Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: Debut steals the headlines

Red Sox Low-A (Salem)

Not an ideal ending to the week for Marcelo Mayer. The left-handed hitting shortstop was 0-for-3 on Sunday before being pulled from the game for lower back soreness. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious and he’s back out there on Tuesday (or at least soon) and healthy. Mayer is slashing .286/.379/.510 with 22 doubles and seven home runs on the season. He’s driven in 31 runs, scored 35 more, and is 12-for-12 on steal attempts.

Blaze Jordan is slashing .299/.372/.474 with 23 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs. The right-handed hitting third baseman has driven in 45 runs, scored 45 more, and stolen three bases (on three attempts. He’s also drawn a good amount of walks, with 32 on the season. Jordan’s ability to get on-base is great to see with that insane power.

Yorberto Mejicano continues to shine in his bigger role as the primary catcher. The right-handed hitter is up to a really strong .293/.338/.436 slash line with eight doubles and four home runs. In 37 games so far, he’s driven in 23 runs and scored 24 more – Mejicano has even managed to pick up three steals this season.

Bryan Gonzalez has looked great in Low-A so far. The right-handed-hitting outfielder is slashing .263/.300/.421 with one home run in 19 at-bats. He’s driven in four runs and scored three more, stealing one base. Gonzalez is just 20 and getting his first taste of Low-A, so this is an encouraging start.

Eddinson Paulino is slashing .242/.336/.434 with some insane numbers. The left-handed hitting utility-man has racked up 24 doubles, eight triples, and six home runs. He’s had phenomenal run production as well. Paulino’s driven in 39 runs, scored 54 more and stolen 17 bases. A combination of a lot of great tools.

Brainer Bonaci continues to have a really strong (but under-appreciated and under-acknowledged) season in Low-A. The switch-hitting shortstop is slashing .245/.380/.314 with 11 doubles and three triples. It’s the “not great” average and the zero home runs that are probably doing it. But Bonaci’s driven in 24 runs and scored 49 more. He’s also racked up 14 steals and has walked as many times (55) as he has struck out (55). Add in great defense and the 20-year-old has definitely been impressive.

Luis De La Rosa made his Low-A debut this week. The right-handed pitcher tossed two shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. He also managed to pick up four strikeouts. That’s a great start to his Low-A career. It’s also important to note that De La Rosa just turned 20 on July 6 (the day before his debut with Salem). So the future is bright.

Hunter Dobbins has been awesome lately. Again, nothing to do with the name – I’m not being biased. He’s just dominating on the mound. The right-handed pitcher made two starts this week. His first saw him go five innings, allowing one run on five hits (no walks) and striking out 10. The second saw him go five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits (no walks) and striking out six. On the year Dobbins has a 2.60 ERA, .243 BAA, 1.08 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts (compared to seven walks) over 27 2/3 innings.

Reidis Sena walked three batters over 1 2/3 innings in his lone outing this week. He also didn’t allow a hit or a run and managed to strike out four people though. The right-handed pitcher now holds a 1.76 ERA, .200 BAA, and 1.17 WHIP over 15 1/3 innings on the season. Despite the walks in that game, Sena only has seven on the year – and he pairs that with 19 strikeouts.

Angel Bastardo gave up one earned run on four hits and three walks (three strikeouts) over 4 2/3 innings in his one start this week. The righty controls some really strong numbers on the year. He has a 3.48 ERA, .259 BAA, 1.47 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts (compared to 27 walks) over 54 1/3 innings so far season.

Adenys Bautista only made one appearance this week, but he used it to lower his ERA. The right-handed reliever allowed two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings but didn’t give up a run. He is down to a 3.31 ERA, .182 BAA, and 1.29 WHIP on the year. Bautista’s walked 20 batters in 32 2/3 innings but has 32 strikeouts to go along with it.