Boston Red Sox: 5 Prospects Who Could Make a Big Splash in 2012

The Boston Red Sox have many question marks entering the 2012 season, and it looks like Sox fans will see quite a few prospects make their way to Fenway this year.

Some will come up for brief, one- or two-game appearances, but others will come into permanent positions that they will potentially hold for multiple seasons.

Here are five prospects who have a chance to make a big splash in Boston in 2012.

Jose Iglesias

For a few years now, Red Sox fans have been hearing about Jose Iglesias and how he is the future Gold Glove-winning shortstop for Boston.

Iglesias' time may have finally come.

The youngster made 10 appearances for the Red Sox in 2011, obtaining six plate appearances and really only coming into the games as a defensive replacement.

While with Triple-A Pawtucket, Iglesias only batted .235 which brings his hitting ability into question. But there is always time for improvement.

Fans have been waiting for Iglesias to make his presence known at Fenway—with just Mike Aviles and Nick Punto as the shortstops in Boston, there is a great chance that Iglesias will get solid playing time.

Then, if he plays well, he can take up the position for good.

Ryan Kalish

Ryan Kalish first made his debut with the Red Sox during the 2010 season when Boston was dealing with injuries in the outfield.

Kalish batted .252 in 53 games, showing real promise that excited Red Sox Nation. By this time, J.D. Drew had officially become hated in Boston and everyone wanted to see Kalish as the next Red Sox right fielder.

Unfortunately, Kalish was injured for the majority of 2011 and was only able to play in 24 minor-league games. Josh Reddick took his place as the injury replacement in Boston and greatly excelled, which brought up the question: Will Reddick or Kalish be the starter in right in 2012?

Reddick was then traded to the Oakland A's for Andrew Bailey, opening the door for Kalish to become the starting right fielder. One surgery for a torn labrum later, Kalish will miss the beginning of 2012.

Kalish will return, maybe in May, maybe in June, but when he does he will be a strong candidate to be the everyday right fielder over the likes of Cody Ross, Ryan Sweeney and Darnell McDonald.

He has the opportunity to be a great player in Boston, and his reign in right field could very well start this year.

Alex Wilson

In 2011, Alex Wilson started 21 games in Portland and finished with a 9-4 record with a 3.05 ERA before being called up to Pawtucket, where he started four games, achieving a 3.43 ERA.

The 25-year-old is poised to be one of the top starters for Pawtucket once the season starts, and with all the instability in Boston's pitching, he will almost definitely be seen at Fenway in 2012.

When he does finally get his shot, he will have a great chance of making an impression on Ben Cherington and Bobby Valentine, and could possibly find his way into the rotation permanently.

I, for one, hate that the Sox are even considering taking Bard and Aceves out of the bullpen where they have been so dominant.

If Wilson can make an impact in 2012, maybe one of them can stay in the bullpen and Wilson can earn a spot in the rotation.

Ryan Lavarnway

Ryan Lavarnway crushed 32 home runs between Portland and Pawtucket in 2011, and added two more when he arrived at Fenway late in the season.

As David Ortiz nears the end of his career and Jason Varitek's career appears to be over, Lavarnway's arrival onto the scene as catcher and DH couldn't have been timed more perfectly. 

The Sox signed Kelly Shoppach to back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia this offseason, which probably means that Lavarnway will start the season in Pawtucket.

But if Lavarnway can continue to build off his 2011 surge, we can expect to see him with Boston by the All-Star break, playing regularly and possibly becoming the DH of the future who can catch every five games or so.

Junichi Tazawa

Junichi Tazawa missed all of 2010 in Boston's farm system due to injury and was therefore set back.

In 2011, Tazawa moved through the system in his comeback year and even made it up to Fenway when the roster was expanded to 40 men. He had three appearances out of the bullpen and pitched OK at best, but there was potential.

The Red Sox always have a reliever injured at some point, and they will need youngsters to step up throughout 2012. Tazawa will definitely be one of those players.

If Tazawa can be consistent and not like Boston's previous Japanese project, the 25-year-old could become a staple of Boston's bullpen.

Will all five of these guys have breakout seasons in 2012? Probably not, but it's safe to say that they all have the potential to find permanent spots in Boston's roster.