Kelley L Cox – USA TODAY Sports
Just a few days until baseball’s future superstars take to Citi Field for the 2013 MLB Futures Game. The Boston Red Sox already knew that Xander Bogaerts and Anthony Ranaudo would be at the game, but Garin Cecchini missed out after losing the final vote to New York Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo.
It is always a bummer when a player goes down due to injury, forcing him to miss a special event like the Futures Game, but it can also make room for a player who is absolutely deserving of being there. This happened Thursday, when Texas Rangers prospect Joey Gallo hit the minor league DL with a groin injury, opening up a roster spot for Cecchini.
Cecchini just might be the Red Sox’s first-half minor leaguer of the year. His average between two levels is an incredible .364, he has scored 58 times, and he stolen 15 bases in 79 games. He has demonstrated excellent doubles power, has legged out four triples and is showing increasing defensive skills.
Cecchini’s red-hot season has elevated him to become the Red Sox’s No. 3 prospect according to Sox Prospects, sitting behind just Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Red Sox have Will Middlebrooks, who is currently at AAA and is widely thought to be the future at the hot corner for the organization, back soon, but Cecchini just might force Middlebrooks across the diamond in time. While he does not have the power Middlebrooks has displayed, Cecchini could end up being an above-.300 hitter and a plus defender for a long time at Fenway Park.
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