2010 SoxProspects.com All-Stars

The 2010 minor league season has drawn to a close, and the SoxProspects.com community has voted on the 2010 SoxProspects All-Stars.

Catcher: Ryan Lavarnway

In just his second full season in the Red Sox system, Lavarnway showed why many scouts have been impressed with his bat. After a 2009 campaign that saw him lead the organization in home runs with 21, the 23-year-old followed that up with another season which showcased his power. After compiling a .289/.392/.487 line with Salem, Lavarnway was promoted to Double-A Portland on July 16. His productivity didn't slow down at all, as he smacked 8 homers and 39 RBI in just 44 games with the Sea Dogs. He finished the season with a combined slash line of .288/.393/.489, with 22 home runs and 102 RBI. His RBI total was tops among all Red Sox minor leaguers, and finishes the season as the 16th-ranked prospect by SoxProspects.com.

First Base: Anthony Rizzo

After unseating Lars Anderson to win this honor in 2009, Rizzo maintained his stronghold on the award with another remarkable season in 2010. He and Lavarnway took a similar path through the Red Sox system this year. Rizzo started the campaign with Salem, spending just a month there before earning the promotion to Portland. Between the Carolina and Eastern Leagues, Rizzo drove in 100 runs, while also notching 25 home runs and 42 doubles, leading all Red Sox minor leaguers in both categories. The 21-year-old also showed some speed on the basepaths, swiping 10 bags on the year. Rizzo is currently ranked third on the SoxProspects.com charts.

Second Base: Nate Spears

Perhaps one of the most surprising subplots of the Red Sox organization's 2010 campaign was the emergence of Spears. Signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason, Spears put together what was by far his finest season in professional baseball. He had never hit more than 7 home runs in any season with either the Orioles or Cubs organizations, but in 514 at bats with Portland, Spears slammed 20 home runs and 82 RBI. He also showcased a great eye at the plate, leading all Red Sox minor leaguers with 84 walks. The 25-year-old hit .272/.380/.463, with his on-base and slugging percentages both career bests.

Third Base: Will Middlebrooks

Drafted out of high school by the Red Sox in 2007, Middlebrooks enjoyed his best season as a professional in 2010. He spent the entire season with Salem, and hit .276/.331/.439. His 31 doubles ranked 8th among Red Sox minor leaguers, and his 12 home runs and 70 RBI were also career-highs. Middlebrooks, 22, really caught fire in the month of July, posting a gaudy .333/.363/.594 slash line with 6 home runs and 27 RBI. He checks in as the 12th-ranked prospect in the SoxProspects.com rankings.

Shortstop: Yamaico Navarro

Although some could point to an injury-plagued season at Fenway as the reason the 22-year-old Navarro made his major league debut in 2010, his performance on the field certainly helped his cause. After spending most of the year in Double-A Portland, Navarro was promoted to Pawtucket. He spent just 16 games in a PawSox uniform, however, with Dustin Pedroia's season-ending injury earning Navarro the call-up to Boston. In 104 games between Portland and Pawtucket, the Dominican Republic native hit .275/.356/.437, smacking 11 home runs and driving in 61. Signed as an international free agent in 2005, Navarro currently sits as the 11th-ranked prospect in the organization according to SoxProspects.com.

Outfield: Ryan Kalish

One of two unanimous selections to the SoxProspects.com All-Star Team, Kalish put together a fine 2010 season which saw him quickly ascend through the ranks of the organization. The 22-year-old started 2010 where he ended 2009, in Portland. In 41 games for the Sea Dogs, Kalish hit .293/.404/.527. He earned the promotion to Pawtucket on June 1, but spent just two months at the Triple-A level before being called up to Boston on July 31. Kalish hit 13 home runs and 47 RBI in just 293 at bats between Portland and Pawtucket in 2010, compiling a combined slash line of .294/.382/.502. He is currently second in the SoxProspects.com rankings, and has hit 3 homers and 16 RBI in 105 at bats with Boston this season.

Outfield: Jeremy Hazelbaker

In his first full professional season, Hazelbaker showed off the tools that made him a fourth rounf draft pick in 2009. Spending the entire year with Greenville, the center fielder hit .267/.360/.455, with 29 doubles, 12 home runs, and 62 RBI. In addition, the speedster's 9 triples and 63 steals were tops among Red Sox minor leaguers. Hazelbaker, who was college teammates with 2010 first round pick Kolbrin Vitek, is currently ranked as the 35th best prospect in the organization.

Outfield: Daniel Nava

As his unlikely path to the big leagues came to fruition in 2010, Nava earns the honor of SoxProspects.com All-Star for the second straight season. Called up from Pawtucket on June 12, the 27-year-old Nava hit a grand slam on the very first pitch he saw in the big leagues. In multiple stints with the PawSox in 2010, Nava hit .289/.372/.458 in 284 at bats. In 45 games in a Boston uniform, the California native has knocked in 20 runs, but has yet to leave the yard since his storied home run in his major league debut.

Utility: Ray Chang

Chang was another pleasant surprise in the Red Sox organization this season. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Padres in 2005, he went to the Pirates organization in 2009 before the Red Sox signed him as a minor league free agent. The 27-year-old was assigned to Double-A Portland to begin the 2010 season. He was named to the Eastern League All-Star team, and finished the season with a .298/.384/.436 slash line. His 9 home runs and 55 RBI were both career highs, as were his 131 hits, 30 doubles, and 57 runs scored.

Starting Pitcher: Drake Britton

Along with Kalish, Britton was unanimously voted a SoxProspects.com All-Star. Recovery from Tommy John surgery took most of his 2009 season, but he came back with a vengeance in 2010. In 21 starts for Greenville this season, Britton posted a 2-3 record with a 2.97 ERA. The 21-year-old left-hander threw 75.2 innings, yielding 69 hits. He also notched an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.39. Britton, whose fastball currently sits at around 93 MPH, is currently the 15th-ranked prospect in the organization according to SoxProspects.com.

Starting Pitcher: Felix Doubront

Though he's currently pitching out of the bullpen in the big leagues, Doubront started the season in the starting rotation for Portland. In 8 starts for the Sea Dogs, the left-hander went 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA, striking out 38 batters in 43.0 innings. Doubront earned his promotion to Pawtucket, making his first start at the Triple-A level on May 23. He made 4 starts for the PawSox, before being called up to the big leagues on June 18, winning his first major league start against the Dodgers. Between Portland and Pawtucket, the 22-year-old went 8-3 with a 2.81 ERA, striking out 72 batters while walking 33 in 80.0 innings. Doubront currently sits as the fifth-ranked prospect in the organization according to SoxProspects.com.

Starting Pitcher: Kendal Volz

Drafted in the ninth round out of Baylor University in 2009, Volz spent his first season of professional baseball mowing down batters in the South Atlantic League. Volz made 26 appearances (24 starts) for the Drive. He went 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA, throwing 116.1 innings while fanning 94 batters while walking just 14, good for a 6.71 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Volz also pitched to a 1.21 WHIP on the season The 22-year-old is ranked number 43 in the SoxProspects.com rankings.

Starting Pitcher: Stolmy Pimentel

Signed as an international free agent in 2006, Pimentel joined the Red Sox organization at the young age of 17. This year, at 20 years of age, Pimentel earns his first SoxProspects.com All-Star honor. He led Salem with 102 strikeouts, pitching to a 9-11 record with a 4.06 ERA. He also pitched well enough to earn a spot on the 2010 Futures All-Star team. Pimentel allowed 120 hits and 42 walks in 128.2 innings, good for a 1.26 WHIP. The Dominican Republic native currently holds down the #9 spot in the SoxProspects.com rankings.

Relief Pitcher: Jason Rice

A Rule 5 pick of the Red Sox in 2008, Rice served as one of the closers for the 2010 Sea Dogs. Showcasing a live fastball and a decent curveball, Rice notched 13 saves in 48 appearances for Portland. In 60 innings pitched, Rice allowed 45 hits, with opposing batters hitting just .211 off him on the season. He notched a WHIP of 1.25, and fanned 71 batters for a 10.65 K/9 ratio, which was best on the team. Rice also earned a roster spot in the Eastern League All-Star Game, where he pitched the final 2/3 of an inning, allowing no hits and 1 walk.

Relief Pitcher: Robert Manuel

Though he's struggled a bit at the major league level this season, Manuel proved to be one of the PawSox best pitchers out of the bullpen in 2010. His 8 wins out of the bullpen led all Pawtucket pitchers. Overall, he was 8-2 for the PawSox with a 1.68 ERA. Manuel also featured superb control all season long, walking just 13 batters in 64.1 innings. His WHIP of 0.92 was also best on the team. Since being called up to the big leagues on July 3, however, Manuel has struggled to get hitters out at the major league level. He has walked 5 batters in 8.2 innings, and is pitching to a 5.56 ERA.

Relief Pitcher: Tom Ebert

As the only Red Sox affiliate to make the playoffs this season, Greenville's pitching staff was one of the bright spots in the organization. Ebert is the third Drive pitcher to be named to the SoxProspects.com All-Star Team. In 94.0 innings, he went 10-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 2010, with his 10 wins tied for the team lead. His 92 strikeouts were fifth on the team, though the four pitchers ahead of him all threw over 100 innings for the Drive. Ebert's WHIP of 1.13 was also tops among pitchers who spent the entire season in Greenville.

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