Boston Red Sox 2010 Minor League Review
Overall farm rankings via Baseball America (2010)
2010 (6) | 2009 (13) | 2008 (2) | 2007 (9) | 2006 (8) | 2005 (21) | 2004 (23)
Record of Major and Minor League Teams
MLB: [89 – 73] AL East
AAA: [66 – 78] International League – Pawtucket
AA: [70 – 71 Eastern League – Portland
A+: [73 – 65] Carolina League – Salem
A: [77 – 62] South Atlantic League – Greenville
A(ss): [24 – 50] New York – Pennsylvania League – Lowell
R: [31 – 28] Gulf League
The Run Down
Not only did the Red Sox deplete their high end talent in acquiring Adrian Gonzalez (Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes), their 2010 number one ranked prospect (Ryan Westmoreland) had a cavernous malformation (abnormal cluster of blood vessels) in his brain causing his future in baseball to be uncertain. Junichi Tazawa is returning from Tommy John Surgery but is still at least half a season away from returning. Michael Bowden has dropped from a top pitching prospect to an afterthought. Having held a top 10 farm system ranking by Baseball America in four of the past five years, Boston fell to their lowest position since 2005 – current 2011 overall ranking number 17. International signee Jose Iglesias looks poised to pull the next Starlin Castro. Lars Anderson rebounded slightly from a poor 2009. Stolmy Pimentel and Drake Britton are appealing young pitchers. With Ryan Kalish graduating from the prospect ranks, Josh Reddick and Lars Anderson appear the closest to helping in the majors if major injuries surface.
Graduating Prospects
#5 (OF) Ryan Kalish; (OF) Dan Nava
Arizona Fall League Players – Peoria Javelinas
Pitchers – (RHP) Seth Garrison; (RHP) Jason Rice; (RPH) Dan Turpen;
Hitters – (C) Ryan Lavarnway; #9 (SS) Jose Iglesias; (OF) Juan Carlos Linares
Players of Interest for 2010
Hitters
#4 Lars Anderson | 1B | D.o.B: 9-25-87 | Stats (AAA): .262/.340/.428 | 409 AB | 45 XBH | 10 Hr | .176 ISO | 2/2 SB/CS | 109:49 K:BB | .331 BABIP
Struggles hitting lefties, plays fringe-average defense, and is now blocked by Adrian Gonzalez. Nothing seems to be going right for Anderson. His breakout 2008 season was followed by a poor 2009 season and an uneventful, but still a rebound 2010 season. If Gonzalez struggles with his surgically repaired shoulder, Anderson should be given the first shot. Career ceiling would be 20 to 25 home runs and hitting .275 with adequate defense. Current BA ranking is number eight.
#9 Jose Iglesias | SS | D.o.B: 1-5-90 | Stats (AA): .285/.315/.357 | 221 AB | 13 XBH | 0 Hr | .072 ISO | 5/2 SB/CS | 49:8 K:BB | .360 BABIP
Plays stellar defense – Gold Glove caliber – has good bat speed, a line-drive stroke and is an aggressive hitter but doesn’t take many walks. Could be 2011’s Starlin Castro. His defense will get him to the majors but his hitting will keep him back. Could return to Double-A to continue developing his hitting approach. Current BA ranking is number one.
Ryan Lavarnway | C | D.o.B: 8-7-87 | Stats (A+/AA): .288/.393/.489 | 462 AB | 49 XBH | 22 Hr | .201 ISO | 1/0 SB/CS | 104:70 K:BB | .316 BABIP (A+); .336 BABIP (AA)
Lavarnway received a Honorable Mention last year and continued his success in 2010. His stats were even at both levels (304 AB at A+; 158 AB at AA) but it’s the difficult to quantify defensive stats that continue to be more of a concern – struggles throwing runners out and doesn’t have fluid mechanics behind the plate. He has power to all fields, a good hitting approach and could be in the majors by 2012 if his defense is adequate. Should return to Double-A to refine his game. Current BA ranking is number 16.
#3 Josh Reddick | OF | D.o.B: 2-19-87 | Stats (AAA): .266/.301/.466 | 451 AB | 50 XBH | 18 Hr | .200 ISO | 4/7 SB/CS | 73:25 K:BB | .279 BABIP
Reddick has hit .182 in 121 major league at-bats, but his talent indicates he has the skills to perform as an average major league player. He has solid power and speed, plays good defense but lacks a future in the Red Sox system. Ryan Kalish has moved above Reddick on the organizational depth chart. Reddick looks to be a third outfielder at best, with being a fourth outfielder more likely. Will return to Triple-A. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Reddick traded at some point during the season. Current BA ranking is number four.
Pitchers
#11 Stolmy Pimentel | RHP | D.o.B: 2-1-90 | Stats (A+): 7.1 K/9 | 2.9 BB/9 | 128 2/3 IP | 4.06 ERA | 3.82 FIP | 1.26 WHIP | .8 Hr/9 | 8.4 H/9 | .288 BABIP
Pimentel is another Honorable Mention success story. He throws a fastball between 90 and 95 MPH, a plus changeup and a solid curveball. He has good command of all three pitches and projects to be a solid number three starter. ETA should be 2012. Expect him to pitch primarily in Double-A in 2011. Current BA ranking is number six.
#26 Kyle Weiland | RHP | D.o.B: 9-12-86 | Stats (AA): 8.4 K/9 | 3.4 BB/9 | 128 1/3 IP | 4.42 ERA | 4.17 FIP | 1.23 WHIP | .9 Hr/9 | 7.9 H/9 | .287 BABIP
Has always started in the minors, but BA states he projects better as a bullpen arm with a 95 MPH fastball and a strong curve. Call out for all the MR. B’s. Current BA ranking is number 20.
Honorable Mentions
Hitters
#17 Yamaico Navarro | SS/2B | D.o.B: 10-31-87 | Stats (AA): .274/.358/.422 | 329 AB | 30 XBH | 9 Hr | .148 ISO | 16/5 SB/CS | 53:42 K:BB | .299 BABIP
Shows 15 to 20 home run potential from the MI. Plays average to slightly-above average defense at both short and second. Isn’t always dedicated to his craft. Ceiling is 20/20. Floor is flame-out at Triple-A. Speaking of Triple-A, he should start the season there. Current BA ranking is number 12.
Oscar Tejeda | 2B/3B | D.o.B: 12-26-89 | Stats (A+): .307/.344/.455 | 508 AB | 48 XBH | 11 Hr | .148 ISO | 17/7 SB/CS | 96:32 K:BB | .350 BABIP
Projects at 15 to 20 home run hitter like Navarro. Aggressive hitter who doesn’t take many walks and will need to refine approach to have success in the higher minors (read: Double-A and this year). Fringe-average speed won’t lead to many steals either. Still very young and has great upside. Should start at Double-A in 2011. Current BA ranking is number 10.
Pitchers
#15 Drake Britton | LHP | D.o.B: 5-22-89 | Stats (A): 9.3 K/9 | 2.7 BB/9 | 75 2/3 IP | 2.97 ERA | 2.92 FIP | 1.22 WHIP | .6 Hr/9 | 8.2 H/9 | .303 BABIP
Although he started 21 games, he he didn’t have very many long starts due to a limited pitch count during recovery from Tommy John surgery. Has a 95 MPH sinking fastball, a strong curveball and an improving changeup. Should start at High-A in 2011. Current BA ranking is number three.
#17 Stephen Fife | RHP | D.o.B: 10-4-86 | Stats (AA): 5.4 K/9 | 3.0 BB/9 | 136 1/3 IP | 4.75 ERA | 4.17 FIP | 1.39 WHIP | .7 Hr/9 | 9.5 H/9 | .297 BABIP
His 2010 season wasn’t very good after a strong 2009 season. He wasn’t unlucky (.297 BABIP) but struggled when men were on base (LOB% was 61.8% which is about 10% below average). He throws a low to mid 90s fastball, a slurve and an average circle changeup. This was the first year his strikeouts were below 7.0 k/9. Fife has the ability to be an adequate middle reliever, or long reliever. Should return to Double-A. Current BA ranking is unranked.
