Top Ten Prospects: Boston Red Sox
Complete Index of Top 10s

By Jim Callis
January 6, 2006

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Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2006.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Andy Marte, 3b 2. Jon Lester, lhp 3. Jonathan Papelbon, rhp 4. Craig Hansen, rhp 5. Dustin Pedroia, 2b/ss 6. Jacoby Ellsbury, of 7. Kelly Shoppach, c 8. Manny Delcarmen, rhp 9. Jed Lowrie, ss/2b 10. Clay Buchholz, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Dustin Pedroia Best Power Hitter Andy Marte Best Strike-Zone Discipline Dustin Pedroia Fastest Baserunner Jacoby Ellsbury Best Athlete Jacoby Ellsbury Best Fastball Craig Hansen Best Curveball Manny Delcarmen Best Slider Craig Hansen Best Changeup Randy Beam Best Control Abe Alvarez Best Defensive Catcher Kelly Shoppach Best Defensive Infielder Dustin Pedroia Best Infield Arm Andrew Pinckney Best Defensive Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury Best Outfield Arm Willy Mota

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Team Player, Pos. 2005 Org 1996 Donny Sadler, ss Out of baseball 1997 Nomar Garciaparra, ss Cubs 1998 Brian Rose, rhp Reds 1999 Dernell Stenson, of Deceased 2000 Steve Lomasney, c Reds 2001 Dernell Stenson, of/1b Deceased 2002 Seung Song, rhp Giants 2003 Hanley Ramirez, ss Red Sox 2004 Hanley Ramirez, ss Red Sox 2005 Hanley Ramirez, ss Red Sox

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Team Player, Pos. 2005 Org 1996 John Garrett, rhp Out of baseball 1997 John Curtice, lhp Out of baseball 1998 Adam Everett, ss Astros 1999 Rick Asadoorian, of Reds 2000 Phil Dumatrait, lhp Reds 2001 Kelly Shoppach, c (2nd round) Red Sox 2002 Jon Lester, lhp (2nd round) Red Sox 2003 David Murphy, of Red Sox 2004 Dustin Pedroia, ss (2nd round) Red Sox 2005 Jacoby Ellsbury, of Red Sox

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Rick Asadoorian, 1999 $1,725,000 Adam Everett, 1998 $1,725,000 Mike Rozier, 20004 $1,575,000 David Murphy, 2003 $1,525,000 Jacoby Ellsbury, 2005 $1,400,000

Perhaps the Red Sox’ New Year’s resolution should be to achieve resolution. As 2005 drew to a close, outfielder Manny Ramirez, who demanded a trade Oct. 29 and threatened to not report to spring training otherwise, remained Boston property.

But the burning question in Red Sox Nation is whether former general manager Theo Epstein will be in the club’s employ in 2006. Talks on a contact extension with team president Larry Lucchino broke down after they agreed on a three-year, $4.5 million deal, and Epstein stepped down on Oct. 31 without detailing the reasons behind his decision.

Yet rumors that Epstein, the architect of the 2004 championship team and the first three-year streak of postseason appearances in Boston history, will return in some capacity have persisted since he left. When the Red Sox officially replaced him with former Epstein lieutenants Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer on Dec. 12, Lucchino said at the press conference that Epstein was welcome to come back.

Cherington, 31, joined the Red Sox in 1999 as an area scout and was promoted to farm director in December 2002. Hoyer, 32, was hired by Cherington in 2002 and was an assistant to Epstein for the last two years.

Even if Epstein stays away, the in-house promotions mean that Boston will keep a good chunk of its braintrust. Assistant GM Josh Byrnes took the Diamondbacks’ GM job before Epstein resigned, and Byrnes brought director of baseball operations Peter Woodfork with him. But Cherington and Hoyer are obviously sticking around, as is scouting director Jason McLeod. The Red Sox also would like to retain special assistants Bill Lajoie and Craig Shipley, though Lajoie, 71, has health issues, and Shipley may join Byrnes and Woodfork in Arizona.

All the front-office machinations and the sudden loss of Johnny Damon have helped obscure the fact that the Red Sox system is percolating with its most talent in years. Jonathan Papelbon came up at midseason and quickly asserted himself as the top set-up man in a beleaguered bullpen. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, catcher Kelly Shoppach, righty relievers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen and lefty starter Jon Lester may be counted on for key contributions in 2006. The Red Sox had the prospect depth to not have to think twice about including shortstop Hanley Ramirez, righthander Anibal Sanchez and two power arms in a November blockbuster that landed them Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota from the Marlins.

Boston also added plenty of talent in 2005. In his first draft as scouting director, McLeod had five picks before the second round. All five of his choices—outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, Hansen, righthanders Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden, infielder Jed Lowrie—had very promising debuts. At the Winter Meetings, the Red Sox traded for a blue-chip prospect, getting third baseman Andy Marte from the Braves for Edgar Renteria.

 

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