Top 5 Red Sox Prospects 2015

Here is another awesome article from our Chris Saunders, about the Boston Red Sox's top prospect.

Article by Chris Saunders                           

#1- Henry Owens LHP- Owens throws his fastball in the low 90s, and it plays up, thanks to his deceptive delivery of which he hides the ball behind is back and curls the ball like a weight. His long arms of which coincide with his 6’6 frame allow him to extend more towards the catcher. Owens' changeup gives him a second plus pitch with added tumble and sink, and his slow curveball flashes the potential to be a third above-average offering, though it remains inconsistent. If Owens can change the shape/tilt of his breaking ball from 12-6 break/11/-5 break on occasion it will allow his change up to be even that more deadly. Owens' command isn't great as are most tall pitchers especially this young “23”. He has a good feel for pitching and continues to miss bats as he rises through the Minors. He has a ceiling of a No. 2 starter if he can continue to improve his overall command and change speeds to fool hitters on both sides of the plate. 

#2 Blake Swihart Catcher- Swihart wasn’t initially a catcher, as he played infield in high school, but the Red Sox felt his position to stardom was catcher.  Swihart threw out 42 percent of would-be basestealers in 2013 thanks to his quick feet and transfer ability. When you combine that with a 70 arm(close to plus plus 20-80 scale), that will leading the Carolina League. He has improved his game management, and he uses his athleticism well behind the plate. As a young catcher you have to find a happy medium between both your bat and defensive, but somehow Blake has been able to manager both, getting rave reviews from the pitching staff for how he handles himself as a game caller.  A switch-hitter, Swihart makes consistent hard contact from both sides of the plate. His swing is more geared for line drives now, but he projects to have average power. Swihart has toned down his aggressive approach somewhat, though he wouldn't be confused with a patient hitter. He is faster than most catchers, and he isn't a base clogger. Swihart is still a work in progress, but he has the potential to be an impact player in the Major Leagues

#3 Eduardo Rodriguez LHP- Rodriguez has made steady improvement since signing out of Venezuela as a 17-year-old in 2010. He made a big jump in 2013 when he reached Double-A Bowie, and then finished the year as the starting pitcher in the Arizona Fall League championship game. The Orioles used him as trade bait at the 2014 Deadline, sending him to the Red Sox for Andrew Miller. Initially more of a command-and-control lefty, Rodriguez has grown into his lanky frame 6’2 200 LBS and has seen his velocity jump as a result. He now throws his fastball in the low 90s, with good sink and movement on both sides of the plate. Rodriguez pairs his fastball with a hard changeup with excellent bite and sink that has received some plus grades 65-70. A tight slider that use to be more of a slurvy type pitch, now has sharper break and depth that fools both right/left handed hitters. He has the potential to a middle-rotation-starter, but the sky is the limit for this 22 year old.

#4  Garin Cecchini Third Baseman-  Cecchini simply finds a way to put the bat on the ball, spraying line drives to all fields. He is a very patient hitter, and he doesn't strike out much. Cecchini's frame portends him eventually developing solid power, but it isn't a big part of his game yet. He is an average runner, but his impressive instincts allow that speed to play up on the basepaths. Cecchini is a capable third baseman and has a strong arm. The Red Sox need outfield help, so they gave him some time in left field in 2014. Cecchini's work ethic and makeup earn rave reviews, and he won the '13 Stenson Award for sportsmanship in the Arizona Fall League.

#5 Trey Ball LHP- An excellent athlete, Ball was considered the top two-way player in the 2013 Draft class. In the end, however, scouts couldn't pass up his combination of size and stuff from the left side, and Boston selected him seventh overall as a pitcher. Ball throws his fastball in the low 90s, and there is projection left in his lanky frame. He only began throwing a curveball a couple years ago, but it already shows the potential to be an above-average pitch. In the absence of a breaking ball, Ball's changeup blossomed, and it has the potential to develop into a plus offering. Despite his height, Ball's athleticism gives him a chance to learn how to repeat his delivery well enough to have solid command. Though he is further away than most of the Red Sox's top pitching prospects, Ball's ceiling might be the highest of all of them.