Notes from the Field: Kutter Crawford, Brett Netzer and more

At the end of March, the SoxProspects Staff made their annual trip to Minor League Spring Training. Over the next few weeks their notes and observations will be featured on SoxProspects News. Here is the eighth feature from Spring Training highlighting five more Red Sox prospects.

6-foot-1, 190-pound right-hander Kutter Crawford the club’s sixteenth-round selection in 2017, signing for $125,000 out of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Crawford threw three innings, striking out four hitters including striking out the side in his first inning of work. There is effort in his delivery, and his four-pitch mix flattened considerably while his command faltered after the first inning, indicating a relief profile down the road. Crawford’s fastball was 91-93 mph, complemented by a cutter at 85-87 mph, a curveball at 77-78 mph, and a changeup that was thrown sparingly and tough to distinguish from the cutter because of its similar velocity. It’s a fringe-average package across the board, with the cutter, coincidentally his go-to pitch, showing hard, late cutting action.

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6-foot, 195 pound second baseman Brett Netzer was drafted in the third round of the 2017 draft and signed for $475,000. In a very limited look, Netzer appeared to have a quick, smooth, line drive stroke from the left side with bat control and the ability to recognize spin. In his first at-bat during a game, he was in a 2-2 count and stayed right on curveball that was up-and-away, spraying a line drive to left-field for a hit. Netzer also impressed with his soft hands and actions at second base taking ground balls during morning workouts. However, his average arm, average speed and fringe power gives him a second base-only profile, putting lots of pressure on the hit tool. He opened the year in High A Salem.

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6-foot-1, 185-pound right-hander Jared Oliver was the club’s twenty-sixth-round pick in the 2016 draft, signing for $10,000. Oliver has an athletic, medium build with a quick arm and max-effort delivery. The fastball was 93-95 mph, and he struggled to control it, the pitch often sailing high to the arm side as he walked a pair of hitters. The slider and curveball were serviceable offerings that will need further development/consistency. He has opened the year out of the bullpen in High A Salem.

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6-foot-4, 180-pound outfielder Marino Campana immediately stands out with a strong, physical frame. Campana, acquired in 2014 out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000, showed off one carrying tool in his raw power from the right side, putting it on display during morning rounds of batting practice and hitting a pair of homers during game action during the trip. In his first at-bat that I saw, he jumped on a first-pitch fastball up-and-in, turning on the pitch and pulling it into the woods beyond the fence. The problem lies in his approach. He cheats on every pitch, opening his front side early and looking to pull everything with his max-effort, long swing. There’s lots of swing-and-miss in his swing that, combined with poor pitch recognition, figures to give him trouble going forward. He is a fringe-average corner outfielder defensively as well, putting lots of pressure on the bat going forward. He opened the year in Low A Greenville.

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6-foot-2, 190-pound infielder Jecorrah Arnold signed for $50,000 as an undrafted free agent last season. Arnold looks the part with his athletic build and showed some feel to hit from the right side, sending a few line drives up the middle after being aggressive early in counts. Arnold played some shortstop, where he appeared to have enough arm but struggled with the glove. He showed poor footwork, charging in on a ground ball that he ended up booting and in another instance ranging to his left up the middle, bobbling the ball, and being unable to make a throw. He also took groundballs at third base during morning workouts and I happened to catch him booting consecutive routine ground balls, so the glove work is something to keep an eye on. Arnold is an average runner and will outgrow the middle infield, probably settling in at third. There’s not much of a carrying tool with Arnold, but rather a raw, athletic, 19-year-old that showed some feel at the plate and needs some reps. He started the season in extended spring training and will attempt to earn an assignment to Lowell.

Photo credit: Kutter Crawford, Brett Netzer and Marino Campana by Kelly O'Connor.

Chaz Fiorino is Assistant Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @cbfiorino.

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