Top 5 Players To Watch For From The Pawtucket Red Sox During The 2019 Season

Coming into the 2019 season for the Pawtucket Red Sox, there is a lot of uncertainty of who on the team may have a chance to help out the Boston Red Sox at one point during the 2019 season. This is especially true since many of the “experts” view the Red Sox minor league system as one of the worst in baseball. However, there are a few players that will be at AAA Pawtucket this season who could easily help out the Boston Red Sox are one point this season.

5) Bryce Brentz

Bryce Brentz was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2010 draft. In 2017, he hit 31 home runs with the Pawtucket Red Sox which led the organization as a whole. During spring training last year, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and towards the end of spring training, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. He spent the 2018 season with the Mets at AAA Las Vegas where he hit .264 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI’s. This past January, Brentz signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.

The reason why he is a name you have to watch out for, is because in his short time he has spent in Boston in the past, he has shown that he can hit pretty well. In 34 major league games, he has a .287 career batting average. If he can hit the long ball at AAA like he did back during the 2017 season, he could easily get a call up to Boston. This is especially true if one of the starting outfielders in Boston goes down with a serious injury and misses an extended period of time.

The only issue for him possibly getting a call up to Boston is that he isn’t currently on the 40-man roster for the Red Sox. But as of right now, he has a better chance of getting the call up to Boston over Rusney Castillo because Rusney’s contract is too big and would cost the Red Sox a lot of money because of the tax threshold with their payroll.

4) Mike Shawaryn

Mike Shawaryn was given a call up to AAA Pawtucket last August from AA Portland. Once he was called up to AAA Pawtucket, he pitched very well for the Paw Sox as a starting pitcher. In 6 starts (7 appearances), he posted a 3.93 ERA in 36 and 2/3rd innings. The big thing about Shawaryn is that he pitches quickly and he gets guys out. He does this all efficiently which is something that you love to see from your starting pitcher.

The spot that you may see Shawaryn in if he gets called up to Boston is one like Justin Haley or William Cuevas had with the club last year. The only difference is that the Red Sox will keep Shawaryn for an extended period of time as he is a prospect in the organization. Come September, he could be a reliever for the Red Sox who is able to throw multiple innings. Something that could come in handy for the Red Sox as they will try to help elevate innings for guys like Chris Sale later in the year.

3) Chandler Shepherd

Chandler Shepherd was a reliever for the Paw Sox during the 2017 season. Going into the 2018 season, the Paw Sox didn’t really have enough starting pitchers, he was moved to the starting rotation. Shepherd has four pitchers. For a reliever, that isn’t really necessary which was part of the reason why he was moved to the starting rotation for the Paw Sox. In the starting rotation for the Paw Sox last season, he posted a 3.89 ERA in 129 and 2/3 innings.

He currently is on the 40-man roster for the Red Sox, which would give him a better position to make it to Boston over Mike Shawaryn. But like Shawaryn, the position he may take in Boston is one like Justin Haley or William Cuevas had with the Red Sox in 2018. If he does get the call up to Boston, he could be in the position to start a few games for Boston. This is especially come September if they are costing into the playoffs like they did last season.

2) Michael Chavis

Michael Chavis, who was ranked as the number 1 prospect in the Red Sox organization in 2018 according to mlb.com, played 8 games with Pawtucket last season. The biggest upside for Chavis at the moment is his bat. His defense is very suspect at the moment. He does need a lot of development defensively.

Michael Chavis hits a ball to the 3rd basemen but it just gets by him to drive in the #PawSox 1st run. They lead 1-0 after 1 inning from McCoy #RedSox pic.twitter.com/BKqgdBMvkk

— Evan Cook (@ecook_trifecta) August 28, 2018

But based on the past, it is almost certain that he will get a shot in Boston at one point in 2018. Back in 2017, the Red Sox called up Rafael Devers after he hit well at AAA Pawtucket over 9 games. But like Chavis, the biggest issue with Devers when he was called up was his defense. Chavis will need to work on his defense this season. But at the end of the season, you will see Chavis play in Boston at one point.

1) Travis Lakins

Travis Lakins is a reliever who actually may have a chance to make the Red Sox 25-man roster coming out of camp. The Red Sox have been very high on the reliever. He strikes about 1 batter per inning. As a reliever who throws in the mid 90’s, he could be an option for the Red Sox out of their bullpen in the late innings. He could especially be a big piece for the Red Sox bullpen at one point during the year if he shows that he can be a late inning reliever for Paw Sox, if he doesn’t make the team coming out of camp

If he continues the track that we started to see from Ty Buttrey to start 2018, he could be a nice addition to the Red Sox bullpen later on in the season. If he shows what Ty Buttrey did in 2018, he could be in a spot to help the Red Sox in the late innings. Something that they will need, especially if they don’t end up resigning Craig Kimbrel.