June 2, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Players of the Month, May: Alex Wilson & Bryce Brentz
A pair of former high round draftees are our SoxProspects Players of the Month for May. Double-A Portland righthander Alex Wilson and High-A Salem's Bryce Brentz are both receipents of the award for the first time. Wilson took home Player of the Week honors last week and Brentz earned SoxProspects and South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors for the week of May 9-15. Wilson, 24 was a second round selection by the Red Sox in the 2009 amateur draft. After finding initial sucess in 2009 with Short-Season Lowell and in early 2010 with Salem, Wilson was promoted to Portland where he struggled for the first time as a professional. Wilson started off 2011 in Portland once again, and has used the month of May to show everyone why he was so highly regarded by Boston in 2009. During the month, Wilson made six starts, going 1-2 with a 2.16 ERA while striking out 30 and walking only 9 in 33.1 innings pitched. For the season, Wilson is 4-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 10 starts. His impressive 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio has enabled him to emerge as the Sea Dogs staff ace.
Brentz, 22, is in his sopohmore season as a professional, after being selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2010 amateur draft. In his initial foray professionally, Brentz struggled as a member of the Lowell Spinners, hitting just .198/.259/.340 with 5 home runs and 39 RBI. 2011 has been a totally different story for the power hitting right fielder, as he has been hot at the plate the entire season. Starting off the season with Low-A Greenville, Brentz hit .359/.414/.647 and was promoted to Salem just a few weeks ago. During the month of May, Brentz hit .356/.404/.713 with 8 home runs, 19 RBI and 7 doubles between Greenville and Salem. In total, Brentz is hitting .361/.413/.672 with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.