September 16, 2011 at 2:28 PM
2011 SoxProspects.com Players of the Year
During the 2011 season many players had impressive individual performances. The players listed below were voted by the SoxProspects.com community as Players of the Year based on their outstanding seasons.
Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Lavarnway
For the third straight year, Ryan Lavarnway ran away with the vote for best offensive player in the Red Sox system. In 116 games split between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, the 24-year-old catcher batted .290/.376/.563 with 32 home runs and 93 RBI. In addition to the great offensive season, coaches have commended his strong work ethic and strides made defensively since entering the system. Lavarnway earned his first call-up to the Majors Leagues on August 18 as a result of his strong showing. In 8 games with the Red Sox, Lavarnway is 7 for 28 with 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 4 walks. He ends the season ranked sixth in the Red Sox system by SoxProspects.com.
Pitcher of the Year: Alex Wilson
After being promoted to Double-A Portland mid-way through the 2010 season, Alex Wilson struggled to a 6.66 ERA in his 16-start debut. He turned that around in a major way this season, holding opponents to a 3.05 ERA in 21 starts with the Sea Dogs while striking out 99 in 112.0 innings. With the success came accolades, including a SoxProspects.com Player of the Week and Month award in May along with being named an Eastern League and SoxProspects.com All-Star. He received a late season promotion to Triple-A, in which he held his own with 24 strikeouts in 21.0 innings and a 3.43 ERA. He also received one SoxProspects.com Player of the Week award during this time. Having undergone Tommy John surgery in 2008, Wilson has battled back to become one of the most reliable pitchers in the Red Sox system. The right-hander ends the season ranked 15th on SoxProspects.com
Rookie of the Year: Sean Coyle
Appearing in just three games for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in 2010, Sean Coyle put together an impressive rookie campaign for the Low-A Greenville Drive in 2011. In 106 games, Coyle showed an impressive combination of power and speed with 14 home runs, 27 doubles, and 7 triples, along with 20 stolen bases. It was an up-and-down season for Coyle who struggled out of the gate and in June, but still managed to post a line of hit .247/362/.464 for the season. The 5'8” 19-year-old battled through injuries to win the SoxProspects.com All-Star award as the top second baseman in the system for the season. Lowell third baseman Garin Cecchini finished second for Rookie of the Year with 22-percent of the vote. Coyle ends the 2011 season ranked 11th on SoxProspects.com.
Breakout Player of the Year: Xander Bogaerts
One of the younger players in the system at 18 years old, shortstop Xander Bogaerts followed up his SoxProspects.com Rookie of the Year award in 2010 by breaking out in a big way in 2011. In 72 games for the Low-A Greenville Drive, Bogaerts hit .260/.324/.509 with 16 home runs and 14 doubles. The aggressive promotion directly from the Dominican Summer League to Greenville proved to be the right move for Bogaerts who excelled as one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League. In a close vote, outfielder Bryce Brentz trailed Bogaerts by about nine-percent for Breakout Player after hitting 31 home runs on the season. Regarded by many as one of the players with the highest ceiling in the Red Sox system, Bogaerts ends 2011 ranked fourth on SoxProspects.com.
Comeback Player of the Year: Tommy Hottovy
Drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2004 Draft, left-hander Tommy Hottovy spent eight years in Boston's system, making it to Triple-A only briefly for the first time in 2010. The Red Sox essentially took a flier offering him a minor league contract during Spring Training this season, but with a tweak to his mechanics, dropping his arm slot, he pitched well enough to earn a brief call-up to The Show this season. Following Tommy John surgery in 2008, Hottovy never seemed to be able to consistently get Double-A hitters out and began his sixth season with Portland this year. The 29-year-old finished with a 2.75 ERA in 36.0 innings pitched with Pawtucket. He pitched 4.0 innings with the Big League team, mostly utilized in a left-handed specialist role.
Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Lavarnway
For the third straight year, Ryan Lavarnway ran away with the vote for best offensive player in the Red Sox system. In 116 games split between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, the 24-year-old catcher batted .290/.376/.563 with 32 home runs and 93 RBI. In addition to the great offensive season, coaches have commended his strong work ethic and strides made defensively since entering the system. Lavarnway earned his first call-up to the Majors Leagues on August 18 as a result of his strong showing. In 8 games with the Red Sox, Lavarnway is 7 for 28 with 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 4 walks. He ends the season ranked sixth in the Red Sox system by SoxProspects.com.Pitcher of the Year: Alex Wilson
After being promoted to Double-A Portland mid-way through the 2010 season, Alex Wilson struggled to a 6.66 ERA in his 16-start debut. He turned that around in a major way this season, holding opponents to a 3.05 ERA in 21 starts with the Sea Dogs while striking out 99 in 112.0 innings. With the success came accolades, including a SoxProspects.com Player of the Week and Month award in May along with being named an Eastern League and SoxProspects.com All-Star. He received a late season promotion to Triple-A, in which he held his own with 24 strikeouts in 21.0 innings and a 3.43 ERA. He also received one SoxProspects.com Player of the Week award during this time. Having undergone Tommy John surgery in 2008, Wilson has battled back to become one of the most reliable pitchers in the Red Sox system. The right-hander ends the season ranked 15th on SoxProspects.comRookie of the Year: Sean Coyle
Appearing in just three games for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in 2010, Sean Coyle put together an impressive rookie campaign for the Low-A Greenville Drive in 2011. In 106 games, Coyle showed an impressive combination of power and speed with 14 home runs, 27 doubles, and 7 triples, along with 20 stolen bases. It was an up-and-down season for Coyle who struggled out of the gate and in June, but still managed to post a line of hit .247/362/.464 for the season. The 5'8” 19-year-old battled through injuries to win the SoxProspects.com All-Star award as the top second baseman in the system for the season. Lowell third baseman Garin Cecchini finished second for Rookie of the Year with 22-percent of the vote. Coyle ends the 2011 season ranked 11th on SoxProspects.com.Breakout Player of the Year: Xander Bogaerts
One of the younger players in the system at 18 years old, shortstop Xander Bogaerts followed up his SoxProspects.com Rookie of the Year award in 2010 by breaking out in a big way in 2011. In 72 games for the Low-A Greenville Drive, Bogaerts hit .260/.324/.509 with 16 home runs and 14 doubles. The aggressive promotion directly from the Dominican Summer League to Greenville proved to be the right move for Bogaerts who excelled as one of the youngest players in the South Atlantic League. In a close vote, outfielder Bryce Brentz trailed Bogaerts by about nine-percent for Breakout Player after hitting 31 home runs on the season. Regarded by many as one of the players with the highest ceiling in the Red Sox system, Bogaerts ends 2011 ranked fourth on SoxProspects.com.Comeback Player of the Year: Tommy Hottovy
Drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2004 Draft, left-hander Tommy Hottovy spent eight years in Boston's system, making it to Triple-A only briefly for the first time in 2010. The Red Sox essentially took a flier offering him a minor league contract during Spring Training this season, but with a tweak to his mechanics, dropping his arm slot, he pitched well enough to earn a brief call-up to The Show this season. Following Tommy John surgery in 2008, Hottovy never seemed to be able to consistently get Double-A hitters out and began his sixth season with Portland this year. The 29-year-old finished with a 2.75 ERA in 36.0 innings pitched with Pawtucket. He pitched 4.0 innings with the Big League team, mostly utilized in a left-handed specialist role.