Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: We’re going streaking (hot and cold)

Red Sox Low-A (Salem)

It looks like Nathan Hickey is going to enjoy his first full year in the minors. The catcher is slashing .262/.407/.476 with three doubles and two home runs. He’s driven in 11 runs and scored nine more. Perhaps what’s most impressive though is the fact that he’s walked (10) almost as many times as he has struck out (11).

Niko Kavadas is slashing .273/.467/.491 with six doubles and two home runs. The first baseman has six RBI and nine runs scored, even stealing a base. Now, if you’re wondering why the left-handed hitter’s OBP is so high – the answer is simple. Kavadas has already drawn 19 walks. That’s a high number.

Speaking of high OBPs, Brainer Bonaci holds a .293/.456/.366 slash line this year. The shortstop has just one double and one triple. But he has decent run production with eight RBI, 10 runs scored, and two steals. The switch-hitter has drawn more walks (14) that he has strikeouts (11).

Blaze Jordan has struggled this year. The right-handed hitter has a .181/.244/.264 slash line with three doubles and one home run. He’s driven in seven runs and scored nine more. The good news though is that Jordan picked up two hits in his last game, so maybe he can start to turn things around. It’s also important to remember he’s 19.

Miguel Ugueto has a .356/.361/.458 slash line with four doubles and one triple. The right-handed hitting outfielder has nine RBI and seven runs scored, stealing one base. Ugueto is only 19 and is in his first year in Low-A. He impressed in a short sample size in Rookie Ball last year though. So we might have something on our hands here.

Tyler Miller is having an up-and-down year at the moment. The left-handed hitting corner-infielder is slashing .233/.324/.450 with four doubles and three home runs. He’s driven in seven runs and scored 10 more. There is some clear power there, so if Miller can start to hit a little more consistently he could be absolutely dangerous.

Eddison Paulino is in the same boat as last week. The average isn’t high but it seems like he’s always getting big hits. The 19-year-old has a .221/.287/.429 slash line on the year. He already has five doubles, four triples, and one home run though. And with that, the left-handed hitter has driven in 11 runs and scored 12 more – while stealing one base.

Wikelman Gonzalez was great last year but we heard a lot of “he’s young and raw, we need to see how he develops” and all that fun stuff. This year he’s here to tell everyone to just shut up and enjoy the dominant ride. The 20-year-old right-handed pitcher has a 0.57 ERA, .185 BAA, and 1.15 WHIP. In 15 2/3 innings, he has 20 strikeouts compared to eight walks.

Tyler Uberstine has tossed 12 innings this season. The right-handed pitcher has a 1.50 ERA, .239 BAA, and 1.42 WHIP in that time. Uberstine has walked six batters and hit another. But his 13 strikeouts have helped to keep him out of trouble and he’s looked untouchable at times.

Joey Stock already has 16 1/3 innings this year. The righty has a 2.20 ERA, .161 BAA, and 0.98 WHIP in that time. He has 19 strikeouts compared to seven walks and he shown some versatility that includes starting a game, as well as picking up a save. Stock’s last two outings have seen him combined to go five shutout innings, allowing no hits and two walks while striking out four.

Adenys Bautista didn’t take long to make a good impression in his first year in Low-A. The right-handed pitcher has a 2.38 ERA, .150 BAA, and absurdly low 0.79 WHIP in 11 1/3 innings. He has only allowed three walks while racking up 15 strikeouts.