Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: Hot Streaks and Call-ups

Red Sox Low-A (Salem)

What a week for Ceddanne Rafaela. The 20-year-old is currently rocking a seven-game hitting-streak. In that time, he’s seen his slash line go from .236/.302/.408 to .249/.308/.436. Rafaela has 16 doubles, seven triples, and 10 home runs on the year. He’s driven in 41 runs and scored 57 more, stealing 21 bases. Rafaela also plays multiple positions and plays them at a Gold Glove level.

Gilberto Jimenez is slashing .306/.346/.402 with 16 doubles, six triples, and two home runs. The outfielder has an impressive 50 RBI and 59 runs scored. Meanwhile, he has 13 steals. Jimenez has had a weird year that probably isn’t getting the love it deserves due to the lack of power. But the potential is through the roof, and Jimenez is doing more than you could ask as a 21-year-old.

Blaze Jordan has looked really solid in Low-A so far. The third baseman is slashing .250/.294/.469 in eight games. Jordan has one double and two home runs. Meanwhile, he has driven in seven runs and scored six more. Jordan is just 18 and has not looked overmatched at all in Low-A. It’s very promising.

Niko Kavadas was just drafted in the 11th round this year, and he’s already contributing in Low-A. The first baseman has played in just four games so far, slashing .214/.313/.571 with two doubles and one home run. Kavadas has driven in four runs and scored three more. There’s a lot of potential here as a major offensive threat and he’s showing good pop already.

Nick Decker continues to improve as the year goes on. The outfielder is now slashing .270/.375/.454 with 14 doubles, one triple, and six home runs in Low-A. He has driven in 26 runs and scored 36 more in 51 games, stealing three bases. Decker has a lot going for him, and the offense is definitely something that will help the 21-year-old rise through the ranks.

Matthew Lugo had a big week. He picked up six hits in 15 at-bats, walking four times. He hit two doubles, drove in two runs, and scored three runs as well. The shortstop is now slashing .256/.320/.324 with 16 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. Lugo has 37 runs driven in and 43 more scored, stealing 14 bases.

Wilkelman Gonzalez made his debut in Low-A this week. The 19-year-old went 4 2/3 innings, giving up just one run on three hits and one walk – striking out three. Gonzalez has a ton of potential and such a strong Salem debut definitely bodes well for the right-handed pitcher.

Wyatt Olds now has four innings pitched under his belt in Salem. In that time, the right-handed pitcher has allowed just one run on three hits and two walks. The wild part has been the strikeouts, as he has already racked up 10. Olds was a seventh-round draft pick this year, and he’s already showing just how dominant he can be.

Jeremy Wu-Yelland gave up two runs on four hits, while striking out five batters in five innings this week. It was a really solid outing that continues to build on a strong year. The left-handed pitcher now has a 4.03 ERA, .204 BAA, and 1.28 WHIP on the season. He’s also struck out 77 batters in 67 innings.

Devon Roedahl has thrown 51 innings this year. In that time, the right-hander has a 1.59 ERA. He also has a .197 BAA and absolutely insane 0.88 WHIP. Roedahl has struck out 53 batters compared to eight walks as well. This has led to a 5-2 record, one hold, and 10 saves in 11 opportunities.

Chih-Jung Liu gave up just two runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched this week. The right-hander walked two but also struck out six. This helped lower his numbers a little bit. Liu now has a 5.20 ERA, .281 BAA, and 1.40 WHIP in Low-A. He’s struck out 38 batters in 36 1/3 innings for Low-A this year.

Shane Drohan gave up two earned runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings this week. The left-handed pitcher continues to improve his numbers and now has really solid numbers on the season. Overall, Drohan has a 4.03 ERA in 73 2/3 innings pitched. He has a 1.44 WHIP and .244 BAA. Drohan has had a walk problem, with 40 – but has struck out 66 and most impressively only given up three home runs.