Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: another season winding down
By Hunter Noll
Red Sox Triple-A (Worcester)
David Hamilton is having a phenomenal season in Triple-A. The left-handed hitting middle infielder is slashing .250/.366/.463 with 15 doubles, four triples, and 17 home runs (career-high). He's driven in 51 runs (career-high), scored 68 more, and stolen 53 bases (a Red Sox Triple-A record).
Ronaldo Hernandez is slashing .248/.342/.476 with 14 doubles and 17 home runs. He's driven in 63 runs, scored 44 more, and stolen one base. Hernandez has 37 walks this season. That's six more than his previous career-high and four more than his last two seasons combined.
Stephen Scott is slashing .254/.367/.502 with 14 doubles, two triples, and 18 home runs (career-high) between Double-A and Triple-A. The left-handed hitting catcher has driven in 63 runs, scored 55 more, and stolen six bases. Scott's positioning himself as a legitimate prospect, especially if he can continue to improve defensively.
Christian Koss is back for the first time since June 23. The right-handed hitting shortstop is already working on a three-game hitting streak. Koss is slashing .236/.282/.356 with 14 doubles, two triples, and three home runs between Double-A and Triple-A (and a few games in Rookie Ball while rehabbing). He's driven in 21 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen 14 bases.
Grant Gambrell made another strong start in his second outing in Triple-A. The right-handed pitcher allowed two runs on five hits over five innings. He walked one batter and struck out nine. Gambrell's been fantastic in his first 10 2/3 innings with Worcester.
Brian Van Belle had one of his best Triple-A starts on Sunday. The righty allowed two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three batters and walked three more. BVB has a 4.37 ERA, .262 BAA, and 1.34 WHIP between Double-A and Triple-A. He's struck out 116 batters compared to 43 walks in 127 2/3 innings.