Greenville roster full of exciting young talent, with Moncada to come

The Low-A Greenville Drive announced their roster today, highlighted by an exciting young infield that could be among the best in the minor leagues, particularly later in the season. Five of the seven infielders on the team are ranked in the top 26 by SoxProspects.com, including Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis, who figure to split time between third base and designated hitter. The announcement also confirmed that Yoan Moncada will begin the season in extended spring training, although a call up to Greenville should be coming a few weeks down the road. 

Javier Guerra and Mauricio Dubon will form a strong defensive middle infield, with both players having advanced defensive tools for their age. They have also shown strong contact skills at the plate, and will look to develop their approach in their first full season assignments. It is unclear how playing time will shake out between these two, Devers, and Chavis, but one possibility would have Guerra and Dubon alternating between shortstop and second base.

Ben Moore will continue his conversion to catching full-time after playing mostly in the outfield in college, with fellow 2014 draftee Jordan Procyshen also seeing time behind the dish. The all-M outfield will be patrolled by Joseph Monge, Derek Miller, Mike Meyers, and offseason addition Carlos Mesa, who was signed along with Moncada.

On the pitching side, Michael Kopech will be the top-rated prospect on the staff, as the 2014 first-round pick will make the jump to full-season ball at age 18. He will be joined by fellow 2014 pick Jalen Beeks, a left-hander who opened eyes in spring training with a fastball that topped out at 95 with life. Jamie Callahan and Ty Buttrey will be repeating the level to start the year, hoping to have more success the second time through after struggling in 2014. Jeffry Fernandez, Aaron Wilkerson, and Jake Drehoff are all candidates to fill out the rotation, while Chandler Shepherd and Williams Jerez are the most interesting bullpen arms on the roster.

The Drive will need to de-activate one player before Thursday's opening game. Assuming health across the board, that would likely be placing the third catcher on the phantom DL.

The full Greenville roster follows:

Pitchers

Kopech, Michael

Buttrey, Ty

Callahan, Jamie

Beeks, Jalen

Fernandez, Jeffry

Wilkerson, Aaron

Drehoff, Jake

Reilly, Reed

Shepherd, Chandler

Jerez, Williams

Alcantara, Mario

McEachern, Kuehl

Catchers

Moore, Ben

Procyshen, Jordan

Bethea, Danny

Infielders

Longhi, Nick

Dubon, Mauricio

Devers, Rafael

Guerra, Javier

Chavis, Michael

Tellez, Cisco

Lopez, Deiner

Outfielders

Miller, Derek

Monge, Joseph

Meyers, Mike

Mesa, Carlos

Photo Credit: Rafael Devers by Kelly O'Connor

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