Boston Red Sox Could Use Yoan Moncada As Speed Threat
By Nick Fustor
The Boston Red Sox tend to add a speed threat to their roster in September and October. This season, that player could be top prospect Yoan Moncada.
Since signing with the Boston Red Sox last season, Yoan Moncada has progressed remarkably fast for a 21-year-old without a defined position. While his bat has shined and his power comes along, his speed is already major league ready.
After stealing 49 bases in 81 games last season, Moncada has already stolen 44 bases in 56 attempts this season, and is on pace to break 50.
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Without a defined speedster currently on the roster, adding Moncada would be a big plus for the Red Sox roster. Manager John Farrell said the team is exploring internal and external options as the season enters the stretch run, per Ryan Hannable of WEEI.
Promoting Moncada would likely give the Sox more than just a speed threat off the bench. His .288/.393/.546 slash line and 10 homers in just 42 games at Double-A are a clear indication that he’s ready to make his mark in the majors.
After promoting Andrew Benintendi to very good results, Moncada could have a similar effect.
With Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill splitting time at third base to mixed results, moving Moncada there could solve two issues in one. Farrell said the organization is looking to Moncada as an obvious candidate at third base, now and in the future.
"“I would say the talk around Yoan has been about moving obviously to third base,” Farrell said. “He’s just getting some reps at that position. Whether or not he comes up in a role that would be either mixed in, he’s obviously been much better as a left-handed hitter this year, if he’s mixed in that capacity. Does he give you a base stealing threat coming off the bench is a possibility. Those are the types of things we’ve talked about. Whether or not he comes up here is yet to be determined."
One potential concern for promoting Moncada is his 30.7 percent strikeout rate, which is unsightly for a prospect of his caliber. However, that number will likely improve with time – as he struck out at a much more manageable 21.1 percent rate in High-A. With Shaw and Hill on the roster, Moncada’s strikeout concerns would likely be dispelled.
Hannable notes that Quintin Berry, who played a vital role off the bench as a pinch-runner in the 2013 postseason, is currently a free agent.
The team doesn’t have many prolific basestealers on their Triple-A roster, though Deven Marrero has stolen 10 bases in 93 games this season. Rusney Castillo is another option, but he’s no longer on the 40-man roster.
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Moncada represents the best speed option for Boston, but his promotion will likely come down to how well he handles a move to third base in the next week.