Tag Archives: Casas

Finding Hope in the Current Red Sox Prospects

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MLB released their annual prospect list this past week, containing the best 100 players throughout the minor league systems. The San Diego Padres have a fair share of young players from Boston (see: Kimbrel and Pomeranz trades). They also lead the way with an unprecedented ten players in the top 100 and seven in the top 50.

On the other end of the spectrum, is Boston. They have just one, single prospect in the top 100. This isn’t something new for the Red Sox. They haven’t had a deep farm system since pre-2015, and only had one player on this same list going into 2018.

Michael Chavis was placed appropriately at 69th in the pre-2018 rankings. After a tumultuous 2018 in which he was caught up in a PED suspension, and faced uncertainty on which position he would playing going forward, the Sox top prospect placed 79th this year.

(Kevin Pataky/MiLB.com)

Chavis is the prospect with the highest ceiling in the system, and he’s also the most likely to crack the roster at some point this year. However, only having one name in the top 100 isn’t the end-all-be-all. There are plenty of prospects the Sox have, that would fall in the 101-200 range of young players. A lot of these guys have real chances to impact this team for a long time.

Help Coming Soon (2019-2020)

Durbin Feltman is flying through the ranks after being a third rounder just a year ago. He might get a chance to feature in Boston in 2019, but moving forward I would love to see if this kid has what it takes to be a long-term closer in the pros. Feltman was the best stopper in the entire NCAA last year with TCU. He could really be a huge asset for this bullpen in coming years.

(Ellman Photography)

Darwinzon Hernandez, a highly admired prospect of general manager Dave Dombrowski. After 23 solid starts in high-A in 2018, Hernandez made some good relief outings in double-A Portland. If he keeps progressing the way he has since he joined the system in 2014, he could be a key bullpen member in 2020.

Bobby Dalbec and Josh Ockimey sit in triple-A Pawtucket alongside Chavis, awaiting a major league call in 2018. Both of those aforementioned guys have big bats, and both can fill a potential void at first base if the veteran options don’t work out.

A Slightly More Distant Future (2021+)

Bryan Mata, he’s only 19 years old and has already put up solid numbers in high-A ball. Mata will move up to Portland this season and has a chance to contend for a rotation spot in 2021 if he keeps trending upwards. Mata is criminally underrated by people rankings prospects outside the organization. He has the chance to be a legit starter in the MLB.

Jay Groome underwent Tommy John surgery and missed 2018, causing a lot of people to forget how good he was. The Sox took him in the first round for a reason. He had a 1.64 era in low-A ball in 2017. This proves he can do it at an elevated minor league level, he just needs to stay healthy. He worked out with Chris Sale last year, and hopefully that benefits the career trend of Groome. We could see him in Boston by 2021.

Triston Casas was the Sox’ first rounder in 2018. He barely got to get going in the Gulf Coast League. A thumb injury ended his season after just five at-bats. He only turned 19 two weeks ago. If he is able to get healthy and get good ABs in 2019, he’ll start progressing through the minors. I truly believe this kid has star potential even based off of his high school tapes. Watching him in 2019 will be an important step in his development.

See, the Sox farm system isn’t facing nearly as much peril as you thought it would be, right?

Call-ups for the Red Sox in 2019

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The minor league season is over for the Red Sox, so the focus turns to next year for the prospects. There were risers and fallers in the system, but some of them could be on the major league team next year. The most likely call-ups are Michael Chavis, Travis Lakins, Durbin Feltman, and Bobby Dalbec.

Michael Chavis

Coming into the year, Chavis was the best prospect in the organization. An 80 game suspension for PEDs set him back, but Chavis raked when he came back. The 23-year old spent the bulk of the year in Double-A Portland and hit .303 with six home runs in 33 games there. The third baseman was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket and hit .273 in just eight games there. When Bobby Dalbec and Chavis were on the same team, Chavis moved to first base. Steve Pearce is a free agent and Mitch Moreland is under contract for next year, so the Red Sox will have to make some decisions with that. Also, moving Rafael Devers, who struggled at third, to first base, has been talked about. This would open the door for Chavis to be the opening day third baseman next year.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, right, poses with shortstop Michael Chavis from Sprayberry Senior High School in Marietta, Ga., at the 2014 MLB baseball draft Thursday, June 5, 2014, in Secaucus, N.J. Chavis was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the 26th pick in the first round. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Lakins and Feltman

Travis Lakins got off to a rough start in his Red Sox career, but do not let his 4.42 career ERA fool you. His career was revived when he moved to the bullpen. Lakins was moved to bullpen full time when he was promoted from Portland to Pawtucket and did not disappoint. The righty posted a 1.65 ERA in ten appearances with Pawtucket, picking up two saves.

Durbin Feltman was drafted just a few months ago and has been very impressive already. It only took him four games in which he did not give up a run to be promoted to Greenville. Feltman posted a 2.57 ERA in seven games with Greenville then was promoted to Salem. He was good again in Salem, posting a 2.19 ERA in eleven games. All in all, Feltman had a 1.93 ERA in 22 games this season. The bullpen is obviously the biggest need for the Red Sox, so Feltman and Lakins could be the biggest pieces in the farm system.

 

Bobby Dalbec

Despite having a decent average, Dalbec makes up for that with walks and home runs. His on-base percentage is .361 which is up about 100 points from his .257 average. Dalbec showed his power this year, hitting 32 home runs in just 129 games with Portland and Salem. Dalbec fits today’s game because nobody really cares about hits and it’s all about getting on base and hitting the long ball. As I mentioned, the Red Sox have a hot corner conundrum. If Devers and Chavis are on the roster, Dalbec may have a tough time getting playing time. He has played third base his entire career so the Red Sox would have to change something to get him playing time.

Photo by Peter Aiken

Bottom Line

Right now, the Red Sox have one of the worst farm systems in the league. However, I still believe that they have great potential and are on the rise. Dombrowski has drafted well since he was hired, and some of the 2018 picks are off to a hot start. They have also gotten unlucky because there top three prospects (Chavis, Groome, Casas) were all suspended or injured at some point this season.