Bogaerts tops BA's Sox list

[Red Foreman]

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

 

"Here are the top 10 Red Sox prospects according to Baseball America:

 

1. SS Xander Bogaerts

2. OF Jackie Bradley

3. RHP Matt Barnes

4. RHP Allen Webster

5. LHP Henry Owens

6. C Blake Swihart

7. 3B Garin Cecchini

8. OF Bryce Brentz

9. SS Jose Iglesias

10. SS Deven Marrero

 

For those curious, RHP Rubby De La Rosa was not eligible under BA's rules because of his MLB experience. In term of 2013, Iglesias and maybe Brentz or Bradley could impact the Red Sox. Bogaerts turned 20 on Oct. 1 and has played only 23 games in Double A.

 

In other Red Sox news so far today:

 

-- Terry Francona has named former Red Sox coach Brad Mills as his third base coach in Cleveland. No surprise there given their long friendship. Francona also hired former Sox catcher Kevin Cash as the bullpen coach. Cash had been working as a scout for the Blue Jays. Cash has all the qualities that suggest he will be a manager someday.

 

-- The only known candidates to become pitching coach of the Red Sox are Rick Peterson and Juan Nieves. Peterson was Baltimore's minor league pitching coordinator. Nieves is the bullpen coach in Chicago and has worked under the well-regarded Don Cooper. Nieves, 47, graduated from Avon Old Farms in Connecticut before pitching parts of three seasons in the majors."

[SoxFanForsyth]

I see Owens as the guy who is going to surprise a lot of people for being ranked so high, but he's got maybe the best stuff of anyone in the farm according to a few Sox officials (from what I hear and read from Alex Speier, who is very plugged in).

[Station 13]

Cecchini is finally on the prospect radar. I have liked him since the draft.

 

Swihart is another guy I think will be climbing up the ladder.

 

The Usual suspects topped the list. Not much else to say about them.

[jacksonianmarch]

Owens is a big lefty with huge stuff. Even though he couldnt hit the side of a barn this yr, he had to make the list

[Station 13]

Owens is a big lefty with huge stuff. Even though he couldnt hit the side of a barn this yr, he had to make the list

 

130K in 100IP in his pro-ball debut? He has good stuff. BABIP inflated. His ceiling is very high.

 

Can't remember the Red Sox having this much pitching prospects since 2008-2009.

[jung]

Interesting how Xander went flying past Iggy like he was standing still....then again Iggy was sorta' standin' still.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Well, when the guy draws comparisons to Manny Machado, he flies past a lot of people.

 

I mean seriously, look at the year Barnes and Bradley had, and then the Sox acquired Webster. And Bogaerts is hands down better.

[jung]

Probably a bit surprised that he passed JBJ in the process, if only by one spot. I don't have last year's in front of me but I am sure JBJ would have been ahead of Xander in last year's list.

[BSN07]

Ciracio should be the Utility guy and even though I'm usually all about grooming players I kinda hope they take Iglesias and Bogaerts in ST and say " one of you go win the job". Young talented players are producing and learning on the job in Baseball today. If the team is going the youth route then throw them all out there together, let them get their bumps together, let them learn to win together. Hopefully the youth brings some energy to this team.

[SoxSport]

They ought to bring Bogaerts into ST and give him a shot at SS. See what he can do. This team no longer has the luxury of letting prospects develop slowly. Middlebrooks had a partial year in AAA and was ready.