by jcookson | Sep 19, 2014 | Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Brian Johnson, Carlos Asuaje, Christian Vazquez, Greenville Drive, Henry Owens, Manuel Margot, Mookie Betts, Pawtucket Red Sox, Portland Sea Dogs, Rafael Devers, Salem Red Sox
The Red Sox minor league season wrapped up this week, with five affiliates making the playoffs and two teams (The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Gulf Coast League Red Sox) winning championships. It was another tremendous year of development in the Red Sox minor league...
by jcookson | Sep 5, 2014 | 2013 MLB Draft, Boston Red Sox, Salem Red Sox
It’s often hard to predict which pitching prospects will make it to the majors as relievers. Many prospects who end up as relievers in the majors pitch most of their minor league careers as starters. Right-handed pitcher Taylor Grover stands out as an exception...
by jcookson | Aug 29, 2014 | Ben Zobrist, Boston Red Sox, Brock Holt, Carlos Asuaje, Lowell Spinners, Salem Red Sox
Entering this season, Carlos Asuaje was a little-known prospect in the Red Sox system. He had a quiet first season for the Lowell Spinners after being drafted in the 11th round in the 2013 draft. This year, however, he’s torn up the lower minors, earning a promotion...
by jcookson | Aug 23, 2014 | Salem Red Sox
I took in some Carolina League baseball Friday night as the Salem Red Sox faced the Wilmington Blue Rocks in Salem, Virginia. The Salem Red Sox are clinging to a slim lead in the race for the final Carolina League playoff spot, so Friday’s game was an important...
by jkeller | Apr 11, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Daniel Nava, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jeremy Hermida, Joe Blanton, Pawtucket Red Sox, Portland Sea Dogs, Salem Red Sox
Daniel Nava’s entire career has been marked by people underestimating just how good he could potentially be. It’s a winding journey from being incredibly underrated for years, overrated for one shining moment, and then right back to the familiarity of being...
by bcarsley | Jan 21, 2013 | Austin Jackson, Boston Red Sox, Coco Crisp, Denard Span, Gerrit Cole, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Johnny Damon, Matt Barnes, Portland Sea Dogs, Salem Red Sox, Xander Bogaerts
For the better part of the past decade, the Red Sox have allowed three players to roam center field: Johnny Damon, Coco Crisp and Jacoby Ellsbury. Damon finished his career as one of the better Red Sox players of the 2000s: a postseason hero blessed with tremendous...
by jcookson | Jan 15, 2013 | Casey Kelly, Clay Buchholz, Greenville Drive, Henry Owens, Jon Lester, Salem Red Sox
This week I’m going to take a close look at Sox pitching prospect Henry Owens, who had a great performance in 2012 but has the potential for even greater performance in the future. Owens’ first season offered truly tantalizing upside, and he’s the pitching prospect...
by bcarsley | Jan 14, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, Dylan Bundy, Gerrit Cole, Greenville Drive, Jackie Bradley, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Matt Barnes, Salem Red Sox
Matt Barnes is the best pitching prospect in the Red Sox system. He was a steal as the 19th overall pick in the 2011 draft, and as a UConn product and New England native, he’s easy to root for as a Red Sox fan. He began 2011 as the minor league’s most dominant pitcher...
by jcookson | Jan 8, 2013 | Amateur Draft Players, Anthony Ranaudo, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Jacobs, Bryce Brentz, Deven Marrero, Garin Cecchini, Greenville Drive, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jose Vinicio, Lowell Spinners, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway, Salem Red Sox, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogearts
With Will Middlebrooks establishing himself in the major league lineup, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Lavarnway and Jose Iglesias on the cusp of the majors, and top prospects Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley already in the upper minors, I will highlight 5 Sox hitting prospects...
by bcarsley | Jan 7, 2013 | Boston Red Sox, Bryce Brentz, Clay Buchholz, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dustin Pedroia, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Hanley Ramirez, Jackie Bradley, Jackie Bradley Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury, Jurickson Profar, Portland Sea Dogs, Salem Red Sox, Will Middlebrooks, Xander Bogaerts, Xander Bogearts, Yuniesky Betancourt
If Bobby Valentine represents all the evils that poured out of baseball’s Pandora’s Box last year, Xander Bogaerts can be the hope that escapes shortly thereafter. Yes, it’s rarely wise to make bold predictions when writing about baseball, and that’s doubly true when...
