in a few starts that it’s hard to get too worried about this stretch.

Darwinzon Hernandez allowed six walks over three innings in his last start – however, he didn’t allow any earned runs – dropping his ERA to 4.19. Walks have been a problem from him this year, but he’s got such an electric arm it tends to get him out of trouble.

Durbin Feltman might be the weirdest case in Double-A. He has an 8.25 ERA this season thanks to a few implosion outings. However, he has a .175 BAA. The problem has been walks (13 in 12 innings). Feltman can clearly dominate, he just needs to find the strike zone more often.

Adam Lau has had no such problem when it comes to ERA. The 24-year-old has a 1.04 ERA over 17 1/3 innings. In that time, he’s struck out 23 and walked eight. He has a .151 BAA and 0.92 WHIP and has yet to allow a home run.

Dominic LoBrutto is back in Double-A. He spent a little time there this year but gave up two runs in two innings (9.00 ERA). Then he went to Advanced-A, where he allowed just one earned run in 15 1/3 innings (0.59 ERA). In his first appearance back with Portland, LoBrutto threw three shutout innings – lowering his ERA there to 3.60. His combined ERA this season sits at 1.33.

Advanced-A (Salem Red Sox)

The Salem Red Sox might have the most exciting lineup in all of the Boston Red Sox minor leagues right now. It all starts with Jarren Duran. I’m going to say it every time because it astonishes me. How is he not promoted yet? I fully expect him to be in Double-A (or higher) by next week.

Why is that, you ask? Because Duran is hitting .412 (.469 OBP) – that’s why. The left-handed hitter has eight doubles, three triples, and one home run as well. Most importantly though, he’s driven in 10 runs, stolen 13 bases and scored a ridiculous 34 runs in 32 games. At this point, I don’t know who will be happier when he finally gets promoted, him or the opposing Advanced-A pitchers.

Pedro Castellanos continues to raise his average as well – as the first baseman now has a .308 average on the season. Castellanos has 11 doubles and 18 runs scored – as well as a tied-for-team-lead 27 RBI. He’s only struck out 15 times in 33 games.

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The other player tied for the team lead in RBI is Ryan Fitzgerald. The shortstop has a .344 average and 15 runs scored to go along with that. He’s also ripped nine doubles and three triples – and has stolen eight bases.

Then there’s Victor Acosta. The outfielder is such a complete all-around hitter. He’s hitting .326 at the moment with 15 RBI and 12 runs scored. He only has five extra-base hits (all doubles) but has the type of swing that should produce tons of doubles and net him double-digit home run totals in the future.

Marco Hernandez shouldn’t be in Advanced-A. I understand not wanting to rush someone back – especially when there’s no room in the Majors – but this is ridiculous. Yes, he missed most of 2017 and all of 2018 but still – Hernandez is a proven MLB-bat.

He’s now played 18 games this year – all with Salem. In that time, he’s hitting .338 with seven doubles. The left-handed hitter has nine RBI and 13 runs scored, as well as one steal. Hernandez is still 26 and could be a great piece for the Red Sox in the future.

Eduard Bazardo has a 1.21 ERA. He also has two saves and 25 strikeouts compared to five walks over 22 1/3 innings. The right-hander has a .141 BAA and 0.72 WHIP and has yet to give up a home run. He’s the Jarren Duran of pitchers for Salem – he shouldn’t be in Advanced-A anymore.

Jake Cosart has figured it out this year after a miserable 2018 and I’m 100% here for it. The righty has a 1.72 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings so far. He’s 5-for-5 in save opportunities and has a .189 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.

Daniel Gonzalez has a .291 BAA and 1.34 WHIP so far this year. Neither are particularly good – but his 2.50 ERA is. What’s crazy about that is he has just 21 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings, so it’s not like he’s striking his way out of jams. Gonzalez does keep the ball in the yard though, only allowing one home run so far. The right-hander’s ERA trumps all the “eh” numbers.

Kutter Crawford doesn’t really have any “eh” numbers. The righty has a 2.48 ERA and 50 strikeouts, over 40 innings. He boasts a .218 BAA and 1.13 WHIP and is now 3-1 on the year.

Joan Martinez continues to be stellar in 2019 after a shaky 2018. In 18 2/3 innings this season, the righty has a 2.41 ERA and 31 strikeouts. He also has a 1.13 WHIP to go along with his .214 BAA – having yet to allow a homer.