Red Sox Remain Bullish On Yoan Moncada

Yoan Moncada (Photo by Bill Mitchell)

BOSTON—Yoan Moncada’s remarkable ensemble of tools created optimism that he could leapfrog Triple-A Pawtucket and be ready to contribute in the big leagues down the stretch in 2016. So did the Minor League Player of the Year’s performance at high Class A Salem and Double-A Portland—he hit .294/.407/.511 with 15 home runs and 45 stolen bases.

But after Moncada, who signed out of Cuba in 2015, struck out 12 times in his first 20 big league plate appearances, including nine in a row to end the season, he appears destined to open 2017 at Triple-A.

“In July, we would have said we thought he would be ready for the big leagues (in 2017) to play,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

“And we still love his abilities . . . but we all saw the same thing as far as the exposure to seeing a steady diet of offspeed pitches and breaking balls, changeups in any count.

“Right now, I would say his bat probably needs some more seasoning at the minor league level, but I’ve also seen very talented individuals like him come on very quickly. I would say if we were starting the season tomorrow, my plans would be probably to have him start at the minor league level.”

It is more than Moncada’s bat that needs refinement. The 21-year-old switch-hitter, whose Arizona Fall League participation was ended after six games due to a left thumb sprain, moved to third base in August, at times making standout plays but on other occasions struggling with fundamentals that resulted in misplays.

“He needs to play . . . You cannot simulate game speed during (batting practice),” Portland manager Carlos Febles said. “You can take ground balls, but it’s not the same as when it’s coming off a bat with a guy throwing 100 (mph).

“To me, he just needs to continue to work, playing the game. I think he will need another year, to be honest with you, playing third base (to become comfortable).”

The Red Sox still love Moncada’s upside, and as Dombrowski pointed out, he has a chance to make enormous developmental jumps in 2017—just as he did this year.

SOX YARNS

• Righthander Travis Lakins, who didn’t pitch after July due to a stress fracture in the tip of his elbow, is expected to be healthy for spring training.

• The Red Sox expect first baseman Sam Travis, recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, to be unrestricted in spring training.