The View from Landsdowne Street: Grading the Boston Red Sox Minor League System

At only 20 years of age, Kalish is like the rest of the prospects his age...raw. He dedicated last season in Lowell to being taught everything he needed to know, and his athleticism helped him catch on quick.

He looks like he should be playing running back for a D-1 college team right now the way he is built, but instead he uses his plus speed and strong arm to survive in the minor league outfields. He is an above-average defensive outfielder, but where he could become a star is at the plate.

For someone as strong as him, Kalish does not have a lot of power. He can hit home runs.  He just doesn't do it often.

Instead he uses an advanced approach at the plate and a line-drive swing to put himself on the base paths. His numbers in Greenville are pedestrian (.280/.363/.727), but he is still learning, and his curve is steep.

Behind those two players they all sort of fall in a heap, with no one seperating themselves as an uber-talent: Che-Hsuan Lin, Jason Place, and Chris Carter are the other outfielders among the best.

They are followed by a motley crue of Bubba Bell, Zach Daeges, and Reid Engel.

Lin reminds many of Ichiro with his speed and grace in the outfield. He is meant to be a centerfielder, and if he develops as a hitter, he could be a dangerous weapon at the top of the lineup.

Place is a five-tool talent who has yet to put it all together yet. He has a lot of power and a rocket arm in the outfield. He looks better suited for a corner outfield position but the Red Sox say they will keep him in center. He strikes out a lot, but with added experience could become a stud.

Carter is the most advanced of the outfielders. He hits a lot of home runs and has an advanced approach at the plate. The only worry is that he is new to the outfield and seems to be a butcher defensively wherever he plays. Also, some fear he may have already hit his ceiling.

Grade: A-

Starting Pitching:

Even without Justin Masterson included in this discussion, the Red Sox have a lot of options for their future in the rotation.

With Masterson in the discussion, they have a deep talent pool to choose from.

Masterson has now shown what he can do on a major league level, and while he is being used out of the bullpen now, the long term solution will be that Masterson remains a starter down the road.

Not far behind Masterson is Michael Bowden. Bowden was drafted in the first round in 2005 straight out of high school, and the big right-hander has not disappointed since joining the ranks of the professionals.

With command of three plus major league pitches, a mid 90's fastball, a hard curveball, and a circle change-up that drops off the table, Bowden could be pitching in the big leagues right now, but there is no need to rush him as he is only 21.

He is an all-star again this year and has probably been the most dominant pitcher in the Eastern League thus far. He is 8-4 with a 2.36 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.00. He also has struck out 93 batters in 99 innings, while walking only 22 and holding opponents to a .188 BAA.

This control is what will make him an effective major league pitcher because he can pound the strike zone in order to set hitters up for that devastating change up.

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