2017 Boston Red Sox Top 10 Prospects Insider

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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: The Red Sox made David Ortiz’s final season a grand one by going from worst-to-first to claim the AL East title, but Cleveland swept them in the Division Series, holding Boston to seven runs in three games.

HIGH POINT: The Red Sox were only one game up in the East on the morning of Sept. 15, when Hanley Ramirez gave them a dramatic 7-5 victory over the Yankees that night with a walkoff two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth. The victory kicked off an 11-game winning streak that pulled Boston away from the pack.

LOW POINT: The Red Sox leaned on marquee offseason signee David Price to deliver in Game Two of the ALDS after they dropped the opener, but Price got shelled for six hits and five runs in 3.1 innings as the Indians rolled to a 6-0 victory. Price, paid like an ace, fell to 2-8, 5.54 in his postseason career.

NOTABLE ROOKIES: No Red Sox player exhausted his rookie eligibility in 2016. Outfielder Andrew Benintendi and touted Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada, the Minor League Player of the Year, raced through the minors, with Benintendi making his big league debut less than months after the Red Sox drafted him No. 7 overall in 2015.

KEY TRANSACTIONS: Price led the league in innings pitched in the first year of his six-year, $217 million contract. In need of more rotation help, the Red Sox acquired lefthander Drew Pomeranz from the Padres two days after he pitched in the All-Star Game in exchange for their top pitching prospect, righthander Anderson Espinoza. Boston filed a complaint with Major League Baseball, asserting it did not receive all of the relevant information regarding Pomeranz’s medical history. MLB suspended Padres general manager A.J. Preller 30 days over the incident. The Red Sox also acquired infielder Aaron Hill and relievers Brad Ziegler and Fernando Abad in separate trades. Ziegler, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks for minor league infielder Luis Alejandro Basabe and pitcher Jose Almonte, was their most impactful midseason addition, posting a 1.52 ERA in 33 appearances for the Red Sox.

DOWN ON THE FARM: Moncada was named MVP of the Futures Game and won BA’s Minor League Player of the Year award after hitting .294/.411/.507 with 15 homers, 62 RBIs and 45 stolen bases combined for high Class A Salem and Double-A Portland. Salem posted the best record in the Carolina League, helped largely by Benintendi and Moncada early in the season and third baseman Rafael Devers (.282, 11 HR, 71 RBIs, 18 SB) and 100 mph-throwing righthander Michael Kopech (4-1, 2.25, 14.2 K/9) late. Short-season Lowell won its division title in the New York-Penn League, led by 2016 fourth-rounder Bobby Dalbec (1.101 OPS).

OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $199,864,178 (3rd)

— Kyle Glaser

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Andrew Benintendi
Best Power Hitter Bobby Dalbec
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Andrew Benintendi
Fastest Baserunner Yoan Moncada
Best Athlete Yoan Moncada
Best Fastball Michael Kopech
Best Curveball Jason Groome
Best Slider Michael Kopech
Best Changeup Kyle Martin
Best Control Roniel Raudes
Best Defensive Catcher Austin Rei
Best Defensive Infielder Deven Marrero
Best Infield Arm Rafael Devers
Best Defensive Outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe
Best Outfield Arm Yoan Aybar
PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP
Catcher Christian Vazquez
First Base Rafael Devers
Second Base Dustin Pedroia
Third Base Yoan Moncada
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts
Left Field Andrew Benintendi
Center Field Jackie Bradley
Right Field Mookie Betts
Designated Hitter Sam Travis
No. 1 Starter David Price
No. 2 Starter Rick Porcello
No. 3 Starter Eduardo Rodriguez
No. 4 Starter Michael Kopech
No. 5 Starter Jason Groome
Closer Craig Kimbrel
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2016 Org
2007 Daisuke Matsuzaka, rhp (Japan)
2008 Clay Buchholz, rhp Red Sox
2009 Lars Anderson, 1b Dodgers
2010 Ryan Westmoreland, of Did not play
2011 Jose Iglesias, ss Tigers
2012 Will Middlebrooks, 3b Brewers
2013 Xander Bogaerts, ss Red Sox
2014 Xander Bogaerts, ss Red Sox
2015 Blake Swihart, c Red Sox
2016 Yoan Moncada, 2b Red Sox
TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2016 Org
2007 Nick Hagadone, lhp (1st rd supp.) Did not play
2008 Casey Kelly, rhp Braves
2009 Reymond Fuentes, of Royals
2010 Kolbrin Vitek, 3b Did not play
2011 Matt Barnes, rhp Red Sox
2012 Deven Marrero, ss Red Sox
2013 Trey Ball, lhp Red Sox
2014 Michael Chavis, ss Red Sox
2015 Andrew Benintendi, of Red Sox
2016 Jason Groome, lhp Red Sox
LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Yoan Moncada, 2015 $31,500,000
Jose Iglesias, 2009 $6,250,000
Rusney Castillo, 2014 $5,400,000
Dalier Hinojosa, 2013 $4,000,000
Jason Groome, 2016 $3,650,000

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