For a championship caliber city like Boston, though, a .500 record is hardly anything to get excited about. With that said, it's tough not to get riled up about the recent success of the Sox, as Jon Lester has turned his game around and Boston enters Sunday's game in the midst of a six-game winning streak.
Despite the team's recent success, manager Bobby Valentine has no intentions of slowing down.
With the bevy of injuries that have plagued both the Red Sox lineup and the pitching rotation, it's only a matter of time until the Sox turn to the farm system for some added depth.
Rumors have been swirling as of late that pitcher Aaron Cook could be the next Triple-A player to be called up by the Sox. And with the bullpen's struggles this season, it would be a welcomed arrival.
The Red Sox are obviously not thrilled about Kevin Youkilis' slow start to the season, but Will Middlebrooks is giving them lots to smile about. Middlebrooks had a career year in the minors last season, and through 22 games this year, he is batting .365 with nine home runs.
Ryan Lavarnway, the Pawtucket catcher, might have been a logical choice for a call-up back when Jarrod Saltalamacchia was batting .080. But since Salty has come alive, the need for Lavarnway might not be immediate.
An early season fan favorite, shortstop Jose Iglesias will need to put up better offensive numbers — he's currently batting .187 at Triple-A — if he wants a shot at the big league level. And the fact that Mike Aviles has been on fire from the leadoff spot makes a call up to the Sox all the more unlikely.
With so many great players for the Red Sox to look to in the minors, it's tough to say which one will make the biggest impact this season.
Cast your vote below.
Which Red Sox minor leaguer will help the team most this year?
