BP's Top 15 Sox Prospects

[Looch Ness Monster]

Five-Star Prospects

1. Ryan Westmoreland, CF

2. Casey Kelly RHP/SS

Four-Star Prospects

3. Josh Reddick, OF

4. Ryan Kalish, OF

Three-Star Prospects

5. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

6. Jose Iglesias, SS

7. Junichi Tazawa, RHP

8. Michael Bowden, RHP

9. Lars Anderson, 1B

10. Reymond Fuentes, CF

11. Derrik Gibson, 2B/SS

 

Four More:

12. David Renfroe, RHP/SS: Like Kelly, he's another big-bonus, two-way star, but Renfroe will begin his career as an infielder, and he projects as a prototypical third baseman due to his size, power potential, and arm.

13. Alex Wilson, RHP: He had a 0.50 ERA in New York-Penn League while giving up just 10 hits in 36 innings, but he's already 23, so he should dominate. Still, his fastball/slider combo is impressive.

14. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP: The young Dominican righty still has plus command and plenty of projection, but performances have been so-so.

15. Che-Hsuan Lin, LF: Lin’s tools still impress, his defense remains outstanding, his numbers... not so much, but Red Sox officials remain very high on him.

 

1. Ryan Westmoreland, CF

DOB: 04/27/90

Height/Weight:6-2/195

Bats/Throws: L/R

Drafted/Signed:5th round, 2008, Portsmouth HS (RI)

2009 Stats: .296/.401/.484 at Short-season (60 G)

Last Year’s Ranking: 5

 

Year in Review: The high-profile over-slot draftee from 2008 did not disappoint in his pro debut.

The Good: One scout described Westmoreland as having "the tools of a top-five high school pick, with the advanced skills of a college player." Supremely athletic, Westmoreland has average power with projection for more, as well as a keen understanding of the strike zone and a silky smooth swing with some natural lift to it. He's an outstanding runner with instincts, as indicated by his 19 stolen bases in 60 games for the Spinners without getting caught.

The Bad: Westmoreland had shoulder surgery after signing, and he played in the field for only eight games last year. He had a plus arm in high school, but it's not completely back yet. His season ended early when he broke his collarbone, so there are some minor concerns about his health record so far. Some of the more advanced left-handers of the New York-Penn League gave him trouble with good breaking balls.

Ephemera: Westmoreland knew how to get things started at Lowell, batting .423/.500/.635 in his first plate appearances over 60 games.

Perfect World Projection: Westmoreland could be the kind of player people thought Grady Sizemore would become.

Path to the Big Leagues: Jacoby Ellsbury is well established in Boston, but it's too early to worry about that.

Timetable: Westmoreland will make a highly anticipated full-season debut in 2010, beginning the year at Low-A Greenville.

[Dojji]

I still think Westmoreland is very likely to be our LF of the future. It might just be his unhealthy start, but I don't buy him in center yet in the majors.

[example1]

I still think Westmoreland is very likely to be our LF of the future. It might just be his unhealthy start' date=' but I don't buy him in center yet in the majors.[/quote']

 

What do you think he is lacking to be able to stay in CF?

 

My only concern would be him continuing to fill out and not having the speed (certainly relative to other Sox prospects like Lin, Fuentes, etc.,)

 

However, Westmoreland apparently has really, really good speed and a good arm (before injury at least) so if he's going to go somewhere other than CF I would imagine it would be RF.

[Looch Ness Monster]

What do you think he is lacking to be able to stay in CF?

 

My only concern would be him continuing to fill out and not having the speed (certainly relative to other Sox prospects like Lin, Fuentes, etc.,)

 

However, Westmoreland apparently has really, really good speed and a good arm (before injury at least) so if he's going to go somewhere other than CF I would imagine it would be RF.

 

Look how much Ellsbury gets injured in center field. It's a pretty dangerous position if you think about it. I agree with you though, right field appears to be the more realistic option. Left field usually isn't a position that you fill within your farm system in my opinion. Especially somebody who has five tools potentially as Westmoreland does. I kind of see him being what people wanted J.D. Drew to be when he came up in the big leagues in right field.

[Dipre]

Look how much Ellsbury gets injured in center field. It's a pretty dangerous position if you think about it. I agree with you though' date=' right field appears to be the more realistic option.[/b'] Left field usually isn't a position that you fill within your farm system in my opinion. Especially somebody who has five tools potentially as Westmoreland does. I kind of see him being what people wanted J.D. Drew to be when he came up in the big leagues in right field.

 

What?

[jacksonianmarch]

Westmoreland is a hell of a prospect. But hold onto your shorts for a second. He hasnt even played long season yet. I am surprised BP is hyping a kid like him so much seeing as he didnt play any long season ball ever. He sounds like he has a hell of a skillset. But skillset and application are two different things. Lets see if he can continue to hit and stay healthy in A ball this yr before he's annointed as the next big CFer for Boston

[BoSox21]

Westmoreland is a hell of a prospect. But hold onto your shorts for a second. He hasnt even played long season yet. I am surprised BP is hyping a kid like him so much seeing as he didnt play any long season ball ever. He sounds like he has a hell of a skillset. But skillset and application are two different things. Lets see if he can continue to hit and stay healthy in A ball this yr before he's annointed as the next big CFer for Boston

 

[table]Topic|Team|Content

Prospect|Yankees|The player in question is made of 150% pure awesomeness. Fear us.

Prospect|Sox|He could be good, but this is why he won't be.

Signing|Yankees|This is the missing piece. We'll win 160 games, and the umps will screw us out of 2.

Signing|Sox|Risky move, overpaid here, they'll regret this.

Injury|Yankees|They don't get hurt. Hypothetically, if they did, the recovery will be speedy with no impact to ability.

Injury|Sox|Everyone is a ticking time bomb. Once hurt, they'll never heal right.[/table]

[Keeper]

And Austin Jackson had a .759 OPS this year in AAA, but he's going to be a stud, right?

[jacksonianmarch]

I have already said that he isnt ready. There is a reason why there are lots of minor league levels. They are all proving grounds. Westmoreland looks great right now, but we all saw what can happen as players cross levels (see Anderson, Lars). And one stalled season drops your stock so damn much. I still think Lars is gonna be really good. But it is funny how he went from being a 5 star prospect to a 3 star prospect after one poor season

[Dipre]

I have already said that he isnt ready. There is a reason why there are lots of minor league levels. They are all proving grounds. Westmoreland looks great right now' date=' but we all saw what can happen as players cross levels [b'](see Jackson,Austin)[/b]. And one stalled season drops your stock so damn much. I still think Jackson is gonna be really good. But it is funny how he went from being a 5 star prospect to a 3 star prospect after one poor season

 

Fixed.

[jacksonianmarch]

I believe Jackson has been a 4 star prospect across the board.

 

Also, Jackson didnt have an abysmal season. Good BA, pretty good OBP, solid speed, but his power disappeared. Like I said, a lot can happen to top notch prospects across levels and he fits into that category.

[yankees228]

If someone other than Jacko had made the post about Westmoreland, would you guys be all over that person?

[Dipre]

If someone other than Jacko had made the post about Westmoreland' date=' would you guys be all over that person?[/quote']

 

Would that person have gone out of his way to use Lars Anderson as an example to have a chance at a backhanded attack?

[yankees228]

Would that person have gone out of his way to use Lars Anderson as an example to have a chance at a backhanded attack?

 

Probably not, and that's fair. But I think his overall point has some merit. He admits that Westmoreland has all the tools, but says that it might be a bit to early to make a true projection on what kind of Major Leaguer he is going to be. To me, that's fair.

[Dipre]

Probably not' date=' and that's fair. But I think his overall point has some merit. He admits that Westmoreland has all the tools, but says that it might be a bit to early to make a true projection on what kind of Major Leaguer he is going to be. To me, that's fair.[/quote']

 

If he makes the comment without the backhanded shot at Anderson, it's completely legit.

 

He didn't, so he got jumped.

 

Why you made that comment knowing this fully well is besides me.

[yankees228]

If he makes the comment without the backhanded shot at Anderson, it's completely legit.

 

He didn't, so he got jumped.

 

Why you made that comment knowing this fully well is besides me.

 

BS21 pulled out the chart in response to his comment about Westmoreland, with no mention of Anderson.

[ORS]

Yeah, but he cautioned against any true projection prophylactically, ie he tried to quell any excitement before any was displayed. It's his compulsive syndrom, Sox fans must not have any good thoughts about anything to do with their team. If there's a chance they might, Jacko will show up toot sweet to put things in check.

[Dipre]

Yeah' date=' but he cautioned against any true projection prophylactically, ie he tried to quell any excitement before any was displayed. It's his compulsive syndrom, Sox fans must not have any good thoughts about anything to do with their team. If there's a chance they might, Jacko will show up toot sweet to put things in check.[/quote']

 

This, 100 million times this.

[yankees228]

Yeah' date=' but he cautioned against any true projection prophylactically, ie he tried to quell any excitement before any was displayed. It's his compulsive syndrom, Sox fans must not have any good thoughts about anything to do with their team. If there's a chance they might, Jacko will show up toot sweet to put things in check.[/quote']

 

Yeah I know. That's certainly a fair criticism of Jacko, and he definitely appeared to do that in this instance. I just think that we should try to pay more attention to the message, instead of the messenger.

[ORS]

This particular messenger has eroded any benefit of the doubt when it comes to his intent here. If people are short with him, that's the bed he's made here.

[yankees228]

This particular messenger has eroded any benefit of the doubt when it comes to his intent here. If people are short with him' date=' that's the bed he's made here.[/quote']

 

Fair enough. Clearly nothing I say is going to change Jacko's reputation.

[jacksonianmarch]

Would that person have gone out of his way to use Lars Anderson as an example to have a chance at a backhanded attack?

 

I used Lars to show that development isnt guaranteed. That ETAs are earned and not a given. That anything can happen along the way from rookie ball to the bigs. And that you need to ride the waves on a player with big talent like Anderson. As I said before, one bad yr and Lars goes from 5 stars to 3 stars.

[Dipre]

I used Lars to show that development isnt guaranteed. That ETAs are earned and not a given. That anything can happen along the way from rookie ball to the bigs. And that you need to ride the waves on a player with big talent like Anderson. As I said before' date=' one bad yr and Lars goes from 5 stars to 3 stars.[/quote']

 

Over 1,000 prospects you can mention, you go straight to Anderson.

 

That's all i'm going to say about that.

[jacksonianmarch]

I went to him because we are on a sox website and he is the most obvious example of a player with big talent who struggled on the way up the ranks. If I used any player from another organization, most fans would have to look them up.

[jacksonianmarch]

BTW, Anderson is going to have a BIG yr this yr in Portland and will be in Pawtucket come the trade deadline.

[TheMino007]

was doing some browsing and this is what came up for the Sox top ten prospects: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2010/269311.html

 

1. Ryan Westmoreland, of

2. Casey Kelly, rhp

3. Josh Reddick, of

4. Lars Anderson, 1b

5. Ryan Kalish, of

6. Junichi Tazawa, rhp

7. Reymond Fuentes, of

8. Anthony Rizzo, 1b

9. Jose Iglesias, ss

10. Derrik Gibson, ss/2b

[rhet]

was doing some browsing and this is what came up for the Sox top ten prospects: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2010/269311.html

 

1. Ryan Westmoreland, of

2. Casey Kelly, rhp

3. Josh Reddick, of

4. Lars Anderson, 1b

5. Ryan Kalish, of

6. Junichi Tazawa, rhp

7. Reymond Fuentes, of

8. Anthony Rizzo, 1b

9. Jose Iglesias, ss

10. Derrik Gibson, ss/2b

 

If that's accurate, the cupboard looks a little bare.

[example1]

If that's accurate' date=' the cupboard looks a little bare.[/quote']

 

Why do you say that?

[rhet]

Why do you say that?

 

If Reddick and Tazawa are in our top 6, don't you think it's pretty thin?

[Dipre]

If Reddick and Tazawa are in our top 6' date=' don't you think it's pretty thin?[/quote']

 

Semi-agree on Tazawa, but remember this was his first professional season. Reddick's stock is high, and with good reason, he remains a highly sought-after talent with great tools whose only problem is plate discipline at this stage of his development, and besides, they're 23 and 22 respectively.