Sunday, May 19, 2013
Baseball America just came out with its Top 100 prospects. Three Red Sox minor leaguers are on the list - one current (maybe former) Sea Dogs player and two future Hadlock Field pitchers.
Shortstop Jose Iglesias, 21, is ranked No. 52. He batted .285 in 57 games for the Sea Dogs last year, a season interrupted when he was hit by a pitch and broke a bone in his right hand.
Because of his limited experience, it figures that Iglesias may return to Portland to begin the 2011 season. But Baseball America, in its Prospect Handbook, states that Iglesias will spend 2011 in Triple-A Pawtucket and may be major league-ready by mid-season.
Right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo, 21, is ranked No. 67, although he has yet to throw a professional pitch. Ranaudo was once considered the top college pitching prospect, but elbow trouble led to a 7.32 ERA for Louisiana State in 2010. Still, the Red Sox drafted him in the supplemental round.
Agent Scott Boras sent Ranaudo to the Cape Cod League to prove his worth. Healthy again, Ranaudo struck out 31 and had a 0.00 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. Boston gave him a $2.55-million signing bonus. He should begin this season in Class A and, unless he's dominating, won't see Portland until 2012.
Left-handed pitcher Drake Britton, 21, was drafted out of high school in 2007. He was one of those prospects teams were not sure they could sign, so Boston spent a 23rd-round pick on, and then gave him bonus money ($700,000) befitting an early-rounder.
Britton's development was slowed by Tommy John surgery after the 2008 season. He was limited to 76 innings last year in low Class A Greenville, recording 78 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He could see Portland by the end of this season.
San Diego had two former Red Sox prospects among the top 100 - pitcher Casey Kelly (No. 31) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (No. 75) - both sent to the Padres in the Adrian Gonzalez deal.
One interesting note was the presence of three Yankees catchers among the top 100 - Jesus Montero (No. 3), Gary Sanchez (No. 30) and Austin Romine (No. 98). New York has a fourth respected catching prospect in J.R. Murphy.
Of the four, Romine is the oldest at 22. Yankees have a well-stocked farm system. A lot of good prospects to be used in a trade for starting pitching.
By the way, the top two prospects in the list were Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Angels outfielder Mike Trout. See Baseball America for the complete list,
TweetKevin Thomas covers baseball and basketball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 after working for the St. Petersburg Times. He is married to Nancy and they have nine children.
Follow his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs on Clearing the Bases
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