Boston Red Sox prospect watch: Hot hitters and relievers turning heads

This week's Boston Red Sox prospect watch is led by a couple of scorching-hot hitters and relievers doing their best prime Jonathan Papelbon impressions.

Boston Red Sox Spring Training
Boston Red Sox Spring Training | Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/GettyImages
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Red Sox Double-A (Portland)

Nick Yorke had a great week, going 8-for-21 with two doubles and a home run. The right-handed hitting second baseman is slashing .275/.352/.456 with 18 doubles, five triples, and 13 home runs. He's driven in 54 runs, scored 61 more, and stolen 10 bases. Yorke's an underrated defender at second, and his bat woke up this week.

Elih Marrero continues to be underrated offensively this season. The switch-hitting catcher has always been elite defensively, but his bat has looked great in 2023. Marrero's slashing .269/.397/.370 with eight doubles and one home run (which he hit this week). He's driven in 10 runs, scored 18 more, and stolen eight bases.

Tyler McDonough is working on a six-game hitting streak. The switch-hitting utility is slashing .235/.306/.360 with 14 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in Double-A. He's driven in 32 runs, scored 37 more, and stolen 16 bases. McDonough also provides solid defense at a lot of positions.

Nathan Hickey picked up a hit in all four games he appeared in this week. The left-handed hitting catcher has a .280/.373/.530 slash line with 18 doubles, one triple, and 18 home runs between High-A and Double-A. He's driven in 50 runs, scored 50 more, and stolen three bases.

Blaze Jordan crushed another home run this week. The right-handed hitting corner infielder is slashing .300/.358/.500 with 27 doubles, one triple, and 17 home runs between High-A and Double-A. He's driven in 76 runs, scored 59 more, and stolen two bases.

Brainer Bonaci is slashing .296/.356/.465 with 18 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs between High-A and Double-A. The switch-hitting shortstop has driven in 41 runs, scored 42 more, and stolen seven bases. Bonaci flashed his fantastic defense and elite arm strength this week as well.

Tyler Dearden stayed hot with three more multi-hit games this week. The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .257/.350/.388 with seven doubles, one triple, and six home runs. He's driven in 29 runs and scored 24 more.

Corey Rosier is slashing .295/.352/.458 with 19 doubles, five triples, and seven home runs in Double-A. The left-handed hitting outfielder has driven in 34 runs, scored 55 more, and stolen 43 bases.

Chase Meidroth hit a home run this week. The right-handed hitting second baseman/third baseman is slashing .267/.395/.387 with 14 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs between High-A and Double-A. He's driven in 49 runs, scored 61 more, and stolen 11 bases.

Hunter Dobbins twirled a gem this week. The right-handed pitcher allowed one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out eight batters without walking any. Dobbins has a 3.84 ERA, .248 BAA, and 1.22 WHIP between High-A and Double-A. He's struck out 94 batters compared to 22 walks in 84 1/3 innings.

Grant Gambrell made two starts this week. He combined to allow four runs on eight hits over 11 innings. The righty has a 3.42 ERA, .227 BAA, and 1.22 WHIP in Double-A. He's struck out 84 batters compared to 32 walks in 84 1/3 innings.

CJ Liu allowed one run on two hits over five innings in his lone start this week. The right-handed pitcher struck out seven batters and walked two. He has a 5.05 ERA, .264 BAA, and 1.50 WHIP in 98 innings. He's struck out 124 batters and walked 50.

Luis Guerrero tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings over two appearances this week, picking up two more saves. The righty reliever has a 1.59 ERA, .154 BAA, and 1.19 WHIP in 45 1/3 innings. He's struck out 51 batters and walked 30. Guerrero has 17 saves this season.

Alex Hoppe hasn't allowed a run over his last four appearances. In that time, the right-handed reliever has allowed just one hit and one walk in 4 2/3 innings. He has a 3.98 ERA, .278 BAA, and 1.50 WHIP between High-A and Double-A. Hoppe has struck out 54 batters compared to 16 walks in 40 2/3 innings.

Schedule