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Post by geezergeek on Mar 15, 2015 18:49:40 GMT -5
Its about this time of year that I peruse the lower levels of Red Sox Farm system looking for possible breakout candidates. last year my position breakout candidate was Manual Margot and my pitching alternatives were Luis Diaz and Cody Kukuk. I chose Diaz and as it seems Kukuk's only chance at a breakout will be from Prison.
This year I've considered Yoan Aybar and Luis Alexander Basabe as a position player breakout candidates. Aybar needs to put on about 30 lbs to take advantage of what seems to be natural power. He also needs to become more selective in pitch recognition to cut down on his strike outs. Basabe is a speed merchant that looks like he can develop some reasonable pop that will move him into the same 5 tool category as Margot. As such Basabe is my position player breakout candidate this year..
Selecting a pitching candidate was fortunately a bit more challenging because I think the Sox are loaded at the lower levels. I did not include Espinoza and Acosta as this is their first year and I tend to exclude DSL players from my choices. My 6 candidates were Jhonathon Diaz, Enmanual Dejesus, Daniel Gonzalaz, Dedger Jimanez, Dioscar Romero and Gerson Batista. My pitching breakout candidate is Daniel Gonzalaz. I love his size. Good control with the ability to strike out batters and 3 pitchers that continue to evolve. My second choice would be Dedger Jimanez with attributes similar to Gonzalez.
What are the other thoughts for top pitching and position player breakouts this year?
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Post by brockholtsuperstar on Mar 15, 2015 19:34:23 GMT -5
I'm not sure why but I love Nick Longhi, and I think he'll break out in a big way this year if he recovers from that UCL injury alright
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Post by lennsakata on Mar 15, 2015 21:18:33 GMT -5
Trenton Kemp was a guy I was pulling hard for the Sox to draft so I'll be driving that bandwagon. Toolsy kid who I think has the ability to hit for a decent amount of power and swipe some bags. I imagine he'll flash a lot this year if Not breakout.
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Post by thelpc on Mar 15, 2015 21:35:15 GMT -5
I have hope for Jose Vinicio in the field, and my break out guy on the mound is Karsten Whitson
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Mar 15, 2015 21:45:01 GMT -5
Assuming breakout is the operative word here, I'll go with Javier Guerra and Karsten Whitson Trey Ball.
Edit: Rethunkit
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Post by justen on Mar 16, 2015 9:36:50 GMT -5
I feel like there are so many.
On the offensive side you mentioned Aybar, who I'm pretty excited to watch grow into his frame and play at age-advanced levels. I have a thing for Longhi I think he has a really sweet swing. Chavis is an obvious one to watch as he should be nice and acclimated to pro ball now. I really like Guerra on the defensive side and I think the contact skills could turn him into a very nice prospect, but it could still be a couple years before we see an offensive "breakout". Sam Travis is underrated, he rakes.
The amount of arms in this system is genuinely impressive, with potential from the bottom to the top. Kopech and Ball are my automatic favorites. I think Ball is going to have a huge season, I'm not good with advanced statistics but it's a gut feeling I don't mind having. With Mercedes at 23 I'd kinda like to see him move to the bullpen already, but I understand more innings means more pitch-development. Two of the real young international arms Emmanuel Dejesus and Jhonathan Diaz had very good first years, and could certainly make a name for themselves debuting state-side this year.
If I had to pick two: Longhi and Ball
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alnipper
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Post by alnipper on Mar 18, 2015 10:43:58 GMT -5
I like McAvoy and Kopech to move quickly through our system/breakout and I think Sam Travis on offense.
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Post by greenmonstah on Mar 18, 2015 20:07:18 GMT -5
I believe that this is the year Ball breaks out in the minors. His second half last year was quite good and he showed significant development.
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Post by charliezink16 on Mar 18, 2015 20:11:53 GMT -5
I don't ever see McAvoy breaking out in the sense of becoming a top prospect, but I think he'll jump onto the radar this season and climb the ladder quite quickly. My two lower level breakout pitchers are Daniel Gonzalez and Jake Cosart. For a hitter I'll go with a super wild card in C Devon Fisher.
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Post by lennsakata on Mar 18, 2015 21:05:25 GMT -5
I don't ever see McAvoy breaking out in the sense of becoming a top prospect, but I think he'll jump onto the radar this season and climb the ladder quite quickly. My two lower level breakout pitchers are Daniel Gonzalez and Jake Cosart. For a hitter I'll go with a super wild card in C Devon Fisher. Daniel Gonzales is a guy I've been clamoring for a report on for two years now. Have we heard anything about his stuff yet? Big frame who has great results and phenomenal bb rates in the DSL. I know it's tough to get reports on the DSL so I've tempered my expectations on present stuff based on the just ok k rates and the fact there hasn't seemingly been any buzz about his stuff reported but look forward to reports assuming he is in the GCL this year. He definitely could be fun to watch develop as he fills out
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dcb58
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Post by dcb58 on Mar 21, 2015 11:20:58 GMT -5
My breakout candidate is Justin Haley. Actually I think he broke out last year without being noticed much. Knocked his walk percentage way down, keeps the ball in the park, still young, pitcher's body. I predict a big year in AA with a late promotion to AA that is delayed by the logjam of starters there.
I should add that I would love to see what others think, especially those who have seen him. It seems like he gets very little attention here.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Mar 21, 2015 12:16:08 GMT -5
Not going to lie and say I remember much about us taking Tyler Hill, but seeing the tweets from Meoli with Cundall co-signing was great to see. For those who missed: Jon MeoliImpressive BP session from #redsox OF Tyler Hill. 2014 19th rdr sprayed line drives with loft to all fields. Powerful swing, athletic frame.
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Post by iakovos11 on Mar 21, 2015 17:38:46 GMT -5
Danny Mars seems like he could be the next Ellsbury. On the pitching side I love Ball's mechanics. It's only a matter of time before the numbers start to show how good he is. Wait. What? What give gives you this idea?
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Post by stevedillard on Mar 21, 2015 18:09:35 GMT -5
Danny Mars seems like he could be the next Ellsbury. Former Sox?
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Mar 22, 2015 1:45:26 GMT -5
Danny Mars seems like he could be the next Ellsbury. On the pitching side I love Ball's mechanics. It's only a matter of time before the numbers start to show how good he is. Wait. What? What give gives you this idea? Yeah that would be insane
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Post by Coreno on Mar 22, 2015 2:25:54 GMT -5
I like Mars a lot, saw him play in Lowell, but I'll be happy if he turns into a Sam Fuld type 4th OFer
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steveofbradenton
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Post by steveofbradenton on Mar 22, 2015 7:27:35 GMT -5
Jamie Callahan and Sam Travis
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Post by brianthetaoist on Mar 22, 2015 7:41:41 GMT -5
Breakouts come in different flavors, so here two guys in each of a few different categories ...
Busting into elite status: Manuel Margot and Eduardo Rodriguez. Two guys that are in the back half of most Top-100s that are (to me) clearly going to be in the top 1/3 next year (unless Rodriguez graduates).
Breaking into national conversation: I thought Longhi was going to pop last year, and if he didn't get hurt, he might've. He had a really good first year ... and I'm high on Ball, think he's going to charge back into the conversation. There are a lot of good candidates here, though (Chavis, Kopech, Guerra, Travis, Stank, etc). Honestly, Chavis is probably the most likely choice but seems too boring.
Moving into "guy to watch" status: I like the original call of Yoan Aybar, and I'll add Jake Cosart as a top-level arm that I think will develop this year
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Post by jimed14 on Mar 23, 2015 8:45:15 GMT -5
After looking up the numbers for a bunch of lower ranked prospects for the prediction thread, I'm amazed that Kevin McAvoy finished his season in Lowell with 3/23 BB/K in 28 1/3 IP. That's impressive as hell even if he's a little age advanced.
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Post by charliezink16 on Mar 23, 2015 12:00:55 GMT -5
After looking up the numbers for a bunch of lower ranked prospects for the prediction thread, I'm amazed that Kevin McAvoy finished his season in Lowell with 3/23 BB/K in 28 1/3 IP. That's impressive as hell even if he's a little age advanced. 67.6 GB% also led the entire system. Can thank the Sox Prospects stats page on that one.
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Post by jmei on Mar 23, 2015 12:06:42 GMT -5
After looking up the numbers for a bunch of lower ranked prospects for the prediction thread, I'm amazed that Kevin McAvoy finished his season in Lowell with 3/23 BB/K in 28 1/3 IP. That's impressive as hell even if he's a little age advanced. 67.6 GB% also led the entire system. Can thank the Sox Prospects stats page on that one. Good find. That definitely puts him on my list.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Mar 23, 2015 13:32:42 GMT -5
After looking up the numbers for a bunch of lower ranked prospects for the prediction thread, I'm amazed that Kevin McAvoy finished his season in Lowell with 3/23 BB/K in 28 1/3 IP. That's impressive as hell even if he's a little age advanced. 67.6 GB% also led the entire system. Can thank the Sox Prospects stats page on that one. The next Keuchel
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Post by brianthetaoist on Mar 23, 2015 19:36:58 GMT -5
OK, I'm adding McAvoy, too ... also, someone I completely forgot about: Wendell Rijo. Not saying he's necessarily a choice, but it's a name that gets very little mention these days, and he had some great stretches last year.
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Mar 24, 2015 1:38:00 GMT -5
Just a little on Tyler Hill, who reportedly impressed in BP this week. The sox prospects scouting report on him said it was unclear why he didn't play much in the GCL. I found an interview where he confirms that he did in fact miss time there because of injury. Source: baseballhistorian.blogspot.com/2014/11/tyler-hill-catching-up-with-boston-red.html?m=1Kid appears to be pretty ripped. Plus raw power according to BA. In Lowell, I think he'll likely play COF along with Basabe, with Kemp in CF. Definitely a guy I'll keep my eye on though. That whole Lowell outfield has the potential to break out this year.
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Post by greatscottcooper on Mar 24, 2015 6:53:01 GMT -5
pfff. Since when has an un-ranked high school draftee ever come into our system and done anything good???
^^^sarcasm.
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