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Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: Jarren Duran gets the call to the show

By Hunter Noll

BOSTON, MA - MAY 11: Jarren Duran #24 of the Worcester Red Sox reacts before the inaugural game at Polar Park against the Syracuse Mets on May 11, 2021 in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was the first game ever played at Polar Park. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 11: Jarren Duran #24 of the Worcester Red Sox reacts before the inaugural game at Polar Park against the Syracuse Mets on May 11, 2021 in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was the first game ever played at Polar Park. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox prospect Kole Cottam
Greenville Drive’s Kole Cottam (39) is safe at first base after a pickoff attempt from West Virginia Power during the game at Flour Field Thursday, April 4, 2019.Ss Drive 04 04 2019 1603 /

Red Sox Advanced-A (Greenville)

Joe Davis got the promotion to Advanced-A and wow was this overdue. The first baseman was slashing .333/.384/.577 with 16 doubles and 10 home runs in Full-A. He drove in 49 runs in 48 games and scored 32 more runs. Davis has yet to play a game in Advanced-A, but you should expect more of the classic mashing that he brings to the plate.

Last week I talked about how Christian Koss was proving to be a great pickup by the Red Sox, even if his slash line was nothing crazy. He went out this week and fixed that, going 12-for-22 with one double and one home run. The shortstop went from slashing .247/.321/.371 to .278/.344/.407. He did that in a week. Insanity. Koss has 10 doubles, three triples, and four home runs. He’s driven in 21 runs, scored 34 more, and stolen six bases.

Brandon Howlett continues to add to his career-year. The third baseman has a slash line of .275/.370/.534 with 12 doubles, two triples (career-high), and 11 home runs (career-high). Howlett already has a career-best 37 RBI, to go along with 38 runs and two steals (also a career-best).

Tyler Dearden is slashing .284/.410/.538 with 14 doubles and 10 home runs. The outfielder has driven in 41 runs and scored 40 more. All of those numbers are career-highs. Dearden is still just 23 and has all-around potential to be great in nearly every category. It looks like he’s really figured most of it out this year.

Kole Cottam moved the average up a little bit more this week. He now has a .266 average to go along with a .379 OBP and .460 slugging percentage. The catcher has 12 doubles and five home runs, while driving in 21 runs and scoring 20 more. Cottam has been superb in the month of July and the offensive potential is absolutely elite, but don’t sleep on his defense as well.

Jaxx Groshans was called up last week but started a little slow. However, he’s back on track. The catcher is now hitting .263 with a double, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. Overall, Groshans is slashing .294/.405/.438 with eight doubles and five home runs on the year. He has 23 RBI, 28 runs scored, and one steal on the season.

Cameron Cannon just hits, doesn’t he? The infielder is rocking a .282/.327/.435 slash line. He already has 20 doubles to go along with six home runs. Cannon’s driven in 29 runs, scored 36 more, and stolen eight bases. He’s seriously doing everything. Speed, contact, power, Cannon can do it all.

Dominic D’Alessandro has a strong .273/.340/.466 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and four home runs – in just 88 at-bats. The right-handed hitter has already driven in 15 runs and scored nine more. It will be interesting to see how D’Alessandro responds now that it appears he’s getting some more consistent at-bats.

Nick Sogard’s .260 average is solid, so is his .333 OBP. It’s the .462 slugging percentage that is such a nice surprise though. After not hitting a home run in 2019 – Sogard has nine doubles, one triple, and eight home runs this season. He’s driven in 24 runs and scored 30 more, while stealing five bases.

Tyler Esplin has a .236 average and .303 slugging percentage. However, he has a solid .348 OBP. So far, the outfielder has 10 doubles and one home run. Meanwhile, he’s driven in 25 runs and scored 33 more. Esplin plays a really good outfield, gets on-base at a solid clip, and even has three steals. The average will get back up a little bit, don’t worry.

Chris Murphy did something big this week. In his lone start, the lefty went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. Okay, solid game. But why was it special? Murphy struck out nine batters, a new career-high. The 23-year-old has a 3.86 ERA, .229 BAA, and 1.15 WHIP. He’s struck out 69 batters over 60 2/3 innings pitched.

Brian Van Belle entered July with a 5.56 ERA. In two starts this month the right-hander has allowed zero runs over 11 innings though. He has allowed just six hits and one walk in that time, while striking out 12. This has given Van Belle really solid numbers on the year. He now has a 4.45 ERA, .282 BAA, and 1.28 WHIP. The 24-year-old has 57 strikeouts compared to just eight walks over 54 2/3 innings pitched.

Cody Scroggins has now thrown three innings in Advanced-A. In that time, the right-hander has allowed no runs on just one hit and one walk (compared to four strike outs). Scroggins now has 30 innings pitched in 2021. He has a 1.20 ERA, .215 BAA, and 1.20 WHIP, to go along with 34 strikeouts. Scroggins has a 3-2 record, 1 hold, and six saves in seven opportunities.

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