Boston Red Sox's Sleeper Prospects to Watch in Spring Training

The start of spring training is only a few weeks away for the Boston Red Sox.  A revamped Boston squad is set to take the field in Fort Myers, Florida, next month looking to bounce back from a last-place finish in 2014.

Top draft picks like Blake Swihart and Henry Owens are sure to capture everyone's attention when they suit up for the Red Sox in February and March.  On the other hand, who are some of the lesser-known youngsters looking to make a splash this spring?

Whether they're on the 40-man roster or likely to be in camp as non-roster invitees, here are a few of Boston's sleeper prospects to keep a eye on when the 2015 exhibition season begins.

Zeke Spruill, RHP

Zeke Spruill is a 25-year-old righty who stands 6'5" and already has some brief major league experience under his belt.  The Red Sox acquired Spruill from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league pitcher Myles Smith in an under-the-radar trade back in December.

Via Ryan Hannable of WEEI, Boston general manager Ben Cherington had this to say about Spruill at the time of the deal:

"

We liked how he looked out of the bullpen, how his stuff played out of the ‘pen. Guy who keeps the ball on the ground. Has good stuff, good life on his fastball and breaking ball. Just looked like a different guy out of the ‘pen and we wanted to take a shot at it because in the series of trades we made this week, obviously moving Alex Wilson and a couple of guys in this trade for Wade [Miley], it just helps us replenish some of the young pitching depth we gave up this week.

"

Spruill pitched a total of 34 innings with the Diamondbacks in 2013 and 2014, posting a 4.24 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.  He has slightly better numbers over the course of his minor league career, including a 47-50 record with a 3.85 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.  Spruill will likely be among several relievers competing for one of the Red Sox's final bullpen spots to start the season.

Sean Coyle, 2B

Boston selected Sean Coyle in the third round of the 2010 draft.  SoxProspects.com currently ranks Coyle as the No. 14 prospect in the Red Sox's farm system.  The 23-year-old second baseman batted .295 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI and a .512 slugging percentage for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs last year.  He also made the Eastern League All-Star Game and took home the league's player of the month honors for June.

MiLB.com's Jake Seiner wrote the following about Coyle last November:

"

The 5-foot-8 right-handed hitter struck out in nearly 25 percent of his plate appearances but also had a 9.9 percent walk rate and .371 on-base percentage.

The season lifted Coyle back among Boston's top prospects. He features an aggressive approach and swing, with MLB Pipeline acknowledging similarities to Dustin Pedroia, although Pedroia's career strikeout rate in the Majors is 9.3 percent.

"

Speaking of Pedroia, the Red Sox incumbent second baseman is not going anywhere anytime soon.  Both Mookie Betts and Brock Holt can play the position, which means Boston has little need for another backup middle infielder at the moment.

Regardless, Coyle isn't expected to be major league ready this season and is on track to begin 2015 in Triple-A.  However, he's part of the Red Sox 40-man roster and will be with the club in spring training.  Coyle may have little chance to make the team, but he's also someone with the potential to turn a few heads in Fort Myers.

Henry Ramos, OF

MLB.com's Prospect Watch lists Henry Ramos No. 18 overall in Boston's organization.  The Red Sox drafted Ramos in the fifth round in 2010.  The 22-year-old switch-hitter played in Double-A in 2014, but his season was cut short by a stress fracture in his left leg.  Ramos managed just 181 at-bats with the Sea Dogs, batting .326 with a .368 OBP in 48 games.

While discussing Boston's outfield depth for the year ahead, The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham states:

"

Ramos returned to play in the Puerto Rico Winter League and hit only .217 with a .581 OPS in 32 games.

Ramos was passed over in the Rule 5 draft. If last season was not a fluke, he could make his way to Pawtucket.

"

In Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Rusney Castillo, Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava and Jackie Bradley Jr., the Red Sox already have an overabundance of players slated for time in the outfield.  What is it that qualifies Ramos as a sleeper prospect heading into 2015?

Earlier this month, Boston held its annual Rookie Development Program, which is designed to aid young players as they make the transition to the big leagues.  As reported by Kyle Brasseur of ESPNBoston.com, five of the ten participants already spent time in the majors—Betts, Castillo, Spruill, Heath Hembree and Edwin Escobar.  Both Coyle and Ramos were among the five others who took part.

Clearly, the Red Sox view Ramos as somebody who could contribute on the major league level in the near future.  Don't be surprised to see him in spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Statistics via RedSox.com