Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: Week of the walk-off in the minors
By Hunter Noll
Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Kole Cottam also had a walk-off this week. The catcher is absolutely murdering the ball at the plate. In July, Cottam is slashing .378/.440/.622. That’s ridiculous and now he’s rocking a .281/.389/.497 slash line on the season. Cottam already has 13 doubles, one triple, and six homers this year. He’s driven in 24 runs and scored 22 more. The defense has improved, the game-calling has improved, and the offense is already plus-plus.
Joe Davis hasn’t stopped hitting since he got promoted to High-A. Actually he hasn’t stopped hitting all year, period. The right-handed hitter is 7-for-20 (.350) with one double, two RBI, and two runs scored in High-A. Overall on the year Davis has a .335/.379/.560 slash line with 17 doubles and 10 home runs. He’s driven in 51 runs in 53 games and has 34 runs scored.
Cameron Cannon is good. Really good. The right-handed hitter is 6-for-11 in his last three games and is now slashing .292/.337/.439 on the year. Cannon has 22 doubles, six homers, 29 RBI, 37 runs scored, and eight steals on the year. He’s been great all year and now it looks like we might be getting an even better version as he’s scalding hot.
Christian Koss is another fantastic pickup from the Red Sox. The shortstop is slashing .281/.341/.417 with 10 doubles, four triples, and five home runs. He has 26 RBI, 35 runs scored, and six steals. There isn’t much to not like about the game of Koss.
Tyler Dearden’s numbers have taken a bit of a slide. Overall though, he’s still having a fantastic year. The outfielder is slashing .265/.397/.503. He already has a career-high 15 doubles and a career-high 10 homers. Dearden hasn’t stopped there though. The 23-year-old also has career-bests in RBI (41) and runs scored (43).
Brandon Howlett is slumping hard in July (.197). Slumps happen though, and Howlett’s 2021 has been a major positive so far. The third baseman has a .260/.357/.500 slash line with 13 doubles, two triples (career-high), and 11 homers (career-high). He has 38 RBI (oh look another career-high), 42 runs scored, and two steals (also a career-best).
Tyler Esplin has a .233/.339/.312 slash line. So far, the power hasn’t really been there for the outfielder. However, he’s such a well-rounded player that he can cover that up. And you can expect the power numbers (and average) to rise at some point. Esplin does has 12 doubles, one triple, and one home run so far. He’s driven in 27 runs, scored 36 more, and stolen four bases. Great defense, good all-around offense, give the 22-year-old time to grow his game.
Dominic D’Alessandro still hasn’t gotten much playing time in 2021. The first baseman has appeared in just 28 games (100 at-bats). In that time he’s put up strong numbers though. D’Alessandro has a .250/.313/.420 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and four home runs. He’s driven in 15 runs and scored nine more.
Jaxx Groshans is only hitting .214 in High-A so far. However, he’s in a tough spot. Greenville has a lot of catchers (including Cottam who needs to be getting a lot of at-bats with how he’s playing). Due to that, Groshans isn’t getting much play. He’s only gotten 28 at-bats in the few weeks he’s appeared in. So it’s understandable that he hasn’t been able to get his legs under him just yet.
Brian Van Belle is insane. He entered July with a 5.56 ERA, .311 BAA, and 1.44 WHIP. The right-handed pitcher has thrown 17 innings this month though. In those 17 innings pitched he hasn’t given up a run. That’s right, he has a 0.00 ERA, .177 BAA, and 0.76 WHIP this month. Obviously, that’s helped to correct his numbers. Suddenly Van Belle has a 4.01 ERA, .276 BAA, and 1.25 WHIP. The 24-year-old has 60 strikeouts compared to just 10 walks in 60 2/3 innings pitched.
Chris Murphy didn’t have his best start of the year this week, but his overall numbers are still really good. The lefty has a 63 1/3 innings pitched, in that time he has a 4.12 ERA, .234 BAA, and 1.23 WHIP. Murph has already racked up 74 strikeouts and has shown that he can absolutely dominant for long stretches of time. Don’t be surprised if he can get going once again.
Oddanier Mosqueda has had a phenomenal season. The 22-year-old lefty has a 3.86 ERA and 1.21 WHIP to this point. Those are pretty solid, but it’s his .161 BAA that really sticks out. Yes, you read that correctly, .161 BAA. That’s insanity. Mosqueda has had some walk issues (17 in 25 2/3 innings) but has stayed out of trouble thanks to being untouchable (he also has 34 strikeouts).