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2004 BOSTON RED SOX TOP 10

PROSPECTS

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December 11, 2003 By Jim Callis

Baseball Americas Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a players longterm worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All
players who havent exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50
innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2004.

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Lining up the prospects as the Aug. 1 trade

deadline approaches

JAYS CHANGES
The Blue Jays are looking for a new scouting
director after ring Bri[...]

After their rst full year with John Henry as owner and Theo Epstein

YANKEES GET A HAUL

as general manager, its abundantly clear that these are not the
Red Sox of old. Or even of the turn of the millennium.

The trades leading up to July 31 have

transformed the Yankees farm sys[...]

Oh, they may have nished second in the American League East for
the sixth straight season and had their hearts broken by the

HOT SHEET (AUG. 12)

Yankees yet again in 2003. But Boston also spent the year implementing several
changes designed to overtake New York as the long-term team to beat in
baseballs most competitive division.
When the Red Sox named Epstein GM in November 2003, there was much ado
about how he became the youngest GM in big league history at 28. Youth aside,
Epstein quickly has established himself as an intelligent and relentless executive.
He helped steer Boston to its rst postseason berth since 1999 with a series of
successful signings (Mike Timlin, Bill Mueller, David Ortiz) and trades (Todd Walker,
Byung-Hyun Kim, Scott Williamson), plus one creative purchase (getting Kevin
Millar out of a deal to play in Japan). Epstein made only two regrettable moves,
signing free agent Ramiro Mendoza and trading Freddy Sanchez, who could ll the
clubs second-base hole, for Scott Sauerbeck and Je Suppan.
Henry made a fortune in the investment business by analyzing market trends and
relying on data and formulas. He wants his team run in the same fashion.

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Matt Chapman continues his scorching second

half

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Thats why Boston hired advisor Bill James, who popularized the statistical
analysis of baseball with his Baseball Abstracts in the 1980s. Thats also why
former manager Grady Littles tenure was doomed before he left Pedro Martinez
in to pitch the eighth inning of the AL Championship Series.
The Red Sox also have applied a statistical approach in areas beyond the big league
team. Theyve shifted their focus in the draft to college players, taking just one
high schooler with their rst 18 choices in 2003. When looking for minor league
coaches and instructors, theyve checked how teams performed under those
men.
Thanks to the oseason additions of Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke, Boston may
have supplanted New York as the AL East favorite in 2004. Restocking the farm
system is going to take signicantly longer.
Epsteins resourcefulness and the teams willingness to take on payroll have
helped make up for a lack of minor league talent, but that cant last indenitely.
Of the organizations top 15 prospects when Epstein took over, he already has
traded six. That number will rise to seven if the Rodriguez trade saga ever reaches

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Ben Badler, J.J. Cooper and John Manuel break
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Its too early to know for sure, but the Red Sox appear to have taken a positive
rst step forward with the 2003 draft. Outelders David Murphy and Matt Murton

Top Prospect: Hanley Ramirez, ss

Age: 20 Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 170 Bats: R Throws: R

BaseballAmerica.com
Signed: Dominican Republic, 2000
Signed by: Levy Ochoa

BaseballAmerica

a conclusion and lefthander Jon Lester is included.

(both rst round) and lefty Abe Alvarez (second) all cracked our Top 10 Prospects
list, while outelder Mickey Hall (second) and righties Beau Vaughan (third) and Jon
Papelbon (fourth) just missed. Cuban righty Gary Galvez and Dominican shortstop
Luis Soto highlighted Bostons international eorts.

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Background: While the Red Sox have Nomar Garciaparra and are pursuing a trade
for Alex Rodriguez, they have another potential ve-tool shortstop coming up in
Ramirez. His rst two pro seasons were nothing short of sensational, as he batted
a combined .349/.400/.541. He was Bostons Rookie-level Dominican Summer
Player of the Year in 2001, and the No. 1 prospect in both the Rookie-level Gulf
Coast and short-season New York-Penn leagues as an encore. Ramirez ascent
slowed in 2003, his rst exposure to full-season ball. He started slowly at low Class
A Augusta, then was banished to extended spring training for 10 days in early May
after he made an obscene gesture to fans in a game at South Georgia. He settled
down after he returned and nished with steady if not spectacular numbers for a
teenaged inelder in the South Atlantic League. Though he didnt tear up low
Class A or force a midseason promotion, the Red Sox are pleased with what they
call a solid developmental year.
Strengths: Tampa Bays B.J. Upton is the only minor league shortstop whose raw
tools compare to Ramirez. Hes the best athlete and fastest baserunner, and
has the strongest ineld arm in the Red Sox systemand hes most dangerous at
the plate. Ramirez has quick hands, a smooth stroke and lots of bat speed. He has
pitch recognition beyond his years, so hes not vulnerable to breaking balls and is
able to hit deep in counts. If he puts it all together, he could be a .300/.370/.500
shortstop in the majors. He improved his baserunning skills in 2003, and his
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combination of speed and aggressiveness makes him a stolen base threat. His arm
also got better last year, as he maintained plus arm strength throughout the
season for the rst time. He has classic shortstop actions and reliable hands.
Weaknesses: The Red Sox have tried to temper the hype swirling around Ramirez
because it has come so quickly that he hasnt handled it well. His May suspension
wasnt an isolated incident. He was sent home from instructional league in 2002
after he cursed at a trainer. Ramirez did a better job of keeping his composure and
acting more professionally when he came back from extended spring training. He
needs to let the game come to him instead of trying to do too much. Ramirez is too
worried about hitting the ball out of the park, so he lengthens his swing and gets
overaggressive. He should be able to work counts and draw walks, but his
impatience often gets the best of him. He made 36 errors at Augusta, mostly on
throws where he had little chance to get the runner or where he just got careless.
The Future: Once Ramirez becomes a true professional, he should take o. The
Red Sox hope that will happen in 2004 at high Class A Sarasota. If Boston deals for
Rodriguez or re-signs Garciaparra, Ramirez could become a very valuable trading
chip.

TEAMG

AB

2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG

Augusta
111 (Lo
422A)69 116 24

50 32 73 36 .275 .327 .403

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