Triple-A Pawtucket: Marco Hernandez (SS/2B)

Marco Hernandez was acquired in the Felix Doubront trade with the Cubs at the 2014 trade deadline. At the time he looked like a light-hitting middle infielder, having posted below average TAv marks at the Low- and High-A levels of the Cubs’ system. Since joining the Red Sox organization he has developed into an offensive threat. He opened his Red Sox career at Double-A Portland in 2015 and hit well enough (.289 TAv) to earn a mid-season promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket. There, he slashed .271/.300/.409 (.266 TAv) which is a step down from what he was doing in Portland, but likely represents his adjustment to the higher level of pitching.

He opened this season at Triple-A and has gotten back to his excellent offensive ways. In 81 plate appearances he has .330 TAv, the highest mark he has shown at any level. Of course, I need to note that this performance has come in a small number of trips to the plate and that Hernandez is carrying a .417 batting average of balls in play, but there are positive developments. For example, his plate discipline. Hernandez’s walk rate is higher this season than it was last year at the Triple-A level, and, even better, he has paired it with a lower strikeout rate. Having a solid command of the strike zone is something that will help him get to the next level and succeed once there.

We saw Hernandez make his major league debut with the Red Sox earlier this season. On April 17, he started at second base, giving Dustin Pedroia a day off, and went 1-for-2 with a single, a walk and a stolen base, and was the Red Sox’s top offensive contributor by win probability added. We saw how he can impact a game at the plate and with his speed on the base paths. While I have focused on Hernandez’s offense, he is no slouch on defense. Taken together, Hernandez has the potential to be an asset in the major leagues as, at least, a bench, utility infielder role. Once the pitching rotation is settled and the bullpen is sorted out I would like to see the Red Sox get back to carrying (no more than) a 12-pitcher staff and consider adding Hernandez to the bench.

Quick updates on Rusney Castillo (OF) and Blake Swihart (C, OF)

Since we last checked in with Rusney Castillo on April 25, he has made 41 trips to the plate, collecting just six hits (three doubles) and two walks. All told he has a .227/.289/.280 line (83 PA) on the season, which is just bad.

Blake Swihart has made five starts in the outfield without any reported disaster and is still getting starts at catcher, so that route back to Boston is not yet closed. Regardless, his offense has stalled since returning to Pawtucket. He is not hitting for power (.042 isolated power) and not getting on-base at tolerable rate (.284). I hope the demotion did not break him.

Double-A Portland: Ty Buttrey (RHP) and Chandler Shepherd (RHP)

Last season, Buttrey was quickly promoted from Greenville to Salem after showing overpowering stuff in his four starts at the lower level. However, he did not show the same ability at the higher level. In 21 starts at the higher level his ERA was almost two runs higher, largely a result of getting fewer strikeouts and allowing more walks. Regardless, Buttrey was promoted to Double-A to start the 2016 season. Unfortunately, the trend in fewer strikeouts and more walks has followed him through his five starts, leading to a poor runs-allowed total. Control really seems to be his issue. In his 22.0 innings, he has walked as many batters (14) as he has struck out, and hit five of them. His last start was arguably his best of the season with regards to control, as he only walked one batter, struck out two and threw 60 percent of his pitches for strikes over his five innings of work. Ideally this is an outing he can build on.

Buttrey’s teammate, Chandler Shepherd is a reliever who has not struggled with the same control issues that have plagued Buttrey to date. In 10 appearances out of the bullpen (16.1 innings), Shepherd has held opponents scoreless seven times, striking out 20 of the 64 batters he has faced, while only walking five. He had been cruising along, dominating opponents until his most recent outing, which was his worst on the young season. Over two innings he allowed three runs on two home runs and walked two batters. The tough day raised his 2016 RA9 from a respectable 2.51 to a not-so-great 3.86. Regardless, it was one poor outing and generally Shepherd has been a real bright spot for the Sea Dogs so far this season. He looks to be another relief option for the Red Sox in the not-too-distant future.

High-A Salem: Travis Lakins (RHP)

Lakins was selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round of last summer’s amateur draft. He pitched for Ohio State for two seasons before entering the draft. There are questions about whether Lakins can stay in a starting role as he progresses through the system, but so far he is pitching well enough to remain a starter. If you drop his first start – which was pretty rough (3.2 innings, five hits, four runs, three walks, three strikeouts) – from consideration, Lakins has made five strong starts, posting a 2.93 RA9 (3.09 FIP), a 30-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and has only allowed one home run. That is an impressive line for the 21-year-old. Continuing to perform as he has should keep him in a starting role for the foreseeable future and could even lead to a promotion to the next level this season where he will be challenged by better hitters.

Updates on the Big-Three:

Andrew Benintendi continues to dominate High-A pitching to a ridiculous extent. He went hitless on Saturday for just the third time this season, which snapped his 23-game hit streak; a Salem Red Sox franchise record. His season line sits at .368/.424/.624. It is not clear to me what else he has to learn at this level. Power? He only has one home run, but has seven triples and 13 doubles and a .256 ISO. Plate discipline? I suppose he could walk more often than he has, but he has more walks (11) than strikeouts (8) and does not appear to be having difficulty making solid contact. I think it is time to promote him to Double-A. Full disclosure: my advocating for his promotion is partly selfish, as I will be in Portland on Thursday to watch the Sea Dogs and want to see Benintendi play. Make me happy, Mr. Dombrowski.

Much of what I wrote about Benintendi can be applied to Yoan Moncada. He too is ready for a promotion to the next level. Since we last checked in with him, Moncada’s season line has dipped slightly to .317/.450/.510, but those are still tremendous rates. I wouldn’t mind watching him on Thursday either, Mr. Dombrowski. Make the move.

To go along with his Big-Three teammates, Rafael Devers seems to be coming out of his early season struggles. Over his most recent 49 plate appearances he has a .250/.327/.477 line, with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, five walks to seven strikeouts, and two stolen bases without getting caught. Things are moving in the expected direction.

Low-A Greenville: Anderson Espinoza (RHP)

Espinoza is the Red Sox’s top pitching prospect. At just 18-years old, he is really young for the Low-A level, but his youth has not really affected his performance. Of his six starts, four have been strong (18.1 innings, three runs allowed, 26 strikeouts, six walks) and two have been clunkers (8.2 innings, ten runs allowed, nine strikeouts, three walks). All told, he has 35 strikeouts in 27.0 innings, which is absolutely fantastic. If he can pair his swing-and-miss stuff with an ability to consistently generate weak contact he will be a true force on the mound. How the Red Sox handle Espinoza’s development through the minor leagues will be interesting to see. Given that he is still young for the Low-A level, it makes sense that he will stay with Greenville for the duration of the 2016 season, continuing to work on his efficiency and developing his arm strength. However, if it gets to the point where he is not challenged by Low-A hitters then moving him to Salem is probably the better course of action. Either way, avoiding rushing him and potentially risking injury is paramount, as he has a high ceiling.

Photo by Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports Images

Triple-A Pawtucket

Player of the year: Deven Marrero, INF — This selection is telling of the kind of year it was in Pawtucket. The team’s lineup this season consisted primarily of major league castoffs such as Allen Craig and Jackie Bradley Jr., and then there was Marrero trying to earn his first big league callup. Although his numbers weren’t impressive — a .250 true average and .309 wOBA in Triple-A isn’t exactly major league-caliber — the 2012 first-round pick did enough to earn multiple opportunities with the Red Sox this season and should see more as we get deeper into September. Marrero was at his best at the plate toward the end of the season, hitting .306 over his final 24 minor league games, and by playing shortstop, third and second base continued to show the kind of defensive versatility that’s invaluable to a big league club.

Pitcher of the year: Brian Johnson, LHP — This distinction could’ve just as easily gone to Henry Owens. However, Johnson’s season-long consistency stood out in 2015. The 24-year-old made 18 starts in Triple-A, posting a 3.22 FIP and 8.44 K/9 while giving up more than two runs in just four of those starts. The highlight of Johnson’s year came May 29 when he tossed six perfect innings and struck out a season-high nine batters. He did get one forgettable spot start with Boston in July before returning to Triple-A, but the lefty’s season ended abruptly Aug. 2 when he experienced elbow tightness in the fourth inning of what would be his final start of the year. The Red Sox shut Johnson down soon after. Although there was no ligament damage found, it’s unclear what kind of impact the injury will have on him going into next season.

Biggest surprise: Dayan Diaz, RHP — Diaz’s major league dream seemed all but over after an ugly 2013 season in the Cubs organization. But his two years in the Sox’s system have revitalized his career, with this season being his most impressive yet. The righty posted a 1.94 ERA and 7.76 K/9 in 27 appearances out of the bullpen for Pawtucket, using his hard fastball to overpower hitters and a late-breaking slider to keep them off-balance. The 26-year-old’s performance this season propelled his stock within the system and could make him a viable candidate for a spot in next season’s Red Sox bullpen. Diaz’s command starts to fade as he pitches later into games, but he has the type of stuff to be a serviceable back-end arm out of the bullpen.

Biggest disappointment: Garin Cecchini, 3B/1B/OF — Unfortunately for Cecchini, this was an easy choice to make. One year after making his major league debut, Cecchini endured the worst season of his professional career, finishing with a .209 TAv and a 21.3 percent strikeout rate. He did show signs of a turnaround at the plate in August and eventually earned a brief callup to the big leagues again, but the overall product was ugly, especially after a brutal first two-plus months of the season. Cecchini dabbled with left field this season along with his primary spot at third base, but that was about all he did well in 2015. At 24, Cecchini still has time to turn his career back around, but there’s no doubt this year was a major setback.

Double-A Portland

Player of the year: Sam Travis, 1B — Travis’ 2015 got off to an impressive start in High-A Salem, and he hardly slowed down when he was promoted to Portland in late June. The first baseman played 65 games in Portland, sporting a .297 TAv and .376 wOBA, and improving his BB% to 11.7 percent. Travis didn’t take long to adjust Double-A. He struggled over the first week, but hit .318 from July 2 onward, proving his rapid ascension through the system is no fluke. Travis was drafted in the second round out of Indiana in 2014 and has been impressive in his professional career to this point. If Travis can continue to hit at this rate and improve his power, there’s no reason to think he can’t — at 22 — earn a promotion to Triple-A at some point next season.

Pitcher of the year: Jorge Marban, RHP — Pat Light may be the bigger name with greater potential, but Marban’s Double-A numbers were much more impressive over more innings of work. The 26-year-old wasted no time proving he belongs in the Red Sox’s organization after pitching in the Independent League and in Australia from 2012 through 2014. Marban made eight appearances for High-A Salem before being promoted to Portland, where he posted a 1.36 ERA and 3.78 FIP in 24 relief appearances. Those efforts earned him a callup to Triple-A in mid-August and have him on his way to a shot at the big leagues.

Biggest surprise: Marco Hernandez, INF — Hernandez was nothing more than compensation for dumping Felix Doubront off to the Cubs. Expectations were never high for the 23-year-old shortstop, but boy has he shattered those bestowed upon him. Hernandez boasted a .290 TAv, .375 wOBA and led the team in OPS (.832). Meanwhile, he was an everyday shortstop in a farm system loaded with talented infielders. By mid-July, Hernandez was playing in Triple-A Pawtucket, where he’s yet to match his Double-A production offensively. Hernandez has still been solid defensively, however. He’s seen time at second and third base in Pawtucket and has increased his utility potential.

Biggest disappointment: Manuel Margot, OF — It may be unfair to judge a 20-year-old for poor production in Double-A, but given the expectations and where Margot ranks among prospects within the organization, it’s still a disappointment. The fact that he was even promoted from High-A in June was surprising enough. He posted a respectable .273 TAv with Salem, but certainly didn’t seem ready for bigger challenges. Things, of course, only got worse in Portland as he finished the season with a .268 TAv while his K% ballooned to 12.8 percent over 63 games. The good news is he finished the season strong, batting .325 (29-for-89) over the final 22 games, so his status as a top-flight prospect is safely intact.

High-A Salem

Player of the year: Wendell Rijo, 2B — Rijo powered his way into this spot with a strong finish to 2015. The 20-year-old second baseman hit .283 after Aug. 3 to raise his TAv to .264 for the season and make his case for a promotion by some point next year. Rijo isn’t a standout prospect, but he’s young and has plenty of room to grow. One thing that could help Rijo going forward is limiting his strikeouts. He sported a .321 BABIP this season, but also struck out at a 20.7 percent rate. If he can make more consistent contact and improve his plate discipline the rest of his numbers should go up as well. But that’s just one criticism. Overall, there’s much like about Rijo and this season was a step in the right direction.

Pitcher of the year: Ty Buttrey, RHP — This was an important season for Buttrey. The righty was signed to a $1 million overslot deal after being drafted in the fourth round in 2012, but had yet to live up to the promise that came with it. Buttrey, at 22 years old, finally changed that in 2015. He made four dominant starts in Low-A Greenville before being promoted to High-A, and continued to pitch well, finishing with a 3.71 FIP over 21 starts in Salem. One slight on Buttrey heading into the season was that he had yet to fill into his 6-foot-6 frame. He wasn’t exactly overpowering hitters this season — his 6.30 K/9 was down from previous seasons — but his command improved and his walks decreased.

Biggest surprise: Aaron Wilkerson, RHP — Wilkerson is 26 years old and threw his first minor league pitch in 2014, yet he’s quickly become a player worth watching over the coming years. He was signed by the Red Sox out of the independent leagues during the 2014 season. Since then he’s shown the kind of command and strikeout ability that could one day turn him into a major league reliever. The righty started this year in Low-A Greenville, but after five appearances was promoted to Salem and shined, sporting a 1.90 FIP and 9.68 K/P over 17 appearances, 12 of which were starts. He was at his best in May when he posted a 0.71 ERA in 25.1 innings in which he allowed just 11 hits and six walks. Performances such as that earned him a promotion to Double-A Portland in August. He finished with a 2.58 FIP over seven starts.

Biggest disappointment: Trey Ball, LHP — It’s too early to judge Ball as a 21-year-old prospect, especially after just two full seasons as a pro. But Red Sox’s fans concerns over the 2013 seventh overall pick’s performance thus far are justified. Ball’s struggles in 2014 were well-documented. This season was actually worse. Ball owned a 5.13 FIP over 25 starts, and saw an increase in walks and decrease in strikeouts compared to 2014. And unlike last year, he didn’t get better as the season progressed. Ball was solid in his final outing of the season, allowing two runs and striking out six over five innings. However, he posted a 10.80 ERA in his six starts prior. The lefty still has time to fill out his lanky 6-foot-6 frame and further develop his secondary pitches, particularly his curveball, which he started throwing as a junior in high school, but he has much to prove going into next season.

Low-A Greenville

Player of the year: Rafael Devers, 3B — Watching Devers, at 18 years old, blossom into one of the top prospects in the Red Sox’s organization was fun. The third baseman made a name for himself after a scalding hot start to the season in which he hit .382 through June 1. Since then his stock has risen. He garnered much attention on the interwebs and even drew comparisons to Robinson Cano — not bad company at such a young age. Devers eventually leveled out, finishing with a .282 TAv and .352 wOBA, and struck out at a 16.5 percent rate, but there’s no denying his potential. His solid build, fluid swing and plus power make for a nice offensive player. He his a defensive liability, so perhaps a move to first base or to a full-time DH role is in his future.

Pitcher of the year: Michael Kopech, RHP — Kopech’s season was cut short due to a 50-game suspension for illegal use of a stimulant, but it was an exceptional year for the 19-year-old nonetheless. The 2014 first-round pick showed overpowering stuff that could one day put him atop a major league rotation, posting a 9.69 K/9 to go with a 3.34 FIP over 15 starts. He allowed just two total runs over 15 innings in the three starts before his suspension, and gave up no more than three runs — a number he reached in just three outings — in all of his starts. Losing Kopech for the final 50 games was a disappointment for Greenville, but shouldn’t be a setback for the righty as he tries to make quick work of the minor leagues.

Biggest surprise: Javier Guerra, SS — Guerra entered the season as a mid-tier Red Sox prospect, but his value rose considerably after an impressive 2015. It was well-established that Guerra is an outstanding shortstop with good range, instincts and plus arm strength. But his bat was supposed to be his downfall. Well, turns out he can hit, too. Guerra far exceeded offensive expectations both from an average and power standpoint, posting a .280 TAv to go with 15 home runs and a .171 ISO. Guerra’s power numbers stood out the most given he’s still undersized. And at 19 years old, he’s bound to add more strength.

Biggest disappointment: Michael Chavis, 3B — It was a rough first year for Chavis, the team’s top pick in 2014. He struggled both in the field and at the plate this season. But especially at the plate. Chavis held a .244 TAv and struck out at an absurd 30.6 percent rate — 30.6 percent!!! — the latter being by far the most alarming. It’s something that needs to change in the coming years. He did hit 16 home runs and finished with a .182 ISO, but that swing-for-the-fences approach hindered his overall production. Chavis needs to shorten his swing and take more of a line-drive approach in order to improve his baffling average and strikeout numbers.

Top photo by Kelly O’Connor/www.sittingstill.smugmug.com

Triple-A Pawtucket: Matt Barnes (RHP) and Marco Hernandez (SS)

The future is now for Matt Barnes. The Red Sox have announced that he will take the ball tonight against the Indians in place of the injured Steven Wright. We have seen Barnes pitch at Fenway Park this season, but it was as a reliever and, to be frank, it did not go well (6.45 RA9, 5.84 FIP, -7.18 RE24). In his last stint with the big league club he made six appearances out of the bullpen before being demoted back to Pawtucket, where he continued pitching in a relief role. However, about a month ago the Sox decided to stretch him out for work as a starter, hoping to have him reestablish some sense of comfort by implementing his changeup on a more consistent basis. Since the decision was made Barnes has made three extended relief appearances – although performance made one of them a short outing – and two starts, and while the results have been lacking (4.41 RA9, 4.70 FIP, 12/11 K/BB), reports from Red Sox player development have been positive. The Red Sox are suggesting that they view Barnes as a starter and think he is capable of being a productive major league rotation member; something the team is desperately without. With all this in mind, it seems like a safe bet that Barnes will get an opportunity in the rotation for the Red Sox in September.

Marco Hernandez was acquired by the Red Sox in the deal with the Chicago Cubs that sent Felix Doubront to the windy city last summer. He opened this year at Double-A Portland and mashed his way to a promotion in mid-July. Hernandez is not known for his bat, and his numbers at Portland were well outside of what he had shown in his time at the lower levels of the minor leagues. For example, in 2014 at High-A Daytona he slashed .270/.315/.351 with a .328 BABIP, which amounts to a .246 TAv. But in Portland he slashed .326/.349/.482 with a .382 BABIP, all good for a .287 TAv. There is no doubt that the jump in BABIP contributed to his better numbers, but he was also knocking more extra base hits (23 in 122 games at High-A, 30 in 68 games at Double-A), so there was a chance he had figured something out. Since being promoted to Triple-A his production has been more in line with his A-ball numbers, which undoubtedly represents progress given that he is now facing higher caliber pitching. But, it also provides evidence that the great offensive numbers he posted in Portland were likely anomalous. In his 101 plate appearances for Pawtucket he has slashed .258/.277/.381, his BABIP is down to .329, and he only has six extra base hits. Hernandez has had difficulty with plate discipline, having struck out in one quarter of his trips to the plate while only earning a walk three times. Hernandez has a few more weeks to continue his adjustment to the new level. His performance the rest of the way and the Red Sox’s offseason transactions (e.g., a trade involving Devon Marrero) will determine the level at which he is slotted to start the 2016 season.

Double-A Portland: Carlos Asuaje (2B) and Justin Haley (RHP)

Carlos Asuaje is another undersized middle infielder that the Red Sox have found to provide considerable production. He has primarily played second base for the Sea Dogs this season, but has also seen time at third base. Despite his size (he is listed at 5’9”) he looks to be an offensive threat. Across Low- and High-A in 2014, he posted a .310/.395/.528 line, knocking 15 balls out of the yard and showing tremendous discipline at the plate (92/62 K/BB). This season in Portland, while he still hitting better than league average, his numbers have come down a lot from where he was at the lower levels. Some of this drop is expected given the change in level and the advanced pitching and defense that comes with it, but his reduction is considerable. One clear example is in his power numbers. This season he is only slugging .367 with a .117 isolated power. Despite this, he has maintained his advanced ability to make contact and be disciplined at the plate, as is evidenced by his 73/52 K/BB ratio. This is a really positive attribute to see in a player struggling with other aspects of his game; he is not expanding the strike zone to try and make things happen. If Asuaje can get back to hitting for some more power, that, and his defensive versatility, will help him advance toward a major league utility role.

At the end of 2014, Justin Haley made six starts for Portland and pitched pretty well (1.19 RA9, 3.73 FIP). By some measures that performance has not transferred to 2015, as he has a 5.61 RA9, and 3.79 FIP. So his peripherals, as well at least one fielding independent measure, suggests that he has been basically the same guy despite the wild difference in his runs allowed average. Much of this can be explained by the fact that in 2014 he held a ridiculous 95.1 percent strand rate, a mark that has dropped to 64.7 percent this season. Relative to 2014, on a rate basis he has allowed more runners on base and more have come around to score. Some of the base runner issue is BABIP, as 2015 represents the high water mark for Haley’s opponents’ BABIP by a considerable margin, so there is some bad luck involved here. On the whole, this season has presented a challenge for Haley in that he probably feels like he is pitching in much the same way he has previously, but is not getting the same results, which has to be incredibly frustrating. His last outing was easily the best of his season results-wise (7.0 innings, one hit, no runs, no walks, six strikeouts), so hopefully he can build on it over his remaining starts.

High-A Salem: Ty Buttrey (RHP)

The season-to-date statistics for Ty Buttrey at High-A Salem look fairly impressive: 17 starts, 94.2 innings pitched, 4.09 RA9, 3.34 FIP. The odd thing for Buttrey this season is that he seems to consistently string together a few starts in which he only allows one run, but then has a blowup outing where he allows five or more (Eduardo Rodriguez nods sadly). On the season he has nine starts in which he has allowed fewer than two runs, but then has four starts in which he has allowed four or more runs. Taken together he has been bimodal, albeit more good than bad. He has posted a decent 2:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and only allowed two home runs, both of which are strong signs for his future. Avoiding the periodic blowup start will be important for Buttrey’s future, but even with the rough outings considered he has probably pitched well enough to earn a promotion to Portland for next season.

Low-A Greenville: Yoan Moncada (2B)

Through his first 34 games (162 plate appearances) Yoan Moncada was clearly struggling to adjust to his new surroundings. He had a .229/.311/.321 slashline, with only one home run and nine stolen bases in nine attempts. Over his next 30 games (122 PA) Moncada has shown why the Red Sox invested so much in him. He has posted a .333/.431/.545 slashline with five home runs and 26 stolen bases in 29 attempts. Those are extremely impressive numbers, and likely have many clamoring to rush him up through the system. But Moncada still has a lot to learn. For example he will need to demonstrate a stronger command on the strike zone. He is striking out too often (22.5 K%), as he continues to adjust to hitting breaking pitches. His defense, which could be a plus tool, is also a work in progress as he gets more consistent reps. Moncada is an exciting player who has a long way to go before reaching Boston.

Short Season-A Lowell: Andrew Benintendi (CF)

We don’t usually write about players below Greenville, but the Red Sox’s first pick in the 2015 draft is worth mentioning given his remarkable performance to date. Benintendi has played in 34 games for the Spinners, accumulated 147 plate appearances and done real damage in his chances. He has seven home runs, four triples and two doubles, which is an odd distribution of extra base hits but provides an early indication of the combination of power and speed he possesses. To go with that power-speed combination, Benintendi has shown tremendous plate discipline, walking 25 times and only striking out 15 times. Like Moncada, Benintendi is a player for the Red Sox who has a lot of potential and a lot to learn before reaching Boston. Things are quite bright at the lower levels. [Editor’s note: Rumor is Benintendi is headed to Greenville. Woot!]

Photo by Mark L. Baer/USA Today Sports Images

Triple-A Pawtucket: Garin Cecchini, 3B and Deven Marrero, 2B

At the end of the 2014 season, Cecchini got a brief stint in the majors, appearing in 11 games. There was at least some discussion this offseason that Cecchini could be the starting third baseman for the 2015 season. Then the Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval to a five-year contract in November, blocking Cecchini’s advancement to the major leagues within the Red Sox organization. This season at Pawtucket, Cecchini has only played in 22 of the team’s 32 games, a result of a shoulder injury that landed him on the disabled list. Generally, Cecchini has not performed very well. In 92 plate appearances he has a .171 TAv. A real issue is that he is striking out a lot, 28 times so far this year, and only has three walks.

One potentially positive development is that Cecchini has moved around the diamond more this season, including accumulating some experience in the outfield. He has played nine games at third base, three games at first base, and nine games in left field. This is certainly a test of Cecchini’s versatility, and for a team that is already flush with outfielders this seems like an effort to show potential trade partners what Cecchini can do in the outfield. It is also possible the Red Sox are grooming Cecchini for a role as a bench player. Regardless of where he is playing defensively, Cecchini’s hitting numbers are going to need to dramatically improve for him to get another chance in the majors, as he’s always been viewed as a bat-first player.

Deven Marrero.

Marrero is in a similar developmental place as Cecchini. He is one of the top Red Sox prospects, ranked 9^th by Baseball America, and considered a strong candidate to impact the major league team by the Baseball Prospectus team. Unfortunately, he is blocked by Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, and Dustin Pedroia at second base. He is projected as a plus defender, but there are plenty of questions surrounding his bat. This season at Pawtucket, however, he is hitting well: .281 TAv, 8.6% walk rate, and nine extra base hits in 105 PAs. These marks are all better than they were last season, when he had a .190 Tav, 5.9% walk rate, and 12 extra base hits in 202 PAs. This improvement at the level is nice to see and if he keeps hitting like he is so far this season, he could be a really intriguing player for a team that is looking to acquire middle infield help.

Double-A Portland: Simon Mercedes, RHP

Mercedes was used as a starting pitcher while at High-A Salem last year, but this year at Portland has only been used as a relief pitcher. Things have not been going smoothly thus far. In seven appearances (20.1 innings pitched) he has allowed 11 runs, nearly equaled his hits allowed (11) and walk (8) totals, and only struck out 14 batters. I say only 14 batters because on a rate basis, his current rate is lower than the rate he posted in Salem last season by a little over three percent. The advancement in levels likely accounts for much of that decrease but I would expect that his moving to a relief role would increase the strikeout totals. Though he has served as a reliever, Mercedes has been used in extended outings, typically 2-3 innings, so it is not necessarily the case that he can just come in for an inning and let his fastball burn. With that said, if he is going to end up with a role in the major leagues he will needs to start showing swing-and-miss stuff. His 4.00 FIP suggests that he has pitched better than his 4.43 ERA, but the 4.00 FIP still leaves something to be desired. It is still early days, so the 23-year old Mercedes certainly has time to get things on track.

High-A Salem: Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP, and Ty Buttrey, RHP

Thus far, Stankiewicz has shown that his promotion to High-A was justified. In six starts he has a 3.86 ERA and 2.98 FIP, has struck out 19 batters, and only walked seven, which is a fine ratio. His rates (14.0 K%, 5.2 BB%) could use some improvement, but still look promising. He has yet to allow a home run this season, and has only given up eight extra-base hits. Stankiewicz is only 21-years old, so he is still slightly young for the level, or at least on an appropriate developmental track.

Stanky refuses to allow homers.

Stankiewicz’s new teammate, Buttrey, made the jump from Low-A Greenville to Salem after making just four starts this season. But those four starts were excellent. In 22.0 innings pitched he posted a 2.45 ERA, 3.24 FIP, struck out a batter per inning, and only walked three. Since joining the Greenville squad Buttrey has made two starts: a rough debut (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 HR, 6 BB, 3 SO) and a solid second outing (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 6 SO). All told he is currently sitting with a 2.25 ERA and 3.32 FIP, which looks pretty nice. Buttrey is eight months older than Stankiewicz, and so is again on a reasonable developmental track. If he can consistently look like the pitcher in his second outing for Salem, he could move up another level later this season.

Low-A Greenville: Michael Chavis, 3B

Michael Chavis is 19 years old and his performance thus far shows some of the struggles that can be expected from players his age. In 99 PAs Chavis has a .207 TAv, and is striking out a third of the time. These marks place him well below league average as an offensive contributor (77 wRC+). Half of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases (six doubles, three homers) which seems promising, except for his only having 18 hits which sort of limits the excitement. Chavis will have time to develop at this level and, as noted in his scouting report at SoxProspects.com, may see his position change to second base or the outfield.

Photos by Kelly O’Connor, sittingstill.smugmug.com

Triple-A Pawtucket: Henry Owens, LHP

Henry Owens has gotten off to a slow start at Pawtucket this year. Dominant for most of his minor league career, this is one of the first rough stretches since his up-and-down first season in the minors just out of high school. Over his last two seasons, he struck out 10.4 batters per nine, with ERAs under three across three levels. One concern early in his career was control, as he walked more than four an inning in his first two seasons in the system. However, last year he cut that rate to 3.3 walks per nine between Portland and Pawtucket. So far this year, that rate has spiked to 7.3 through his first four starts.

Henry Owens has struggled with control early.

In his start last Wednesday, those control and command troubles were evident again. He walked just three, but one was to the leadoff hitter in the first that ended up scoring a run and another was to the number nine hitter on four pitches. He battled command within the zone on the evening, especially with the fastball, which sits in the range of 87-91 mph and needs to be located well in order for his plus changeup to play off of it. The changeup did live up to the billing though, as he made several hitters look silly on big whiffs against it.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Owens’ night was the use of a slider for the first time in his career, starting this season. He said afterwards that he threw two in this particular outing, and it is clearly a raw pitch early in its development. It was in the high-70s in this outing, similar in speed to his changeup. With his curveball also generally coming in in the 70s, the slider may be more effective if he can throw it in the low-80s to complement the rest of his arsenal better. With a pitcher who can manipulate the ball like Owens, the pitch could develop quickly and become a strong component of his arsenal. On the other hand, it may end up as a show-me fourth pitch or scrapped altogether.

Double-A Portland: Pat Light, RHP

With a dearth of high-level talent currently in Portland, particularly in the lineup, Pat Light’s performance out of the bullpen has stood out. This is his first year being converted to the bullpen full time, and though there have been a couple bumps, the results have been extremely encouraging for the 2012 supplemental first-rounder who had a tough go of it in the minors as a starter. Since he was drafted scouts have been predicting an ultimate move to the bullpen, but the Red Sox like to keep pitchers in the rotation as long as possible to help develop their stuff. With the results he was posting as a starter though (4.83 ERA, 5.2 K/9 last season), it made sense to make the move now.

In his last three outings spanning 4 1/3 innings, he did not allow a hit and struck out seven, boosting his K/9 rate to an impressive 12.2 mark on the season. He has a 4.05 ERA overall, but only allowed runs in two of his seven appearances (three runs in each game) and has a 0.975 WHIP. Part of his success can be attributed to his use of the splitter, a pitch that he had all but shelved since college, but has been his main secondary out of the bullpen this year. Though his fastball is hard in the mid-90s, it can be on the straight side, and can be hit hard when not located well.

High-A Salem: Manuel Margot, CF

Manuel Margot struck out for first time this season Wednesday.

Margot struck out for the first time this season on Wednesday of last week. The 20-year-old center fielder had gone his first 16 games and 69 plate appearances without punching out prior to that. However, despite picking up his first two strikeouts this week, his season line now rests at .312/.368/.481 with 10 stolen bases on 12 attempts to go along with a homer and three triples. With the strong performance to start the season and tools to back it up, he seems to have solidified himself as the third-ranked prospect in the system, behind only Blake Swihart and Yoan Moncada. He is a true five-tool talent, with a high floor due to his strong center field defense, speed and athleticism. He also has the power in his bat to average perhaps around 15 home runs a year, and scouts like his overall knack for the game. He will look to improve upon his selectivity and plate approach, but he is well-ahead of the age curve at the High-A level, so that is to be expected. Margot’s name may come up more often in trade rumors with the strong performance, as he already has in relation to Cole Hamels. He could make an interesting piece for Philadelphia if they come off of their demands for Boston’s elite young, major league-ready talent.

Low-A Greenville: Ty Buttrey, RHP

Ty Buttrey received a promotion to Salem this week, and made his first High-A start on Sunday. Buttrey received an over-slot bonus as a high schooler in 2012, and had yet to live up to expectations. Last season, he got off to a late start due to injury, and missed time in June as well, but struggled in his 11 starts in Greenville, posting a 6.85 ERA and 1.804 WHIP, inflated by a 4.7 walk per nine rate. This season has been a complete turnaround though, as he’s lowered his WHIP and walk rate to 0.909 and 1.2, respectively, resulting in a 2.45 ERA over his first four starts. In the month of April, he was one of the most productive pitchers in the entire Red Sox system. He struck out seven batters over five hitless innings in his last start with Greenville before the promotion. In his first start for Salem on Sunday, Buttrey’s control troubles resurfaced as he walked six over five innings, including three in the third when he allowed the only three runs of the outing. An adjustment period is to be expected, though. The tall right-hander is projectable, but prior to this season results and scouting looks have not been overly impressive. He will look to build momentum towards fulfilling draft expectations this season.

Photos by Kelly O’Connor, sittingstill.smugmug.com