So, the big question - now that he legitimately could be the next man up whenever the Red Sox need a middle infielder - is whether Hamilton can make those offensive strides. He hit a career-best 12 home runs last season, but had a career-low. When they added him to the roster, though, a few Red Sox decision-makers said it was in part because they saw some untapped offensive potential in Hamilton’s game. ![]() The Red Sox added him to the 40-man roster this offseason, which seemed to be an acknowledgment that his skillset could be especially valuable under the shifting and baserunning rule changes. He played shortstop and second base and dabbled in center field. deal, Hamilton finished tied for the third-most stolen bases in all of minor league baseball last season (70). So, definitely limiting base runners, making them put the ball in play, or just being around the zone in general is the biggest thing when it comes to being a reliever in the big leagues, in my opinion.” David Hamilton, SS/2BĪcquired in the Hunter Renfroe/Jackie Bradley Jr. ![]() Couple of walks, couple of base hits, and before you know it there’s a four-spot. I mean, you saw it there my first outing. … Walks are going to kill you, especially in the big leagues. This offseason, I’ve really just been focusing on throwing strikes, commanding the zone. “Just bounce back from that no matter what. “It was definitely good to get out there … kind of take a punch or two and just know that, in the big leagues, you’ve got to be available every day,” He said. He made four more major league appearances, and the last one was his best (scoreless inning with two strikeouts).Īn 18.00 ERA last year doesn’t exactly scream “give this guy a second chance,” so the obvious question is, what did German learn from the experience of taking a punch and getting back up? He debuted last September and promptly got creamed in his first big league appearance (two hits, two walks, four runs, no outs). ![]() By talking to veterans, asking how they go about their work and how they prepare, I was able to come up with a really good preparation strategy and then it led to a really good month that last month of the season.” Franklin German, RPĪcquired as the prospect sweetener in the Adam Ottavino salary dump, German moved from the rotation to the bullpen and emerged as arguably the top relief prospect in the Red Sox system. “The first month that I was there, I don’t think I was preparing the way that I should have been preparing to face certain teams. “The biggest key was just the preparation aspect,” he said. So, the big question is: What did Bello learn from that first big league experience? What does it take to go from just having really good stuff, to actually getting results with it? Put the ball more in play.” Brayan Bello, SP For me, this year, I’m trying to be patient but at the same time, be a little bit more aggressive. Not a lot of times, but sometimes this season I’m looking for a pitch and try to be too patient and just, I took (a good pitch to hit). … Sometimes it happens (that an at-bat can be too patient). “Don’t try to do too much and just wait for my ball, the ball that I want to hit. ![]() “For me, this past year, I tried to be patient at the plate, looking for my pitch,” he said. The Red Sox felt it was enough to protect him from the Rule 5 draft despite his lack of Triple-A experience.īut how much plate discipline is too much place discipline? Our big question to Abreu was, how do you balance a knack for working deep in the count with also wanting to cut down on strikeouts and really take advantage of raw power? Is that the key this season - to better attack pitches he can drive - or is there some other element that Abreu thinks will make the difference? One of two left-handed hitters acquired in the Christian Vázquez trade, Abreu’s.399 on-base percentage was one of the highest in full-season baseball last year, but his 153 strikeouts were also in the top 60 (and would have been second-most in the Red Sox system if he’d spent all year with them). Reliever Ryan Fernandez had another engagement and had to miss the media availability, but the other 10 prospects addressed reporters, and with each of them, The Athletic focused on one big question that could determine whether they take the next step toward getting to the big leagues - or staying in the big leagues - this season.
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