June 7, 2016 at 7:20 PM
Drive send five to South Atlantic League All-Star Game
Five players will represent the Greenville Drive in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on June 21. First baseman Josh Ockimey (pictured) will start at designated hitter for the Southern Division All-Stars, while Luis Alejandro Basabe will serve as a utility infielder and Tate Matheny as a utility outfielder. Right-handers Jake Cosart and Roniel Raudes were named to the pitching staff.
Ockimey began the season as the 37th-ranked prospect on SoxProspects.com, but has jumped up to 20th with a fantastic start to the year. Through 49 games in Greenville, Ockimey is slashing .298/.437/.538 with nine home runs and 12 doubles. Compared to last season in Lowell, he has cut his strikeout rate from 34.1% to 23.5% and increased his walk rate from 10.9% to an incredible 19.7%.
Basabe was overshadowed by his twin brother Luis Alexander Basabe to start the season, but has made a name for himself with a .291/.390/.430 line and 11 stolen bases in 42 games. Basabe has good speed, but questions about his hit and power tools. He has split time between second base and shortstop this season.
Raudes was dominant in the Dominican Summer League and Gulf Coast League last season and received the promotion to full season ball, where he has continued to pitch well. The 18-year-old has a 3.21 ERA with 8.57 K/9 and 1.71 BB/9 in 42 innings this season. He is the second-youngest player in the South Atlantic League, behind teammate Anderson Espinoza.
The Red Sox drafted Cosart as a project in the third round of the 2014 draft and he has improved dramatically this season after being moved to the bullpen full-time. In 28 1/3 innings this season, he has a 2.22 ERA with 12.71 K/9 and 5.08 BB/9.
Matheny struggled in Lowell after being drafted in the fourth round last season, but he has handled Greenville better, hitting .295/.333/.442 with four home runs after missing the first half of April due to injury. Matheny has solid but not outstanding tools all-around, and has been splitting time between right and center field for the Drive.
In the SoxProspects.com rankings currently: Ockimey is 20th, Raudes is 23rd, Basabe is 24th, Cosart is 31st, and Matheny is 41st.
Photo Credit: Josh Ockimey by Kelly O'Connor