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Boston Red Sox Spring Training 2006 Report

The hurlers are coming! The hurlers are coming!

The 2005 Farm System of the Year, the Baby Beantowns continue to develop pitching prospects from Pawtucket and Portland who will be the bulk of the top prospects we’ll see making their way to Fenway Park in 2006. One already has made an impact on the big-league club and the others will be knocking on the door soon.

"It's sort of evolved that way, but not by design,'' insists Ben Cherington, the Red Sox vice president for player personnel. "We feel very fortunate to have such talent in the pitching department.

Cherington says the Red Sox look beyond pure talent when drafting and acquiring players.

 “It’s also makeup and character,’’ he says. “We need to know that these players can perform and succeed in Boston.’’

Dustin Pedroia is tapped as the likely heir to an infield gig, as Hanley Ramirez is sent packing to Florida during the Marlins January White Sale of Players.

Pitcher Jermaine Van Buren, who held a very respectable 1.98 ERA in Iowa joins the Red Sox hopefuls in the hurler department. Jamie Vermilyea, an RHP from the Blue Jays organization, made the NRI list for a look. The others on the NRI are familiar faces from the PawSox and Portland.

The standouts coming out of Spring are Jonathan Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Craig Hansen, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Other Developing Players of Note:

We like hurlers Abe Alvarez and Manny Delcarmen, and continue to expect good things from Brandon Moss this season if he can bring his K count under the century mark.

- Jim Mandelaro and the MLN Research Staff

Jonathan Lester | Dustin Pedroia | Jonathan Papelbon | Craig Hansen | Jacoby Ellsbury