Given the Red Sox fairly weak farm system, anything noteworthy qualifies as main board worthy.
After the Bobby Valentine debacle, the Red Sox were afforded a rare chance to pick in the top 10 in the 2013 MLB Draft. It was the franchise's highest pick since the Red Sox took Trot Nixon at the same spot, number 7 overall.
The board was very mixed in the response to the selection of Trey Ball, a 2-way high school player. Many, myself included, were disappointed they didn't take Austin Meadows when their selection came up. In hindsight, it's looking like a relatively weak first round.
Ball has struggled as a starter. Badly. He'd show flashes, but his command was poor, walks piled up. Ball was left unprotected in the Rule V draft. I've wondered in the Red Sox would try him as a position player if he didn't improve. While many players from the draft have been in the majors, Ball is in his second year at AA in his age 24 season.
The team decided to convert him to a reliever, and though it's a small sample size, the results are encouraging. Ball has made 3 appearances. He hasn't surrendered a run and has a 0.60 WHIP. He's struck out 6 in 6.2 IP with only 2 BB. He's thrown over 70% of his pitches for strikes.
Given the draft capital invested in him, it would be great if he could develop into something that could help the team at the Major League level. Something to keep an eye on in Portland
After the Bobby Valentine debacle, the Red Sox were afforded a rare chance to pick in the top 10 in the 2013 MLB Draft. It was the franchise's highest pick since the Red Sox took Trot Nixon at the same spot, number 7 overall.
The board was very mixed in the response to the selection of Trey Ball, a 2-way high school player. Many, myself included, were disappointed they didn't take Austin Meadows when their selection came up. In hindsight, it's looking like a relatively weak first round.
Ball has struggled as a starter. Badly. He'd show flashes, but his command was poor, walks piled up. Ball was left unprotected in the Rule V draft. I've wondered in the Red Sox would try him as a position player if he didn't improve. While many players from the draft have been in the majors, Ball is in his second year at AA in his age 24 season.
The team decided to convert him to a reliever, and though it's a small sample size, the results are encouraging. Ball has made 3 appearances. He hasn't surrendered a run and has a 0.60 WHIP. He's struck out 6 in 6.2 IP with only 2 BB. He's thrown over 70% of his pitches for strikes.
Given the draft capital invested in him, it would be great if he could develop into something that could help the team at the Major League level. Something to keep an eye on in Portland