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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 5, 2020 4:26:31 GMT -5
October 4, 2020 at 11:40 PM Red Sox 2020 Fall Instructional Camp roster and details
The Red Sox 2020 Fall Instructional League will run from October 5 through November 12 this year, the five-and-a-half weeks representing a period roughly twice as long as that of a typical season. The minor leaguers in camp will not play games against other teams, and instead will be limited to intrasquad scrimmages beginning in mid-to-late-October.
The 62-player roster for camp contains most of the SoxProspects Top 60, excepting players who were ineligible, such as those on the 40-man roster, and other players who were likely deemed to have gotten sufficient work in at the Alternate Training Site like Jeter Downs and Jarren Duran, although other players who were at the ATS will be present in Fort Myers.
The camp will represent the lone change for in-person instruction for most of the players in camp, although all have been working out on their own or playing independent or semi-pro ball.
Players are listed with how acquired and 2019 level if applicable.
Pitchers (32) RHP Jacinto Arredondo, NDFA '20 RHP Eduard Bazardo, IFA '14, A+/AA RHP Brock Bell, 7th rd. '19, Rk/SS-A RHP Brayan Bello, IFA '17, A RHP Bradley Blalock, 32nd rd. '19, Rk LHP Brendan Cellucci, 12th rd. '19, SS-A RHP Kutter Crawford, 16th rd. '17, A+/AA/injured RHP Nathanael Cruz, IFA - '19 RHP Osvaldo De La Rosa, IFA '18, SS-A RHP Jordan DiValerio, NDFA '20 LHP Shane Drohan, 5th rd. '20 RHP Juan Daniel Encarnacion, IFA '18, DSL RHP Durbin Feltman, 3rd rd. '18, AA RHP Wilkelman Gonzalez, IFA '18, DSL LHP Jay Groome, 1st rd. '16, Rk/SS-A (rehab) RHP Gabriel Jackson, IFA '18, DSL RHP Chih-Jung Liu, IFA '19 RHP Blake Loubier, 13th rd. '19, Rk RHP Bryan Mata, IFA '16, A+/AA LHP Chris Murphy. 6th rd. '19, SS-A RHP Yusniel Padron-Artiles, 22nd rd. '18, A/SS-A RHP AJ Politi, 15th rd. '18, A+ RHP Aldo Ramirez, IFA '18, SS-A LHP Jorge Rodriguez, IFA '17, Rk/SS-A RHP Chase Shugart, 12th rd. '18, A RHP Dylan Spacke, 21st rd. '19, SS-A RHP Jake Thompson, 4th rd. '17, A+/injured RHP Brian Van Belle, NDFA '20 RHP Jacob Wallace, Traded from COL '20, SS-A RHP Thaddeus Ward, 5th rd. '18, A/A+ LHP Jeremy Wu-Yelland, 4th rd. '20 RHP Ryan Zeferjahn, 3rd rd. 19, SS-A
Catchers (8) Roldani Baldwin, IFA '13, Rk/SS-A (rehab) Kole Cottam, 4th rd. '18, A/A+ Alex Erro, 17th rd. '19, SS-A Jaxx Groshans, 5th rd. '19, SS-A Alan Marrero, 8th rd. '16, A Oscar Rangel, IFA '18, Rk Stephen Scott, 10th rd. '19, SS-A Connor Wong, Traded from LAD '20, A+/AA
Infielders (12) Brainer Bonaci, IFA '18, DSL Cameron Cannon, 2nd rd. '19, SS-A Triston Casas, 1st rd. '18, A/A+ Pedro Castellanos, IFA '15, A+ Antoni Flores, IFA '17, SS-A Brandon Howlett, 21st rd. '18, A Blaze Jordan, 3rd rd. '20 Matthew Lugo, 2nd rd. '19, Rk/SS-A Nick Northcut, 11th rd. '18, SS-A Hudson Potts, Traded from SD '20, AA Ceddanne Rafaela, IFA '17, Rk/SS-A Nick Yorke, 1st rd. '20
Outfielders (10) Darel Belen, IFA '19, DSL Juan Chacon, IFA '19 Wil Dalton, 8th rd. '19, SS-A Nick Decker, 2nd rd. '18, SS-A Tyler Esplin, 7th rd. '17, A/A+ Bryan Gonzalez, IFA '18, DSL Gilberto Jimenez, IFA '17, SS-A Eduardo Lopez, IFA '18, DSL Jeisson Rosario, Traded from SD '20, A+ Eduardo Vaughan, IFA '18, DSL
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 5, 2020 9:40:17 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Catchers
A look at the backstops down in the minors By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 5, 2020, 10:30am EDT
Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we go behind the plate. Top Prospect
Connor Wong
At the end of the 2019 season, one area in which the Red Sox were lacking in their farm system was an impact catching prospect. While Wong isn’t going to be threatening for any sort of top 100 list, he is a legitimate prospect and easily the best in the organization at this position. The carrying tool here is the power, which he showed off in a big way in both High-A and Double-A back in 2019. The issue is there is no guarantee how much, if any, will carry into the majors due to major questions with his contact skills. If he can keep his strikeouts at a reasonable rate, though, the power will be enough to play at a position that lacks offense throughout the league.
Speaking of the position, though, it’s unlikely Wong sticks as only a catcher. He can play the position some, but his most likely role is a backup who also gets some playing time on the infield as he has played both second and third base as well. It’s not a conventional role, but it’s one that can provide some value, particularly for a Red Sox team that likely has their starting catcher already in place for the foreseeable future. Sleeper Prospect
Jonathan Diaz
The talent pool behind Wong dries up fairly quickly, but Diaz has some sneaky upside. An under-the-radar signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, he has done nothing but put up solid numbers at every stop in his young career. Most recently, he was splitting starting reps in his age-19 at Lowell and finished with a .718 OPS. He has some work to do offensively to refine his hit tool, and defensively the athleticism is there but he’s still a bit rough around the edges. Wong is probably the only catcher in the system who can project to something close to a starting role, but Diaz could be the kind of player to take a surprising jump and suddenly find himself on the fringe of that conversation.
Read More Others of Note
Deivy Grullón was acquired as a waiver pickup this summer. He’s a bat-first catcher but there is enough defense for him to stick as a backup, and he should serve as the third catcher for 2021. Jhonny Pereda was a trade acquisition back in March, and has a ceiling of a backup. He’s a defense-first player who has won a Gold Glove in his minor-league career, but the bat is limited. Austin Rei is a former second round pick but the bat has never developed. His defense is solid, though, and he could get a cup of coffee at some point as an emergency option. Kole Cottam has long been a personal favorite of mine with solid power and a hit tool that can play well enough. His defense is the question, though, and he needs to make strides there if he’s going to have a future. Roldani Baldwin was once my favorite sleeper in this position group and there is still some hidden potential there with the bat. Like Cottam, he is a bat-first player, but injuries have slowed down the development in recent years. Jaxx Groshans was a fifth round pick in 2019 and has enough tools offensively to make it far up the ladder. The question will be whether his defense develops enough. Naysbel Marcana received a $350,000 signing bonus in the 2018 July 2 signing period and reports were optimistic about his defense following his performance in the DSL in the summer of 2019. Rivaldo Avila hasn’t gotten a chance to play as a pro yet, but he got a $405,000 bonus out of Venezuela last summer and was the fourth-highest paid player in the class.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 5, 2020 13:04:03 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox fall prospect camp starts Monday; Triston Casas, Bryan Mata, Blaze Jordan, Nick Yorke highlight list of 62 players in Fort Myers Updated 1:49 PM; Today 1:49 PM Triston Casas
Triston Casas at the Red Sox' alternate site in Pawtucket. By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
Monday marks an important day for the Red Sox' player development staff, as more than 60 of the organization’s top young players will report to the Fenway South complex in Fort Myers for the beginning of the club’s fall instructional camp.
Because the minor-league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the vast majority of Boston’s minor-leaguers (except for those who were in the club’s player pool and worked out at the alternate training site in Pawtucket) have not participated in organized baseball activities since spring training was shut down in March. The fall camp, which will run through Nov. 12, is about twice as long as the normal fall instructional camp and more prospects than usual have been invited.
As reported by SoxProspects.com (full list here) and The Boston Globe, the list of invited prospects includes some of Boston’s most promising young players. Using MLB.com’s latest rankings, five of the club’s top 10 prospects will participate: first baseman Triston Casas (No. 2), right-hander Bryan Mata (No. 4), outfielder Gilberto Jimenez (No. 5), left-hander Jay Groome (No. 7) and righty Thad Ward (No. 9).
All four of Boston’s 2020 draft picks (Nick Yorke, Blaze Jordan, Jeremy Wu-Yelland and Shane Drohan) will attend, marking the first organized professional activities for Jordan, Wu-Yelland and Drohan. Yorke spent a few days in Pawtucket at the end of the alternate site period.
Seven players who worked out at the Sox' alternate site will attend: Casas, Mata, Groome, Yorke, catcher Connor Wong (who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade) along with infielder Hudson Potts and outfielder Jeisson Rosario (who were acquired from San Diego for Mitch Moreland). A handful of the organization’s top young players, including Bobby Dalbec, Jeter Downs, Jarren Duran and Tanner Houck, will not attend after each spending the entire season in Pawtucket and/or Boston.
Other notable prospects include right-hander Durbin Feltman, left-hander Chris Murphy, infielder Matthew Lugo and outfielder Nick Decker. In total, 18 of the Sox' top 25 prospects, per SoxProspects.com, will participate.
The prospects will work out at the complex and participate in intrasquad games throughout the fall. Last month, Red Sox director of player development Ben Crockett said it’s possible the club could schedule games against other organizations in the area.
“Still working, in conversations with other teams about the possibility of playing,” Crockett said. “No games on the schedule yet. Most teams are kind of playing a little bit of a wait-and-see approach to see how players come in, get a sense of when games might be a possibility and then go from there. We’d certainly plan to be having some intrasquad and then the possibility of games against external competition.”
Crockett said the camp will operate as a hybrid between what players experienced at the alternate site and what a normal fall instructional league would look like. This year’s camp will also be unique because of the health and safety protocols players and coaches will have to follow as the pandemic rages on.
“Given the idea of keeping everybody distant and doing everything we can to stay safe, it’s going to be a different experience than a normal instructional league,” Crockett said. “More staggering and probably more small group work and individualized work. It’ll be some sort of a blend of what a normal instructional league would be as well as what we’ve been doing up here.”
The fall camp will give Crockett and his staff a chance to see how more than 50 minor-leaguers spent their summers at home.
“We’re excited to get some guys down there,” he said. “Obviously, quite a few hoops to jump through just like there were in Boston and at the alternate site to do everything safely
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 5, 2020 16:10:49 GMT -5
SoxProspects.com @soxprospects 2m RT @broshuis: Big news for Minor Leaguers in our case trying to get them paid at least minimum wage: The Supreme Court denied MLB's request to take the case, with the issue being whether the case remains a class action. We will finally be back to the trial court soon.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 6, 2020 9:35:36 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: First Base
A look at the cold corner in the organization. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 6, 2020, 10:30am EDT
Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we go look at the crop of first basemen. Top Prospect
Triston Casas
For most teams, the top prospect in a farm system either plays up the middle or they’re a starting pitcher. Some may argue that is the case for the Red Sox as well, with Jeter Downs number one on some lists. For my money, though, it’s at first base with Casas. There is obviously a lot more pressure on his bat than there would be if he played a more valuable defensive position, but I’m not overly concerned about him making good on that. Despite a relatively small sample in the minors and having limited experience above A-ball, Casas has shown every indication he is very much for real. There is big power and an approach to go with it. He has said he’s looked up to Joey Votto, which can only bode well for his approach. I’m still not really sure how much stock to put into performances at Alternate Sites this summer, but it’s worth noting he didn’t look out of place against pitchers that have pitched in the majors.
And while defense at first base isn’t seen as that valuable — that’s something I take some issue with, but that’s a tangent for another day — it doesn’t hurt to be good there. Casas has looked like he can be an above-average fielder to go along with that potential at the plate. Looking ahead, I’m very interested to see how aggressively they move Casas. I’m certainly not expecting him to be in the majors at all next year, but after spending most of the summer at the Alternate Site, will they push him to Portland to start 2021? There’s an argument for it, and from there he could move. Sleeper Prospect
Pedro Castellanos
Every prospect has a reason for why not having a normal season in 2020 hurt their stock and development path, but among Red Sox prospects at least I think Castellanos is the one who could be most hurt. He has always been a bit of a flummoxing prospect, showing big power in batting practice but never bringing it into games. It’s never really made sense, but it’s held him back. Then, over the final six weeks or so in 2019, he exploded in the power department. With Salem, which is home to one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in the minors, Castellanos smashed eight homers in his final 30 games.
Building off that, 2020 was a chance for him to show that it was for real and really put himself on the prospect map. Instead, the season never happened and he wasn’t invited to Pawtucket, so he’s sort of fallen off said map. He will turn 23 before the end of this year, but if that power carries over into next season he will start to gain some buzz very quickly.
Others of Note
Bobby Dalbec is sort of not a prospect anymore after spending all of September in the majors, but that didn’t count for rookie eligibility so he’s still here. Either way, he should get the bulk of the playing time at first in the majors next year and will have every chance to become a long-term part of this lineup. He’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts to do so, though. Josh Ockimey has an extremely limited profile in that he can only play first base or DH and really shouldn’t ever hit against lefties, but he takes a ton of walks and can hit for power against righties, so a future bench role could be possible looking ahead. Devlin Granberg was a senior draftee in 2018 who was selected largely to save slot money, but he’s produced as a pro. There’s not a huge ceiling here and there’s a good chance he’s not even a major-leaguer, but he’ll keep getting chances as long as the numbers are there. He can also play some in left field. Stephen Scott was another senior draftee, though he came from a bigger program in Vanderbilt and was selected in 2019. Like Granberg, there’s not much of a ceiling and he’s most likely an organizational piece, but there are reasons for optimism. With Scott, it’s his power as well as his makeup, which people who know him rave about. Albert Feliz was the other contender for my sleeper here and another guy who could have gotten more buzz with a 2020 season. He got a $400,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and made his pro debut in the DSL in 2019. There, he showed big power that could carry him moving forward. He needs to sharpen up the contact skills, but he doesn’t turn 19 until next April so there is time for that to happen.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 7, 2020 8:24:18 GMT -5
Players to know on the Red Sox Instructs Roster
There’s a lot! By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 7, 2020, 9:01am EDT
Among the many side effects of the pandemic for baseball teams was that the majority of their minor leaguers didn’t have a chance to play affiliated ball all summer, instead having to rely on local leagues if they were able to get into organized games at all. To go a little way towards making up for this lack of action, the Red Sox are holding an extended Instructional League this fall down in Fort Myers. It will get started next week and run through mid-November. While there were rumors that some Florida teams may play each other and that is the plan for the teams in Arizona, the Red Sox will not be playing other teams. Instead, it’ll be all intrasquad games as was the case in Pawtucket over the summer.
For this fall session, there will be 62 players, including many of the top prospects in the organization, invited. The full list can be found here from our friends at Sox Prospects. We won’t be going over every player on this list. That said, there are a lot of interesting players I do want to briefly look at we head into the offseason with the Red Sox farm system still towards the bottom of the pack but still certainly on the rise. 2020 Draftees
All four players selected by the Red Sox in this past summer’s draft will be in attendance down in Fort Myers.
Nick Yorke (2B/SS) was the team’s first-round pick, and while he was seen as a reach and was partially taken for financial reasons, there is real reason to be excited about his bat. He got a chance to play in Pawtucket at the end of the summer and held his own against much more experienced competition. Blaze Jordan (3B/1B) got the money saved with the Yorke pick and was a phenom in high school for his prodigious power. There are questions with the hit tool, but be ready to hear about some mammoth shots from him this fall. Jeremy Wu-Yelland (LHP) comes into the organization with the lowest profile of these draftees, but there’s sneaky upside here. I think the lefty is better suited for the fastball where his fastball plays up, but he’ll get a chance to start right away. Shane Drohan (RHP) is another pitcher who could end up in the bullpen, but there’s reason to believe he has more growth ahead of him than a typical college selection as he didn’t really start focusing totally on baseball until college.
Trade Acquisitions
Hudson Potts (3B/1B) came over in the Mitch Moreland trade and brings with him big-time power. There are some questions with the hit tool and the defense, but if he maxes out his power and just makes enough contact for it to play he can start. That’s a big if, though. Jeisson Rosario (CF) is, in my opinion, the better prospect who came over in the Moreland deal. Rosario is an uber-athletic center fielder who does backflips after wins and also gets on base and plays great defense. He’s held back by a lack of power, though. Jacob Wallace (RHP) was the player to be named later in the Kevin Pillar trade. A local kid from Methuen who went to UConn, he’s a true reliever but one that could move quickly through the minors.
Alternate Site Repeats
Not all players from Pawtucket are coming down to Fort Myers as well (more on them later), but there are a few repeats, not including the trade acquisitions named above.
Triston Casas (1B) is, for my nonexistent fortune, the best prospect in the system. He stood out in a big way in Pawtucket and now he’s going to be able to face guys who are worse and also haven’t pitched professionally in a year. So that should be cool. Jay Groome (LHP) was robbed of a very important year, but by all accounts he looked good in Pawtucket and now he has a chance to solidify this year as being as positive as possible. Bryan Mata (RHP) should make his major-league debut as soon as later in the 2021 season, and like Groome he’s just looking to get more work in and build off a solid performance in Pawtucket. Connor Wong (C/3B/2B) is the top catching prospect in the system, though he plays some infield as well. At the plate, he has a ton of pop and not a whole lot of contact.
Other Top Prospects
Among top ten prospects in the system, this will be our first look at them this year.
Gilberto Jimenez (CF) has been a little bit forgotten amid the (justified, in my opinion) Jarren Duran hype, but some came into this year thinking Jimenez was the better prospect. He’s still raw and was still learning to switch hit in 2019, but there’s big upside with his athleticism, defense and potential hit tool. Thad Ward (RHP) was a surprising omission from the Alternate Site in my eyes, and I’m excited to see where he’s at. The righty was a big breakout in 2019 after adding a cutter to his arsenal and looks like he can stick as a starter long-term.
Potential Breakouts
These are guys that could’ve broken out in 2020, and will be names to remember next summer.
Brayan Bello (RHP) had a really weird 2019 in which he started out great, then struggled mightily before finishing great. He has the stuff to be an impact process, and I’m curious how the lost year affected him. Chih-Jung Liu (RHP) was a big signing after last season and was going to be a big name to watch this summer. Instead, this will be our first real look at the pitcher. Aldo Ramirez (RHP) doesn’t have the ceiling that some others in this section may have, but he was sneakily really solid last season but flew a bit under the radar in Lowell thanks to some other bigger names on that roster.
Matthew Lugo (SS) was the second player picked by Boston in the 2019 draft but the most talented. I struggled with where to put him, but I landed here because while he has some profile he could take a huge leap next year given where he plays in the field and his all-around profile. Brainer Bonaci (SS) has perhaps the best name in the system and he was also perhaps the fastest riser leading into spring training last winter. He’s very raw, but the infielder is athletic and has some sneaky pop. Ceddanne Rafaela (3B) is another plus-athlete whose offense could take a big step forward to make him into a legitimate prospect rather than just someone to dream on, which is where he stands for now. Juan Chacon (CF) was the top international signing of the 2019 signing period, but obviously couldn’t play this summer. There’s not a ton of information out there since he hasn’t played, but there’s a chance for a strong all-around player here. Eduardo Lopez (CF) was the top signing the year before Chacon. He did get to play in the DSL in 2019, and while the ceiling isn’t as high his approach and reported makeup make him intriguing even at a young age.
Don’t Forget About Us
These players may have fallen off the radar after the lost season, but don’t write them off yet.
Eduard Bazardo (RHP) was surprisingly not protected from the Rule 5 Draft last year, but stuck in the organization. He’s not a future closer, but there’s a future big-league reliever in there. Durbin Feltman (RHP) came into the organization with a ton of hype, but fell flat in his professional debut. He’s going to need a big 2021, and these Instructs could be a building block to get his confidence up for next season. Kutter Crawford (RHP) was the among the biggest breakouts in 2018, but he went down with injury in 2019. He could be a post-hype name to watch in 2021. Pedro Castellanos (1B) was, in my opinion, most impacted by the lost 2020 season. He finally showed the power we’ve long been looking for to end 2019, and this will be his first chance to show it was no fluke. Antoni Flores (SS) was highly touted after being signed out of the Domincan Republic, but he’s taken major steps back since joining the organization and 2021 could be his last chance. Brandon Howlett (3B) looked like the steal of the 2018 draft after he had a scorching summer that year, but he struggled with an aggressive placement in Greenville in 2019. I’m still a believer, but losing 2020 put him further off the radar.
Yusniel Padron-Artilles (RHP) was, like Aldo Ramirez, a bit under the radar in Lowell. He made some headlines in their playoffs, though, striking out 12 consecutive batters. Jorge Rodriguez (LHP) was yet another member of that frankly sneaky-stacked Lowell rotation. He has a solid three-pitch mix but his size could force him to the bullpen at some point. Ryan Zeferjahn (RHP) has huge stuff, and it’s probably a matter of when not if he’s moved to the bullpen. That said, the stuff could make him valuable in that role. Cameron Cannon (2B), the first pick the team made in the 2019 draft, is a low-ceiling infielder who probably can’t stick at shortstop. That said, the shortcomings have overshadowed that there is a solid bat here that could play its way into a future bench role. Nick Decker (RF) is another one of those big-power, low-contact hitters in this system. There’s a wide range of outcomes, but the top end is exciting.
Not on the list
These players will not be there.
CJ Chatham (INF), Yoan Aybar (RHP) and Marcus Wilson (OF)are all on the 40-man roster, and the Players Union said players on 40-man rosters cannot be on Instruct rosters. Aybar in particular is hurt here as he also was not invited to Pawtucket. Noah Song (RHP) is still serving his time in the US Navy. Jarren Duran (CF), Jeter Downs (2B/SS) and Connor Seabold (RHP) all spent the entire summer at Alternate Sites. (Seabold spent half of his time with the Phillies). The organization apparently feels confident they got all the work in they needed. Luis Perales (RHP) was the most surprising omission to me. The international signee didn’t enter the organization with a lot of hype but saw a huge spike in velocity after signing and had a ton of helium last spring. I’d be curious to hear the reasoning for not inviting him.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 7, 2020 10:08:48 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Second Base
Looking at the keystone position through the organization. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 7, 2020, 10:30am EDT
Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we look at the crop of second basemen.
Top Prospect
Jeter Downs
In yesterday’s post covering the first base prospects through the organization (linked below), I mentioned that Casas was arguably the top prospect in the system and held that title in my own opinion. Some, however, put Downs on that list. It’s not an unreasonable stance, either, particularly given that he plays a more premium position. The former Dodgers prospect, who came over in the Mookie Betts trade, has come up as a shortstop but evaluators have always seen a move to second base in his future, and that’s even more likely now with Xander Bogaerts ahead of him. He should be able to handle the keystone position well, though, playing better-than-average defense there. At short, his arm might have held him back a bit.
When we talk about Downs as a top 100 prospect and one of the top two in the organization, though, it’s not about the defense. It’s the bat. Downs always showed potential in his early years back when he was in the Reds organization, but after joining the Dodgers system in 2019 he took things to another level. The infielder started hitting for more power than ever and just generally was hitting everything with authority. It should be mentioned that most of his 2019 season was spent in the California League, one of the more favorable leagues for hitters in all of professional baseball, but he was even better in a short stint at Double-A to end that season.
He needs to be more consistent with his tools, and there’s more volatility in my eyes with his potential outcomes at the plate. That’s why I put Casas ahead of him on my own personal list. Even with that said, though, Downs has a huge ceiling and if everything clicks he’s a middle infielder with a better-than-average hit tool as well as an above-average power tool to go with above-average defense. That’s an All-Star. Again, it’s far from set in stone that he’ll be that guy, but the potential is there. Downs isn’t likely to be in the majors early in 2021, but could make his debut later in the year and potentially hold down the second base job as soon as 2022. Sleeper Prospect
Cameron Cannon
Traditionally there’s not really such thing as a second base prospect as most players who end up at that position in the majors spend most of their time in the minors at shortstop. That makes it a little hard to find a sleeper, but Cannon isn’t a terrible option here. The former second round pick was actually the team’s first selection in the 2019 draft after their top pick was dropped ten spots, and he wasn’t even the best player they picked in that round. That would be shortstop Matthew Lugo. That kind of pushed Cannon off the radar a little bit, with more attention being paid to his flaws than his strengths.
Despite the lack of ceiling, though, there is a potential major-leaguer in this package of tools. Cannon will need to lean heavily on his hit tool if he’s going to make it, as the former Arizona Wildcat always showed an ability to hit for average in college. That didn’t really translate in 2019 in his first experience against professional pitching, though. There’s not really enough power there to make up for it, so he needs to find a way to get a lot of hits to make good. Defensively, he can and has played shortstop and third, which helps for a potential utility role which is likely the ceiling, but he profiles best at second base and will likely play there more often than not moving forward.
Others of Note
C.J. Chatham was added to the 40-man this past winter but never got his chance in the majors despite a lot of bad play at second all season. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if he was taken off the roster altogether if they need room for Rule 5 prospects and/or free agents, but there’s still a solid floor here given his defense and solid-average hit tool. Jonathan Araúz spent the entire season in the majors but still didn’t exhaust his rookie eligibility. The Rule 5 draftee last year made it through the entire season in the majors and now can be sent back down, likely to spend all or most of next year in Triple-A. He’s probably a bench piece long-term, but he showed solid poise for someone who had barely played above High-A before this season. Brett Netzer being on this list reflects how shallow this position is, again because it’s generally a spot for failed shortstops. Netzer has moved his way up the ladder to Double-A thanks to his versatility and sporadic hit tool, but he’s unlikely to be much in the majors if he makes it there at all. Nick Yorke is the other big name on this list along with Downs. The first round pick this past summer was seen as the biggest reach in the entire round, but the Red Sox love the hit tool from this kid taken out of high school in California. He got a short look at the Alternate Site against polished pitching and put up some really impressive at bats. He’s nominally a shortstop still, but most everyone agrees a move to second is coming sooner than later.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 8, 2020 12:08:16 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Third base
Where do things stand at third base? By Phil Neuffer@philneuffer Oct 8, 2020, 12:01pm EDT
Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we look at the crop of third basemen. Top Prospect
The Red Sox shouldn’t need a new starting third baseman for quite a while with Rafael Devers an established star at this point, but there is still talent behind him. Organizing that talent is a bit more complicated. For example, there is a conversation to be had as to who the top third base prospect in the organization is right now. Interestingly enough, both became members of the organization this year.
The first of the two is Hudson Potts, who came over as part of the Mitch Moreland trade. The second is 2020 third-round draft pick Blaze Jordan. Depending on your prospect rankings of choice, an argument could be made for either player, with Sox Prospects actually ranking Potts and Jordan back-to-back at No. 15 and No. 16 in the organization, respectively.
Potts is a first-round talent with some raw power. While making his way through the San Diego Padres’ minor league system leading up to the Moreland trade this summer, Potts launched 57 home runs and 160 total extra-base hits across 1,792 plate appearances. He was in the player pool in 2020, but spent the majority of 2019 in Double-A with the Amarillo Sod Poodles. His power was still present with the Sod Poodles (16 home runs in 448 plate appearances), but his slash line wasn’t particularly impressive (.227/.290/.406) and he struck out quite a bit (128 times). Such an effort falls in line with his overall production at the minor league level, but with some improved patience and even more power development, he could be an impact bat. He also has the ability to play a few other positions, so its possible his ultimate future is somewhere other than third base.
Jordan was born in 2002, which, aside from making me feel exceptionally old, means he is quite a ways from making his MLB debut. According to Sox Prospects, Jordan may not always play third, but that’s what position he’s projected for in the immediate future. High school statistics don’t mean all that much, but he produced an OPS of more than 1.000 in four-straight seasons at DeSoto Central in Mississippi. Plus, he’s already showcased his power on a major stage. The Red Sox clearly want to get him on track quickly, as he is included on the list of players for the extended Instructional League. Sleeper
The Red Sox don’t really have a ton of exciting depth at third base in the organization, which means several players are flying under most fans’ radars. Ceddanne Rafaela is someone worth keeping an eye on, if only because of his speed. Across 98 combined minor league games between 2018 and 2019, he stole 28 bases. Of course he still needs some work on picking his spots, as he was caught nine times, and until he shows more big-league potential in other areas, all the speed in the world won’t matter. However, for now he is definitely a prospect with some upside and at 20-years-old and with Devers blocking anyone trying to take over at third anytime soon, Rafaela has plenty of time to develop.
Read More Others of Note
It felt like cheating to call Brandon Howlett a sleeper since he would have been the top third base prospect in the organization if not for the additions of Potts and Jordan. Despite that lofty standing, Howlett is still a bit of a question mark. He was drafted in the 21st round of the 2018 draft and immediately impressed, slashing .307/.405/.526 in the Gulf Coast League before a brief stint with the Lowell Spinners. He then spent all of 2019 with the Greenville Drive trying to find his swing, batting .231 while striking out 144 times in 465 plate appearances. Danny Diaz signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2017 and spent the next two seasons largely learning the ropes in the Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast League. He still has a long way to go, as the now 19-year-old slashed .210/.257/.343 in the Gulf Coast League, but he did flash some better results in his second run in the Dominican Summer League (.316/.395/.500), albeit in a much smaller sample size. Nick Northcut is outside of Sox Prospects’ top 50 and has played in just two professional seasons since being drafted in the 11th round in 2018. He hasn’t shown much in terms of power, with a .308 slugging percentage between the Gulf Coast League and Single-A, while batting .217 with a .295 on-base percentage. Alex Zapete showed some promising signs in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, batting .262 in 201 plate appearances while striking out just 19 times. It remains to be seen if the 19-year-old can continue to exhibit similar contact skills. There are a host of other players in the organization who have the ability to play third base but are getting more attention at other posts, including top first base prospects Triston Casas and Bobby Dalbec and middle infielders like Brainer Bonaci and Alex Erro. Casas and Dalbec seem pretty cemented as future first basemen, but we could see some more crossover elsewhere.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Oct 9, 2020 8:20:50 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox fall prospect camp starts Monday; Triston Casas, Bryan Mata, Blaze Jordan, Nick Yorke highlight list of 62 players in Fort Myers
Triston Casas at the Red Sox' alternate site in Pawtucket. By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
Question-Is this a regular thing, or is this simply a Covid response to make up for a lack of a minor league season.
I ask because I like it. It feels like baseball, for the real prospects, should be a fulltime activity. It feels like maybe Microsoft having a training campus, where everyone comes in for state-of-the-art. Get your best 60 players, your best trainers, scouts, coaches, doctors, etc., and fine tune each athlete. Instead of trying to visit 20 different pitchers, have the 20 different pitchers visit you. Instead of having 60 different weight-training regimens, have a couple of specialists work with different groups to show them the best practices for their particular craft, and weaknesses, show them the best lifting techniques, etc.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Oct 9, 2020 8:33:24 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Second Base
Looking at the keystone position through the organization. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 7, 2020, 10:30am EDT
I haven't read many of these since, without a minor league season, a lot of it is speculation based on off-site camps.
But I must say I was impressed by Mr. Collins presentation. Good write-up on Downs, and mentioning that the California League is a hitter's league is something that most fans might find interesting.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 9, 2020 9:58:34 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Shortstop
A look at the shortstops in the minors.By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 9, 2020, 10:30am EDT Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we look at the crop of shortstop. Top Prospect Matthew Lugo If we were including everyone who might play some shortstop in 2021, then Jeter Downs would be a sure bet for this spot and Nick Yorke would probably be number two. However, both were mentioned already in our second base roundup as that’s where they’re likely to end up long-term. For guys who, at least as of now, look likely to stick at short, it’s Matthew Lugo in this top spot. He’s a little bit under-the-radar as of now and missing the 2020 season didn’t help his public perception, but make no mistake about the skillset. There’s a long way to go, but if it all comes together this is a very good prospect. The young shortstop, who was drafted out the Carlos Beltrán Academy in Puerto Rico, was the team’s second selection in the 2018 draft but was the more highly-regarded between himself and Cameron Cannon, their first selection. Defensively, Lugo is smooth and while there were questions from some about his ability to stick at short out of the draft all indications I’ve gotten is that he has the tools to stay there and even be above-average if he puts the proper work in. At the plate, he has a chance to develop a very good hit tool and solid power, but both are ways away. Brainer Bonaci Kelly O’Connor; sittingstill.smugmug.com/Lugo doesn’t turn 20 until next May and while there is a potential five-tool player in here there is far too much time to go to be too confident about him hitting that ceiling. That said, the Red Sox were excited about him falling to them in that 2018 draft and they are just as excited about his future. Patience will be required here, but don’t be surprised if he’s creeping high up on the list of top Red Sox prospects within the next couple years. Sleeper Prospect Brainer Bonaci This one feels like cheating a bit because Bonaci had been getting plenty of hype late last winter heading into the spring, but he didn’t really get a chance to fully break onto the map due to the lost season. So, I’m putting him here but it’ll probably be the last chance we can call him a sleeper. The 2018 signing from Venezuela didn’t have a ton of hype coming into the organization, though his $290,000 isn’t anything to sneeze at. Scouts liked what they saw in the DSL in the summer of 2019, though, leading to a potential big 2020. Obviously we didn’t get a chance to see what he could do Stateside this past summer, but the tools are still there. Bonaci, who doesn’t turn 19 until next July, is obviously still far away. But as with Lugo, there are tools about which we can be excited. Bonaci is a very good athlete who has looked good at shortstop, though a move to third base long-term isn’t out of the question. Offensively, he packs some surprising power despite his small frame and makes solid contact. Others of Note Ryan Fitzgerald is more likely to be an organizational piece than one who makes an impact in the majors, but he’s a solid guy to keep an eye on. The former Indy Ball signee has been able to hit through the low minors and he could surprise some people and sneak onto a bench for a few years if that continues in Portland next summer. Grant Williams is not everybody’s favorite Celtic dork, but rather a former 10th round draft pick. Like Fitzgerald, there’s probably not a major-league future here but Williams can hit for a solid average and plays good defense around the infield. Antoni Flores entered the organization with a good amount of hype after signing a big bonus out of Venezuela. Unfortunately, his stock has gone backwards. His physical shape has gotten worse and his defense has declined since then, and he has not shown an ability to make contact against professional pitching. He’ll still only be 20 next year so we can’t give up on him, but he has to show something in 2021. Kevin MacKenzie was one of the many undrafted free agents signed this year after the shortened draft, and for my money he was the most exciting of that group. The shortstop out of Fordham doesn’t provide much pop, but he flies on the bases and hits for a high average. He could move quickly and surprise some people. Lyonell James was part of the 2019 international free agent class, getting a sizable $440,000 bonus. He hasn’t played as a pro yet, but there is excitement about his power potential on the infield. Kelvin Diaz was another guy in that 2019 class, and he received a $300,000 bonus. The athletic ability here is palpable, but the tools are very, very raw. As mentioned above, guys like Jeter Downs, CJ Chatham, Cameron Cannon and Nick Yorke could be mentioned here but are viewed more as second basemen at this point.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 12, 2020 10:23:48 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Left Field
A look at a position that is not really known for its prospects By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 12, 2020, 10:30am EDT
Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we look at the crop of left field.
Top Prospect
Bryan Gonzalez
When we were going over the top prospects in the organization at second base, we discussed the fact that second base prospects don’t really exist. Often, they are players that couldn’t make it work at shortstop. The same goes for left field, except multiplied by a million. (Not an exact figure.) Left fielders typically came up as other outfielders or even failed infielders whose bats were good and teams needed to find a spot in the field in order to get said bat in the lineup. Thus, the list that follows isn’t going to include a lot of actual top prospects. That said, don’t sleep on these names, especially Gonzalez, who could be a breakout name whenever minor-league baseball resumes.
The left fielder’s future is, unsurprisingly given what I just got through saying, mostly reliant on his bat working out. He was part of the team’s 2018 international amateur signing class, coming into the organization out of the Dominican Republic for a substantial $500,000 bonus. He’s a big kid and it shows at the plate, as the power is his carrying tool Gonzalez got to play a little bit of pro ball in the DSL in 2019, and he hit a solid nine homers in a league that usually doesn’t have a ton of power. This is a tool that has a chance to really carry him through the organization.
Whether or not that happens will, of course, come down to the hit tool. Gonzalez doesn’t have major hit tool issues like others at his age, but he did strike out 26 percent of the time in the DSL, so there are some things to work on. The good news is there’s plenty of time for that to happen, as he just turned 19 less than a month ago. Just like other young players in the organization at a similar point in their development, Gonzalez missed a chance to really put himself on the map this past summer in what would have been his stateside debut. Instead, that will have to come next year. Remember this name when complex leagues start up in 2021, though, because while his defensive profile puts all of the pressure on his bat — he played right field in 2019, but a move to left at some point is not unexpected — the power is there to make it work even if he has to stick around in left field.
Sleeper Prospect
Dean Miller
Again, this was a hard one to pick out because of a lack of left field prospects, but we’ll go with a 2019 draftee in this spot. Miller was selected in the 24th round by the Red Sox in that draft and, despite being a college player, went to the GCL instead of to Lowell. The good news is he did well at the complex level. He showed off massive power as his college career at UC-Riverside progressed, and that should translate into the majors. His defensive profile is probably even more limited than that of Gonzalez, there’s a little less optimism around the hit tool, and he’s over three years older. All of that said, Miller has real power potential and could end up sneaking up on people as a right-handed power bat to watch as he makes his way up the ladder. Others of Note
Tyler Dearden had a decent amount of hype coming out of high school after the Red Sox drafted him in 2017, but he hasn’t really been able to get any momentum going in his career. Injuries have slowed him down and when he was able to play in 2019, his first above Lowell, he struggled mightily. Maybe a potential full season 2021 can get that momentum back into his development. Jhostnyxon Garcia was part of the 2019 international class, getting a $350,000 bonus. He’s athletic enough to not play in left field, but Sox Prospects projects him here in 2021 and that’s good enough for me as I look for names for this list. I would also be so bold to say he has the best name in the system.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 12, 2020 13:57:52 GMT -5
Top 10 Red Sox prospects show farm system in early stages of rebuild The Red Sox have started rebuilding their farm system, but it won't happen overnight.
A series of deadline deals imported some badly needed depth, and the emergence of slugging first baseman Bobby Dalbec and surprising right-hander Tanner Houck provides some hope for the immediate future, but the Red Sox are not yet to the point where the upper reaches of their system are filled with surefire major league stars.
Only four short years ago, their best prospects were Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada, each of whom could've made a credible case for best prospect in baseball. Now they must watch as division rivals Tampa Bay (Wander Franco), Baltimore (Adley Rutschman), and Toronto (Nate Pearson) boast top-10 overall prospects leading loaded farm systems.
The cupboard isn't bare, however. Here are Boston's top 10 prospects, along with an estimated year of arrival. Note that Dalbec and Houck are now considered big leaguers and were thus left off this list. BY John Tomase
01 Triston Casas, 1B
Still listed at 6-4, 238, Casas recently said that he's actually 6-5, 255, the result of a post-draft growth spurt. The slugging first baseman certainly looks the part after slamming 20 homers in 2019, but there's more to his game than raw power.
He considers Reds first baseman Joey Votto his idol, and he isn't above choking up with two strikes. He continued opening eyes when summoned to the alternate camp this season, and could be the answer at first base sooner rather than later. ETA: 2022
02 Jeter Downs, 2B/SS Jeter Downs, 2B/SS
The emergence of outfielder Alex Verdugo has taken some of the heat off of Downs to be the centerpiece of the Mookie Betts trade. Downs can instead simply focus on improving his own solid all-around game.
He projects as an everyday big leaguer, probably at second base, with some deceptive power. He finished 2019 at Double A, where he hit five of his 24 homers, and depending on how the Red Sox address their middle infield this winter, he'll have a chance at making his debut sometime next season. ETA: 2021
03 Bryan Mata, RHP
The Red Sox believe they have something in the hard-throwing Mata, whose two-seam fastball pushes triple digits with impressive sink. Triple-A pitching coach Paul Abbott calls him "the most exciting guy we have in the organization."
If Mata never expands his arsenal beyond fastball-slider, he'll still have an opportunity to close. If he can improve his changeup, he's a potential middle of the rotation starter. Managing his walks will be the key. ETA: 2021
04 Jarren Duran, OF Jarren Duran, OF
Duran might not be the fastest player in the system — that honor probably goes to outfielder Gilberto Jimenez — but he's up there, and if Jackie Bradley Jr. departs in free agency this winter, there's a chance that Duran opens next season in Boston in center field.
Relatively unheralded as a seventh-round pick in 2018, all Duran has done is hit, opening eyes both in spring training and at the alternate site. An impressive physical specimen, he has the strength to hit for power. ETA: 2021
Jay Groome, LHP
The Red Sox are finally getting a chance to see what Groome can do after taking him 12th overall in 2016. He missed all of 2018 and most of 2019 following Tommy John surgery, arriving at the alternate site with only 66 pro innings.
In Pawtucket, he pitched with the confidence of someone who believes he belongs in Boston right now. Groome possesses an above-average fastball and one of the best curveballs in the minor leagues. ETA: 2022
06 Gilberto Jimenez, OF
You may not know the name now, but the Red Sox believe you will soon. Signed out of the Dominican in 2017 for only $10,000, Jimenez is one of the fastest players in the minor leagues and an electrifying talent with the arm and speed to play center field.
He has yet to play above short-season Lowell, where he hit .359 to win a batting title last year, but the 160-pound switch hitter has a chance to move quickly. ETA: 2023
07 Noah Song, RHP Noah Song, RHP
Song had hoped to delay the start of his two-year Naval commitment until after his baseball career, but he was not retroactively allowed to benefit from a new Department of Defense guideline relaxing the standards for athletes. Even still, he could rejoin the Red Sox in 2022 for his age-25 season after flight school.
In his brief debut, he showed why he was one of the most overpowering pitchers in college, striking out 19 in 17 innings at Lowell on the strength of an upper-90s fastball and refreshingly quick pace. ETA: 2023 08 Thad Ward, RHP
Ward is a Fort Myers native who used to work as a Red Sox batboy during spring training. He's the rare college reliever who made the transition to starting in the pros after being drafted in the fifth round in 2018 out of Central Florida.
He was out of this world at two levels of Single-A in 2019, striking out 157 while posting a 2.14 ERA. His best pitch is a sweeping slider that has drawn comparisons to Chris Sale's. ETA: 2022 09 Connor Seabold, RHP
Time for some new blood. Seabold arrived alongside right-hander Nick Pivetta from the Phillies in the Brandon Workman trade, and while Pivetta's physical tools are more impressive, Seabold has a habit of pitching beyond the sum of his parts.
He commands a fastball, slider, and changeup and doesn't beat himself with walks. His fastball has ticked up into the 93-94 mph range, and as he continues to gain strength, he has a chance to be more than just a finesse pitcher. ETA: 2021
10 Jeisson Rosario, OF
Another recent arrival, Rosario came over from the Padres in the Mitch Moreland trade.
Signed for nearly $2 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, the left-handed speedster generates consistently high on base percentages, even though he's just a .264 lifetime hitter. The 20-year-old has been among the youngest players at each stop, and the Red Sox hope that continued physical development will yield increased power and contact. ETA: 2023
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 13, 2020 9:32:38 GMT -5
Minor-league Depth Check: Center Field
It’s Jarren Duran SZN By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Oct 13, 2020, 10:30am EDT
Among the weirdest parts of the 2020 season was that we didn’t get any minor-league season, and thus an entire season of development was lost for a whole lot of prospects. A few were able to participate in Pawtucket, but for the most part they were left on their own with just Zoom calls with coaches in the organization. Along with the lost development, players down on the farm have also fallen out of consciousness for some fans. That brings us to this series. Over the next two weeks, as we head into an offseason where the Red Sox may be looking to boost their farm system in some areas and trade out of it in others, we’re going to go position-by-position to reacclimate ourselves with the minor-leaguers all across the organization. Today, we look at the crop of center field. Top prospect
Jarren Duran
This may have been a fairly controversial opinion a few months ago, and even now there will be some that disagree, but even with a relatively impressive three-headed monster at this position (along with Gilberto Jimenez and Jeisson Rosario), I think Duran is clearly the top guy. I believed that before March spring training, too, for whatever it’s worth, and nothing that’s happened since that point has made his stock go anywhere but up. Of course, he has a clear advantage over Jimenez by virtue of being present in Pawtucket this summer and in major-league camp before baseball paused back in March. Rosario, meanwhile, wasn’t in the organization until September.
As far as Duran the player goes, there is a whole lot to like. The biggest thing is the pure athleticism, as he is the fastest player in the system and possibly the fastest they’ve had since Jacoby Ellsbury. That translates extremely well on the bases where he provides huge value, and it should in the field as well. There are still some rough moments, but remember he was an infielder in college and has just one full season as an outfielder under his belt. We’ve seen in clips from Pawtucket this summer as well as times in spring training that the amount of ground he can cover allows him to make truly spectacular plays. This is another tie back to Ellsbury in my eyes. If you’ll recall, when Ellsbury first came up he made some rough reads and relied on his speed to make up for it. He’d adjust from there and by the time 20102011 rolled around he combined speed with reads to become great out there. Duran can follow a similar path, and by all accounts has the work ethic to get there.
Duran has made the biggest strides since joining the organization at the plate. People in player development worked with the outfielder to fix some issues with his swing they saw in college, and it immediately paid off with huge numbers right out of the gate. He’d continue to move forward without much trouble until hitting Double-A, where he hit his first snag. He didn’t get blistering hot to end 2019, but he did adjust and look solid at Portland to finish that season. Looking forward, I see an above-average hit tool, though I will admit that’s not a consensus. Power had always been his biggest weakness, but further adjustments this summer saw him showing more of that as well.
I will also admit to being higher on Duran than many, but I look at him as a player and I see a guy who can absolutely be a starting center fielder on a good team and even play himself onto a couple All-Star rosters if things break totally right. He’s also not far from the majors, with a potential debut at some point in 2021. It’s the proximity more than anything else that catapults him to the top of this list. Sleeper Prospect
Eduardo Lopez
The other two center fielders mentioned above are too high-profile to fit in this category, but the talent pool at this position doesn’t end with those three. In the international amateur signing period back in 2018, Lopez received by far the biggest bonus of the Red Sox class, worth $1.15 million. Still only 18 years old (he’ll turn 19 next May), there is obviously still a long way to go in his development and everything requires a maximum amount of projection. That said, there are reasons to be excited.
Lopez isn’t the kind of player that Duran is in that he doesn’t really draw from a ridiculous pool of athleticism to do his damage. Instead, Lopez is the kind of player with solid tools but, by all accounts, the personality to make the most out of them. While he doesn’t cover the ground Duran or similar players do, Lopez should stick in center because of his instincts in the field. Offensively, he has a great approach, especially considering his young age, and a good hit tool. The power does need to develop on top of it, though. It’s hard to make any sort of specific projection for his future given the age, but he’s a name to keep an eye on the next few years if you’re looking to get in on the ground floor for any prospects in the system.
Others of Note
Gilberto Jimenez will be the top center fielder for some who evaluate the system, and my disagreement comes more from an affinity for Duran rather than anything to do with Jimenez. The young outfielder is also very athletic, and many see a higher ceiling on the bat. There are still some things to work on, specifically with his learning switch hitting, but he is the type of low-minors player (he should start 2021 in A-Ball) who can enter conversations as a fringe top-100 guy if he has a big season. Jeisson Rosario is one of the newest names in the system and, for my money, the most exciting player Boston got at the trade deadline. Like Duran and Jimenez, Rosario is super athletic. He lacks the average power potential of the others, but the former Padres prospect makes up for it with incredible patience and a good hit tool. His trajectory shouldn’t be too far behind Duran’s in terms of timetable to the majors. Juan Chacon was the top signee from the most recent international amateur signing class. He’s even younger than Lopez, so obviously there is a ton of lead time with him as well. On top of that, Chacon hasn’t even gotten to make his pro debut yet. That said, he’s very toolsy with good speed and contact skills, and makes him another name to watch in the years to come.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 13, 2020 11:58:47 GMT -5
Red Sox prospect Jarren Duran's offseason plan comes into focus
By Rob Bradford 35 minutes ago
Jarren Duran seems like he is going to end up playing plenty of baseball this winter.
Los Criollos de Caguas of the Puerto Rico Winter League announced that the Red Sox' top outfield prospect will be playing for the club this season.
The league traditionally begins in the middle of November.
Managing Caguas will be Red Sox coach Ramon Vazquez. The general manager for the team is Alex Cora's brother-in-law Jesus Feliciano.
Duran is coming off a two-month stint at the Red Sox' alternate site in which he was one of the camp's biggest offensive stars, putting himself in position to compete for a major league roster spot next season.
“He had an unbelievable offensive camp,” said PawSox/WooSox manager Billy McMillon.”Stole a ton of bases, hit a lot of home runs. Impacted the baseball hard day in and day out. I think he continues to get better in the outfield and as that continues to get better I think that’s going to help clear the path for him. He’s OK. He’s solid. But you can see there is some room for improvement there and we did some things working on footwork and routes to the ball and he kind of cleaned that up a little bit. To me, the question is can he do that consistently and if he hit a lull with his offense is he going to stay as positive as he was all camp. I never saw him down during the camp. He hit really well for the entirety of the camp. He’s a very intriguing, very interesting guy.”
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