Red Sox Top Prospect Voting #8: Matt Barnes Debuts

The most difficult prospects to place on any given list tend to be the players picked in the most recent draft. Our information on them in a professional system is limited at best, and the flood of scouting reports that crop up often based on small and different samples can confuse as much as it can help. At some point, however, the top man in the draft pops up, and then everyone else is graded relative to him.

Well, this year the man in question is Matt Barnes, and this year he comes in at #7. Drafted with the 19th overall pick in the 2011 Amateur Draft, the Sox considered themselves slightly lucky to pick up Barnes so late in the first. Barnes' three-year career in Connecticut culminated in a dominant 2011, striking out 111 batters and issuing just 31 walks in 116 innings of 1.92 ERA ball. Primarily a fastball - curveball pitcher at the moment, Barnes throws in the mid 90s and could be a front-of-the-rotation starter if he can reach his potential.

1. Ryan Lavarnway, C/DH

2. Will Middlebrooks, 3B

3. Xander Bogaerts, SS

4. Ryan Kalish, OF

5. Anthony Ranaudo, SP

6. Jose Iglesias, SS

7. Matt Barnes, SP

Now that the top pick has fallen, is someone like Blake Swihart soon to follow, or will we be heading back to old (well, not really old) favorites?

System is the same as always. Your rec is your vote, my comment on the player in question is where to put it. If you have someone you want to vote for who isn't listed, then make your own comment below.

Vote away!