Chad Jennings in the Athletic reports on Baseball America's new Red Sox top 10 list:
https://theathletic.com/1389767/2019/11/18/the-tide-could-be-turning-takeaways-from-baseball-americas-ranking-of-top-10-red-sox-prospects/?source=dailyemail
Main message: we don't suck as much as we did last year!
https://theathletic.com/1389767/2019/11/18/the-tide-could-be-turning-takeaways-from-baseball-americas-ranking-of-top-10-red-sox-prospects/?source=dailyemail
Main message: we don't suck as much as we did last year!
The Sox farm is still only ranked 23rd, but does seem to be making progress.At this time last year, the Red Sox top 10 included only two players who had played even a partial season in Triple A, and only one other with more than five games of Double-A experience. Those who just missed the cut were similarly inexperienced.
This year, half of the top 10 has spent significant time in Double A, suggesting they could be big-league options as early as next year. One who just missed, shortstop C.J. Chatham, played in Triple A last year, and one who’s no longer eligible, Michael Chavis, is out only because he’s graduated to the majors. Standouts from the 2018 and ’19 drafts have helped replenish the lower levels (with many of those already fast risers in the system).
Having a bottom-heavy system certainly contributed to the Red Sox being ranked the worst overall system in baseball at the beginning of last season. Moving some of that talent into the upper levels helped the Sox move up to 23rd in Baseball America’s midseason ranking. It’s still not a top system, but it’s clearing some hurdles and getting better prepared to contribute. Some of that talent has already arrived.
Ultimately, the Red Sox system still does not stand out as one of the best in baseball. But it’s clearly better than it was a year ago. Last year, the Red Sox had a top prospect graduate to the majors (Chavis) and had no first-round pick to fill the void, and they still moved up the organizational rankings. That’s a good sign.