Gabe Kapler was 1-8 with a walk and 3 k's in his stint with Lowell. He's continuing his rehab assignment tonight in Pawtucket. So far he's continuing right where he left off in Japan with that .125 AVG.
First round pick Jacoby Ellsbury has stolen 9 bases in 9 games for Lowell and still has not been caught. He's only batting .257 in 35 AB's, but he has walked 8 times while only striking out 5 to give him an OBP of .409.
John Sickles calls Yahmed Yema his favorite sleeper from the 2005 draft. He's hitting .264/.330/.356 in 87 AB's so far with 5 steals in 6 attempts. He's not doing fantastic, but he has struck out (7) fewer times than he's walked (9). Plus he has a funky name.
Luis Soto and Christian Lara were both showing a lot of promise and potential as shortstops going into the season, but both have struggled. Because of the depth at short in the Red Sox organization, Soto has been playing outfield this year. He began 2005 in Greenville, but after putting up a .212/.247/.259 line in 85 AB's, he's been demoted to short-season ball and has a .273/.360/.336 line for Lowell. Before the season Baseball America claimed that he had more power potential than anyone in the Red Sox farm system, but he has only 1 home run so far this year. Lara is fairing slightly better with a .257/.329/.345 line in 261 AB's in Greenville playing mostly shortstop. Expect both to be moved down the depth chart unless they turn things around in a big way down the stretch.
Andrew Pinckney (Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Month in June) and Josh Otness (Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Month in May) have been giving the Greenville Bombers a formidable 1-2 punch in the middle of their line up. Otness, a 23 year old DH/1B, is 4th in the South Atlantic League in AVG and 9th in OBP. He's too old for the level to be considered a top prospect, but he makes good contact with the ball and there's no one really blocking him at first base in the higher levels of the Sox system. Pinckney is 9th in the South Atlantic League in AVG and 9th in SLG. He's also tied for 2nd in the league with 26 doubles. He strikes out a lot more than Otness, but doesn't walk as much although he does hit for more power. The same thing also applies to him. Although he's 23 and old for the league, there's no one really blocking his move up the system. Both were named South Atlantic League All-Stars.
Another first round pick, Jed Lowrie has a .341/.400/.500 line in 44 AB's in Lowell. The second baseman is someone to keep an eye on.
Wilmington is 9-17, still bad enough for last in the Carolina League. Greenville is 13-14 in the middle of the pack. Lowell is sitting in second with an 18-13 record. The GCL Red Sox are a mediocre 13-12, but are still in second place.