Reviewing the Red Sox's 2008 Draft: Casey Kelly is that good

With the 2009 MLB Draft quickly approaching on June 9, I decided to look back on what the Red Sox's 2008 draft looked like.

The MLB draft is always an interesting time because unlike NFL or NBA drafts, the average person doesn't know 95 percent of the players drafted. If you're really into it, you jump on the Internet and start Googling Joe Schmo's name as quickly as possible. You learn a tidbit here, you learn a tidbit there. But the real proof is in the pudding: the regular season.

Here's a look at the top 10 selections from the Red Sox' 2008 draft:

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
1	Kelly, Casey		SS/RHP	Sarasota HS (Fla.)

TM	ERA	IP	H	BB	SO
A	1.12	48.1	32	9	39
A+	5.06	5.2	9	1	4

The Sox started the season with a plan for this talented player: 95 innings to start the season as a pitcher and then the rest of the season he'll play shortstop. The Red Sox are going to have a hard time yanking Kelly from the mound after the way he's started this season. If Kelly does well in the field, it's going to be an interesting decision about what to do with this all-around athlete. He is, no doubt though, going to be a impact player in just a few years.

Casey Kelly video

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
1s	Price, Bryan		RHP	Rice

TM	ERA	IP	H	BB	SO
A	2.45	44.0	37	12	40
A+	12.00	6.1	8	7	10

If Kelly is a shortstop, Price could play the pitcher role down the line. Price found similar success to Kelly in his team in Greenville (A). His two starts in Salem has been rough, but there's no reason not to expect him to rebound. According to SoxProspects, Price doesn't have a lot of "mileage" on his arm -- that's a good thing. There's another guy who has succeeded when he entered the Sox system without a lot of mileage -- Clay Buchholz.

Bryan Price video

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
2	Gibson, Derrik		SS	Seaford HS (Del.)

2008 stats
TM	AB	BA	HR	SB/CS	OPS
RK	94	.309	0	14/0	.804
SS	35	.086	0	2/0	.318

Unfortunately for Gibson, he hasn't seen any time on the field this season (extended spring training). The book on Gibson looks good, though: fast and very good defensively. He seems the type that could float around the infield -- and perhaps even the outfield -- and be a game changer on the basepaths. The bat will be the thing to watch down the line, though.

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
3	Fife, Stephen		RHP	Utah

TM	ERA	IP	H	BB	SO
A	0.00	4.0	1	1	1

Fife just made his 2009 debut on May 30, but at least it was solid. Fife missed time due to weakness in his pitching shoulder. The injury could be of concern,  but he's still an intriguing prospect to keep an eye on.

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
3	Weiland, Kyle		RHP	Notre Dame

TM	ERA	IP	H	BB	SO
A+	6.91	43.0	53	18	37

Weiland has certainly struggled in his time in Salem. His strikeouts are still pretty high, but so are his walks and the number of hits he's allowed. Salem seems to be a hitter's paradise though, so I wouldn't worry about him too much. He, like Fife and Price, have the college experience to help them get through problem areas.

Kyle Weiland video

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
4	Hissey, Peter		CF	Unionville HS (Penn.)

TM	AB	BA	HR	SB/CS	OPS
A	144	.222	0	9/2	.568

Hissey has struggled transitioning from the high school game to the professional game. He'll need to bring up the batting average/power numbers if he wants to keep moving up in the system.

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
5	Westmoreland, Ryan	CF	Portsmouth HS (R.I.)

Has yet to play in Red Sox system

Well ... he's supposed to be talented. Westmoreland had shoulder surgery in November and is expected to be returning this month. SoxProspects compares Westmoreland to Grady Sizemore.

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
6	Lavarnway, Ryan		C	Yale

TM	AB	BA	HR	SB/CS	OPS
A	135	.283	6	0/0	.881

Future Red Sox catcher of the future? You never know. Lavarnway is splitting time with Tim Federowicz and is performing almost as well. He's been all around solid, having both a decent average (.283) and showing pop (6 home runs) in the bat.

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
7	Federowicz, Tim		C	North Carolina

TM	AB	BA	HR	SB/CS	OPS
A	169	.314	7	1/0	.882

Future Red Sox catcher of the future? You never know. Federowicz has seen great success in his short time in the Sox system. Not only is he hitting for average in Greenville, but he's hitting for power. His 7 home runs and .882 OPS is evidence of that. The Red Sox would like him to take a few more walks in the future, though (.368 OBP).

RD	NAME			POS	SCHOOL
8	Lee, Mike		RHP	Oklahoma City U.

TM	ERA	IP	H	BB	SO
A	4.91	3.2	4	3	3

Lee has only pitched one this season and that was on May 29. He worked 3.2 innings of relief but didn't fare well. Obviously the jury is still out on Mr. Lee until he can put some more innings in.