Red Sox Low-A (Salem)
Brainer Bonaci should be on your radar. The switch-hitting shortstop is slashing .261/.391/.388 with 18 doubles, six triples, and six home runs. He’s driven in 49 runs, scored 78 more, and stolen 23 bases. Bones had a two-homer game this week. He’s had two of those this year (despite only having six home runs). Elite defense, good speed, and a ridiculous eye at the plate (81 walks compared to 84 strikeouts).
Speaking of “should be on your radar”, if you aren’t paying attention to Eddinson Paulino you’re doing something wrong. The left-handed hitting utility-man is slashing .259/.352/.447 with 32 doubles, 10 triples, and 10 home runs. He’s driven in 56 runs, scored 86 more, and stolen 25 bases. Good defense everyone on the field, just an electric player.
Chase Meidroth continues to impress in his immediate stint in Low-A after being drafted this year. The right-handed hitting second baseman is slashing .317/.463/.537 with three doubles and two home runs. He’s driven in five runs, scored eight more, and stolen two bases. Meidroth has more walks (9) than strikeouts (5) so far.
Yorberto Mejicano has been giving Salem so great run production this season. The right-handed hitting catcher is slashing .270/.332/.373 with 10 doubles, one triple, and four home runs so far. He’s driven in 34 runs, scored 35 more, and stolen seven bases. That’s great for someone with just 233 at-bats (63 games played). He’s shown good defense at catcher and first as well.
Kier Meredith holds a .265/.415/.324 slash line with six doubles, one triple, and one home run in 185 at-bats this season. He’s driven in 22 runs and scored 35 more. The left-handed hitting outfielder has drawn as many walks (35) as strikeouts (35) this season. He’s also a ridiculous 25-for-25 on stolen base attempts.
Eduardo Lopez is slashing .237/.333/.342 with 11 doubles, two triples, and four home runs. The switch-hitting outfielder has driven in 23 runs, scored 37 more, and stolen nine bases. Lopez has shown the ability to be a major spark plug and produce runs. He just needs to find some consistency at the plate, but he has plenty of time to develop.
Luis Perales is someone that could bring a lot of excitement to Red Sox fans in the next few seasons. The 19-year-old right-handed pitcher has shown some nasty stuff on the mound. He’s allowed two runs on four hits over five innings in Low-A so far. Perales has walked six batters but has nine strikeouts as well.
Luis Talavera has piggybacked Perales in their first two outings in Low-A so far. Talavera has been immaculate in that time. The righty has given up two runs (one earned) on five hits over eight innings at the level so far. He may only have two strikeouts, but he’s only walked one batter and has produced a lot of weak contact.
Luis De La Rosa is showing great potential in Low-A. The righty has a 4.33 ERA, .221 BAA, and 1.15 WHIP in 27 innings at the level. He’s racked up 32 strikeouts while only walking eight batters in that time. De La Rosa might not have a great ERA but the BAA and WHIP are both pretty strong. He’s got some wipeout stuff too.
Juan Daniel Encarnacion wasn’t great to star this season. The last two months have been elite though. The right-handed starter has a 4.09 ERA, .242 BAA, and 1.30 WHIP this season. He’s racked up 119 strikeouts compared to 39 walks over 103 1/3 innings. The last two months have seen Encarnacion post a 3.47 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 46 2/3 innings though.