Re-Ranking Boston Red Sox's Top 10 Prospects After the 2012 MLB Draft

Just over two weeks ago, I re-ranked the top 10 prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization based on how they had progressed over the first two months. I also compared the preseason rankings of Baseball America's Jim Callis to where I thought each of the prospects stood at that point.

Now, players have progressed and digressed but something more important has occurred just over the last few days; the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Boston drafted Arizona State shortstop Deven Marrero with the 24th overall selection and pitchers Brian Johnson, out of Florida, and Pat Light, out of Monmouth, with the following two picks.

Will any of those three picks make my revamped top 10?

Let's get right into it.

T-10. Brian Johnson, Pitcher

Previous Ranking: Unranked

2012 Statistics: 8-4, 3.56 ERA, 86 IP, 68 K (Florida Gators)

I was a big supporter of the Boston Red Sox taking a ton of pitchers in this year's draft, especially when they selected Brian Johnson late in the first round.

A left-handed pitcher out of Florida, Johnson probably had as good of a college experience as you could ask for out of a prospect. Pitching in the SEC is not an easy task and Johnson has done pretty well living up to that challenge.

He is also projected to rise through the Boston minor league system relatively quickly and B/R featured columnist Douglas Sibor thinks that he could arrive in the big leagues in just two years. I definitely agree with Douglas in that his ability to pitch in big games will definitely help his progression through the minors.

T-10. Ryan Kalish, Outfielder

Previous Ranking: Unranked

2012 Statistics: .500/.600/1.050, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R (Triple-A Pawtucket)

I realize that Ryan Kalish has been sidelined with his fair share of injuries for the last few months and that he's just starting to rehab now, but he's been awesome so far.

In just five games with Triple-A Pawtucket he has already hit three home runs and driven home eight. Those are pretty good numbers for a guy that just picked up a bat.

Once he has completed his rehab assignment, there is a pretty good chance that he gets called up to the big leagues. With Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury still healing from their respective injuries, Kalish could be the one to take over the quickest.

By the end of the season, do not be surprised is Kalish's name is on the lineup card.

9. Bryce Brentz, Outfielder

Previous Ranking: No. 7

2012 Statistics: .299/.348/.469, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 28 R (Double-A Portland)

Bryce Brentz is really making a name for himself this season, down at Double-A Portland. He is just under .300 and has shown off his power this year with seven home runs in 56 games.

He did, however, hit 30 home runs last year in 115 games between Single-A Greenville an Single-A Salem.

It will be interesting to see if Brentz can keep his hot hitting the entire season. He hit .216 in April, .388 in May and .240 so far in June.

He will definitely be promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket by the start of next season at the latest, but if he can get going again he could see time there by the end of 2012.

8. Brandon Jacobs, Outfielder

Previous Ranking: No. 4

2012 Statistics: .286/.328/.422, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 24 R (Single-A Salem)

I will admit that when I did my original rankings, Brandon Jacobs had some impressive numbers. Now, he has slowed down a bit which is the main reason why I have dropped him four spots in these updated rankings. 

He, a lot like Brentz, had a great May but also had a poor April and slow start to June. In his last 10 games, he's only hitting .212 with a .651 OPS.

I still think that he rebounds within the next few weeks and gets back to his slugging ways. He is a part of the future outfield in Boston in my opinion and is likely to progress aggressively over the next two seasons.

7. Garin Cecchini, Third Baseman

Previous Ranking: No. 9

2012 Statistics: .305/.382/.441, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 42 R (Single-A Greenville)

As I just mentioned with Jacobs, I was a little off in some of my predictions and this one is no different. I should have put Garin Cecchini higher in my original rankings so I'm moving him up two spots here.

He has been stellar at the plate through 55 games in Single-A Greenville and does not seem to be letting up. It does look as if minor leaguers are much better in May than in April which does make sense. Getting warmed up is a part of the game and apparently it is a big part of it.

Cecchini has 22 extra-base hits, 20 steals and 42 runs this season. Those are the types of numbers Boston was hoping for when they drafted him in the fourth round in 2010.

I still have questions as to where he'll play as he progresses through the minors, but for now let's just watch him play.

6. Jackie Bradley, Outfielder

Previous Ranking: No. 6

2012 Statistics: .377/.489/.561, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 47 R (Single-A Salem)

I have decided to keep Jackie Bradley at No. 6 for two reasons:

1. He has been consistent all year long. In fact, he has gotten better each month and is currently hitting .400 in June. He has yet to slow down one bit.

2. I'm not so sure as to how long he will be able to keep this going. I'm a big believer in Bradley and that he can eventually make it to the big leagues, but is he the real deal or is this just a great year out of a young outfielder?

If Bradley can keep up this outstanding play, not only will he rise through my rankings, he will also likely advance to higher levels throughout the organization.

5. Deven Marrero, Shortstop

Previous Ranking: Unranked

2012 Statistics: .284/.340/.436, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 38 R (Arizona State)

As we all know, Deven Marrero was Boston's first pick in this year's draft.

It is no secret that he is a shortstop and that there are two or three shortstops possibly ahead of him on the organizational depth chart.

It is also no secret that he had an off-year at the plate.

Do these really matter right now? Not really.

There is plenty of time for the Boston shortstop position to figure itself out. There is also plenty of time for Marrero to start hitting again.

He wasn't a first round pick for nothing people. Just give him time.

I have put him at No. 5 on this list based off of his potential to be a future All-Star in the big leagues and that he still has plenty of time to prove himself to all those that think he should not have been taken by the Red Sox.

4. Anthony Ranaudo, Pitcher

Previous Ranking: No. 5

2012 Statistics: 1-1, 5.84 ERA, 24.2 IP, 18 K (Double-A Portland)

I decided to move Anthony Ranaudo up one spot since last time. I know that his numbers are not much better than they were, but as he pitches more I expect his comfort level to grow.

This guy has only pitched in five games this season. He had his early struggles but should start settling down relatively soon. He pitched five innings of one-run baseball last time out.

I am going to point out one main concern with Ranaudo that some of you following the Boston Red Sox may refer to as "Daniel Bard syndrome."

Why does he have so many walks and not that many strikeouts? Through 24.2 innings he has struck out 18 and walked 17. Yikes.

The coaches need to work with him to get his control back unless Portland, we are going to have a problem.

3. Matt Barnes, Pitcher

Previous Ranking: No. 2

2012 Statistics: 6-1, 0.93 ERA, 67.2 IP, 86 K (Single-A Greenville/Single-A Salem)

Matt Barnes has dropped one spot in my rankings just because he proved to all of us watching him pitch that he is human and will allow the occasional earned run. Well that's not completely the reason.

He has not been as sharp as he was earlier in the season over his last three starts. Despite getting the victory in two of them, he allowed three runs in four innings in one start, only struck out three in another and finally walked three in the most recent.

Should this be something to worry about? Absolutely not. Matt Barnes is still a very promising prospect who will continue to turn heads down in the minors.

The only question you should have about Barnes is when he will be advancing to Double-A Portland. Until then, let him keep doing his thing.

2. Xander Bogaerts, Shortstop

Previous Ranking: No. 3

2012 Statistics: .292/.360/.489, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 26 R (Single-A Salem)

I do not think I gave Xander Bogaerts enough credit last time around and that's probably because everyone was so high on Matt Barnes at the time.

Now, it is Bogaerts time. Last time we checked in Bogaerts was having a solid season at the plate. Since, he has put up even better numbers and has been crushing the ball as of late.

He has four home runs in June in just 13 games where he is also hitting close to .400. You would think that Bogaerts is finally starting to heat up.

He is supposed to be the future shortstop of the Red Sox if he is not forced to a new position. Whether it is shortstop, third base, the outfield or some other spot, as long as Bogaerts is in the lineup it will pay off.

As long as he is hitting, which he has been doing a lot of lately, everything should run according to plan.

1. Will Middlebrooks, Third Baseman

Previous Ranking: No. 1

2012 Statistics: .333/.380/.677, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 18 R (Triple-A Pawtucket)

What can you say about a guy who took advantage of an opportunity and is still going strong after over a month in the majors.

When Kevin Youkilis got hurt, Will Middlebrooks came up and started to surge at the plate. Now, Youkilis is healthy and Middlebrooks' playing time has gone done significantly.

Through 31 games with the Red Sox he is hitting over .300 and has 13 extra-base hits. He is still the third baseman of the future; we just do not know when the future is.

Best case scenario for Middlebrooks is that Boston decides to trade Youkilis sooner rather than later so that he gets to play full-time again.

His rookie eligibility is almost up but he will still be Boston's best prospect this season. Going forward, who knows who will top the list.