This list was originally posted December 14th, 2007. This is NOT A NEW LIST!!! THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST AND OLD GRADES!!!!!!!!!
1) Clay Buchholz, RHP, Grade A
6.32 ERA with 71/37 K/BB in 73 innings for the Red Sox, 89 hits allowed. 2.47 ERA with 43/17 K/BB in 44 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket. Good example of why even Grade A pitching prospects carry big risks. He should still be really good eventually, if he stays healthy.
2) Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Grade A-
.271/.336/.375 with 38 steals for the Red Sox. He'll be fine.
3) Jed Lowrie, SS, Grade A-
Boy, I took a lot of crap for this one. Slow start looked bad, hit .268/.359/.434 in Triple-A but has looked great for the Red Sox, hitting .310/.368/.468 in the majors.
4) Lars Anderson, Grade B+
.317/.408/.513 at Class A Lancaster, .333/.427/.617 since being promoted to Double-A in late July. An elite first base prospect.
5) Michael Bowden, RHP, Grade B
2.33, 101/24 K/BB in 104 innings for Double-A Portland, 3.58 with 20/4 K/BB in 28 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket. Still reminds me of Jeff Suppan.
6) Justin Masterson, RHP, Grade B
3.36 ERA with 54/30 K/BB in 67 innings for the Red Sox, 50 hits allowed. Gets plenty of grounders, has probably been a bit lucky but a good young pitcher.
7) Nick Hagadone, LHP, Grade B
Went on the DL with a bad elbow after 10 innings of work for Class A Greenville.
8) Ryan Kalish, OF, Grade B
.281/.378/.356 with 18 steals for Greenville. Good strike zone judgment and speed, power hasn't blossomed this year.
9) Will Middlebrooks, 3B-SS, Grade B-
.241/.282/.340 for Lowell in the New York-Penn League.Strike zone judgment has been a big problem for him so far.
10) Josh Reddick, OF, Grade B-
.343/.375/.593 for Lancaster, but just .219/.282/.422 in 18 games of Double-A so far. Needs to make some adjustments.
11) Oscar Tejeda, SS, Grade B-
.243/.284/.310 for Greenville. Not very good hitting performance, but just 18 years old.
12) Aaron Bates, 1B, Grade B-
.275/.368/.411 for Portland. Capable of better, but was overrated at this grade.
13) Brandon Moss, OF, Grade C+
.282/.346/.528 for Pawtucket. Traded to Pirates, is a combined .256/.321/.432 in the majors. Should be a nice solid player.
14) Craig Hansen, RHP, Grade C+
Looked good at Pawtucket, 1.62 with a 17/5 K/BB in 17 innings and just six hits. Continues to struggle with command in the majors, 5.35 ERA with 25/29 K/BB in 35 innings between the Red Sox and Pirates.
15) Dustin Richardson, LHP, Grade C+
Pitched well in April, then fell apart, 7.13 ERA with 83/45 K/BB in 83 innings for Portland, 91 hits allowed. Good strikeout rate but everything else looks bad.
16) Reid Engel, OF, Grade C+
.248/.298/.396 for Lancaster in the Cal League, has had problems with the strike zone.
17) Yamaico Navarro, SS, Grade C+
.280/.341/.412 for Greenville, .347/.386/.525 in his first month for Lancaster. Just 20, looks like an intriguing player.
18) Ryan Dent, SS, Grade C+
.159/.266/.318 with 15 steals for Lowell, 70 strikeouts in 170 at-bats. Obviously has some serious problems making contact.
19) Zach Daeges, OF, Grade C+
.316/.420/.464 for Portland. Excellent strike zone judgment, but has hit just five homers making the full transition to Double-A.
20) Bubba Bell, OF, Grade C
.285/.363/.478 for Portland, showing more pop than Daeges though not as good at controlling the zone.
Overall things are going pretty well with the Red Sox system. Although Buchholz has had problems, I still think he's going to be a really good pitcher if he avoids health issues. Ellsbury hasn't been as lucky this year as last year, but I expect better in the future. I'm glad I took the chance with Lowrie. Bowden and Masterson look like solid inning-eaters.
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