Red Sox Prospect Watch: C.J. Chatham promoted to Triple-A
By Hunter Noll
Another move was made in the Boston Red Sox minor leagues as one of their top prospects in C.J. Chatham was promoted to Triple-A.
The Boston Red Sox once again find themselves getting hot. They’ve won five straight, and are creeping back into the playoff picture. A lot of that has to do with the play of their younger players.
Yes, Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts are legitimate MVP candidates. However, if it wasn’t for some of the less-experienced players stepping up, who knows where the team would be right now.
What makes it even more impressive is that the highest-touted of the young players was Michael Chavis, and he’s currently on the IL. So prospects that aren’t Chavis are the ones stepping up at the moment.
Sam Travis deserves a lot of love. He’s showing that power that he’s always projected to have. The first baseman’s hitting .265 with four doubles and six home runs. He’s driven in 15 runs and scored 15 more, stealing two bases. The case for Travis to be the long-term first baseman is getting stronger and stronger.
Marco Hernandez is hitting .325 with five doubles and two home runs. He’s driven in eight runs and scored 14 more, stealing one base. Hernandez has long shown he can hit in the Majors, and this year is just him proving more of that. The fact that he’s doing this after missing nearly two years due to injury makes it that much easier to root for him.
Darwinzon Hernandez is down to a 3.98 ERA and for the most part, has been one of the more reliable bullpen arms. He also has a ridiculous 38 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. The left-hander came into the year as one of the Red Sox top prospects and is definitely proving he can handle himself in the Majors so far.
Travis Lakins is down to a 4.05 ERA as he’s looked great since rejoining the Majors. In two appearances, Lakins has thrown four innings and hasn’t given up an earned run. He’s allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out five. There’s a reason Lakins was considered a future bullpen arm – he’s got more than enough talent. That talent’s showing itself.