August 9, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Xander Bogaerts promoted to Portland
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (pictured) has been promoted from High A Salem to Double-A Portland, according to Salem Red Sox radio broadcaster Evan Lepler.
Bogaerts, widely regarded as the top prospect in the Red Sox minor league system, hit .302/.378/.505 with 15 home runs, 27 doubles and 64 RBI in 104 games for Salem this season. He did so while being well-ahead of the minor league age advancement scale at just 19 years of age. In fact, Bogaerts will become the second-youngest player in the Eastern League behind the Orioles' Dylan Bundy, who was just promoted following his start on Wednesday.
Fresh off of Carolina League Player of the Week honors, Bogaerts has been very impressive since the All-Star break, hitting .317/.395/.542 with six home runs and 22 RBI. The talented middle infielder will turn 20 on October 1 and was named to both the Carolina League All-Star team and the MLB Futures Game World Team this season, where he started as the designated hitter.
Originally signed as an international free agent in 2009, Bogaerts has quickly burst onto the prospect scene, including an impressive .260/.324/.509 showing with 16 home runs and 45 RBI in 72 games last season in his United States debut with the Low A Greenville Drive.
While many scouts expect that Bogaerts will eventually profile better at third base or potentially in the outfield, he has stuck to the shortstop position his entire minor league career, making 17 errors in 409 chances for the Red Sox this season.