FanPost

Poll: Will the next Red Sox call up be ... Ryan Court?

Okay, in the poll below, as I planned it this morning, I was to ask who the next prospect to be called up to the Red Sox would be. The choices were to include Sam Travis. Many of you would have picked him. I might have as well.

Well you would have been right for doing so, because Travis got called up today. Whether that now makes my poll question more or less interesting, I'm not sure.

What I'm wondering is whether we might see a callup of Ryan Court anytime soon. If you're wondering who that is, well, I was wondering the same thing this morning. He wasn't even on OverTheMonster's top 20 fan-voted Red Sox prospects list this spring. But basically, there have been two guys putting up impressive numbers for Pawtucket this year, and they are Sam Travis (no surprise) and Ryan Court (that is a surprise).

Travis's line in 139 PA this season:

.286/.353/.452, .805 OPS, 24 SO, 2 SB, 1 CS

Court's line in 103 PA this season:

.303/.382/.483, .865 OPS, 30 SO, 1 SB, 1 CS

Court has certainly been strikeout prone this year which is not a great sign, and he's been old for his league at every level he's played, now just 4 days from turning 29. He was cut by the Diamondbacks in the spring of 2015 and played independent ball that year, before being signed by the Red Sox for the 2016 season. There's a good possibility that he was only signed to keep a seat warm for the rising Red Sox stars at third base, Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis, as he was primarily used at third base last year. That perspective seems to have shifted, as he's been used only as a middle infielder or left fielder this year. His scouting report does state that his defense at third base isn't so good, so perhaps that's why. It seems he's looked upon now as a depth piece for a utility role, another Josh Rutledge or a mini-Holt.

But his offensive numbers this year are intriguing, and the Red Sox dearth of production at third base has been frustrating. Rutledge has failed to impress, Marco Hernandez is gone due to injury, and we just don't know if we'll get Holt or Pablo Sandoval back anytime soon, nor do we know what we'll have when we do get them back. Deven Marrero has done the job defensively, but has been like a pitcher on offense.

Might the Red Sox try putting Court back at third base, and seeing what his bat can do? Or perhaps they'll give him time at LF/SS/2B to rest the regulars, and get a look at him that way?

While more is expected of Devers and Chavis in the long run, they won't be imminent callups (I do think, however, that Devers will be advanced to AAA this June or July, and Chavis will be advanced to AA on the same day to take Devers' place). Court might arrive any day. He's got options. There's probably room to be made on the 40-man roster. He might, just might, give more at third base than what the Sox would otherwise get in the near future. Then again, he might just remain there in the minors for the rest of the year.

Throw him at the wall, and see if he sticks?