Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: 2021 MiLB season finally here

The 2021 MiLB season is here, and so is the Red Sox Prospect Watch

It’s Monday, you know what that means … It’s time for the weekly Boston Red Sox prospect watch.

Wow, does this feel good. 2020 saw the minor league baseball season get cancelled due to COVID, but we’re back in full force, and so is the prospect watch.

Same rules as last time, we’ll be taking a look at each team and dissecting the play of some of the prospects at each level. We tend to keep things pretty positive here, and you should be expecting a lot of wrestling and rap (and some TV show) references. That will all be kept to a bare minimum this week, as this is more just reintroducing all the players.

I would also like to remind everyone that the minors took a year off last year. With that in mind, don’t be worried about any slow starts. Those should all be forgiven seeing how long it’s been since most of these players have had legitimate games.

So without further ado, let’s jump right into it by talking about some of the “prospects” at the Major League level.

Bobby Dalbec has started off slow but is clearly picking up some steam. He is still hitting at just a .194 clip with two home runs and 11 RBI. However, the right-handed hitter has four hits (one home run) and five RBI in his last three games. Alex Cora seems interested in letting Dalbec work out his issues and clearly is starting to get rewarded for it.

Michael Chavis was just called up due to the Enrique Hernandez injury. He went 1-for-6 in his first game but that one hit was a two-run homer. Barring another injury or a hot-streak, he likely won’t be up for long.

Garrett Whitlock has been a revelation for the Red Sox. He came to Boston from the New York Yankees by way of the Rule-5 draft. Despite never pitching in the Majors, he earned a spot in Spring Training. So far, he has appeared in nine game (all out of the bullpen). In those nine games, the lefty has a 1.56 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Whitlock also 19 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings while holding opponents to a .219 BAA.

Triple-A (Worcester Red Sox)

The Pawtucket Red Sox are no more, we now have the Worcester Red Sox. And the Woo Sox are a pretty fun squad right now. While they are currently just 2-4, there are a number of star prospects on the roster who could get the call at some point this year. That makes this a very watchable team.

Let’s talk about Jarren Duran first. He started the year 0-for-11 but had back-to-back three-hit games to get back on track. The left-handed hitter now has a .261 average (6-for-23) with one home run. He has walked three times and scored four runs. Watch out because if he’s getting hot, the numbers can move quickly.

Jeter Downs is sporting a low average that could jump up quickly too. The middle infielder is 5-for-23 (.217) but has all five hits in his last three games. Downs has one double, three runs scored, and two walks. So nothing really jumps out right there. However, he’s also stolen three bases on three attempts. Even when he’s struggling at the plate he finds ways to make an impact.

We have a trend here, but Connor Wong is hitting just .200 at the moment. We are six games in so if you are worried then that’s a little ridiculous, he’s 3-for-15. One good game and he’s over .300. Wong played one game at second and struggled (three errors) but has looked great in three games as catcher. He’s even caught both base runners that tried to steal on him.

Marcus Wilson is not having the same early-season struggles. The outfielder is slashing .278/.381/.556 with a triple and a home run. He has three walks and has driven in three runs while scoring two more, also going 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts. Importantly, Wilson’s also an elite defender.

Chad De La Guerra is 2-for-9 with three walks (.222 average and .462 OBP) with one triple, one RBI, and one run scored. DLG is 28 and has never played in the Majors, but that is mainly due to injuries in my opinion. He has the skill set of a guy that could hit .280-plus consistently at the top level. And he plays second, third, and shortstop. Hopefully he gets a chance at some point.

Josh Ockimey is 1-for-18 with a walk and a run. He has 13 strikeouts at the moment. Things are not going great. However, a few things here. First of all, again – it’s the beginning of the season after a year off. Yes, I’m going to keep hammering that home. Second, Ock can be a streaky hitter. So a few cold spells will come. That being said, expect to see him hit some homers in bunches too.

For the pitchers lets start with a quick note on Tanner Houck. He looked solid in the Majors but has been shut down due to injury.

Then we move on to another pitcher that has been in the Majors this year, Eduard Bazardo. The Red Sox used him for a doubleheader, where he threw one shutout inning. So far in the minors this year he has allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings. Obviously that doesn’t look good but early stats mean little for relievers because everyone has an implosion game or two. A career 2.66 ERA, he’ll be fine.

Bobby Poyner is a depth option for the bullpen. He’s proving he deserves a look at some point in again as he’s already thrown 4 2/3 shutout innings in 2021. That comes with just four hits allowed and only one walk compared to four strikeouts.

Double-A (Portland Sea Dogs)

The Portland Sea Dogs are loaded with talent. Right at the top is Triston Casas. Casas is 3-for-18 (.167) with two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored. The 21-year-old has never played at this level before. In fact, he only had seven at-bats in Advanced-A before the year. So this is a big step up. Don’t be surprised that the left-handed hitter is taking some time to get his footing. He’ll be fine.

Ronaldo Hernandez is in his first year with the Red Sox organization and the catching prospect is already high on their list. Currently the 23-year-old is 3-for-14 (.214) with a walk and two runs scored. A good defensive catcher with a strong bat, it should be fun to watch him this year.

Jeisson Rosario is also new to the system (sort of). Rosario was traded to the team last year, so this is his first season playing in their minors. He’s making a fantastic first impression. The 21-year-old outfielder is 6-for-16 (.375) with five walks (leading to a .524 OBP). He has two doubles, four RBI, four runs scored, and one steal.

More from Red Sox Prospects

• Predicting top Red Sox outfield prospect Ceddanne Rafaela’s timeline to the majors
• Predicting Red Sox top prospect Marcelo Mayer’s timeline to the majors
• Red Sox risk repeating rookie mistake with Eric Hosmer release
• Red Sox invited group of players you’ve probably never heard of to Spring Training
• Jeter Downs’ official departure will continue to haunt Red Sox

Let’s keep the new name train rolling with Johan Mieses. Mieses is new to the system but has averaged just over 23 home runs over the last four years. It appears the 25-year-old outfielder is ready to raise that number. The right-handed hitter is slashing .313/.450/1.063 right now, and yes you saw that slugging percentage right. That’s because he has four home runs in his first 16 at-bats. Mieses has four walks, six RBI, and six runs scored, on the year. Insanity.

Ryan Fitzgerald is off to a solid start while playing in Double-A for the first time in his career. He’s played shortstop, third base, and second base already this year. Meanwhile, the left-handed batter has a .278 average (5-for-18) with three doubles and four RBI. He’s also walked once and scored two runs.

Not long ago Durbin Feltman was the closer of the immediate future for the Red Sox. He hasn’t climbed the MiLB ladder as quickly as many expected but things are moving along. The righty looks great so far this year, with just one earned run allowed in three innings, striking out seven.

Kutter Crawford had his first outing since he had Tommy John surgery and was fantastic. Always a solid but underrated prospect, Crawford looks ready to take the next step. The 25-year-old righty went four shutout innings, striking out five.

Denyi Reyes already has two appearances this year, working out of the bullpen. The lefty has a 3.60 ERA over five innings of work, striking out six while walking none.

Frank German is in his first year with the Red Sox organization. The 23-year-old has only thrown 2/3 of an inning so far, giving up five runs (only one earned). So it’s way too early to judge him, but expect good things from the right-hander.

Joan Martinez is having a walk problem right now. He has a BAA of .111, but an ERA of 7.71. That’s mainly because he has walked five batters in 2 1/3 innings (allowing only one hit). The righty also has five strikeouts though and absolutely nasty pitches.

Josh Winckowski has been in the minors since 2016 but this is his first year with the Red Sox. Now hearing that he’s been in the minors since 2016 you’re probably thinking the righty is a little older, but he’s only 22. Oh and he’s had sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the last two seasons. In 2021 he has yet to allow an earned run in 3 1/3 innings, giving up just one hit while striking out four.

Dominic LoBrutto is good. The 24-year-old has been in the Red Sox minors since 2017 and has never had an ERA over 3.73 in a season. He has 0.00 right now, giving up just three hits in 4 1/3 innings. The lefty also has three strikeouts without giving up a walk yet.

Enmanuel De Jesus has four strikeouts and a .111 BAA in 2 1/3 innings so far. The righty has allowed just one run in that time and is looking to build off of a breakout season that he enjoyed in 2019.

Thaddeus Ward gave up three runs in four innings in his first start of the season. He’ll be fine though, don’t forget Ward posted a 2.14 ERA and .198 BAA in 2019.

High-A (Greenville Drive)

The Greenville Drive might be the most entertaining team in all of baseball right now.

Kole Cottam is off to a fantastic start, the catcher is hitting .444 (4-for-9) with two walks (leading to a .545 OBP) with one home run. The right-handed hitter has one RBI and two runs scored. Boston has a lot of catchers in their system, but don’t count out Cottam – the bat is legit and his defense has improved dramatically.

Tyreque Reed is new to the system and dude is a tank. A career .280 hitter who had 18 home runs in each of the last two seasons. Clearly he wants to bring that big bat to Boston. Listed at 6’1″, 250 lbs, the 23-year-old is 4-for-15 (.267) with one double and two home runs. He has walked twice, driving in five runs and scoring five more.

Shortstop Cameron Cannon has an exciting bat. He’s hitting just .200 (4-for-20) at the moment but already has two doubles and one home run. The right handed hitter also has one walk, and has one RBI while scoring four runs.

Brandon Howlett is one of those really exciting prospects in a bad spot. He’s a third baseman on a team that had Bobby Dalbec, Michael Chavis, and Rafael Devers, and Triston Casas all in that spot. Dalbec and Chavis don’t really play third anymore, so the position has freed up a bit which is good, because the 21-year-old deserves more eyes. He’s hitting .313 (5-for-16) with a double and a home run. Howlett has also walked twice, while driving in two runs and scoring two more.

Tyler Dearden started the year 0-for-7. Since then, he is 4-for-7 with two walks. Dearden already has one double, two home runs, six RBI, and four runs scored on the year. Those would be great numbers for someone that didn’t start off hitless in their first two games. He’s hitting .286 and the 22-year-old outfielder is set to make big waves in 2021.

Nick Sogard also started off the year with a hitless streak. After starting 0-for-6 Sogard is now 2-for-15. Obviously a .133 average is not great, but he is in a new system as well as having a year off so that small slump isn’t a big deal. What’s interesting about it is those two hits are both home runs. Sogard had zero home runs in his 214 at-bats in his only other season in the minors in 2019. Low strikeouts and good speed, his average will get back up there.

Chris Murphy‘s stuff is devastating. I absolutely love the way he mixes speeds, moves across the plate, and keeps hitters guessing. In his first start he allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out seven in that time. Murphy might be looking to rack up the Ks this year. The lefty is one of my favorite prospects to watch, let’s see where he can go in 2021.

Brayan Bello doesn’t get talked about enough. A 21-year-old with some wild pitches and more than decent enough command. In his first start of the year, Bello went 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one run on four hits.

Jay Groome gave up five runs on six hits in two innings. Who cares about the stats right now though, Groome is pitching again. The big thing is for him to stay healthy and get some rhythm going with his arm. Once he does that, the production will come. Groome is still just 22 and the lefty has elite potential to be a true ace, fight me on that I dare you.

Yorvin Pantoja has appeared in two games and the lefty has already thrown 3 1/3 shutout innings in that time. Pantoja has allowed just one hit (.091 BAA) and has struck out five. Fantastic start for the 23-year-old.

Rio Gomez has appeared in one game, tossing three innings. The son of the late, great journalist Pedro Gomez allowed one run on four hits in that outing. He did not surrender any walks and managed to rack up an impressive six strikeouts.