Can’t wait for baseball season to start? To hold you over, here’s a look at what the Red Sox full-season minor league affiliate rosters might look like when the minor league season opens on April 4.
TRIPLE-A PAWTUCKET RED SOX
The PawSox' roster should be filled with some top prospects, a couple former top prospects still on the cusp of becoming full-time major leaguers, and some veteran major league insurance type players. Ryan Kalish and Ryan Lavarnway could both make the major league club out of spring training, while top prospects Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa, Bryce Brentz, and Jose Iglesias could make an impact on the big club later in the season.
Projected Lineup
Position, Name (Age) – How Acquired [SoxProspects.com ranking]
CF Ryan Kalish (24) - Drafted in the 9th round (2006) [PP]
2B Brock Holt (24) - Acquired in trade from Pittsburgh (2012) [16]
DH Juan Carlos Linares (28) – International free agent (2010) [36]
C Ryan Lavarnway (25) - Drafted in the 6th round (2008) [PP]
RF Bryce Brentz (24) - Drafted in the supplemental 1st round (2010) [6]
1B Mark Hamilton (28) - Minor league free agent (2013) [NR]
LF Alex Hassan (24) - Drafted in the 20th round (2009) [42]
3B Drew Sutton (29) - Minor league free agent (2012) [PP]
SS Jose Iglesias (23) – International free agent (2009) [10]
Rotation Candidates
RHP Allen Webster (22) - Acquired in trade from LA Dodgers (2012) [4]
RHP Rubby De La Rosa (23) - Acquired in trade from LA Dodgers (2012) [5]
LHP Chris Hernandez (24) - Drafted in the 7th round (2010) [34]
RHP Steven Wright (28) - Acquired in trade from Cleveland (2012) [41]
RHP Terry Doyle (27) - Minor league free agent (2012) [NR]
RHP Graham Godfrey (28) - Acquired in trade from Oakland (2012) [NR]
DOUBLE-A PORTLAND SEA DOGS
The Sea Dogs should begin the 2013 season with the three top prospects in the system in Xander Bogaerts, Matt Barnes, and Jackie Bradley -- but Bogaerts and Bradley could be in Pawtucket by mid-season. Additionally, Boston's Double-A affiliate should have a handful of other complimentary prospects in Brandon Jacobs, Travis Shaw, Christian Vazquez, Drake Britton, Brandon Workman, and Anthony Ranaudo.
Projected Lineup
CF Jackie Bradley (22) - Drafted in the supplemental 1st round (2011) [3]
3B Kolbrin Vitek (23) - Drafted in the 1st round (2010) [37]
LF Brandon Jacobs (22) - Drafted in the 10th round (2009) [19]
SS Xander Bogaerts (20) – International free agent (2009) [1]
1B Travis Shaw (22) - Drafted in the 10th round (2009) [27]
C Christian Vazquez (22) - Drafted in the 9th round (2008) [28]
DH Michael Almanzar (22) – International free agent (2007) [46]
RF Peter Hissey (22) - Drafted in the 4th round (2008) [NR]
2B Heiker Meneses (21) – International free agent (2008) [47]
Rotation Candidates
RHP Matt Barnes (22) - Drafted in the 1st round (2011) [2]
LHP Drake Britton (23) - Drafted in the 23rd round (2007) [11]
RHP Brandon Workman (24) - Drafted in the 2nd round (2010) [12]
RHP Anthony Ranaudo (23) - Drafted in the supplemental 1st round (2010) [17]
RHP Keith Couch (23) - Drafted in the 13th round (2010) [48]
RHP Miguel Celestino (23) - Acquired in trade from Cleveland (2010) [49]
HIGH-A SALEM RED SOX
Salem will have a large contingent of the organization's "next wave" of top prospects, highlighted by Garin Cecchini, Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Jose Vinicio, and Keury De La Cruz. Meanwhile, Sean Coyle, David Renfroe, Kyle Stroup, and Henry Ramos are candidates for possible bounce back seasons, each having played against older competition in prior years.
Projected Lineup
LF Keury De La Cruz (21) - International free agent (2009) [18]
2B Sean Coyle (20) - Drafted in the 3rd round (2010) [33]
3B Garin Cecchini (21) - Drafted in the 4th round (2010) [7]
1B David Renfroe (22) - Drafted in the 3rd round (2009) [NR]
C Blake Swihart (20) - Drafted in the 1st round (2011) [8]
RF Henry Ramos (20) - Drafted in the 5th round (2010) [NR]
DH Boss Moanaroa (21) - International free agent (2008) [NR]
CF Cody Koback (22) - Drafted in the 10th round (2011) [NR]
SS Jose Vinicio (19) - International free agent (2009) [20]
Rotation Candidates
LHP Henry Owens (20) - Drafted in the supplemental 1st round (2011) [9]
RHP Noe Ramirez (23) - Drafted in the 4th round (2011) [38]
LHP Mickey Pena (22) - Drafted in the 6th round (2011) [39]
RHP Kyle Stroup (22) - Drafted in the 50th round (2008) [NR]
RHP Mike McCarthy (25) - Drafted in the 14th round (2011) [NR]
RHP Madison Younginer (22) - Drafted in the 7th round (2009) [NR]
RHP Luis Diaz (20) - International free agent (2009) [NR]
LOW-A GREENVILLE DRIVE
This roster could be set in any number of ways. Brian Johnson and Pat Light should dominate competition and end up in Salem by mid-season. Expect Deven Marrero to come into his own in his first full professional season. Otherwise, any of Mookie Betts, Kendrick Perkins, Williams Jerez, Ty Buttrey, William Cuevas, Austin Maddox, and/or Justin Haley could break out in 2013.
Projected Lineup
2B Mookie Betts (20) - Drafted in the 5th round (2011) [58]
DH Mike Miller (23) - Drafted in the 9th round (2012) [NR]
SS Deven Marrero (22) - Drafted in the 1st round (2012) [13]
1B David Chester (23) - Drafted in the 33rd round (2011) [NR]
RF Kendrick Perkins (21) - Drafted in the 6th round (2010) [57]
CF Williams Jerez (20) - Drafted in the 2nd round (2011) [56]
LF Aneury Tavarez (20) - International free agent (2010) [NR]
3B Dreily Guerrero (22) - International free agent (2009) [NR]
C Jordan Weems (20) - Drafted in the 3rd round (2011) [NR}
Rotation Candidates
LHP Brian Johnson (22) - Drafted in the 1st round (2012) [14]
RHP Pat Light (23) - Drafted in the supplemental 1st round (2012) [21]
RHP Ty Buttrey (19) - Drafted in the 4th round (2012) [22]
RHP William Cuevas (22) - International free agent (2008) [52]
RHP Austin Maddox (21) - Drafted in the 3rd round (2012) [53]
RHP Justin Haley (20) - Drafted in the 6th round (2012) [54]
RHP Mike Augliera (21) - Drafted in the 5th round (2012) [NR]
PP = Post-Prospect no longer eligible to be ranked
NR = Not ranked in the Top 60
Editor's note: Mike Andrews is the founder of SoxProspects.com. For more prospect coverage go to SoxProspects.com