MLB.com's Mid-Season Top 100

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Jonathan Mayo posted his mid season update and it's a good read if you're looking to kill some time. I'll post the Sox related content here, but it's very comprehensive so I recommend reading the entire thing.
 
Here's a link directly to the list in case you want to skip the breakdown: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015
Here's a link to the Sox Top 30 (also updated): http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=bos
 
10. Yoan Moncada
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 65 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 65
 
 

Moncada offers more offensive potential than most middle infielders. He's a switch-hitter with electric bat speed who makes consistent hard contact from both sides of the plate. He could deliver a .280 average and 20-25 homers on an annual basis, and he also has the well above-average speed to be a significant basestealing threat.
 
Moncada primarily played second and third base in Cuba while also seeing time at shortstop and in center field. His strong arm can play anywhere on the diamond, and the consensus among scouts is that he fits best at second base. He's young and may need a couple of years in the Minors, but he looks like a star who will be worth the wait.

 
15. Rafael Devers
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 60
 
 

Devers' reputation as the best left-handed bat on the 2013 international market earned him a $1.5 million bonus from the Red Sox. He battered pitching at two Rookie-ball stops in his 2014 pro debut, making it to the United States at age 17 and a year ahead of schedule.
 
Devers possesses the highest power ceiling in the Boston system, and that 60 grade above could prove to be conservative. He has [sic] combines a short stroke with lightning bat speed and nice loft, and he also has advanced feel for the strike zone for a teenager. He has gotten stronger and more athletic since turning pro, though he'll probably lose a step off his present average feed [freudian slip?] as he continues to mature physically.
 
It's not a given that Devers will stay at third base, though he could be an impact bat no matter where he plays on the diamond. He has the solid arm strength and good instincts needed for the hot corner, though his footwork will need improvement and he'll have to maintain his conditioning. He has been less erratic at the hot corner in his first full pro season than he was in his debut.

 
31. Manuel Margot
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55
 
 

One of the best athletes available on the 2011 international market, Margot signed for $800,000. He tripled, homered and drove in six runs in his first pro game the following summer and hasn't slowed down since. He has made steady improvements and reached Double-A at age 20.
 
The best all-around athlete in the Red Sox system, Margot has all the ingredients to hit for a high average. He has quick hands, advanced control of the strike zone and well above-average speed. Though he's a bit undersized, he has some deceptive strength and should produce double-digit home run totals in the Majors. His biggest need offensively is to draw more walks, which may be easier said than done because he makes contact so consistently.
 
Margot's speed plays well on the bases and in the outfield. He covers a lot of ground in center field and has average arm strength, which is better than most players at his position. He has shown more polish and advanced quicker than expected, putting him on track to reach Boston at age 22.

 
47. Brian Johnson
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55
 
 

A two-way star at Florida, Johnson hit 15 homers and won 22 games while helping the Gators appear in three consecutive College World Series from 2010-12. After he signed for $1,575,000 as the 31st overall pick in the 2012 Draft, his pro debut lasted just six innings before a line drive broke bones in his face during the annual Futures at Fenway showcase. He has made rapid progress since, leading the Double-A Eastern League with a 1.75 ERA in 2014 and reaching the big leagues by the following July.
 
Johnson has an 88-94 mph fastball that plays up because it sinks and tails and he can locate it on both sides of the point [sic]. The consensus is that his best pitch is his sharp curveball, though some scouts prefer his sinking changeup. He also uses an effective cutter to give batters a different look.
 
Johnson has exceptional feel for pitching and is consistent from start to start. His biggest need at this point is to get a little stronger so he can maintain low-90s velocity throughout a full season. He has the ceiling of an efficient No. 3 starter.

 
48. Henry Owens
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 65 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55
 
 

Part of a banner Red Sox 2011 Draft class that also includes Matt Barnes, Blake Swihart, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, Owens signed for $1.55 million as the 36th overall pick. His ability to get swings and misses with multiple pitches has led to immediate and sustained success in pro ball. He led the Minor Leagues with 17 wins and ranked fourth with 170 strikeouts in 2014, during which he also threw a rain-shortened no-hitter, started the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game and reached Triple-A shortly after turning 22.
 
Owens' best pitch is his changeup, which is also one of the best in the Minors. He often works with average velocity on his fastball, which ranges from 88-94 mph, but it plays better than that because he can sink it and cut it, and hitters have trouble picking it up because of his delivery. His long, lanky frame allows him to deliver pitches with deceptive plane and angle.
 
While his curveball ranks behind his fastball and changeup, Owens focused on developing it in 2014. He opened the Futures Game with his curve, which shows signs of becoming a solid third pitch. After making strides with his control last season, he battled it more in 2015, though he continued to be as difficult to hit as ever.

 
74. Andrew Benintendi
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55
 
 

Benintendi hit one home run while hampered by injuries as an Arkansas freshman in 2014 then broke out and topped NCAA Division I with 20 as a sophomore. He also batted .376/.488/.717 with 24 steals, led the Razorbacks to the College World Series and swept all of the major college-player-of-the-year awards. The Red Sox drafted him seventh overall and signed him for $3,590,400.
 
A former Ohio state Division III baseball and basketball player of the year, Benintendi is a fine athlete who had the best all-around tools of any college player in the 2015 Draft. While he's not physically imposing, his quick left-handed stroke and his deceptive strength give him legitimate power. He also has a patient approach at the plate which bodes well for his ability to post high batting averages and on-base percentages.
 
With his plus speed and keen instincts, Benintendi is a basestealing threat and a quality defender in center field. His worst tool is his arm, yet it grades as average and allows him to play any of the three outfield positions.

 
90. Javier Guerra
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55
 
 

The Red Sox set a new bonus record for an Asian amateur position player when they paid Taiwanese shortstop Tzu-Wei Lin for $2.05 million in June 2012. They may have found their shortstop of the future with a more moderate international signing a month later, when they landed Guerra out of Panama for $250,000.
 
At the time Guerra drew mixed reviews for his defense because he had fringy speed, but he draws nothing but raves now. He's not fast but he's agile and has a quick first step that gives him plenty of range to both sides. His arm has gotten stronger and his hands are exceptional.
 
Guerra has opened eyes with his offense in 2015, especially his power. He has a compact stroke with extension that figured to produce gap power, but now he looks like he could produce 15-plus homers annually in the big leagues. In order to thrive against more advanced pitching, he'll need to improve his plate discipline.

 
Red Sox Graduates:
 
Blake Swihart
Eduardo Rodriguez
 
Top movers
 
+81 Rafael Devers (tied for first on this list)
+68 Manuel Margot (tied for 6th)
 
Among 2015 draftees, Benintendi had the 8th highest ranking.
 
 
 

To come up with a method to measure the strength of farm systems, we devised our "prospect points" system. The No. 1 prospect (Buxton) gets 100 points, No. 2 (Seager) gets 99, and on down to one point for No. 100 (Luis Ortiz, Rangers). It may not be scientific, but it's a quick way to see which teams have the most high-end talent.
 
While the Texas Rangers lead all teams with eight representatives on the Top 100, they are second with 357 prospect points. The Red Sox, with seven prospects on the list, lead the way with 392 points. The Twins (six prospects, 319 points), Astros (seven, 308) and Dodgers (four, 301) round out the top five.

 
Red Sox (7) - 392
Rangers (8) - 357
Twins (6) - 319
Astros (7)  - 308
Dodgers (4) - 301
PIrates (5) - 297
Rockies (7) - 295
Cubs (5) - 275
Nationals (3) - 254
Mets (4) - 187
DBacks (4) -182
Braves (4) - 182
Rays (5) - 181
Phillies (3) - 176
Yankees (2) - 165

 

[mt8thsw9th]

To come up with a method to measure the strength of farm systems, we devised our "prospect points" system. The No. 1 prospect (Buxton) gets 100 points, No. 2 (Seager) gets 99, and on down to one point for No. 100 (Luis Ortiz, Rangers). It may not be scientific, but it's a quick way to see which teams have the most high-end talent.
 

 
Yes, I would say that a scale that rates the 50th best prospect as more valuable than 49 Luiz Ortizs isn't quite scientific. 

 

[Merkle's Boner]

Hard to believe Dylan Bundy has fallen into the 70s. Talk about TINSTAAPP. He looked like a no-doubter before TJS.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Red Sox Graduates:
 
Henry Owens
Eduardo Rodriguez

Owens didn't graduate and Swihart did. This is probably supposed to be Swihart and Rodriguez.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

You are correct. Thanks.

 

[O Captain! My Captain!]

That fastball grade and scouting mention on Johnson seem better than what I've heard, though it does mention movement and location allowing it to play up (didn't mention that he's a lefty, who typically can get away with a tick less on the fastball).