Michael Chavis, SS: 2014 MLB Draft 26th overall

Cesar Crespo

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Dec 22, 2002
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He is repeating Greenville so it can't hurt. Exactly a 30% k rate in the 2nd half, 200 PA, 60k. .201/.290/.326.
 

The Talented Allen Ripley

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Chavis hit 3 HRs last night for Hi-A Salem (at home, in a noted pitcher's park):

A common sentiment prevails for Red Sox prospects who land in High A Salem: Good bye, home runs.

Salem Memorial Ballpark in Virginia is considered a graveyard. Andrew Benintendi admits that he all but gave up on hitting homers in a home park where he smashed seven doubles and five triples but never went deep. With fences that are roughly 20 feet high ringing the outfield, players have to learn to accept that perfectly launched shots may end up staying in the park.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that,” said Red Sox third base prospect Michael Chavis. “You can’t expect to hit a bunch of home runs, especially in a bigger ballpark like this.”

Yet Chavis, a 2014 first-rounder, defied the park’s dimensions and its history on Wednesday, becoming the first player in the history of Salem Memorial Ballpark – which opened in 1995 – to go deep three times. He blasted two homers against lefthanded starter Emilio Ogando (measured, according to Salem play-by-play man Ben Gellman, with exit velocities of 114 and 115 m.p.h.) before golfing a fastball off his shoetops off the scoreboard in left-center for a two-run, walkoff homer in a 7-6 win.

Chavis finished the night with a 3-for-4 line that included a walk and five runs batted in along with his three homers.
 

Granite Sox

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I came here to post the same link, but wanted to share a separate tidbit I heard last week on a SoxProspects.com podcast.

Apparently, Chavis broke a finger last year AFTER he injured his thumb and didn't tell anyone about it. He had gotten off to a good start, injured the thumb, and then the remainder of his season was mediocre to poor after returning from the first injury. Apparently the broken finger contributed to some changes to his mechanics that obviously messed him up.

I don't know what the current elbow inflammation is all about, but here's hoping Chief stays healthy and re-establishes himself as a prospect.
 

Cesar Crespo

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He played the first game of the season and then missed the following 10 days for some reason. Since returning 3 games ago, he is 6-11 with 1 2b, 4 HRs, 5 runs, 7 rbi, 3bb/2k.

He has 4 HRs in the last 2 games.
 

absintheofmalaise

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He played the first game of the season and then missed the following 10 days for some reason. Since returning 3 games ago, he is 6-11 with 1 2b, 4 HRs, 5 runs, 7 rbi, 3bb/2k.

He has 4 HRs in the last 2 games.
Take the time to click on the link Rip posted. Maybe, just maybe, the answer is in the article.
 

Savin Hillbilly

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I just went to Chavis' soxprospects page and was surprised to be reminded how young he still is--seems like he's been around forever. Despite repeating Greenville, he's still almost two years under median age for the Carolina League (as of 2013, anyway), and the second-youngest position player (after Ockimey) on the Salem roster. Wouldn't it be a treat to see him put the pieces together this year and give Devers a run for the title of 3B heir apparent.
 

AlNipper49

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I just went to Chavis' soxprospects page and was surprised to be reminded how young he still is--seems like he's been around forever. Despite repeating Greenville, he's still almost two years under median age for the Carolina League (as of 2013, anyway), and the second-youngest position player (after Ockimey) on the Salem roster. Wouldn't it be a treat to see him put the pieces together this year and give Devers a run for the title of 3B heir apparent.
He's exactly the Sox fans type of guy too. He's basically Pedroia
 

Cesar Crespo

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He's up to a ridiculous .477/.577/1.286 slashline in 26 PA. In yesterday's doubleheader he was a combined 3/6 with a 2b, HR, 3r, 3rbi, and a K.

He has 3bb/5k for the year.

FWIW, last year he started on fire too slashing .356/.415/.576 in 63 PA. 4bb/10k. He then got injured. He returned hot but quickly reverted back to the strikeout machine he was in 2015.

His K rate will pretty much determine his future.
 

Cesar Crespo

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.345/.444/.690 after 99 PA. 13.1% BB rate, 21.2% K rate. 15 of his 29 hits have been for extra bases, including 7 HRs which is the most of anyone in the Redsox organization.

Prior to going 3/5 on 5/11, he had gone 0/7 with 5k/2bb in the previous 2. I'm still expecting his K rate to jump but so far so good.
 

Cesar Crespo

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He's coming off a monster week where he slashed .353/.405/.795 in 37 PA. He had 4 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, 2bb/7k. In 143 PA this year, he is now at .336/.420/.696 with 10 HRs, 15bb/29. That's a 20.3% K rate and 10.5% BB rate. His BAbip for the year is at .372.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Since last update, 15 games 63 PA. .368/.413/.667 with a .415 BAbip and 2bb/13k.

Now at .346/.417/.687 in 206 PA with a 20.4% K rate and 8.3% BB rate. Glad to see that K rate stay consistent. It's supposed to settle around 100 PA but Chavis seems like an exception. I want to see how he holds up in Portland and if he keeps raking the way he has, that is going to happen sooner than later. His defense this year has been atrocious though. It's probably a matter of time before he moves across the diamond or into the OF. He has decent speed and an arm.
 

Seabass

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Keith Law fielded a question on Chavis in his latest chat:
Chris: Obviously the real Michael Chavis is somewhere between this year and last year, but what is your current assessment of him?
Keith Law: He played hurt last year and didn’t tell the Red Sox. I’m inclined to throw 2016 out the window for him.
 

Merkle's Boner

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They need to move Devers up to AAA and Chavis to AA. Need to see what we have with both of these guys, although I'm more confident with Devers.
 

The Talented Allen Ripley

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Chavis had a late-season swoon to close out the year, although he hit 2 HR over the last 5 games. Final stats at AA (promoted in late June): .250/.310/.492 for an OPS of .802 in 248 AB. 14 HR, 39 RBI. 56K/20 BB.

Full season stats across Hi-A & AA: .282/.347/.563, .910 OPS, 31 HR & 94 RBI in 471 AB. 113K/39 BB.
 

sean1562

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yeaa, so much for that. drops him way off top 100 i imagine, and firmly in "no longer a prospect"
 

sean1562

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at this point, who knows what was real and what wasn't. and since he has no real position, he isn't even really a prospect at all after this, I imagine. man we need some guys to breakout this year
 

terrynever

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Bumping this after home runs measured at 467 and 470 feet over the weekend at McCoy, according to Pawtucket Times beat writer Brendan McGair. Been playing second base for the past week.
 

terrynever

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434-foot homer last night. Rotating between second and third base. Michael Chavis is at the very least a replacement for Nunez.
 

Cesar Crespo

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434-foot homer last night. Rotating between second and third base. Michael Chavis is at the very least a replacement for Nunez.
The one big knock on Chavis early was he struck out way too much. It spiked up a little last year but he missed a bunch of games due to the suspension and it's also inflated by 34 PA in AAA. It's not exactly shocking to see a player strike out more in their first few games at a new level. This year he has 7bb/9k in 48 PA.

2015: 30.6% K rate, 6.2% BB rate, 471 PA, .223/.277/.405
2016: 23.9% K rate, 7.1% BB rate, 339 PA .237/.313/.372
2017: 21.6% K rate, 7.4% BB rate, 524 PA .282/.347/.563
2018: 26.8% K rate, 9.8% BB rate, 194 PA .298/.381/.538
2019: 18.8% K rate, 14.6% BB rate, 48 PA, .250/.354/.600

Another way to look at it
A: 27.8% K rate, 6.5% BB rate, 783 PA, .231/.294/.399
A+: 23.1% K rate, 7.6% BB rate, 277 PA, .302/.372/.593
AA: 22.0% K rate, 8.0% BB rate, 413 PA, .268/.337/.493
AAA: 25.6% K rate, 9.8% BB rate, 82 PA, .260/.329/.575


Chavis is the type of prospect they should hold on to because he offers far more value to the Sox than he does in a trade value. His value is severely suppressed due to his terrible 2015/16, the suspension, and no clear position. Funny thing is, Chavis actually profiles better as a 2b than a 3b so I'm not sure why they decided to try him at third.

I've been paying close attention to the Sox minors since the mid to late 90s and I don't ever recall a player cutting his K rate as much of Michael Chavis. The trends are very nice. He's managed to decrease his K% while increasing his BB% while moving up levels. I believe he was playing with an injury all of 2016 but the Redsox wanted him playing to see/take pitches. If true, that move definitely paid off.

2014-2016: 960 PA, .235/.300/.360, 52 doubles, 7 triples, 25 HR, 68bb/263k. 27.4% K rate, 7.1% BB rate. ISO of .125.
Since 2017: 766 PA, .283/.356/.565, 51 doubles, 2 triples, 44 HR, 65bb/174k. 22.7% K rate, 8.5% BB rate. ISO of .283.

He's had 35 more total bases since 2017 than 2014-16 despite 194 less PA. He also has 3 less walks and 11 less hits.
 

terrynever

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The one big knock on Chavis early was he struck out way too much. It spiked up a little last year but he missed a bunch of games due to the suspension and it's also inflated by 34 PA in AAA. It's not exactly shocking to see a player strike out more in their first few games at a new level. This year he has 7bb/9k in 48 PA.

2015: 30.6% K rate, 6.2% BB rate, 471 PA, .223/.277/.405
2016: 23.9% K rate, 7.1% BB rate, 339 PA .237/.313/.372
2017: 21.6% K rate, 7.4% BB rate, 524 PA .282/.347/.563
2018: 26.8% K rate, 9.8% BB rate, 194 PA .298/.381/.538
2019: 18.8% K rate, 14.6% BB rate, 48 PA, .250/.354/.600

Another way to look at it
A: 27.8% K rate, 6.5% BB rate, 783 PA, .231/.294/.399
A+: 23.1% K rate, 7.6% BB rate, 277 PA, .302/.372/.593
AA: 22.0% K rate, 8.0% BB rate, 413 PA, .268/.337/.493
AAA: 25.6% K rate, 9.8% BB rate, 82 PA, .260/.329/.575


Chavis is the type of prospect they should hold on to because he offers far more value to the Sox than he does in a trade value. His value is severely suppressed due to his terrible 2015/16, the suspension, and no clear position. Funny thing is, Chavis actually profiles better as a 2b than a 3b so I'm not sure why they decided to try him at third.

I've been paying close attention to the Sox minors since the mid to late 90s and I don't ever recall a player cutting his K rate as much of Michael Chavis. The trends are very nice. He's managed to decrease his K% while increasing his BB% while moving up levels. I believe he was playing with an injury all of 2016 but the Redsox wanted him playing to see/take pitches. If true, that move definitely paid off.

2014-2016: 960 PA, .235/.300/.360, 52 doubles, 7 triples, 25 HR, 68bb/263k. 27.4% K rate, 7.1% BB rate. ISO of .125.
Since 2017: 766 PA, .283/.356/.565, 51 doubles, 2 triples, 44 HR, 65bb/174k. 22.7% K rate, 8.5% BB rate. ISO of .283.

He's had 35 more total bases since 2017 than 2014-16 despite 194 less PA. He also has 3 less walks and 11 less hits.
Great research. Chavis is nearing the conclusion of his lengthy minor league internship. Seems like there is an opening in Boston.
 

Rowdy

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Great post bosox79. I’ve been watching his K and BB rates noticing the same thing. I’m excited how that could translate for him going forward. As for why they tried him at 3B, his scouting report says that his first-step quickness, body control and above average arm made him a potential fit there. He’s listed at 5’10 and 215#. That seems like a tank for middle infield. I haven’t seen any recent reports on his D at 2B.
 

Savin Hillbilly

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Great post bosox79. I’ve been watching his K and BB rates noticing the same thing. I’m excited how that could translate for him going forward. As for why they tried him at 3B, his scouting report says that his first-step quickness, body control and above average arm made him a potential fit there. He’s listed at 5’10 and 215#. That seems like a tank for middle infield. I haven’t seen any recent reports on his D at 2B.
I thought the knock on him at 3B was about footwork and coordination, which makes 2B seem like an odd destination. But as long as he can be within spitting distance of fringe-average defensively, a bat like that at 2B is an obvious asset.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I thought the knock on him at 3B was about footwork and coordination, which makes 2B seem like an odd destination. But as long as he can be within spitting distance of fringe-average defensively, a bat like that at 2B is an obvious asset.
If his bat is for real, he's an asset anywhere. I think he ends up in LF but here's to positive thinking.
 

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And he's up! Welcome, Boozoo!

Jen McCaffrey‏Verified account @jcmccaffrey

Red Sox announce they're calling up both Michael Chavis and Tzu-Wei Lin and sending Eduardo Nunez to the 10-day injured list with a mid-back strain retro to 4/18. (Cora said that was why Nunez didn't play second on Patriots Day.) The club has also DFA'd RHP Erasmo Ramirez
 

E5 Yaz

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Nunez
Holt
Pedroia
Lin
Vasquez
Chavis

They could have six starting second basemen ... in April
 

nattysez

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This is going to hurt the minor league system ranking yet further.
Seriously, why the hell not. Worst case, he gets a taste. Best case, he sticks.
Yes, but can they please actually give him consistent playing time? Put him at second for a few weeks with occasional rest days. I hate the idea of bringing him up and then jerking him around in terms of the positions he plays or playing time. They did that with X, Iglesias and Swihart, so hopefully the pattern does not hold.
 

terrynever

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Chavis was drafted as a shortstop, played a lot of third in the minors. If you can play shortstop, you can play anywhere. He needs more than five games at second, as RedOctober noted, but Pedey’s latest knee twinge and Nunez’s neck injury sort of forced Boston’s hand.
You are going to see one excited kid in uniform tonight. I hope he hits a bomb.