Red Sox fans have seen the system graduate such esteemed players as Daniel Bard, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis in recent years, serving to highlight the importance of a strong minor league farm system.
As spring training begins in full swing, many outlets have released top prospect lists, usually numbering 100. ESPN's Keith Law released his list at the end of January, while Baseball America and Project Prospect have just come out with their rankings. Boston is well represented on all, with Law and Project Prospect tabbing seven Red Sox and Baseball America four in their top 100 lists.
Ryan Westmoreland is the highest-ranked Red Sox prospect in two of the publications — Baseball America (21st overall) and Project Prospect (27). The 19-year-old outfielder, drafted in the fifth round in 2008, has only 60 professional games under his belt so far. But it's an impressive 60 games, as the Rhode Island native hit .296 with a .401 on-base percentage and .484 slugging percentage while swiping 19 bases.
Westmoreland's season was abbreviated because he started the year on the sidelines after right shoulder labrum surgery. Once he transitioned from being a designated hitter to playing the outfield (where his defense is among the best in the game), he promptly suffered a broken collarbone after crashing into the outfield wall trying to make a catch. Law, who has Westmoreland 32nd, says he is a "top-10 talent with his combination of athleticism, power potential and feel for hitting, and he showed very advanced plate discipline."
Baseball America and Project Prospect both have pitcher Casey Kelly behind Westmoreland, ranking him 24th and 35th, respectively. However, Law has Kelly at the forefront of his rankings, 18th overall. Kelly was drafted in the first round of 2008 and split last season between pitching, where he dominated, and playing shortstop.
Following the year, both Kelly and the Red Sox agreed his future was as a pitcher. As Project Prospect notes, Kelly "doesn't have top-notch fastball velocity, but knows how to pitch and has a polished arsenal." The 20-year-old has the potential to rise quickly and see the major leagues by 2011, if not a cup of coffee in 2010.
After the two clear studs atop Boston's prospect lists, opinions begin to diverge considerably. The highest-ranked player by the aforementioned Web sites after Westmoreland and Kelly is shortstop Jose Iglesias, who was ranked 38th by Project Prospect. The Cuban defector signed with Boston for a club record $8.2 million in September 2009.
Iglesias has already impressed many due to his maturity, desire to learn and his star-caliber defense which is already major-league ready. He still has to advance with the bat, which is what held his ranking back with the other sources. Baseball America left Iglesias off its list entirely, and Law ranked him 91st, saying that "while he probably won't be any kind of impact bat, he'll be worth a few wins a year with a plus glove."
Boston fans got a look at outfielder Josh Reddick last year, when the 23-year-old was promoted to the bigs for 22 games. Reddick is ranked 75th by Baseball America and 76th by Project Prospect, although Law leaves him off his list entirely, citing a poor approach. Baseball America is more bullish on Reddick's abilities, saying that "all five of Reddick's tools (batting average, power, speed, throwing arm, defense) are average or better." Reddick's calling card has been his incredible power, which could allay any fears about his still-developing plate discipline.
Baseball America finishes up its Red Sox rankings by naming first baseman Lars Anderson the 87th-best prospect in the major leagues. Anderson just finished up a disappointing campaign that was mitigated by back injuries. When healthy, he has the potential to be one of the best in the game. Indeed, prior to the 2009 season, Baseball America ranked Anderson 17th. Anderson didn't make Project Prospect's rankings, but Law named him the 56th-best prospect, saying the notoriously intelligent player "should be able to find his way out of the morass."
Finishing just ahead of Anderson on Law's list at 53 was fellow first baseman Anthony Rizzo, whom Project Prospect ranked 84th. Rizzo was sidelined in 2008 with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but has been declared cancer-free since November of that year. Rizzo is considered to be the clear superior to Anderson on defense, but has some questions on offense.
Ryan Kalish, a 21-year-old outfielder who has a linebacker's body and is expected to open the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, gets ranked 86th by Law and 80th by Project Prospect. Kalish is widely regarded as a "polished" hitter.
The final Red Sox player to be ranked is Junichi Tazawa, the Japanese import inked by the team prior to the 2009 season. Tazawa, 23, spent time at Double-A Portland, Pawtucket and the majors last year. His minor league performance was impressive, leading ESPN to rank him 98th ranking and Project Prospect to rank him 96th. His command is sensational with a big breaking curve ball that could do some damage, but his development is not far enough yet to say with any certainty what his impact can be.
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has indicated that he considers 2010 and 2011 "bridge years" to 2012, when many of the aforementioned names will be ready to step in and contribute to the big league roster. If the prospect rankings are any indication, Boston is in for quite an influx of talent.
