Red Sox Prospects: Middlebrooks showing signs of life; Bogaerts, Ranaudo named to Futures Game; Sox sign international free agents
The Guru
Contributing Writer
Third baseman Will Middlebrooks seems to be making some progress at Triple-A Pawtucket. Middlebrooks went 2-for-4 Sunday with two home runs. Middlebrooks now has hits in five out of six games since returning to Pawtucket last week.
At the time of Middlebrooks demotion, manager John Farrell said, “His skills haven’t gone backwards. He’s still a very talented player. The consistent work will allow him to reproduce the swing that he showed last year.”
Middlebrooks is hitting .262 since joining the PawSox and has been showing more patience at the plate. Middlebrooks went 0-4 in last nights 6-4 loss.
Jackie Bradley Jr. hit two solo home runs last night for the PawSox. Bradley is hitting .300 on the year and has 51 hits in 41 games.
Red Sox top prospect, Xander Bogaerts, seems to be holding his own since his promotion to Pawtucket. The 20-year-old infielder is hitting .254 and has reached base in 13 of his last 14 games. Bogaerts hit .311 with six home runs in 56 games at Double-A Portland.
Bogaerts was also named to the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game along with Double-A Portland pitcher Anthony Ranaudo.
Ranaudo, the Red Sox 16th ranked prospect, has been dominant for the Sea Dogs this year. Ranaudo is 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 84 innings. If the Red Sox need a spot start later this summer, Ranaudo may get the call.
Bogaerts, a native of Aruba, will play for the World Team and Renaudo will play for the U.S. squad.
Third baseman Garin Cecchini, the Red Sox's 7th ranked prospect, was named one of the five Futures Finalists for the U.S. team, but Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo was the top vote-getter. Cecchini is hitting .352 between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland.
The 15th annual Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game takes place at 2 p.m. ET on All-Star Sunday at Citi Field in New York City.
On the first day of the new international free agent signing period, the Red Sox have already made a couple of big moves.
ESPN Deportes and MLB.com reported Tuesday via Twitter that the Red Sox agreed to terms with two international free agents. The Sox signed 16-year-old third baseman Rafael Devers out of the Dominican Republic and they inked Venezuelan left-handed pitcher Emmanuel DeJesus.
Baseball America listed Devers the third-ranked player available in the international free agent pool. They say Devers quick bat speed and compact swing make him "the most advanced left-handed hitter on the market." The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Devers’ future is probably better suited to first base.
The 16-year-old DeJesus is a 6-foot-3, 185 pound southpaw listed as the 24th ranked international prospect by MLB.com. He projects as a future starter with a "power arm". DeJesus is from the same baseball program as current Red Sox starter and Venezuelan product Felix Doubront.
Wednesday, Baseball America announced that the Sox signed Dominican outfielder Yohan Aybar. The 16-year-old Aybar is a left-handed hitter and his best tool is an above-average arm. He could play center field depending on what happens to his speed, otherwise he has plenty of arm strength for right field.
Questions and comments welcomed below.
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