The Boston Red Sox’ system is a General Manager’s dream; it’s stacked with pitching and positional talent distributed among the upper and lower levels of the farm.
This depth was demonstrated by the organizations .546 winning percentage across all their affiliates during the 2014 season.
Individually, 2014 was also a great season for Red Sox’ prospects. Position players like Blake Swihart, Mookie Betts, and Rafael Devers broke out in a huge way, while pitchers Brian Johnson and Anthony Ranaudo continued on their path to becoming successful major league starters.
Remember, even if a prospect seems ‘blocked’ by another player, the talent in the organization and even specific names on this list will be important when GM Ben Cherington decides to make a splash via trade.
MiLB.com presented their annual Organizational All Stars Awrds recently. So, without further adieu, it’s time to dig into the best performances of 2014 Red Sox minor leaguers, regardless of prospect status or age.
Potential Difference-Makers
Mar 3, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (80) works out prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Blake Swihart – C
Blake Swihart was a monster on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in 2014. Across Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, the young catcher slashed an impressive .293/.341/.469 line, accompanied by 13 home runs and a .810 OPS. Defensively, the backstop committed only eight errors in 709 chances, good enough for a .990 fielding percentage. He also contributed with his plus-arm, catching a whopping 47-percent of would-be base stealers, which would rank first by 10-percent if that number was replicated in the major leagues in 2014.
As far as tools are concerned, SoxProspects.com of ESPN Boston is very high on Swihart, noting his “compact swing, explosive bat speed, plus hands, professional plate approach, and plus arm.”
“ first-division regular potential as a two-way threat who can hit for both average and power and play plus defense at a premium position.”
Overall, there seems to be a lot to like from Swihart; he’s a young backstop with an excellent defensive and offensive profile, not to mention both an equally impressive work ethic and minor league stats. Remember, the Sox do have fellow budding young catcher Christian Vazquez likely in line for a large role in 2015, so expect Swihart to start the season in Triple-A, advancing with the first catching injury or after the super two deadline, whichever comes first.
Deven Marrero – SS
Normally, a .258 batting average coupled with 6 home runs in Double-A and Triple-A does not merit a spot on any organization’s All-Star list, but Marrero is the rare exception.
ESPN Boston profiles Marrero as “a plus-plus defender with plus range and a plus arm” and as someone who “makes playing the position (shortstop) look easy”
Clearly, Marrero has major league defensive ability, but the greater question lies in his bat. However, while the 24-year-old has failed to reach double-digit home runs in every minor league season, the young shortstop swatted 20 doubles in 2013 and built on that performance with 30 two-base hits and 59 RBI in 2014.
His bat does not yet match his glove in terms of MLB-readiness, but Marrero’s elite athleticism and solid gap power will allow him to improve his hitting ability and ultimately develop into an average offensive MLB shortstop down the road.
Marrero did struggle in 50 games with Triple-A Pawtucket (.545 OPS), so expect the shortstop to repeat the 2015 season in Triple-A and remain there for the duration of the year. By 2016, Marrero could push Xander Bogaerts to third and emerge as an integral part of the Red Sox’s future.
Rafael Devers – 3B
Rafael Devers may hold the most promise of any Red Sox prospect, and a fantastic pro debut boosted the already high stock of the talented infielder in 2014. Only 18-years-old, Devers posted a .322 batting average and .910 OPS across two rookie league levels last season. His “solid swing mechanics, above-average power, and decent contact ability” gives him favorable comparison to Adrian Beltre. However, Devers is far behind Beltre when it comes to defense, as he sports below-average speed and an average arm, making him a potential candidate for a move to first-base.
He should start the 2015 season in extended spring training, then move to The Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League. Boston could take a more aggressive approach, however, and have the youngster skip Low-A, given his domination of the Rookie League.
Mookie Betts with High-A Salem in 2013. One year later, he would be roaming the outfield at Fenway Park. (Ken Inness/MiLB.com)
Mookie Betts – 2B/OF
The Red Sox would never admit it, but if you asked the front office to choose between Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia, the choice very well may be in the 22-year-old from Nashville. Betts began the 2014 season with Double-A Portland, and after posting a ridiculous .355 batting average and .994 OPS in 54 games in the Eastern League, he earned a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket. Triple-A pitching proved to be no challenge to Betts either, as the 2011 fifth round pick knocked 62 hits (in just 45 games), batted .335, reached base 41.7% of the time, and posted a stellar .920 OPS despite being nearly six years younger than the average International League ballplayer. The young outfielder concluded his strong 2014 by posting a .291 batting average and .812 OPS in Boston, solidifying his spot in Fenway for the foreseeable future.
Right now, Betts looks like a heck of a ballplayer, and I haven’t even mentioned his elite defense and 40 combined steals in 2014.
Betts will likely break camp with the Sox as one of their starting outfielders, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the young stud challenges for an All-Star spot in his sophomore season.
Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; USA pitcher Anthony Ranaudo throws a pitch during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Ranaudo – RHSP
The 6-7 Anthony Ranaudo simply continues to churn out excellent minor league seasons in the Red Sox organization, concluding his third straight sub-3.00 ERA campaign in 2014. Boston’s director of player development Ben Crockett said Ranaudo’s arsenal consists of “a good curveball, a good quality fastball, and an advanced changeup”. These three solid pitches allowed the young hurler to dominate Triple-A last season, to the tune of a 2.61 ERA, but the righty’s less-than-stellar control (3.52 BB/9) made that ERA actually translate to a mediocre 3.86 FIP. This lack of command also plagued the starter when he earned a promotion to Boston; Ranaudo posted a lackluster 6.89 FIP (4.81 ERA) and 2.29 HR/9 in 39.1 innings pitched with the big club.
Control is obviously what will make or break this kid, and Pawsox pitching coach Rich Saveur agrees.
“The fastball command is the primary key with this guy…if he keeps this command consistent, he’s going to do very well.”
The Red Sox’s new pitching additions will likely force Ranaudo back to Pawtucket to start the season, but should he demonstrate a better feel for controlling his pitches, he will swiftly move into Boston’s rotation in 2015.
Brian Johnson – LHSP
Brian Johnson’s stellar 2013 campaign in Single-A (2.85 ERA, 9.0 K/9) put the then-22-year-old on the prospect radar, but his even better performance down the stretch with Double-A Portland has positioned the lefty as a top-10 prospect in the Red Sox’s system. Sporting a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a solid curve, an average changeup, and a below-average slider, Johnson’s tools seem to scream back-end starter. However, the 1.75 ERA, 0.5 HR/9, and 2.4 BB/9 marks the big lefty posted in 20 starts with the championship-bound Seadogs leads me to believe that 2012 first round draftee could have a higher ceiling than most expect. The 6-3 southpaw simply knows how to pitch, and that, accompanied by an intriguing array of tools, will hold serious value when he becomes ready for the show.
Johson will likely begin the 2015 season with the Triple-A Pawsox, and potentially earn a call-up as a left specialist or long relief option in September. He will likely join the Boston rotation in 2016, but it could be sooner if the staff is plagued by injuries or infectiveness.
Manuel Margot – OF
Manuel Margot was an outfielder to watch after enjoying moderate success with the Low-A Lowell Spinners in 2013, but his breakout performance across Single-A and High-A has boosted the 20-year-old’s stock to new heights. The new 6th best prospect in the Red Sox organization, as ranked by Baseball America, hit for a .293 batting average with 12 home runs, 59 RBI, 42 stolen bases, and a .818 OPS in 2014.
Margot had shown his speed and hit tools earlier in his professional career, but the emergence of legitimate over-the-fence power ability completely transformed the way teams and scouts view the outfielder. Furthermore, the Dominican outfielder also sported an 11.5 K% and 8.3 BB% in 2014; this discipline (along with his excellent speed) should help Margot develop into a leadoff option in the future.
Ben Crockett views Margot as a “very athletic centerfielder with above-average speed, defensive ability and a compact swing” and even a player who “can take over a game at times on both sides of the ball.”
Clearly, Margot is highly regarded within the organization. He should begin the 2015 season with either High-A Salem or Double-A Portland.
Keeping an Eye Out…
Travis Shaw – 1B
The 24-year-old first baseman batted .278 with 21 home runs and 78 RBI for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014, rebounding from his abysmal 2013 season, in which he posted a .221 batting average and struck out almost once a game. Allen Craig, Mike Napoli, and even David Ortiz seem to have a strong handle on the Boston’s first base job in 2015, so Shaw is likely headed back to Triple-A to begin the season.
Shaw is not limited to first base, however, this all-star ballplayer is also an adequate defender at third, so he may get a chance as a backup corner infielder late in the 2015 season, where his where average power and advance approach would play up.
Sean Coyle – 2B/3B
Sean Coyle had the best season of his pro career in 2014, slashing a .295/.371/.512 line for the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. He profile as a small, but strong, infielder who can play good defense at multiple positions.
Sox Prospects is high on the 5’8” ballplayer, naming him their Comeback Sox Prospect of the Year: “ Generates plus bat speed with a quick load and strong hands and shows a solid arm at third base good footwork.”
However, I need to see more from this prospect before viewing him as a potential difference-maker at the major league level. His 2014 BABIP stood at .362, nearly 70 points higher than his 2013 mark. If that number drops back to normal, the 175 lb second baseman would be looking at another .240-.260 season, which is much more in line with his career numbers.
To me, Coyle’s 2014 season looks more fluke than breakout; hopefully we’ll find the real verdict in 2015.
Carlos Asuaje – 2B/3B/LF
Carlos Asuaje enjoyed a terrific 2014 campaign across two levels of A-ball. Not only did the 22-year-old infielder bat .310, but he contributed 15 home runs, 38 doubles, 12 triples, and 101 RBI. Rarely can a young player sport such an all-around game while also playing three positions on the diamond, but that’s exactly what Asuaje did; he played equally at second, third, and left in 2014. His versatility and diverse skill set will be a huge contributing factor in helping 2013 draftee reach the big leagues, but I would like to see him produce similar numbers against more advanced pitching in 2015 before marking him as a top prospect.
The Veterans
Matty Johnson – OF
Matty Johnson’s inclusion on this list has everything to do with his speed; he swiped 40 bases with Salem during the 2014 season. Couple that with a .276 batting average, .377 on base percentage, and 104 runs scored, and Johnson looks like the perfect leadoff hitter. He’s 26 years old, so he’ll need to accelerate through Boston’s system in order to make an impact at the big league level, but the fact that he walked almost as many times as he struck out (74 BB’s to 85 K’s) demonstrates an advanced approach that will help him climb the rungs of the organization in 2015.
Tommy Layne – LHP
Tommy Layne was hardly a prospect at 30-years-old when the Red Sox signed him last offseason, but after posting a 1.50 ERA and holding lefties to a .136 batting average with Triple-A Pawtucket, the Missouri native found himself contributing at Fenway in 2014. He posted a 0.95 ERA in 19 innings last season with the Sox, so expect Boston to rely heavily on Layne as they push closer to contention in 2015.