Post by Red Sox GM (Rob L) on Dec 11, 2015 13:55:48 GMT -6
Yoan Moncada, 2B, Grade A: Age 20, Cuban, hit .278/.380/.438 with 49 steals in 52 attempts in Low-A, eight homers, 42 walks, 83 strikeouts in 306 at-bats. Slow start working off rust but hit .310/.415/.500 in last 56 games. Needs to reduce errors, may not stay at second base, but I totally believe in the bat. Power, speed, strike zone judgment, switch-hitter, complete package.
Rafael Devers, 3B, Grade A-: Age 19, hit .288/.329/.443 in Low-A, led Sally League with 38 doubles. Hit 11 homers, 24 walks, 84 strikeouts in 469 at-bats. Hasn’t fully tapped his power yet but that should come; he did greatly improve his defense and I think he can stick at third. You can make a Grade A case but I want to hold back on that until I see where he needs to slot on the Top 100 list.
Anderson Espinoza, RHP, Grade B+: Age 17, Venezuelan, posted 1.23 ERA with 65/14 K/BB in 58 innings between Dominican Summer League, Gulf Coast League, and one start in Low-A, 41 hits allowed, zero homers. Terrific arm, can hit upper-90s with easy, smooth delivery, already shows impressive curveball and change-up, throws strikes, mature mound presence. He has the potential to be a number one starter once he proves what kind of workload he can manage. Could very well be top pitching prospect in baseball 10 months from now.
Javier Guerra, SS, Grade B: Age 20, acquired from Red Sox in Craig Kimbrel deal, hit .279/.329/.449 with 15 homers, 30 walks, 112 strikeouts in 434 at-bats in Low-A; entered 2015 with good field/weak bat reputation but came up with a big power surge; glove sharp at shortstop, some say spectacular; I think the power burst is real but aggressive approach and questionable strike zone judgment are issues. You can make a case for the number one spot.
Luis Alexander Basabe, OF, Grade B-/C+: Age 19, switch-hitter, batted .243/.340/.401 with seven homers, 15 steals, 32 walks, 67 strikeouts in 222 at-bats in New York-Penn League. Breakthrough candidate with power, useable speed, solid tools in all respects and flashes skills to make those tools work. May not hit for high batting averages but impressive secondary average potential.
Jacob Lindgren, LHP, Grade C+/B-: Age 22, hard-thrower was in the majors within a year of being drafted out of Mississippi State, closer potential but went down in June with bone spurs. Command, durability key concerns.
Austin Smith, RHP, Grade C+: Age 19, posted 7.94 ERA with 11/9 K/BB in 17 innings in rookie ball; second round pick in 2015; excellent pitcher’s build at athletic 6-4, 220; easy heat at 93-95 but curveball, change-up, and command all need work. Mid-rotation arm if everything comes together.
Deven Marrero, SS, Grade C+: Age 25, hit .256/.316/.344 with six homers, 33 walks, 87 strikeouts in 375 at-bats in Triple-A, .226/.268/.283 in 53 major league at-bats. Stands out for defense and will hold a roster spot for that, but whether as a regular or a bench guy will depend on the bat. My guess is that he will have one or two good offensive seasons in his late 20s but for the most part will be a sink on the offense. More valuable for a real team than a fantasy one.
Mauricio Dubon, INF, Grade C+: Age 21, gets a lot less attention than Marrero but may end up being a lot better, hit .288/.349/.376 with 30 steals between Low-A and High-A, has the tools to play either up-the-middle infield spot. Sleeper prospect who deserves more notice, bat may blossom.
Marco Hernandez, SS, Grade C+: Age 23, another potential utility infield type, doesn’t scout as well as Marrero but showed a power surge this year and is still young, hit .305/.330/.454 between Double-A and Triple-A,
Williams Jerez, LHP, Grade C+: Age 23, converted outfielder posted 3.65 ERA with 31/17 K/BB in 37 innings in Double-A, throws hard, 92-94 sometimes higher, good slider, athletic, command improvement could get him to big league bullpen quickly.
Christopher Acosta, RHP, Grade C+: Age 17, high ceiling but we need to see him higher than the Dominican Summer League; was considered on par with Anderson Espinosa 12 months ago but did not have the same kind of breakthrough season (few do), projectable, posted 22/5 K/BB in 34 innings in DSL, 4.28 ERA.
Akeem Bostick, RHP, Grade C+: Age 20, ultra-projectable has grown from 6-5, 190 to 6-6, 215, posted 1.50 ERA with 33/3 K/BB in 42 innings in Low-A but hit hard after promotion to Cal League, 5.88 ERA with 48/18 K/BB in 64 innings, 77 hits. He’s much better (potentially) than the Lancaster numbers would have you believe, lively fastball in low-90s, curve and change need more development but the basics are here for mid-rotation starter.
Sean Nolin, LHP, Grade C+: Age 26, posted 2.66 ERA with 38/19 K/BB in 47 innings in Triple-A, bothered by shoulder issues, recovered in time to make six stars in majors with 5.28 ERA, 15/12 K/BB in 29 innings. Nothing left to prove in minors, fourth starter potential, relies heavily on change-up and curve, durability remains questionable.
Luke Jackson, RHP, Grade C+: Age 24, posted 4.34 ERA with 79/35 K/BB in 66 innings in Triple-A, 4.26 ERA with 6/2 K/BB in six major league innings. Like Faulkner he has stuff to succeed but is erratic, fastball well into the 90s but with inconsistent secondaries (curve, slider, change), seems better suited for relief work than starting to me.
Pat Light, RHP, Grade C/C+: Age 24, hard-thrower converted to bullpen after struggling as starter, junked breaking ball and changeup in favor of splitter, can hit 99, posted 2.43 ERA with 32/11 K/BB in 30 innings in Double-A but 5.18, 35/26 K/BB in 33 innings in Triple-A. Can be dominant, IF he throws strikes.
Nick Longhi, OF, Grade C/C+: Age 20, hit .281/.338/.403 with seven homers, 34 walks, 88 strikeouts in 442 at-bats in Low-A, wants to develop into Sam Travis.
Scott Kingery, 2B, Grade C
OTHER GRADE C PROSPECTS (Most of these guys could slot in spots 16-20 depending on your criteria). Jonathan Aro, RHP; Yoan Aybar, OF; Gerson Bautista, RHP; Edwin Escobar, LHP; Austin Glorius, RHP; Kyle Martin, RHP; Kevin McAvoy, RHP; Yankory Pimentel, RHP; Noe Ramirez, RHP; Roniel Raudes, RHP; Austin Rei, C; Chandler Shepherd, RHP; Ben Taylor, RHP; Luis Ysla, LHP
Luis Cessa