Vote: Who Should Start in Right Field for the Red Sox This Season?

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Mar 3, 2012

Vote: Who Should Start in Right Field for the Red Sox This Season?When J.D. Drew was healthy, it was fairly easy to figure out who would be playing right field for the Red Sox over the past five seasons.

With Drew gone, the Red Sox are left to fill his position with a collection of candidates. Darnell McDonald is a familiar face, while two others are newcomers to the team after establishing their careers elsewhere. And of course there is Ryan Kalish, the prospect many believe is the Red Sox' right fielder of the future.

McDonald may be a fan favorite in Boston for his underdog story. The Colorado native had played 68 career major league games before he came to Boston in 2010 and batted .270 with nine home runs in 319 at-bats. He started 40 games in the outfield a season ago, and his 21 starts in right field were more than he had in any other position.

Cody Ross spent the last seven seasons in the National League and played all over the outfield on the senior circuit. His best seasons came in Florida, where he batted .270 and hit 24 homers while driving in 90 runs in 2009, but the best week of his career came with the Giants in 2010. Ross won the NLCS MVP award for the Giants, who went on to win the World Series. He has a .979 fielding percentage and 12 outfield assists as a right fielder in his career.

Not surprisingly for an Oakland A's player, Ryan Sweeney has always been able to hit and get on base. The 27-year-old has a lifetime .283 batting average and .342 on-base percentage. His power is non-existent, however, with only 14 career homers in 1,515 at-bats.

The most intriguing name in the group, though, is Kalish. Just 23 years old, Kalish had his 2011 season marred by injuries after a promising 53 games with the big club in 2010. He's batted .280 with a .367 OBP in the minors, numbers that would make him an All-Star caliber player if they translate to the majors and if he is healthy. Granted, those are big "ifs."

Who should start in right field for the Red Sox this season?

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