Injuries, slumps and major league debuts highlight our latest edition of the organization’s top prospects. Here’s a look at the week’s developments.
- 1
Last week: No. 1
Casey Kelly, RHP
It’s been one step forward, one step back of late for Kelly, who is nearing the midpoint of the season with some unsightly numbers. After giving up five runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings against Akron on Friday night, opponents were hitting .308 against the 20-year-old and his ERA had risen to 4.85.
Kelly was behind hitters all night, throwing just 49 of his 84 pitches for strikes. After walking 16 in 95 innings at the Single-A level last year, he has issued 21 in 52 frames with Double-A Portland this year.
- 2
Last week: No. 2
Ryan Kalish, OF
The rise of Kalish from Portland to Pawtucket was first met with a bit of a slump and now Kalish is sidelined with a right hip flexor strain.
Prior to hitting the seven-day disabled list, the 22-year-old Kalish had gone 2-for-15 over a four-game stretch as his average fell to .211.
- 3
Last week: No. 3
Lars Anderson, 1B
If Kalish is struggling, then what exactly do you call what has happened to Anderson? The promising bat, who notably struggled most of 2009 at Portland, has hit the skids again in 2010. He is hitless in 28 at bats over the span of eight games and is now hitting a miniscule .027 (1-for-37) against lefties at the Triple-A level.
Included in those struggles against southpaws is 17 strikeouts. The slump has dropped the 22-year-old Anderson below .200 at Pawtucket.
- 4
Last week: No. 4
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Another position player struggling a bit, Rizzo has not homered since early in the month and is hitting just .193 in June. But there may be some signs he is coming out of it. Rizzo has a hit in three straight games and drove in two runs in a win over Akron on Friday.
Rizzo, 20, is regarded as having a quality glove, but he committed two errors on one play two games ago.
- 5
Last week: No. 5
Jose Iglesias, SS
A hand injury suffered in late May has robbed Iglesias of most of June, but the club does not consider it to be a concern going forward. Still, was hot when it happened (.321 in May), so it’s tough to see his progress take a hit. Hopefully he will return soon.
- 6
Last week: No. 6
Felix Doubront, SP
In addition to posting remarkable numbers all year in the
minors, Doubront can now add a major league win to his resume. The 22-year-old
was recalled by the Red Sox to start Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers,
going five-plus effective innings to pick up the victory.There was talk of Doubront’s power arm and his improving
breaking stuff, but even more mention of his poise. He was pitching on the same
night Manny Ramirez had returned to Fenway Park, and there were more than a few
ways to be distracted.Doubront was sent back down the very next day and will make
his next start in turn for the PawSox.
- 7
Last week: No. 7
Josh Reddick, OF
This is a little more like it. Since returning to Pawtucket following his second stint with the Red Sox, Reddick has finally started to string some hits together. He is 9-for-19 with three walks in the six games after the call-up and is now hitting .379 in June.
- 8
Last week: No. 8
Luis Exposito, C
The song remains the same for Exposito, who continues to make his hits count. Despite a .179 average in June, he entered the weekend third in the Eastern League with 48 RBIs, including two in Friday’s win over Akron.
Still, Exposito is hitting nearly 100 points less than he did in a short stint with Portland last year. Time to get that back up there.
- 9
Last week: No. 9
Stolmy Pimentel, RHP
Pimentel improved to 5-4 with five solid innings against
Wilmington earlier this week. He allowed a run on six hits and struck out four.The 20-year-old has allowed two earned runs or less in four
of his last six starts and ranks in the top 10 in the South Atlantic League in
wins and WHIP (1.26)
- 10
Last week: No. 10
Reymond Fuentes, OF
The former top pick has cooled off just a tad of late, but he did draw a walk in the past week. Sounds like a small thing, but when you’re a 19-year-old struggling to learn plate discipline, baby steps are important.
Fuentes has eight walks against 54 strikeouts, but he is batting .285 with 18 stolen bases since the start of May.
