133 replies to this topic

[diehard24]

Profile


Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Age: 18
Born: March 28, 1988 Shrewsbury, NJ
High School: Red Bank Catholic HS (NJ)
College: None
Drafted: 9th round, 2006
Acquired: First Year Player Draft
Signed by: Ray Fagnant
Bonus: $600K

Biography
Kalish signed for second-round money well into the summer of 2006. Although he had come to terms with the Red Sox quickly, the over-slot bonus he was to receive needed to be discussed with the Commissioner's office of Major League Baseball.

He was a three-sport athlete at Red Bank Catholic, excelling in basketball, football, and, of course, baseball. He was recruited by Division I schools to play quarterback, and played in high-profile baseball tournaments as both a pitcher and outfielder. A shoulder injury prevented him from pitching his senior year, and presumably hurt his draft stock. Despite the injury, Kalish had a fine year at the plate while playing mostly designated hitter. According to Jason McLeod and Kalish himself, he did not swing and miss at a pitch all season.

Kalish committed to the University of Virginia and was considered their number one recruit by head coach Mark Connor because of his versatility. Connor planned on using Kalish to play outfield and first base, as well as pitch. But Kalish had a great workout before the 2006 draft, and his asking price matched what Boston valued him at. He learned he was drafted by the Red Sox moments before crossing the stage at his high school graduation, and immediately swapped his graduation hat for a Red Sox cap.

Because negotiations with the Commissioner's office delayed the start of his first pro season, Kalish was only able to manage 20 at-bats with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, but was a strong contibutor during the team's playoff run, and managed to get meaningful playing time in the championship series, which the
Sox won. He was promoted to Lowell after the GCL season ended, and made his debut with the Spinners at the Futures at Fenway doubleheader in Boston. Kalish garned another 35 at-bats in Lowell, and is reported to be heading back there next season.

Stats
Team: Red Bank Catholic HS
AB:64
R:31
2B:5
HR:1
RBI:15
SB:30
AVG:.422

Team: Gulf Coast Red Sox
AB:20
R:6
2B:5
HR:1
RBI:2
SB:0
AVG:.300

Team: Lowell Spinners
AB:35
R:8
2B:5
HR:0
RBI:4
SB:2
AVG:.200

Press
- 2006 report on UVA's recruiting class. Coach Mark Connor considered Kalish his #1 recruit.
- "Cavs Lose Kalish to Red Sox," Charlottesville Daily Progress
- Signing reported by the Asbury Park Press
- Interview on RedSoxNation.Net

Edited by diehard24, 20 February 2007 - 01:31 PM.

[diehard24]

I'm having trouble posting pictures. Does it need to be located on a server somewhere to include it in a post?

[Green Monster]

I hope I am not violating the rules of this forum by adding information for a prospect that I have not adopted. However, I saw this tidbit and thought it made sense to include in this thread.

http://www.redsoxnat...showtopic=22751

RSN: Along with instructional league and the winter leagues, is anything else notable happening from an on-the-field standpoint this off-season?

MH: One thing we're doing is sending a few players to the Dominican Instructional League. It was Ben's (Cherington) idea, and something we haven't done before. We're always forcing our Latin players to assimilate to American culture, and we thought it would be good for some of the guys to share a similar experience in the opposite direction. Ryan Kalish, Jon Still and Reid Engel are going, and will be living at our academy down there. They’ll be walking in the shoes of kids who eat, sleep, and live baseball. Along with helping extend their seasons, it will be a good cultural experience for them.

IMO this is a great idea to expose the young prospects to their opposite culture. It can only pay dividends down the road with improved communication skills, etc, among other things.

[diehard24]

I hope I am not violating the rules of this forum by adding information for a prospect that I have not adopted.  However, I saw this tidbit and thought it made sense to include in this thread.

http://www.redsoxnat...showtopic=22751
IMO this is a great idea to expose the young prospects to their opposite culture.  It can only pay dividends down the road with improved communication skills, etc, among other things.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wouldn't think that's violating the rules. Where would we be without everyone having a chance to contribute?

That said, I've been slacking. Time to step up the Kalish coverage. And, independent of that comment, nice find, Monster. You've got to like the wholistic approach this org takes. Talk about the long view . . .

[diehard24]

Kevin Goldstein ranks the top-ten Red Sox prospects for Baseball Prospectus (subscription required). Kalish missed the cut, but Goldstein names him as the team's "sleeper" prospect.

Edited by diehard24, 20 February 2007 - 01:30 PM.

[diehard24]

Jim Callis ranks Kalish as Boston's #17 best prospect in Baseball America's 2007 Prospect Handbook.
A brief exerpt:
"Boston is confident Kalish will hit, because he has a good set-up and a sweet left-handed stroke." (pg. 72)

He goes on to say it's unlikely Kalish will hit for much power, but that he is a plus runner with good arm strength and a high-energy player. Buy the book to read more. Actually, just buy the book already.

[diehard24]

Scaffolds of SoxProspects.com is reporting that Ryan Kalish will report to Lowell this year after being beat out for a position in the Greenville outfield by Reid Engel.

[SouthPaw21]

Very solid first 15 games for http://www.sonsofsam...ok/external.png) center right no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #3366BB; color: #3366BB; cursor:pointer; text-decoration:none;" class="wiki">Ryan Kalish, as the lead-off hitter and starting centerfielder for the http://www.sonsofsam...ok/external.png) center right no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #3366BB; color: #3366BB; cursor:pointer; text-decoration:none;" class="wiki">Lowell Spinners.

Ryan Kalish: 2007 Stats Through 7/5/2007

Year	Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS	BB%	K%	BB/K	ISO	BABIP
2007	LOW	NYP	0.316	15	57	20	18	1	0	1	8	22	12	7	14	0	0.443	0.386	0.829	0.17	0.12	1.71	0.070	0.347

[The Allented Mr Ripley]

Nice profile of Kalish in today's Globe.

Some quotes:

But to Lowell Spinners manager Gary DiSarcina, Kalish has the ability to live up to the bonus, comparing the 19-year-old with a former teammate of his with the Angels.

"He has Darin Erstad's personality," DiSarcina said. "When I first saw Darin, he was so much more polished. Just when I see Ryan's face sometimes, and I see the intensity, the only one I can match to it is Darin."

"Speed and guts," DiSarcina said. "His game awareness is not there yet. He's 19. He'll dive for balls in the outfield in situations where giving up a run and a hit is more beneficial to the team. He's got to get games under his belt.

"I love him. He's my favorite player."

Edited by The Allented Mr Ripley, 13 July 2007 - 11:41 AM.

[Ortizzleforshizzle]

Kalish was listed on BP's Monday Morning Ten Pack. For those who aren't familiar with it, it's kind of like a "who's hot" list, where 10 minor league players are picked every week.

[esaskysinnerear]

Is Kalish injured? He came out of a game earlier in the week and hasn't played since. News?

[jsinger121]

Is Kalish injured? He came out of a game earlier in the week and hasn't played since. News?

Hurt his wrist on a swing I believe.

[DavidWellsAteNelson]

Ryan Kalish won Player of the Week Honors in the New York Penn League, powered by four consecutive 3 hit games. Kalish went 12/15 for the week, with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 HRs and 4 SBs (.800/.842/1.533). The 19 year old Kalish is batting .372/.476/.547 with 4 doubles, a triple and 3 HRs this season, walking 16 times and stealing 18 bases in 22 games for the Spinners.

link

[diehard24]

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus includes Kalish in a recent "Monday Morning Ten Pack" (scroll down; subscription only):

If there’s not a Ryan Kalish bandwagon already going, hop on, because I’m driving . . . Kalish is making a very quick transition from toolsy to skillsy, giving a pitching-heavy organization that high-upside player they’ve been looking for.

Edited by diehard24, 23 July 2007 - 09:49 PM.

[SouthPaw21]

Kalish was also listed on the July 16th edition of Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet

17. Ryan Kalish, of, short-season Lowell (Red Sox)

The 19-year-old speedster has recorded three hits in each of his last four games, going a combined 12-for-15 with six extra base hits, four stolen bases and four walks in those games. Kalish is hitting .372/.476/.547 in 104 plate appearances, and his speed (18 steals vs. 3 caught stealing) and plate discipline (16 walks vs. 11 strikeouts) are also pluses for the Lowell leadoff hitter. Kalish has had multi-hit games in 11 of the 22 games he has played in this season.

[JKelley34]

Well, this pretty much sucks.

Kalish out for season
After a torrid start, center fielder Ryan Kalish is done for the season with Single A Lowell because of a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. Kalish sustained the injury on a swing in the first game of a doubleheader July 16, after going 12 for 15 in four games prior to the injury with three doubles and two home runs. The leadoff hitter was batting .368 in 23 games.

"It was brutal," Kalish said yesterday. "It was just a big hit. I had three hits in four straight games, then my next swing, season's over."

Kalish has a cast on his right hand and doctors are monitoring it since the bone was not displaced. It's not certain he will have surgery to remove the bone -- as David Ortiz and Wily Mo Peña have had -- because it would be better for the bone to heal on its own. If that's the case, Kalish would have to spend about six weeks in the cast and another six in rehab. Kalish said doctors will wait 4-5 weeks to make that determination. It's an injury that normally happens when a player grips the knob of the bat while swinging. "That would be great," he said. "That would be awesome."

http://www.boston.co...g_in_arms_race/

[SouthPaw21]

With Kalish out for the rest of the season, here are his final numbers and splits for 2007.

Ryan Kalish 2007 Season Stats

Year	Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS	BB%	K%	BB/K	ISO	BABIP
2007	LOW	NYP	0.368	23	87	27	32	4	1	3	13	47	16	12	18	3	0.471	0.540	1.011	0.16	0.14	1.33	0.172	0.403

Ryan Kalish 2007 Season Splits

SPLIT	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS	BB%	K%	BB/K	ISO	BABIP
vs Left	0.286	--	21	7	6	1	0	0	0	7	4	5	4	1	0.400	0.333	0.733	0.16	0.24	0.80	0.047	0.375
vs Right	0.394	--	66	20	26	3	1	3	13	40	12	7	14	2	0.494	0.606	1.100	0.15	0.11	1.71	0.212	0.411
Home Games	0.442	13	43	15	19	4	1	3	10	34	13	3	12	2	0.579	0.791	1.370	0.23	0.07	4.33	0.349	0.432
Away Games	0.295	10	44	12	13	0	0	0	3	13	3	9	6	1	0.340	0.295	0.636	0.06	0.20	0.33	0.000	0.371
Night Games	0.368	23	87	27	32	4	1	3	13	47	16	12	18	3	0.471	0.540	1.011	0.16	0.14	1.33	0.172	0.403
On Grass	0.368	23	87	27	32	4	1	3	13	47	16	12	18	3	0.471	0.540	1.011	0.16	0.14	1.33	0.172	0.403
June	0.262	11	42	11	11	1	0	0	5	12	9	5	10	0	0.404	0.286	0.690	0.18	0.12	1.80	0.024	0.297
July	0.467	12	45	16	21	3	1	3	8	35	7	7	8	3	0.538	0.778	1.316	0.13	0.16	1.00	0.311	0.514
Pre All-Star	0.368	23	87	27	32	4	1	3	13	47	16	12	18	3	0.471	0.540	1.011	0.16	0.14	1.33	0.172	0.403
Bases Empty	0.442	--	52	1	23	2	1	1	1	30	12	4	0	0	0.554	0.577	1.131	0.19	0.08	3.00	0.135	0.468
Runners On	0.257	--	35	26	9	2	0	2	12	17	4	8	18	3	0.333	0.486	0.819	0.10	0.23	0.50	0.229	0.280
Scoring Position	0.286	--	21	24	6	1	0	1	9	10	3	5	3	0	0.375	0.476	0.851	0.13	0.24	0.60	0.190	0.333

[Quintanariffic]

This sucks, but Kalish is definitely one of the guys you have to be most excited about coming into next year. My guess is that he starts off at Greenville, though with a strong Instrux and Spring, he could push his way to Lancaster, jumping over a guy like Place. That Lancaster OF would then feature Reddick, Kalish, and Engel, quite easily the best set of OF prospects on one team in the Sox system since Rice and Lynn. Needs to work on hitting LHP though.

Edited by Quintanariffic, 27 July 2007 - 12:38 PM.

[GreyisGone]

From BP's top CF Prospects list:

15. Ryan Kalish, Red Sox
Age: 19.4
Hitting: .368/.471/.540 at Short-season (23 G)

The Red Sox gave Kalish $600,000 as a ninth-round pick last year, and while they decided to hold him back in extended spring training this year, he was beginning to make up for lost time with a tremendous first month at Lowell before a broken hamate bone ended his season. Before the injury, Kalish impressed scouts with his gap power, advanced approach, blazing speed, and solid defensive skills. His full-season debut next year will most definitely be one to watch.

[LondonSox]

I really hope this kid makes a full recovery from this injury because he's such a potential stud it's unreal, all the tools really developed for his age if not for his injury I think we'd all be writing some serious threads about him, I just hope the injury doesn't Tabata him next year

[SouthPaw21]

Jim Callis talked about Ryan in a recent ESPN.com Chat...

Jon (Boston): What do you think of Ryan Kalish as a prospect? Is he in your top 100?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:11 PM ET ) He's a center fielder who can really hit. Within the Red Sox system, compared him to Ellsbury, he's not as fast but is going to have more pop. I've only ranked my Top 50 so far . . . he very well could sneak into the end of the Top 100.

[rembrat]

Everything looks good, so far..

Mike Hazen: Great worker. A definite leader by example out on the field with his work ethic, his passion for the game, his energy—he brings all those things [that]are real positive that you see even at 19 years old. And certainly the performance was outstanding in the time he was in there. Unfortunately, he got hurt. It’s something he’ll have to learn from and move past. He finished [rehabbing] right before Christmas and is in his normal off-season program right now and we don’t expect him to [have] any setbacks heading into spring training.

Link

[diehard24]

Kalish ranked as the 96th best prospect in all of minor-league baseball, by Baseball America.

[bd11]

Kalish barely played this spring training as the wrist injury that ended his year last season popped up again. He appears to have responded to treatment and should be in Greenville soon.

[PedroMarteamez]

Is there any news on Kalish in XST? quick google search found nothing.

Assuming he is completely recovered from the hamate bone injury where does he start? Lowell? or maybe take the place of Reddick in Greenville once he is promoted?

[Quintanariffic]

Is there any news on Kalish in XST? quick google search found nothing.

Assuming he is completely recovered from the hamate bone injury where does he start? Lowell? or maybe take the place of Reddick in Greenville once he is promoted?

I've read the latter over on SoxProspects

[jsinger121]

Ryan Kalish has been called up to Greenville from XST.

[diehard24]

Kalish went 1-6 tonight with three Ks in his season debut, batting second and playing right field.

[Eli95]

I saw Kalish play at Rome last Friday. His wrist/palm was pretty significantly taped for the game, and both of his hits were ground balls up the middle (one on a broken bat).

[SouthPaw21]

Kalish had a tough start to the season in April, but has really picked things up in the month of May...

Ryan Kalish 2008 Stats

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS	K%	BB/K	ISO	BABIP
GRE	SAL	0.255	26	102	14	26	3	1	2	13	37	14	27	5	0	0.342	0.363	0.705	0.26	0.52	0.108	0.329
	April	0.167	6	24	4	4	1	0	0	4	5	6	8	2	0	0.333	0.208	0.542	0.33	0.75	0.041	0.250
	May	0.282	20	78	10	22	2	1	2	9	32	8	19	3	0	0.345	0.410	0.755	0.24	0.42	0.128	0.351

Edited by SouthPaw21, 14 May 2009 - 08:44 AM.

[Quintanariffic]

Kalish had a tough start to the season in April, but has really picked things up in the month of May...

Still a lot higher K rate than he's had previously in his pro career. You have to think that the wrist is still affecting him. I'll be interested to see if he continues to make improvements in this regard every month, with a little more power along the way.

[Mr. Baseball]

Quick update on Kalish:

Has raised his BA every month so far:
April: .167
May: .290
June: .295
July: (through 8 games) .300

The power and production (1 HR and 7 RBI in 25 games in June) aren't there yet, but lets hope the rising BA is indicative of him getting better swings on the ball and making more solid contact.

[Jeff Van GULLY]

Kalish is still not slugging:

76 games (290 AB's)

.279/.368/.362/.730


He cannot hit lefties at all.
OPS
vs Left .565
vs Right .787
Home Games .773
Away Games .687

After an awful April he has been pretty consistent with a ~.750 OPS in every other month. I hope his sap in power is still due to the Hammate injury but I'm not so sure. I believe next season will be a more definitive statement on what kind of player Kalish really is.

[DosEquisMatsuzaka]

Kalish is still not slugging:

After an awful April he has been pretty consistent with a ~.750 OPS in every other month. I hope his sap in power is still due to the Hammate injury but I'm not so sure. I believe next season will be a more definitive statement on what kind of player Kalish really is.

Most reports I have read have indicated that players experience a power outage for over a year after surgery.

[AgentOrange]

Still no power to speak of, but Kalish did compile a .438 OBP in 25 games in July. Also had a very nice 20/15 BB/K ratio.

Edited by AgentOrange, 01 August 2008 - 01:13 AM.

[Saturnian]

Per SP, Kalish has been called up to Lancaster. Maybe the jet stream will help him jump start his power numbers.

Kalish moving up

[NYbornBostonfan]

Quick note from Goldstein's latest chat at BP -

astein (Boston): You were really high on Ryan Kalish coming into the year, but his numbers have been depressed coming off hamate bone surgery. Do you still see good tools there, once the lingering effects of the surgery wear off?

Kevin Goldstein: Absolutely.

http://www.baseballp....php?chatId=504

[frankluby1]

I played against Kalish in high school, and my home field had tennis courts over the right center field fence, and then past them was the football field. He once hit one over everything and dropped just short of going through the near goalposts. Farthest ball I've ever seen hit live.

[Saturnian]

Kalish is starting to percolate after a sluggish (12 AB) start to the HWB season. He is 7 for his last 10, with 5 RBI, including a walk-off, 3-run HR yesterday. Kalish also has 5 SB's already.

[SouthPaw21]

Baseball America ranked Ryan Kalish as prospect #16 on the 2008 Hawaii Winter Baseball Top 20 Prospects List.

[phrenile]

Jonathan Mayo ("10 Red Sox prospects to watch"):

The 2006 draftee had an up-and-down season in 2008. It was fairly clear that the left-handed hitting outfielder had some difficulty adjusting coming off the broken hamate bone he suffered in '07. He didn't have the kind of bat speed post-injury that he showed before getting hurt, seemingly a little reluctant to trust the hand. He started to turn that around playing in Hawaii this past offseason and has looked very sharp early in camp this spring. He's a good outfielder with speed and strong instincts on the bases. Despite the injury, he still has a very high ceiling as a player who eventually could steal some bases and hit for some power, assuming those skills evolve the further he's removed from the injury. He'll be just 21 for the 2009 season, so there's still time for him to develop into the top-of-the-order threat he looks like he can become.

[Ikema]

Saw a clip last evening of Ryan making a sweet full extension play in the game vs. Florida. Great to see along with some rumblings his swing is starting to return.

[champain2002]

Kalish went 2-3 In tonight's 12-4 win over Potomac. He had a homer and a single, 2 walks, 2 rbi's, and scored 4 runs. Through 6 games he is hitting .350/.552/.550 with 9 walks and 2 steals and 4 k's. Of his 7 hits, 5 are singles,1 double and tonight's homer.
In his last three games he is 5-8 with 6 walks. he is hitting .444 against LH and .273 against RH.

Edited by champain2002, 15 April 2009 - 10:48 PM.

[JKelley34]

Ryan Kalish with a pretty strong start in Salem. Just turned 21.

19 Games, .302/.477/.444/.921 with 21/12 BB/K ratio and 7 steals to 1 CS.

EDIT: typo

Edited by JKelley34, 01 May 2009 - 11:06 AM.

[templeUsox]

His OBP is actually .477.

[SaveBooFerriss]

His OBP is actually .477.

Will he be in Portland in July?

[LondonSox]

His OBP is actually .477.

And he had a 471 OBP before he got hurt in 2007 as well
Be nice to see the power he flashed in 2007 to reappear but 'umping 'iminey.
Reddick in AAA and Kalish in AA by the end of the year is definitely plausible (Lin in High A, Dening in A and Westmoreland in low A) Not a bad organisational CF run. Ellsbury in the bigs.

[Worst Trade Evah]

Remember when Kalish was just going to be lumped in with Lester and Ellsbury (by some people on the board here), for a season of Sabathia (or was it Santana?)? Basically, people wanted to trade the whole farm for a one year pitcher, and the right to pay a guy $20 million a year.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

I'd still consider that, actually. I think Sabathia is a better bet to be consistently great in the next 5+ years than Lester by a wide enough margin to warrant adding Ellsbury to the deal. If they were asking for Kalish on top of that, I'd certainly be willing to discuss it and try work something out to balance the scales.

Edit: Same goes for Santana. Both are already great pitchers. Both have enough of a track record for it to be reasonable to expect greatness going forward.

Edited by Snodgrass'Muff, 01 May 2009 - 01:49 PM.