Boston Red Sox MLB Draft Results: Scouting Profiles for 2012 Picks

With three of the first 37 selections in tonight’s 2012 MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox have a tremendous opportunity to add several fine players to their already strong farm system.

While this year’s draft pool has been criticized as not being particularly strong, by virtue of having so many choices near the top of the draft the Red Sox will have as good a chance as any team to find a future star with one of their early selections.

While there are several intriguing pitching and hitting choices likely to be available, a lot of what the Sox will do depends simply on who is available. As in any professional draft, the domino effect of one player being selected can vastly change how a team approaches their own picks.

The Red Sox organization is rich in young hitting prospects at the moment, with SoxProspects.com deeming position players as eight of their top 10 prospects. Fans can expect, then, that the team will likely use two of its first three selections to add a couple pitchers.

With four of their five starters developed entirely through their farm system, the Sox have a strong foundation in place for cultivating the talent of their young hurlers and getting them to the big leagues. Fans should expect for one of the names called today to become a fixture at Fenway in the not too distant future.

Who that person will be is an entirely different issue.

As Jonathan Mayo wrote for MLB.com this morning, there is quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding this entire draft. From the top pick on down, no team quite seems to know what to do with its pick. Because they won’t be choosing until 24th, the Sox will have to be patient as the early portion of the draft plays out and other organizations figure out what they want.

Over the course of the next two days, keep checking back here for updates on all of the Sox’s draft choices. Beginning with their first choice tonight, we’ll have quick facts and analysis about how each player could potentially impact the organization going forward.

Stay tuned!

Tenth Round, 331st Overall

J.T. Watkins, C, U.S. Military Academy at West Point

The son of a Red Sox area scout, Watkins is a solid player who has been the starter behind the plate for all four of his seasons at Army.

This past season he hit a solid .316 in 45 starts, swatting a team-leading five home runs and driving in 31. He also showed off an excellent arm, catching 19 of 40 runners attempting to steal.

He should fit in well in the Sox system, as they have done an excellent job developing catchers. One thing that bears watching is when Watkins will be able to join the team, as his Army service may preclude him from starting his career immediately.

Ninth Round, 301st Overall

Mike Miller, SS, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Miller, an experienced senior infielder, will give the Sox excellent organizational depth. His experience in the middle infield and advanced age make him a cheap, safe alternative to younger and more volatile prospects.

Miller led the team with a .354 batting average, outpacing his more highly-touted teammate Mitch Haniger. Though he doesn't have great power (he hit just three home runs), the shortstop is a fine addition for the Sox.

Because of the franchise's great depth at shortstop, including first round pick Deven Marrero, Miller's future could be at either second or third base.

Eighth Round, 271st Overall

Nathan Minnich, 1B, Shepherd College

Finally, a hitter.

Minnich starred at West Virginia's Shepherd College, winning the 2012 Tino Martinez Award as the most outstanding player in Division II college baseball.

In 52 games, the burly first baseman put up monster numbers. He hit a robust .487, crushing 21 home runs and driving in 72. His gargantuan .980 slugging percentage and 1.625 OPS greatly impressed the Sox, who are looking to add some power to their minor league ranks.

Seventh Round, 241st Overall

Kyle Kraus, RHP, University of Portland

The Sox have drafted yet another pitcher here, and this one fits the team’s philosophy of drafting accomplished college players over younger, unproven high schoolers.

Kraus was the workhorse of the Portland pitching staff this season, tossing 111.0 innings over his 16 starts. His 2.03 ERA was exemplary, and his seven wins were tied for the team lead.

While he doesn’t strike out a lot of hitters (only 61), he also has exceptional control; he walked just 14 batters, a tremendous ratio that the Sox will hope he can continue as he enters the professional ranks.

Sixth Round, 211th Overall

Justin Haley, RHP, Fresno State

The Sox have added another college arm here, grabbing Fresno State Junior Justin Haley in the sixth round. At 6’ 5” and 225, Haley has an MLB-ready body to go with excellent stuff.

Haley fared well in his first full season on the hill for Fresno State after transferring and seeing limited time as a sophomore. The right-hander went 7-4 with a 3.28 ERA in 22 appearances for the Bulldogs, including 12 starts.

Fifth Round, 181st Overall

Mike Augliera, RHP, Binghamton University

At 6’ and 200 lbs., Augliera already has the body of a big league pitcher. Pitching in relative obscurity in upstate New York, the right-hander accumulated the most wins in Binghamton history (23) over his four-year career.

As a first team All-America East, Augliera had an excellent senior season. He logged 83 strikeouts and a paltry seven walks in 82.2 innings as he amassed a 3.16 ERA overall, leading the Bearcat pitching staff.

With his excellent control, Augliera is a nice addition to the Red Sox organization. He’ll need to progress quickly, though, given that at age 22 he is rapidly approaching a key period in his development.

Fourth Round, 151st Overall

Ty Buttrey, RHP, Providence Senior HS (North Carolina)

The Sox have sprung for another pitcher, this one a projectable young fireballer. He caught everyone’s attention by showing a jump in his velocity at the beginning of the draft season, but faded over the course of the year as he began to fatigue.

Nevertheless, Buttrey is a highly rated player with good size. He has had some problems repeating his delivery, but with the type of instruction he’ll receive in the Sox organization he should be able to work through his inconsistency.

Buttrey is committed to Arkansas, so he will have a tough choice to make between the Sox and the Razorbacks.

Third Round, 118th Overall

Austin Maddox, RHP, Florida

Maddox has spent time as the closer for the Gators, and has the potential to be a solid reliever for the Sox organization. An effective two-way player over the course of his college career, Maddox will now shift to pitching exclusively.

He throws his fastball between 92 and 96 MPH, and also possesses a slider that needs some work.

One of the nice things about drafting Maddox is that even though he may not be the next great closer, the Sox can expect to see him quickly zoom through the farm system and up to the MLB club. He has the makeup and stuff to make a speedy transition to the big leagues, and he is a name Sox fans will want to be familiar with.

Second Round, 87th Overall

Jamie Callahan, RHP, Dillon HS (South Carolina)

Although he is currently committed to attend the University of Texas, Callahan would be a nice pickup for the Sox organization. After firing an other-worldly 113 Ks in 50.0 high school innings, the right-hander definitely has the ability to be a solid big league strikeout pitcher.

He has a fastball that can reach 95 MPH, although his best pitch may be his vicious 12-6 curveball. Like with many dominant high school hurlers, his other pitches still need some development.

Should he decide to sign, Callahan could help the Sox strengthen the organization’s starting pitching depth.

Compensation Round, 37th Overall

Pat Light, RHP, Monmouth

After a start to his career that saw Light rely heavily upon only his fastball, Light has developed a solid slider that has been very effective against left-handers. As a result, he'll get a chance to start right away.

At 6' 6" and 200 lbs., Light has the body of a big league pitcher. There have been questions about his mechanics, though, and that may end up sending him to the bullpen by the time he reaches the big leagues.

First Round, 31st Overall

Brian Johnson, LHP, Florida

Johnson is a nice pick for the Sox, given his experience and his ability to mix his pitches. While he will never be a true top of the rotation starter, he does have the skill set to reach the Major Leagues and contribute right away.

Johnson led the Gators in innings pitched this past season and was tied for first in wins. While he won’t overpower hitters with his 88-92 MPH fastball, Johnson is just solid enough that he will be able to get hitters out at all levels.

Given the Sox’s ability to develop their pitchers, they can expect good things from this pick in the very near future.

First Round, 24th Overall

Deven Marrero, SS, Arizona State

Projected as the Number 8 overall pick by ESPN Insider’s Keith Law, Marrero has been a standout for his three seasons at Arizona State. His defensive range and arm are both excellent, as the 6’ 1” shortstop was 2011’s PAC-10 Defensive Player of the Year.

He is not the first former Arizona State shortstop drafted by the Red Sox; in 2004, the team took a chance on a diminutive Sun Devil by the name of Dustin Pedroia. Although Pedroia moved to second base upon joining the Sox system, Marrero projects to stay right where he is due to his above average size and arm strength.

Scouts’ criticism of Marrero—and likely the reason he slipped in the draft—was primarily based on Marrero's occasionally lackadaisical effort on the field paired with a sub-par performance at the plate this past season.

With top prospects Jose Iglesias and Xander Bogaerts already in the Sox’ system, this is certainly a curious pick. The Sox got great value, though, and will likely look to pick up a pitcher later in the first round.