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10 Red Sox prospects to watch

Bowden, Bard could reach Fenway mound this summer

By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com



With the 2009 season quickly approaching, MLB.com takes a look at 10 of the Red
Sox's most intriguing prospects that you should keep an eye on.



Lars Anderson, 1B: There isn't much Anderson didn't do in 2008, playing across
two levels, hitting .317, slugging .517 and posting a .417 OBP, all at age 20.
He earned both the organization's and MLB.com's Boston system Hitter of the
Year honors. He's got a very advanced approach to hitting, with very good plate
discipline. The power is just starting to come for the 2006 draftee as he upped
his home run total and SLG considerably from 2007 to last year. He's pretty
good defensively, having worked hard at that aspect of his game, and there's
little question in the organization that he'll evolve into a fine everyday
first baseman in the not-too-distant future. He'll play all season at age 21,
so there's no reason to rush him, though his bat may force the issue a bit.



Daniel Bard, RHP: What a difference a year makes. The 2006 first-round pick
struggled in his first full season as a starter, having difficulty throwing
strikes. That offseason, he pitched in relief in Hawaii Winter Baseball and it
seemed to suit him. He resumed that role last year and took off, posting a 1.51
ERA, a .158 batting average against and 107 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings across
two levels. His power arm played well in shorter stints and his fastball was
clicked in triple-digits on more than one occasion. He complements that speed
with a hard slider, the perfect combination to pitch in the back end of a
bullpen. He excelled as Double-A Portland's closer down the stretch, not
allowing an earned run over his final 11 outings. The role brought out his
natural aggressiveness as a pitcher and he could contribute to Boston's pen at
some point this season.



Michael Bowden, RHP: All Bowden has done since being the Red Sox's supplemental
first round pick in 2005 is perform well at every level. MLB.com's pick for the
system's top pitcher, Bowden led the organization in ERA in 2008 and was third
in strikeouts. He doesn't walk many (130/29 K/BB ratio in 2008), displaying
tremendous command. He's got a bit of an unorthodox delivery, though it doesn't
seem to hurt him. He can run his fastball up to about 93 mph with good movement
and he's got a great feel for his changeup and his curve looks like it will be
at least Major League average in the future as well. When you've got a starter
with three pitches who can throw them all for strikes, that's usually a good
recipe for success. Don't be surprised if he's one of the first starters to be
called upon when there's a need at Fenway.



Nick Hagadone, LHP: The way things started off in Hagadone's pro career, it
seemed almost too good to be true. After all, the 2007 supplemental first
rounder had gone 12 straight outings without allowing an earned run, dating
back to his pro debut the summer after he was drafted. It turned out it was too
good to be true as he blew out his elbow and Tommy John Surgery ended his 2008
season after just three outings. The good news is he's progressing, working his
way up to throwing 50 pitches off a mound and soon will be able to work on all
of his offerings: a power fastball, a hard slider and a changeup. The hope is
he'll be back to competing in May or early June. What his role will be is still
unclear, but the Sox are thrilled they'll have to make that decision sooner
rather than later.



Ryan Kalish, OF: 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.



Casey Kelly, RHP/SS: There have been countless two-way stars who have entered
pro ball and given up either pitching or hitting. Then there's Kelly, the 2008
first-rounder who might be setting up a new model with the Sox. A tremendous
athlete who has top-tier talent as a shortstop and a pitcher (not to mention as
a quarterback), Kelly and Boston are trying to figure out a way for him to
continue to develop all of his baseball skills. For right now, he's focusing on
his pitching, then will go back to hitting later in the year. He's looked good
this spring, showing an efficient delivery and excellent command, both of his
fastball and breaking ball. Having grown up around the game (his father, Pat,
was the former bench coach of the Reds), he's very mature and if there's anyone
who could handle switching back and forth, it might be him.



Yamaico Navarro, SS: The Dominican shortstop had a breakout year in his
full-season debut, making the South Atlantic League All-Star team with
Greenville before getting bumped up to Class A Advanced Lancaster. Playing the
season at age 20, he hit a combined .304 and showed some pop with 11 homers and
27 doubles. His bat speed allows him to generate that power. He's extremely
athletic and shows good defensive skills, with good feet, soft hands and a
strong arm. He's played all over the infield, but that's more because of the
glut at the position organizationally than anything. Navarro has the skills to
be an everyday shortstop and that combined with his ability to hit for power
makes him a very interesting prospect worth tracking.



Stolmy Pimentel, RHP: Teenage pitchers coming out of the Dominican to make
their U.S. debut are supposed to be somewhat raw, right? Pimentel evidently
didn't get that memo. The right-hander skipped the rookie level and went
straight to the short-season New York-Penn League at age 18, finishing with a
3.14 ERA, .224 batting average against and 61/17 K/BB ratio. He's got an
advanced delivery and while his fastball sits at an average velocity right now,
at 6-foot-3, 186 pounds, there's the chance he'll throw harder as he matures.
He's able to command his fastball now to both sides of the plate and has a good
feel for his changeup. His breaking ball needs work, but to say he's ahead of
the curve would be a huge understatement as he prepares for full-season ball at
age 19.



Josh Reddick, OF: Like Anderson, Reddick was a level-jumper in 2008. The '06
junior college draftee played at three levels, starting in Greenville and
ending up at Double-A Portland. His Double-A stint didn't go as well as
Anderson's, but there's still plenty to like about what the outfielder brings
to the table. He's got good bat speed that generates decent power now (23 HR,
.544 SLG), with the potential for more. He's a good baserunner with the ability
to steal and he's a good outfielder with an outstanding arm. Just 22, he's
still not fully grown into his body yet. He was a little out of gas in the
Arizona Fall League last year, but he came to camp with a few months of
strength work under his belt, fully rejuvenated. As he continues to adjust to
the philosophy of plate discipline and matures physically, he could really take
off.



Oscar Tejeda, SS: Things did not start out particularly well in 2008 for the
young Dominican shortstop. Multiple staph infections following minor surgery
caused weight loss and delayed his full-season debut as he couldn't do anything
baseball-related for quite some time. When he did return, he was rusty, hitting
.228 over 32 first-half games in the South Atlantic League. He picked up some
as the season went on, hitting .277 in the second half, including a .287 mark
in August. After a full offseason of strength and conditioning work, he's come
to camp looking much better. He's looked strong during BP, hitting the ball
hard. A good athlete, he's got solid defensive skills at shortstop. Even with
the delay in development last year, he's still a 19-year-old with a tremendous
amount of upside.



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