2012 SoxProspects.com Players of the Year

During the 2012 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: Xander Bogaerts

After winning breakout player of the year honors last season, Bogaerts takes home Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2012. Widely regarded as the Red Sox top prospect, Bogaerts followed up his breakout 2011 campaign with an even more impressive 2012. The 19-year-old shortstop hit .307/.373/.523 with 20 home runs, 81 RBI and 37 doubles between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. Bogaerts continued to rack up accolades, being named a Carolina League All-Star and being named to the World Team in the MLB Futures Game. Currently ranked first overall on SoxProspects.com, Bogaerts will look to continue his rapid ascent towards the majors in 2013.

Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year: Matt Barnes

Ranked the second best prospect in the Red Sox system by SoxProspects.com, right-hander Matt Barnes is the lone award winner to take home multiple accolades. The 22-year-old Barnes made his professional debut in 2012 after being drafted in the first round of the 2011 amateur draft. In five starts with Low-A Greenville, Barnes was nearly perfect, compiling a 0.34 ERA and striking out 42 in 26.2 innings pitched. After a promotion to High-A Salem, Barnes continued to impress, going 5-5 with a 3.83 ERA in 20 starts, striking out 91 batters in 93.0 innings pitched. Like Bogaerts, Barnes was also a participant in the Futures Game and recorded the final two outs of the contest. The right-hander was also the recipient of seven SoxProspects.com Player of the Week honors this season.

Breakout Player of the Year: Jackie Bradley Jr. 

Another 2011 first round selection, Jackie Bradley Jr. burst on to the scene in 2012 after limited action in 2011. Starting off the year with High-A Salem, Bradley's bat was white hot as he hit .359/.480/.526 with 3 home runs, 34 RBI and 16 stolen bases. This blazing start earned Bradley a promotion to Double-A Portland, where he held his own in 61 games, hitting .271/.373/.437 with six home runs and 29 RBI. Bradley ends the 2012 season being ranked the third best prospects in the Red Sox system by SoxProspects.com




Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Almanzar

A highly anticipated international signing in the summer of 2007, Michael Almanzar entered the Red Sox system with high expectations. Almanzar was initially very highly regarded in the prospect world, possessing strong power potential as he grew into his frame. However, the product of the Dominican Republic failed to impress and struggled mightily at stops in Lowell, Greenville and Salem. Entering 2012, Almanzar was hardly on anyone's prospect radar screen but he had his best year professionally, hitting .300/.353/.458 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI as a member of High-A Salem. Almanzar is currently ranked 49th on SoxProspects.com.



DSL Player of the Year: Manuel Margot

17-year-old Manuel Margot was an exciting international prospect when he signed with the Red Sox last July for an $800,000 bonus. Margot exceeded most expectations this year by leading the Dominican Summer League squad to the playoffs as he hit .285/.382/.423 with four home runs, seven triples, 45 RBI and 33 stolen bases. Margot is currently ranked 57th on SoxProspects.com






Graduate of the Year: Will Middlebrooks

Perhaps the brightest spot in an otherwise dismal 2012 campaign for Boston was third baseman Will Middlebrooks. Expected by many to need significant playing time at Triple-A Pawtucket before making his major league debut, Middlebrooks got off to an amazing start to 2012, hitting 333/.380/.677 with nine home runs and 27 RBI in just 24 games for the PawSox. The blazing start led to Middlebrooks being promoted when an injury struck Boston third baseman Kevin Youkilis. The 24-year-old Middlebrooks took advantage of the opportunity and hit whenever he was in the lineup, eventually leading to the team trading Youkilis and installing Middlebrooks as the starting third baseman. Before a wrist injury ended his season in mid-August, Middlebrooks was hitting .288/.325/.509 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in his rookie season for the Red Sox. Before his rapid ascent to Boston, Middlebrooks was the top prospect on SoxProspects.com.

Ex-Prospect of the Year: Josh Reddick

After a solid 2011 with Boston during which he hit .280/.327/457 with seven home runs and 28 RBI, Josh Reddick was considered to be in contention for the starting right-fielder position with the Red Sox. Before that dream could become a reality for Reddick, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in a package for closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.  Seeing his potential from his short time with Boston, Oakland installed Reddick as their right-fielder and he immediately began to reward them. So far in 2012, Reddick has hit .252/.318/.481 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI.

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