Boston Red Sox: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the Red Sox Farm System

An offseason filled with turmoil and change has done nothing to alter the high expectations that the Boston Red Sox have. It will be a tough mountain to climb in the American League East, but the cupboard is far from bare for this team.

The farm system has a number of intriguing players, though most of them are in the lower levels of the minors. They are not as strong as they have been in years past, but if a few youngsters show the progress expected, things will look a lot better. 

In the meantime, here are the five best prospects in the Red Sox farm system as we head into the 2012 season. 

1. Xander Bogaerts, 19, Shortstop

Bogaerts had a breakout season in 2011, though he only played in 72 games. He shot up to the top of the Red Sox list thanks to his tremendous power and natural athletic ability. There are still a few years of development ahead for him, but the future is bright.

Strengths: Despite being just 19 years old, Bogaerts already shows the ability to hit for a lot of power. He slugged .509 in high-Class-A last season, with 32 extra-base hits in 265 at-bats. He has a strong throwing arm that will serve him well at shortstop, though he is likely going to move off the position as his body grows. His future is at third base or a corner outfield spot. 

Weaknesses: His approach at the plate still needs work. He doesn't like to take a lot of walks, and has shown little ability to hit off-speed pitches in his first two seasons. He will have to learn a new defensive position eventually, though the Red Sox are going to keep him at short as long as possible. 

Report: Bogaerts' power, bat speed, athleticism and projection give him the most upside in the system. He has an All-Star ceiling thanks to his bat, and as long as he takes to his new position when he moves, he should be fine defensively. His arm is strong and accurate. 

ETA: 2015

2. Will Middlebrooks, 23, Third Base

While Bogaerts is at the top of this list thanks to his upside, Middlebrooks has All-Star potential and is Major League Baseball-ready right now. He has improved his performance and skills at every level of the minors, which is what you want to see from a young player learning to play the game. 

Strengths: He has great tools for third base. His throwing arm is strong and accurate, he has good footwork and soft hands. He has good power potential with his bat, and could turn into a 25-home run player. He has terrific bat speed with good leverage and hip rotation in his swing. 

Weaknesses: Despite his power projection, the jury is still out on whether Middlebrooks will improve his all-around approach to hit for average and take walks. He has just 121 free passes in 1,457 minor league at-bats. 

Report: As long as Middlebrooks can figure out how to make enough contact to be a .260-.270 hitter, he should be fine. He could stand to get more seasoning in Triple-A before coming to Boston. His glove will play, and he could be an occasional Gold Glove winner at third base. 

ETA: 2013

3. Blake Swihart, 19, Catcher

Catching has been a source of many problems for the Red Sox over the last two years, so it would make sense that they would draft the best one available last year. Swihart is not close to big-league ready, but he does have tremendous potential as one of the most athletic backstops in the game. 

Strengths: It is very rare to find a catcher who is athletic and has at least average speed, but Swihart is not like most catchers. He is a switch-hitter with good power potential from both sides of the plate, and the ability to hit for a high average. He has a strong throwing arm, as well as receiving skills behind the plate. 

Weaknesses: As good as Swihart looks on film, he very little professional experience to judge him by. He will have to show that he can turn his skills into performance on the field. Right now, he is all projection. There is risk involved in ranking him this high, but the tools are there for him to be a success. 

Report: We will have a much better understanding of where Swihart's game is at in a few months. For now, we can just talk about how impressive he looks behind the plate and with a bat from his high school days. He has the potential to be an All-Star catcher. 

ETA: 2016

4. Bryce Brentz, 23, Outfield

Brentz showed great power last season across two levels, hitting 30 home runs in just 458 at-bats. He made a statement and improved his stock dramatically after last season. He still has a few things to work out, but he could be a fixture in the middle of the Red Sox lineup soon. 

Strengths: His power is his best weapon, and there is no reason to think he won't hit 30 homers annually. He has the best bat speed in the system, which allows him to put a charge into the ball. His average spiked last year thanks to a concerted effort to shorten his swing and make more contact. 

Weaknesses: As pretty as the home runs are, Brentz is still learning the concept of plate discipline. He needs to work counts deeper and learn to take walks when they are there. His defense has been problematic throughout his career, though he does have a good throwing arm. He needs to read the ball better off the bat and make more accurate throws. 

Report: The adjustments made in 2011, along with the big power numbers he is going to put up, make Brentz a potential masher for the Red Sox. He should continue to develop into an average hitter with 30-to-35 home runs. Playing left field in Fenway is not going to help his defensive issues, but as long as he is adequate everything will be fine. 

ETA: 2014

5. Garin Cecchini, 20, Third Base

Like Swihart, Cecchini is still young enough to be a risky bet to reach his potential. That said, he did show a lot with the short season club last year and projects to be a star. The road to Fenway will take some time, but he is going to make plenty of noise along the way. 

Strengths: Cecchini is a terrific hitter. He has shown the ability to read the ball out of the pitcher's hand, and makes good, solid contact every time. His plate discipline is ahead of where it usually is for someone his age. He should have good power numbers at his peak, though he will not be a masher. He has good lateral movement, soft hands and a good arm at third base. 

Weaknesses: He only played in 32 games last year after suffering a broken wrist when he was hit by a pitch. Injuries have followed him around throughout his career—he suffered a torn ACL three months before he was drafted in 2010. He is new to third base and still has work to do before he is comfortable over there. 

Report: Injury concerns aside, Cecchini is one of the best pure hitters in the Red Sox system. He projects to hit for a high average and on-base percentage, with good power. His defense should get better with repetitions. His ceiling could get higher, depending on what he does with a full-season team. 

ETA: 2015

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