Jed Lowrie Is the Boston Red Sox's Answer at Shortstop

It took the team four years, but the conundrum at the shortstop position for the Red Sox has been solved; however, Boston fans don’t seem to take real notice. Jed Lowrie quietly made a splash when arriving from AAA Pawtucket to help Boston when Mike Lowell went down earlier in the season.

Since his arrival, he has proved why he was a highly-touted prospect from Stanford and a key piece in the failed Johan Santana trade talks. But who the f#$* is Jed Lowrie?

Jed Lowrie, a native of Salem, OR, was a first-round draft pick out of Stanford in 2005. In 2004, Jed Lowrie batted .339 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 233 at-bats for the Stanford Cardinals. In 2005, Lowrie batted .317 with 14 home runs and 66 RBI in 224 at-bats.

In the minor leagues, Lowrie saw his power drop, however, he was able to maintain a high average while performing at every level of the minor leagues. In the offseason, prior to the 2008 season, Lowrie was part of a package that would have brought Johan Santana to Boston.

If the trade would have gone through, Lowrie was projected to be the opening-day second sacker for the Minnesota Twins. Thankfully, Red Sox fans have been able to see the talent he is capable of, which made him a part of the draft class that included Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Clay Buchholz, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

All in all, Jed Lowrie is projected to be a quality starting shortstop. Lowrie’s success as a switch-hitter, and his prominent display of gap power, has drawn comparisons to All-Star shortstop Carlos Guillen and 2003 batting champ, 2004 playoff hero, and former dirt-dog, the Red Sox's former third baseman, Bill Mueller.

As Lowrie continues to blossom and mature as an everyday player, we can expect great things from this shortstop, whose gritty play on defense and above-average bat will only strengthen the Red Sox's organization.