Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: A lot of changes as season nears end
By Hunter Noll
Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Nick Yorke has been unstoppable in High-A. Overall between Low-A and High-A on the year, the second baseman is slashing .332/.420/.528 with 18 doubles, five triples, and 14 home runs. He’s driven in 61 runs and scored 74 more, stealing 13 bases. That’s just ridiculous run production. Another amazing stat? 51 walks compared to 62 strikeouts. He’s 19.
Tyler Dearden is having a star-making year. Showing amazing power. The outfielder is slashing .267/.374/.542 with 19 doubles and 24 home runs. He hit five of those homers this week. Dearden’s driven in 79 runs and scored 70 more, stealing one base.
Brandon Howlett had four straight multi-hit games this week. That helped a lot. The third baseman is now slashing .258/.351/.476 with 19 doubles, three triples, and 17 home runs. He’s driven in 56 runs and scored 62 more, stealing two bases. Everything I just told you outside of the doubles are career-highs.
Stephen Scott is slashing .291/.402/.525 between Low-A and High-A. The outfielder has shown tons of power with 29 doubles, one triple, and 16 home runs. He’s scored 72 runs and driven in 71 more, stealing three bases. Scott wasn’t the highest-regarded prospect entering the season but he’s done a lot for his stock this year.
Christian Koss holds a .279/.331/.465 slash line this season. He’s tied a career-high with 10 steals as well. Other than that, all Koss has done is set new career-marks in everything else. He has 17 doubles, seven triples, and 11 home runs. Meanwhile, he’s driven in 53 runs and scored 64 more. Offensive juggernaut, and a solid defender at shortstop too.
Joe Davis holds a .305/.353/.524 slash line between Low-A and High-A. The first baseman has an impressive 21 doubles and 19 home runs in that time. Davis has driven in 76 runs and scored 55 more. A heavy hitter, Davis is going to get you some extra-base hits.
Elih Marrero is slashing .303/.395/.418 with 14 doubles, one triple, and one home run. The catcher’s season is only getting more-and-more impressive as he starts to get serious reps. Up to 165 at-bats, Marrero isn’t working with all that small of a sample size anymore. He’s driven in 22 runs, scored 32 more, and stolen 14 bases.
Jaxx Groshans is dominating offensively from the catcher position as well. Groshans is slashing .288/.383/.460 with 13 doubles, three triples, and eight home runs between Low-A and High-A. He’s driven in 34 runs, scored 38 more, and stolen one base.
Jeremy Wu-Yelland now has eight innings pitched in High-A and 75 innings overall. The left-handed pitcher holds a 3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and .196 BAA in those 75 innings so far. He’s walked 42 batters, which is a bit of an issue – but has 90 strikeouts as well.
Casey Cobb has thrown 16 innings in five appearances in High-A. In that time, the righty has a 1.69 ERA, .193 BAA, and 0.88 WHIP. Cobb has struck out 21 batters compared to just three walks. Overall between two levels he’s been completely untouchable. Could we see him start the year in Double-A next season?
Chase Shugart had a phenomenal week. Overall, the numbers aren’t amazing (4.84 ERA, .296 BAA, and 1.41 WHIP). Like I’ve said though, it’s all about showing growth. Shugart did that this week. In two starts he allowed just one run on 12 hits in 10 innings. Shugart walked just one batter in that time, while striking out nine.
Brandon Walter’s September has been fantastic. The right-hander has allowed no earned runs on four hits and three in 10 innings (two starts). He’s also struck out eight in that time. Overall between Low-A and High-A, Walter now has a 2.99 ERA, .204 BAA, and 1.01 WHIP. He’s struck out 124 batters compared to 20 walks in 84 1/3 innings pitched.