June 14, 2010 at 10:46 PM
Middlebrooks makes strides
One of the top breakout performers in the Red Sox minor league system this year has been Salem third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who has skyrocketed up the SoxProspects.com rankings from No. 26 at the start of the season to No. 10 today. As of June 13, Middlebrooks was hitting .292/.366/.440 with 18 doubles and 4 home runs for the Salem Sox.
There is little doubt that Middlebrooks has had the tools to be a major league third baseman. He carries his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame with ample athleticism and fluidity. His defensive skills at third have drawn comparisons to Scott Rolen. All of his offensive tools also have above-average potential, including his hitting skills, his power, and his speed.
In 2010, the 21-year-old may just be making the leap from a raw, toolsy project to a player that’s in the discussion as a potential big-league regular in the not-too-distant future. However, like many high-ceiling prospects drafted out of high school, Middlebrooks’ early career path has been an uneven one.
Read the rest: ESPNBoston-SoxProspects.com: Middlebrooks makes strides