John Sickels from Minor League Ball recently reviewed his 50/50 lists (50 best pitching prospects, 50 best hitting prospects) from last season on his blog.
This is what he has for Red Sox prospects:
19) Michael Bowden, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Blitzed the Cal League, then went 8-6, 4.28 in 19 starts for Double-A Portland, combined K/BB of 128/41 in 143 innings. A good year, but was overshadowed by others.
20) Clay Buchholz, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Pushed past organization-mate Bowden, destroyed the minors and threw a no-hitter in the Show. Currently the best pitching prospects in baseball.
28) Craig Hansen, RHP, Boston Red Sox
3.86 ERA with 48/32 K/BB in 51 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket. Command issues a big problem here, but he gets a ton of ground balls and still has a chance to be special.
HITTERS
21) Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox
Hit .298/.360/.370 with 33 steals in Triple-A, then .353/.394/.509 with nine steals in 33 games for the Red Sox. Rookie of the Year candidate for '08.
46) Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox
American League ROY, hit .317/.380/.442. Should just get better.
Think Sickels is biting his tongue a little bit about Buchholz? By the sounds of it we already know who's going to be at the No. 1 spot for his best pitching prospects.
I'm going to keep a really close eye on Hansen this season. I'd love for him to come out of the gate in spring training and win himself a job in the bullpen. He's got the skills and we're going to need an arm like his.
If you want more of Sickels' analysis on the minors, he's releasing his annual baseball prospect book. To buy one, click here. I bought it last year and it's a good read for all the prospect fanatics out there.