| Boston Red Sox June 1996 Amateur Draft Picks | |
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Last updated: January 5, 2000
1) Josh Garrett, RHP, South Spencer HS, Richland, IN, age 22
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1996 R/Fort Myers 7 5 27 1.67 22 5 17 0 1997 A/Michigan 22 22 138.2 4.80 164 35 64 13 1998 A/Sarasota 26 25 155.1 5.21 182 40 68 17 1999 A/Sarasota 26 26 149 4.59 189 50 95 9 Garrett has been a somewhat of a disappointment thus far considering he was a first round pick. His second season at Sarasota was a marginal improvement over his first. His "hits per innings pitched ratio" actually grew worse in 1999, although his "strike outs per innings pitched ratio" improved and he allowed fewer home runs. He may be promoted to Trenton in 2000, but maybe partially on the basis of his reputation as a first round pick. Still he is young enough that there remains hope for improvement.1a) Christopher Reitsma, RHP, Calgary Christian HS, Calgary, age 22
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1996 R/Fort Myers 7 6 32.2 1.35 24 1 32 0 1997 A/Michigan 9 9 49.2 2.90 57 13 41 4 1998 A/Sarasota 8 8 12.2 2.84 12 5 9 0 1999 A/Sarasota 19 19 96.1 5.61 116 31 79 11 Reitsma was considered a top prospect in the Red Sox organization until he injured his pitching elbow in 1997. In 1999, Reitsma finally had a healthy season. Although he pitched somewhat erratically in 1999, he was still considered a prospect by the Red Sox organization. However, because he was not added to the 40 man roster after the 1999 season, he was exposed in the Rule V draft and taken in the second round by Tampa Bay. He must remain with Tampa Bay for the entire 1999 season or else be offered back to the Red Sox. This situation bears monitoring.2a) Jason Sekany, RHP, University of Virginia, age 24
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1996 R/Fort Myers 5 2 11.2 2.31 14 3 16 1
1997 A/Michigan 16 16 106 4.08 92 41 103 5
A/Sarasota 10 9 64.2 5.57 56 41 32 8
1998 AA/Trenton 28 28 148.2 5.21 151 57 113 21
1999 AA/Trenton 27 22 161.1 3.35 143 64 116 8
AAA/Pawtucket 1 1 5.2 4.76 6 4 1 2
In 1999 in his second year at Trenton, Sekany showed significant improvement. He was arguably the ace pitcher of a Trenton team that was one of the top minor league teams last year. His performance should earn him a promotion to Pawtucket in 2000. Hopefully he will have a solid year at Pawtucket in 2000 and will retain his prospect status.2b) Gary Locurto, 1B/3B, University HS, San Diego CA, age 22
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1996 R/Fort Myers 137 314/401/460 4 18 44 5/4 1997 A/Michigan 419 236/337/329 4 63 93 8/5 1998 A/Michigan 188 186/300/229 0 31 52 1/3 1999 DNP After a very disappointing 1998 season, Locurto was apparently released by the Red Sox organization.3) Dernell Stenson 1B/LF, La Grange HS, GA, age 22
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1996 R/Fort Myers 97 216/358/330 2 16 26 4/3
1997 A/Michigan 471 291/400/469 15 72 105 6/4
1998 AA/Trenton 505 257/376/446 24 84 135 5/3
1999 AAA/Pawtucket 440 270/356/466 18 55 119 2/1
R/Fort Myers 23 217/308/478 2 3 5 0/0
Dernell Stenson is commonly recognized as a top prospect in the Red Sox organization. He was one of the youngest players in the International League in 1999, and after a slow start, more than held his own offensively. In 1999, the Red Sox organization shifted his position (ill-advisedly in this author's opinion) from LF to 1B, perhaps as a reaction to the departure of Mo Vaughn. He struggled defensively in his new position, committing 34 errors in 115 games. Because of his defensive lapses, Baseball America rated Stenson as the Red Sox #2 prospect for 2000 after being rated #1 in 1999.4) John Barnes, OF, Grossmont CC, CA, age 24
John Barnes was a decent prospect when he was traded in July 1998 along with pitchers Matt Kinney and Joe Thomas to Minnesota for LHRP Greg Swindell and 1B-DH Orlando Merced. This past year he hit 263/339/400 for the New Britain Rock Cats with 13HR and 10/2SB in his second year at AA. He now appears to be a marginal prospect.5) Bobby Brito, C, Cypress HS, CA
Brito hit 252/281/339 in 115 AB at Fort Myers in 1996, and then apparently left the game.6) Michael Perini, CF, Carlsbad HS, NM, age 22
After hitting 220/303/271 in his second season at Fort Myers, Perini apparently left the game.7) Robert Ramsay, LHP, Washington State, age 26
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1996 R/Fort Myers 2 0 3.2 4.91 5 3 5 0
A/Sarasota 12 7 34 6.09 42 27 32 1
1997 A/Sarasota 23 22 135.2 4.78 134 63 115 16
1998 AA/Trenton 27 27 162.2 3.49 137 50 166 10
1999 AL/Seattle 6 3 18.1 6.38 23 9 11 3
AAA/Tacoma 5 5 33.1 1.08 20 14 37 2
AAA/Pawtucket 20 20 114.1 5.35 114 36 79 21
Ramsay was not able to follow up a strong performance at Trenton in 1998 with an equally strong performance after being promoted to Pawtucket. He was traded in July 1999 to Seattle for RH DH Butch Huskey. After pitching well at Tacoma, he was promoted to Seattle in August. He has an outside chance of making the Seattle club in 2000, but his most likely destination is Tacoma.8) Justin Duchscherer, RHP, Coronado HS, Lubbock TX, age 22
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1996 R/Fort Myers 13 8 54.2 3.13 52 14 45 0
1997 R/Fort Myers 10 8 44.2 1.81 34 17 59 0
A/Michigan 4 4 24 5.63 26 10 19 1
1998 A/Michigan 30 26 142.2 4.79 166 47 106 9
1999 A/Augusta 6 6 41.0 0.22 21 8 39 0
A/Sarasota 20 18 112.1 4.49 101 30 105 14
Duchscherer was absolutely overmatching opponents in 1999 at Augusta when he was promoted to Sarasota. He pitched well at Sarasota (starting at 5-2 2.82) before apparently tiring at Sarasota towards the end of the year. He is a definite prospect who likely will be promoted to Trenton in 2000.9) Mark Martinez, LHP, Monterey HS, Lubbock, TX, age 22
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1997 R/Fort Myers 14 4 47.2 2.64 35 18 78 1 1998 DNP 1999 DNP After an outstanding season in 1997 at Fort Myers, it is unclear as to what happened to Mark Martinez. Is he injured?10) Shea Hillenbrand, C, Mesa CC, AZ, age 24
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1996 A/Lowell 279 315/371/416 2 18 32 4/3
1997 A/Michigan 224 290/315/415 3 9 20 1/3
A/Sarasota 220 295/320/377 2 7 29 9/8
1998 A/Michigan 498 349/383/546 19 19 49 13/7
1999 AA/Trenton 282 259/298/387 7 14 27 6/5
Hillenbrand was promoted from Michigan to Trenton in 1999, bypassing Sarasota and passing over Steve Lomasney in the process. However Hillenbrand was not able to replicate his 1998 success at Michigan at Trenton. His statistics all declined, and he still seems unable to take bases on balls. He had a season ending injury in 1999 and was removed from the 40 man roster. He has since signed a minor league contract and seems destined to start the year 2000 at Trenton. Meanwhile, Steve Lomasney has leapfrogged over Hillenbrand and seems destined to start the year at Pawtucket.11) Brian Musgrave, LHP, Appalachian State, age 26
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1996 A/Lowell 2 0 5 0.00 4 2 7 0 1997 A/Michigan 15 11 78.2 5.61 96 17 51 11 1998 A/Sarasota 28 4 60 6.30 73 31 34 6 1999 DNP Musgrove apparently retired in 1999.12) Dion Ruecker, SS, Texas Tech, age 26
Ruecker apparently retired in 1999. Ruecker had a weak year at Lowell at age 24, and only managed 4 walks in 160 AB. He seems to have retired after that.13) Skipp Benzing, RHP, Indian Hills CC, Iowa, age 23
In spite of high ERAs Benzing pitched rather well in his first two seasons of professional ball, allowing about a hit per inning with good strikeout totals. Perhaps he didn't agree, however, as he seems to have retired after 1997.14) Justin Lynch, RHP, Marina HS, Huntington Beach CA, apparently has not signed. 15) Mark Robbins, 3B, Derby HS, KS, apparently has not signed. 16) Jeff Keaveney, 1B, U of Southern Maine, age 24
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS 1996 A/Lowell 169 249/323/408 4 10 65 1/1 1997 A/Lowell 191 204/283/377 7 18 58 0/0 1998 A/Michigan 373 252/372/437 15 65 104 0/2 1999 A/Augusta 78 205/326/397 4 10 31 0/0 Jeff Keaveny was apparently released by the Red Sox in 1999. He hooked on with the Waterbury Spirit in the Northern League, where he apparently suffered a skull fracture in a freak accident when his bat snapped at the handle.17) Justin Crisafulli, RHP, Arizona Western JC, apparently has not signed. 18) Michael McKinley, CF, Scottsdale CC, AZ, age 25
Struggled at Lowell in 1996, moved back to Fort Myers in 1997 and seems to have retired thereafter.19) Michael Rupp, RHP, Monte Vista HS, Spring Valley CA, age 22.
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1997 R/Fort Myers 11 9 59 1.22 51 17 56 0
A/Lowell 2 2 12.2 3.55 8 3 10 1
1998 A/Michigan 11 11 48.1 5.03 51 30 48 2
1999 A/Lowell 18 8 57.1 5.81 72 33 48 2
Michael struggled at Lowell in 1999. His outlook does not look good.20) Chuck Beale, RHP, Stetson U, age 26
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR 1996 A/Lowell 28 0 29 1.24 16 7 33 1 1997 A/Michigan 39 9 89.1 3.73 111 17 86 5 1998 AA/Trenton 43 0 69 3.26 54 31 39 9 1999 AA/Trenton 29 1 59 5.95 71 36 41 6 Beale repeated 1999 at Trenton and also seems to have regressed.21) Javier Fuentes, 3B, Arizona State, age 25
Year Team AB BA/OBP/SLG HR BB SO SB/CS
1996 A/Lowell 157 287/378/376 2 21 23 2/1
1997 A/Michigan 77 169/273/208 0 7 18 1/1
A/Sarasota 147 286/344/395 2 12 19 4/6
1998 A/Sarasota 251 275/385/386 4 38 38 1/2
1999 A/Augusta 130 254/376/323 1 22 13 6/1
A/Sarasota 176 290/413/313 0 33 17 6/1
He posted a modest improvement at Sarasota in 1999 over 1998. He does seem to be able to take walks well. However, given his age, his status as a prospect is doubtful.22) Aaron Harang, RHP, Patrick Henry HS, San Diego CA, apparently has not signed. 23) Paul McCurtain, RHP, Mesa CC, AZ, apparently has not signed. 24) Robert Brandt, RHP, A&M Consolidated HS, College Station TX, apparently has not signed. 25) Dominic Barrett, CF, Trimble Tech HS, Fort Worth TX, apparently has not signed. 26) Chris Thompson, RHP, St. Leo, FL, age 27
Year Team G GS IP ERA H BB SO HR
1996 A/Lowell 25 0 47 4.40 43 20 51 2
1997 A/Michigan 8 0 15.2 1.15 11 1 13 1
A/Sarasota 29 6 61 3.69 68 35 40 6
1998 A/Sarasota 30 0 45.1 3.18 48 17 28 1
AAA/Pawtucket 2 0 3 3.00 3 1 3 1
1999 AA/Trenton 1 0 1 9.00 2 1 1 0
A/Sarasota 28 2 43.1 5.61 48 22 41 3
Another player who regressed at the same level in 1999.27) Ryan Murray, RHP, Tampa Bay Tech HS, FL, apparently has not signed. 28) Erik Metzger, C, Samford Univ, age 24
Hit 195/282/297 at Lowell in 1997, and seems to have retired after that.29) Joshua Stewart, LHP, Livingston Central HS, Ledbetter KY, apparently has not signed. 30) William Whitaker, LHP, First Coast HS, Jacksonville FL, apparently has not signed. 31) Matthew Frick, C, Yavapai JC, AZ, apparently has not signed. 32) Michael Bynum, LHP, Middleburg HS, FL
Michael Bynum appears to be one who slipped away. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres as the fifth of their six first and supplemental round selections in 1999. He got off to a phenomenal start with a string of 27 consecutive scoreless innings to open his pro career. Basebal America rated Michael as the Padres #4 prospect entering 2000. 33) Adam Roller, RHP, Lakeland HS, FL, age 22. |
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