March 8, 2010 at 4:32 PM
2010 SoxProspects.com Preseason All-Stars
SoxProspects.com has compiled its Preseason All-Star Team for the 2010 season. Players were nominated at each position by the SoxProspects staff, and the SoxProspects community voted over the past week on the players they felt would have the best season in 2010. Without further ado, here are your picks for the 2010 SoxProspects.com Preseason All-Stars:
C- Luis Exposito
After starting the 2009 season in Single-A Salem, Exposito was promoted to Portland, where he is projected to start the 2010 campaign. In 23 games with the Sea Dogs, Exposito hit .337/.371/.489. Between Salem and Portland, Exposito combined for 9 home runs and 57 RBI. He also spent time in the Arizona Fall League with Mesa, where he hit .314/.364/.431. The 23-year-old is currently the 11th-ranked prospect in the organization.*
1B- Anthony Rizzo
The 20-year-old Rizzo turned some heads last year and became one of the more surprising players in the Red Sox organization. After missing most of the 2008 season receiving treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Rizzo returned to baseball in 2009 with a combined .297/.368/.461 line between the South Atlantic and Carolina Leagues. A sixth-round draft choice in 2007, Rizzo finds himself the sixth-ranked prospect in the organization.
2B- Derrik Gibson
After being honored at the end of the 2009 season by SoxProspects.com as the organization's all-star shortstop, Gibson shifts over to his projected position at second base on our 2010 preseason team. He spent the 2009 season with Lowell in the New-York Penn League, compiling a .290/.395/.380 line while swiping 28 bases. Gibson is slated to start the 2010 campaign in Greenville, and is ranked as the 17th-best prospect in the organization.
SS- Jose Iglesias
Iglesias as emerged as one of the crown jewels of the Red Sox organization this spring. After signing a major league contract as an international free agent in September of 2009, the 20-year-old Iglesias has already turned heads in big league camp. He has all the makings of becoming a Gold Glove shortstop in the future, and also hit .275/.324/.420 with Mesa in the Arizona Fall League in 2009. The Cuban-born Iglesias is ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the organization.
3B- Will Middlebrooks
The 21-year-old Middlebrooks had a solid season with Greenville in the South Atlantic League in 2009. He posted a .265/.349/.404 line with 7 home runs and 57 RBI. A fifth-round draft pick in 2007, the Red Sox named Middlebrooks their Minor League Player of the Month in July 2009. He currently sits as the 26th-ranked prospect in the organization.
OF- Ryan Westmoreland
At just 19 years of age, Westmoreland is already one of the Red Sox' most highly-touted prospects. The 2009 SoxProspects.com Rookie of the Year hit .296/.401/.484 with Lowell in the NYPL last season before breaking his collarbone running into a wall on August 28. He was also named as one of Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects this spring. The Portsmouth, R.I. native is projected to begin the season with Greenville in the South Atlantic League, and is the second-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization.
OF- Ryan Kalish
Kalish split time between Salem and Portland in 2009, with most of his action coming with the Sea Dogs. In 103 games at the Double-A level, he posted a .271/.341/.440 line with 13 home runs and 56 RBI. He also stole a combined 22 bases with both Salem and Portland. Kalish had continued success in the Arizona Fall League, checking in with a line of .301/.384/.384. The 21-year-old is the third-ranked prospect in the organization.
OF- Josh Reddick
After spending most of the 2009 campaign with Double-A Portland, Reddick made his Red Sox debut on July 31. Since being drafted in the 17th round in 2006, Reddick has quickly ascended through the ranks, making his major league debut last season at age 22. After scuffling near the end of last season in Triple-A Pawtucket, he is projected to begin there this year, and currently finds himself as the fourth-ranked prospect in the system.
SP- Casey Kelly (one vote shy of unanimous)
The first-round draft pick in 2008 split time between pitcher and shortstop in his first professional season in 2009, but will take to the mound full time in 2010. In outings with both Greenville and Salem, Kelly posted a combined 7-5 record with a staggering 2.08 ERA. In 95 innings of work, the 20-year-old right-hander struck out 74 while walking just 16, and limited opposing hitters to a .190 average. Kelly is atop the SoxProspects.com list of prospects at the start of the 2010 season, and is projected to begin the year in Double-A Portland.
SP- Stolmy Pimentel
Signed as an international free agent in July 2006, Pimentel spent the 2009 campaign with Greenville. Currently the ninth-ranked prospect in the organization, the right-hander went 10-7 in 23 starts while posting a 3.82 ERA. In 117.2 innings with the Drive last season, Pimentel showcased outstanding control by striking out 103 batters while issuing just 29 walks. The 20-year-old is projected to start 2010 with Salem in the Carolina League.
SP- Roman Mendez
One of the hardest throwing arms in the Red Sox organization, the 19-year-old Dominican Republic native pitched in the Gulf Coast League in 2009. In 49.2 innings, Mendez struck out 47 batters while walking just eight. He also posted a 1.99 ERA in his 12 appearances (10 starts) with a 2-3 record. Mendez signed as an international free agent in July 2007, and is the 27th-ranked prospect in the organization according.
SP- Felix Doubront
The 22-year-old left-hander spent the 2009 campaign with Double-A Portland, where he is projected to begin the 2010 season. Doubront struggled with his control last year, issuing 52 free passes in 121 innings. However, he also struck out 101 batters. In 26 starts, Doubront went 8-6 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Signed as an international free agent in 2004, Doubront is ranked as the 13th-best prospect in the organization.
RP- Dustin Richardson
After struggling as a starter, Richardson was converted to a reliever after the 2008 season. It proved to be the right career move. The left-hander made his major league debut with the Red Sox on September 28 after a solid season with both Portland and Pawtucket. In 45 appearances with the two squads, Richardson allowed just 50 hits in 74 innings while fanning 96 batters. Control proved to be an issue, however, as he gave up 42 walks. Richardson's combined 2.55 ERA was a career high. He currently sits as the 18th-ranked prospect in the organization.
RP- Jason Rice
Rice started his career in the White Sox organization and split time between the rotation and the bullpen. After joining the Red Sox system through the minor league Rule 5 Draft in 2009, Rice excelled as a full-time reliever. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 94 batters and allowed 38 hits in 70 innings for Salem last season, posting a 2.44 ERA in 41 appearances. Rice will look to improve on his control after issuing 41 walks in 2009. The 23-year-old is ranked as the 43rd-best prospect in the organization.
RP- Richie Lentz
The Red Sox selected Lentz in the 16th round of the 2006 draft after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005. 2009 was the first bump in an otherwise smooth road to Lentz's major league career. He was assigned Portland, but went through several stints on the disabled list and spent significant time rehabbing in Lowell. For the Sea Dogs, he posted a 6.75 ERA in 36.0 innings, striking out 48 but walking 33. He is ranked as the organization's 42nd-best prospect, and is projected to start the season back with Double-A Portland.
C- Luis Exposito
After starting the 2009 season in Single-A Salem, Exposito was promoted to Portland, where he is projected to start the 2010 campaign. In 23 games with the Sea Dogs, Exposito hit .337/.371/.489. Between Salem and Portland, Exposito combined for 9 home runs and 57 RBI. He also spent time in the Arizona Fall League with Mesa, where he hit .314/.364/.431. The 23-year-old is currently the 11th-ranked prospect in the organization.*
1B- Anthony Rizzo
The 20-year-old Rizzo turned some heads last year and became one of the more surprising players in the Red Sox organization. After missing most of the 2008 season receiving treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Rizzo returned to baseball in 2009 with a combined .297/.368/.461 line between the South Atlantic and Carolina Leagues. A sixth-round draft choice in 2007, Rizzo finds himself the sixth-ranked prospect in the organization.
2B- Derrik Gibson
After being honored at the end of the 2009 season by SoxProspects.com as the organization's all-star shortstop, Gibson shifts over to his projected position at second base on our 2010 preseason team. He spent the 2009 season with Lowell in the New-York Penn League, compiling a .290/.395/.380 line while swiping 28 bases. Gibson is slated to start the 2010 campaign in Greenville, and is ranked as the 17th-best prospect in the organization.
SS- Jose Iglesias
Iglesias as emerged as one of the crown jewels of the Red Sox organization this spring. After signing a major league contract as an international free agent in September of 2009, the 20-year-old Iglesias has already turned heads in big league camp. He has all the makings of becoming a Gold Glove shortstop in the future, and also hit .275/.324/.420 with Mesa in the Arizona Fall League in 2009. The Cuban-born Iglesias is ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the organization.
3B- Will Middlebrooks
The 21-year-old Middlebrooks had a solid season with Greenville in the South Atlantic League in 2009. He posted a .265/.349/.404 line with 7 home runs and 57 RBI. A fifth-round draft pick in 2007, the Red Sox named Middlebrooks their Minor League Player of the Month in July 2009. He currently sits as the 26th-ranked prospect in the organization.
OF- Ryan Westmoreland
At just 19 years of age, Westmoreland is already one of the Red Sox' most highly-touted prospects. The 2009 SoxProspects.com Rookie of the Year hit .296/.401/.484 with Lowell in the NYPL last season before breaking his collarbone running into a wall on August 28. He was also named as one of Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects this spring. The Portsmouth, R.I. native is projected to begin the season with Greenville in the South Atlantic League, and is the second-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization.
OF- Ryan Kalish
Kalish split time between Salem and Portland in 2009, with most of his action coming with the Sea Dogs. In 103 games at the Double-A level, he posted a .271/.341/.440 line with 13 home runs and 56 RBI. He also stole a combined 22 bases with both Salem and Portland. Kalish had continued success in the Arizona Fall League, checking in with a line of .301/.384/.384. The 21-year-old is the third-ranked prospect in the organization.
OF- Josh Reddick
After spending most of the 2009 campaign with Double-A Portland, Reddick made his Red Sox debut on July 31. Since being drafted in the 17th round in 2006, Reddick has quickly ascended through the ranks, making his major league debut last season at age 22. After scuffling near the end of last season in Triple-A Pawtucket, he is projected to begin there this year, and currently finds himself as the fourth-ranked prospect in the system.
SP- Casey Kelly (one vote shy of unanimous)
The first-round draft pick in 2008 split time between pitcher and shortstop in his first professional season in 2009, but will take to the mound full time in 2010. In outings with both Greenville and Salem, Kelly posted a combined 7-5 record with a staggering 2.08 ERA. In 95 innings of work, the 20-year-old right-hander struck out 74 while walking just 16, and limited opposing hitters to a .190 average. Kelly is atop the SoxProspects.com list of prospects at the start of the 2010 season, and is projected to begin the year in Double-A Portland.
SP- Stolmy Pimentel
Signed as an international free agent in July 2006, Pimentel spent the 2009 campaign with Greenville. Currently the ninth-ranked prospect in the organization, the right-hander went 10-7 in 23 starts while posting a 3.82 ERA. In 117.2 innings with the Drive last season, Pimentel showcased outstanding control by striking out 103 batters while issuing just 29 walks. The 20-year-old is projected to start 2010 with Salem in the Carolina League.
SP- Roman Mendez
One of the hardest throwing arms in the Red Sox organization, the 19-year-old Dominican Republic native pitched in the Gulf Coast League in 2009. In 49.2 innings, Mendez struck out 47 batters while walking just eight. He also posted a 1.99 ERA in his 12 appearances (10 starts) with a 2-3 record. Mendez signed as an international free agent in July 2007, and is the 27th-ranked prospect in the organization according.
SP- Felix Doubront
The 22-year-old left-hander spent the 2009 campaign with Double-A Portland, where he is projected to begin the 2010 season. Doubront struggled with his control last year, issuing 52 free passes in 121 innings. However, he also struck out 101 batters. In 26 starts, Doubront went 8-6 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Signed as an international free agent in 2004, Doubront is ranked as the 13th-best prospect in the organization.
RP- Dustin Richardson
After struggling as a starter, Richardson was converted to a reliever after the 2008 season. It proved to be the right career move. The left-hander made his major league debut with the Red Sox on September 28 after a solid season with both Portland and Pawtucket. In 45 appearances with the two squads, Richardson allowed just 50 hits in 74 innings while fanning 96 batters. Control proved to be an issue, however, as he gave up 42 walks. Richardson's combined 2.55 ERA was a career high. He currently sits as the 18th-ranked prospect in the organization.
RP- Jason Rice
Rice started his career in the White Sox organization and split time between the rotation and the bullpen. After joining the Red Sox system through the minor league Rule 5 Draft in 2009, Rice excelled as a full-time reliever. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 94 batters and allowed 38 hits in 70 innings for Salem last season, posting a 2.44 ERA in 41 appearances. Rice will look to improve on his control after issuing 41 walks in 2009. The 23-year-old is ranked as the 43rd-best prospect in the organization.
RP- Richie Lentz
The Red Sox selected Lentz in the 16th round of the 2006 draft after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005. 2009 was the first bump in an otherwise smooth road to Lentz's major league career. He was assigned Portland, but went through several stints on the disabled list and spent significant time rehabbing in Lowell. For the Sea Dogs, he posted a 6.75 ERA in 36.0 innings, striking out 48 but walking 33. He is ranked as the organization's 42nd-best prospect, and is projected to start the season back with Double-A Portland.
All prospect rankings listed per SoxProspects.com's rankings as of March 8.