Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: New arrivals and help coming soon
By Hunter Noll
Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Elih Marrero has been next-level lately. The catcher can’t be stopped. He’s now up to a .300/.400/.423 slash line with 13 doubles and one home run over 130 at-bats. Marrero has driven in 16 runs and scored 25 more. He’s walked almost as many times (21) as he’s struck out (25), and has 12 steals in 14 attempts.
Stephen Scott already feels like he needs a new challenge. That’s wild considering he got called up to High-A just a few weeks ago. Scott has a .370/.452/.685 slash line in 20 games for Greenville. Overall on the year, he’s slashing .288/.399/.512 with 25 doubles and 13 home runs. The outfielder’s driven in 60 runs and scored 65 more, and stealing three bases – even walking an impressive 50 times.
Joe Davis was slumping a bit but he’s picked it back up nicely. The first baseman is now slashing .320/.355/.559 with 20 doubles and 17 home runs between two levels. In 74 games, Davis has 48 runs scored and an absolutely hilariously ridiculous 70 runs scored. He’s been a machine this season and deserves more recognition.
Christian Koss has broken out of his slump as well. The shortstop is now up to a .271/.327/.422 with 12 doubles, five triples, and nine home runs. He’s driven in 38 runs and scored 50 more, while stealing eight bases. Koss can absolutely rake, and he’s starting to get hot again.
Brandon Howlett’s been having a rough time lately. He hit just .203 in July and is hitting an even worse .188 in August. A big game in August could help him right the ship though. Overall, Howlett is still slashing a decent .242/.343/.453 line with 15 doubles and career-highs in triples (3) and home runs (13). He’s also set new marks in RBI (47), runs scored (51), and steals (2).
Jaxx Groshans is slashing .280/.378/.453 with 11 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. The catcher has played extremely well in both Low-A and High-A this year. He’s driven in 33 runs scored and scored 34 more, while stealing one base. Groshans has risen his stock all year long.
Nick Sogard has hit all year long. It doesn’t matter at what level, he’s just hit. The infielder is slashing .280/.344/.452 between Double-A and High-A this year. In that time, he’s hit 11 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs. Meanwhile, he’s driven in 36 runs and scored 44 more – stealing eight bases.
Tyler Esplin is back! After missing a few weeks, the outfielder made his return this week. So far, he’s struggled a bit – but it’s important to remember he needs to get his footing again. Esplin is slashing .226/.327/.313 with 12 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He’s driven in 28 runs and scored 37 more, stealing four bases in four attempts.
Jay Groome is elite. Fight me. The left-handed pitcher has just absolutely nasty stuff. Oh, and he’s been insane since those first few starts of the year. This week, Groome gave up just one run on four hits and two walks over six innings, striking out four. That lowered his numbers even more. He’s now down to a 4.84 ERA, .225 BAA, and 1.25 WHIP. Groome’s also struck out 96 batters over 70 2/3 innings pitched. He’ll be a star for the Red Sox in two years.
Casey Cobb made his High-A debut on Sunday after dominating in Low-A (2.18 ERA, .200 BAA, and 0.95 WHIP). In that debut, Cobb tossed three shutout innings. He allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out three. The right-handed pitcher absolutely deserved the promotion and wasted no time in proving he’ll be just fine at the new level.
Speaking of pitchers that are fine at a new level, Brandon Walter continues to be phenomenal. Walter gave up 12 earned runs in his first three appearances for Greenville (12 innings). Since then he’s allowed just three earned runs in his next five appearances (27 innings). In High-A, the righty now has a 3.46 ERA, .219 BAA, and 1.08 WHIP. He’s also struck out 61 batters in 39 innings. That’s not even counting his ridiculously unfair numbers in Low-A this year.
Dylan Spacke is down to a 2.63 ERA on the year after another solid outing on Sunday. The right-hander has allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings so far in August. Thanks to that, not only has his ERA dropped significantly, but he’s down to a .229 BAA and 1.15 WHIP as well. Spacke has 68 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings this year.