Red Sox Low-A (Salem)
Brainer Bonaci has been one of my favorite players to watch this season. The switch-hitting shortstop is an elite defender, and has one of the best approaches at the plate in the entire system. Bonaci has a .263/.398/.380 slash line with 18 doubles (career-high), six triples (career-high), and three home runs (tied for a career-high). He’s driven in 41 runs (career-high), scored 71 more (career-high), and stolen 21 bases (career-high). Bones also has an absurdly impressive 76 walks compared to 76 strikeouts.
Eddinson Paulino is slashing .253/.344/.441 with 27 doubles, 10 triples, and nine home runs. The left-handed hitting utility-man has 48 runs driven in, 75 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. Paulino’s versatility makes him valuable, but his offensive potential is through the roof – making him a star prospect to keep an eye on.
Yorberto Mejicano had a fantastic week. The right-handed hitting catcher went 8-for-12 one triple, four RBI, six runs scored, one steal, and a ridiculous seven walks. He’s now slashing .279/.335/.401 with 10 doubles, one triple, and four home runs. He’s driven in 28 runs, scored 32 more, and stolen six bases.
Chase Meidroth was a fourth-round for the Red Sox this year. He’s already making an impact in Low-A. The right-handed hitting infielder is 4-for-15 with one home run, two runs driven in, and four more runs scored. He’s boasting a .368 on-base percentage thanks to his three walks compared to three strikeouts.
Johnfrank Salazar made the jump to Low-A and the 19-year-old has impressed so far. The right-handed hitting third baseman is 6-for-18 with one double. He’s driven in four runs, scored four more, and walked more times (5) than he has struck out (3).
Kier Meredith had a great week. The left-handed hitting outfielder went 7-for-19 with one double and his first-career home run. Meredith is slashing .258/.418/.311 with three doubles, one triple, and one home run. He’s driven in 19 runs, scored 27 more, and is a perfect 21-for-21 in stolen base attempts. Meredith has 29 walks compared to 30 strikeouts.
Matt Donlan made his Low-A debut this week. The right-handed hitting catcher is 2-for-10 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored. Donlan has already shown off a great arm behind the plate and has a lot of potential with his bat. Although he was an undrafted free agent this year, Donlan definitely has some hype surrounding him.
Tyler Miller is slashing .206/.285/.330 with eight doubles, one triple, and 11 home runs. He’s driven in 45 runs, scored 47 more, and stolen 16 bases in 18 attempts. The left-handed hitting corner infielder has 11 RBI this month, and has shown plenty of signs of getting hot at the plate.
Luis De La Rosa has been great in his short-stint in Low-A so far. The 20-year-old right-hander has a 2.75 ERA, .203 BAA, and 1.12 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings so far. He’s picked up 23 strikeouts compared to seven walks, and has yet to allow a home run. De La Rosa is getting multi-inning spots out of the bullpen right now, but should be a starter next season.
Wikelman Gonzalez struggled for a while this year but has been awesome in August and just put out a superstar performance on Sunday. The 20-year-old righty tossed six no-hit innings, giving up just one walk and one HBP while striking out five batters. He’s down to a 4.54 ERA, .212 BAA, 1.36 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings pitched this season.
Luis Guerrero has dominated in August. The right-handed reliever has given up one run on one hit and no walks, while striking out nine batters over 4 1/3 innings. He now has a 3.18 ERA, .150 BAA, and 1.10 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings in Low-A. Guerrero has amassed 35 strikeouts compared to 13 walks in that time.
Hunter Dobbins continues to impress in his first season in Low-A. The righty has a 3.83 ERA, .271 BAA, and 1.28 WHIP in 49 1/3 innings pitched. Dobbins has 51 strikeouts compared to 12 walks, and has only allowed two home runs to this point.
Graham Hoffman had a ridiculous month of July to turn his season around, and has looked great in August so far. The right-handed reliever has a 3.58 ERA, .217 BAA, and 1.34 WHIP over 27 2/3 innings this season. Hoffman has 31 strikeouts compared to 14 walks, and has yet to give up a home run.