Advancing in the Ranks
With the recent moves making space on the Pawtucket roster, the Red Sox organization has seen fit to promote two pitching prospects. Twenty-four year old right-handed pitcher Jon Papelbon was promoted to Triple A Pawtucket. Extensive coverage of the highest rated Red Sox pitching prospect, according to Baseball America, can be found at BSM. Taking Papelbon’s place in Portland is 21-year old righty Anibal Sanchez, who the second highest ranked pitching prospect after Papelbon on BA’s list.
I’ve only seen Sanchez pitch in person, and that was at an exhibition game. However, judging from what I have been reading from other people’s accounts of Papelbon and Sanchez, there’s some hope for homegrown pitching. Of course it’s too early to say this might be like Oakland catching lightning in a bottle with Hudson, Mulder, and Zito, but a rejuvenated and productive farm system is still exciting. Maybe having viable prospects is one of George Steinbrenner’s birthday wishes.
