Stock Up, Stock Down for Boston Red Sox's Top 10 Prospects for Week 20

The Boston Red Sox continue to evade the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles to remain atop the American League East.

Boston's farm system has given them reason to celebrate of late, as well. Shortstop Deven Marrero was promoted to Double-A Portland this past week.

Baseball America’s Jim Callis ranked Boston’s farm system as the fifth-best in the majors entering the 2013 season. The up-and-comers have done nothing to discredit his ranking.

The following players were the top 10 ranked prospects entering the season, according to Baseball America. 

Please note: Players recently drafted by the Red Sox will not be included, as they do not have any statistics to draw from. If you would like more information about Boston’s most recent additions to the minor league system via the draft, have a look at their scouting profiles right here on B/R.

No. 10: C Blake Swihart, High-A Salem

2013 Stats: .282/.351/.405, 23 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 38 RBI, 32 R, 7 SB

Last Week's Stats: 5-for-18, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 R, 0 RBI 

Overview

Blake Swihart collected five hits this past week, though none of them produced a run.

Swihart has been doing well for most of the season, but this week he did very little. A big question moving forward is whether or not Swihart can put on some weight to turn a couple of those 23 doubles into home runs.

Stock: Up

No. 9: SS Deven Marrero, Double-A Portland

2013 Stats (High-A Salem): .256/.341/.334, 20 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 50 R, 21 SB

Last Week's Stats: 6-for-24, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 R, 3 RBI

Overview

Deven Marrero earned himself a promotion to Double-A Portland this past week.

During his time with High-A Salem, Marrero showed decent promise at the plate but plenty of skills in the field and on the bases.

The Red Sox must be happy with their first-round selection of the 2012 draft, as he has moved one step closer to the majors.

Stock: Up

No. 8: RF Bryce Brentz, Triple-A Pawtucket

2013 Stats: .272/.321/.487, 15 2B, 1 3B, 16 HR, 53 RBI, 34 R, 1 SB

Last Week's Stats: Did not play

Overview

Bryce Brentz is done for the season, according to NESN.com, due to an ankle injury.

Prior to the injury, however, Brentz showed what kind of player he can be. With the power he boasts, he can help give a power surge to the Boston batting order in the future.

Stock: Flat

No. 7: RHP Anthony Ranaudo, Triple-A Pawtucket

2013 Stats (Double-A Portland): 19 GS, 8-4, 2.95 ERA, 40 BB, 106 K, 109.2 IP

2013 Stats (Triple-A Pawtucket): 3 GS, 1-1, 2.70 ERA, 2 BB, 11 K, 16.2 IP

Last Week's Stats: 1 GS, 5.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 W, 0 L 

Overview

Anthony Ranaudo scattered nine hits over 5.2 frames while allowing just a single run in his last start.

The start was Ranaudo's third with Triple-A Pawtucket. Since joining his new team, Ranaudo has been astounding, sporting a 2.70 ERA with a 11-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio to boot.

Stock: Up

No. 6: LHP Henry Owens, Double-A Portland

2013 Stats (High-A Salem): 20 GS, 8-5, 2.92 ERA, 53 BB, 123 K, 104.2 IP

2013 Stats (Double-A Portland): 3 GS, 2-0, 1.20 ERA, 6 BB, 29 K, 15.0 IP 

Last Week's Stats: 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 1 W

Overview

Henry Owens has been remarkable since joining Double-A Portland.

The lefty has taken a win in two of his three mound trips and has collected a jaw-dropping 29 strikeouts over 15 innings.

That Owens is finishing the season so well bodes well for the Red Sox. Hopefully the good vibes keep going for Owens.

Stock: Up

No. 5: RHP Matt Barnes, Double-A Portland

2013 Stats: 23 GS, 5-9, 4.41 ERA, 44 BB, 132 K, 104.0 IP

Last Week's Stats: 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 0 W, 1 L

Overview

Matt Barnes continued his up-and-down season this past week.

The four runs he surrendered over five frames were enough to earn him the loss. With the loss, he moves to 5-9 on the season, with a mediocre 4.41 ERA.

The most encouraging statistic on Barnes' line is his 132 strikeouts in 104.0 innings, which shows his ability to dominate.

Barnes has a lot to learn, but he certainly has plenty of potential.

Stock: Up

No. 4: RHP Allen Webster, Triple-A Pawtucket

2013 Stats: 18 GS, 7-4, 3.84 ERA, 36 BB, 100 K, 86.2 IP

Last Week's Stats: 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 W

Overview

Allen Webster had another quality outing this past week, lasting five innings and surrendering one earned run.

Webster has been inconsistent this season, but he has shown the potential Red Sox fans heard about when Boston acquired him from the Dodgers last August.

Stock: Up

No. 3: 3B Garin Cecchini, Double-A Portland

2013 Stats (High-A Salem): .350/.469/.547, 19 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 44 R, 15 SB

2013 Stats (Double-A Portland): .305/.418/.412, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 27 R, 6 SB

Last Week's Stats: 8-for-24, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Overview

Garin Cecchini had a successful week, collecting eight hits and raising his batting average with Double-A Portland to .305.

The third baseman has struggled very seldom this season and has been an unexpected surprise for the franchise. With expectations so high, it will be interesting to see how Cecchini lives up to it.

Stock: Up

No. 2: CF Jackie Bradley Jr., Triple-A Pawtucket

2013 Stats: .277/.378/.494, 23 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 50 R, 6 SB

Last Week's Stats: 6-for-21, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 R, 2 RBI

Overview

Jackie Bradley Jr. clocked his 10th home run of the season, making his stat line look a little more complete.

While his average continues to slip, Bradley has made up for it with better plate discipline and an improved power stroke.

It is very easy to imagine Bradley becoming a stalwart at Fenway Park in the near future.

Stock: Up

No. 1: SS Xander Bogaerts, Triple-A Pawtucket

2013 Stats (Double-A Portland): .311/.407/.502, 12 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 40 R, 5 SB

2013 Stats (Triple-A Pawtucket): .284/.369/.453, 11 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 32 R, 2 SB

Last Week's Stats: 6-for-21, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 3 RBI

Overview

While Will Middlebrooks has been playing well at Fenway Park, Xander Bogaerts remains waiting in the wings in Triple-A.

The shortstop has seen some time at third base, so perhaps he might see some time in Boston as a platoon player.

It will be interesting to see what the Red Sox do with Bogaerts down the stretch. They will almost certainly call him up when rosters expand, but his amount of playing time is the real question. 

Stock: Up