Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
There is little doubt Xander Bogaerts is the Boston Red Sox‘ best prospect, and regardless of when he inevitably gets called up this season, he will still be prospect-eligible next season. But, Garin Cecchini will be the top prospect yet to make his MLB debut.
He does not have the superstar upside that many fans look for in a top prospect, but he can easily be an important starter on a contending team. He has a very smooth and quiet swing from the left side of the plate, getting his bat through the zone very quickly.
His power potential is not that of a home run hitter, instead that of a doubles machine. He has a terrific approach at the plate, where he can be very patient and work a deep count, but if a pitcher approaches him with the expectation that Cecchini is going to take a couple pitches, he will jump on the first-pitch fastball and rip a double into the right-center gap.
He profiles much like a left-handed Mike Lowell when Lowell was in Boston. He will never be the star of the team, but he will be a consistent contributor and a key bat in the lineup.
Defense might be the thing that delays his eventual call-up. He is athletic, a high school shortstop, and has the arm to play third. But he has a slow first move, which can prove problematic at the hot corner. He has shown the ability to make adjustments, so there is still hope he can become an average to above-average defender, but if the glove doesn’t come around, his athleticism could make him a very good corner outfielder.
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