The Boston Red Sox have the seventh overall pick in Monday's MLB June Amateur Draft, which is an interesting spot because it's unknown who the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies will select in the first three picks.
ESPN Insider Keith Law has released two of his mock drafts, both of which have the Red Sox taking an outfielder. Law projected high school prospect Daz Cameron to land in Boston with his first mock and then changed that pick to Arkansas standout Andrew Benintendi in his second.
According to Law, the Red Sox like Benintendi, but their top choice is LSU shortstop Alex Bregman. However, considering Bregman is projected to go in the top two, their backup options appear to be Benintendi and Cameron because they are much more attainable. Law ranks Bregman No. 4, Cameron No. 12 and Benintendi No. 21 in his list of top 100 prospects.
Here are each of their stats from this past season:
Bregman - .318/.414/.548 with 55 runs scored, 9 home runs and 47 RBIs in 61 games
Cameron - .455/.569/.922 with 38 runs scored, 8 home runs and 32 RBIs in 25 games
Benintendi - .397/.498/.737 with 57 runs scored, 18 home runs and 54 RBIs in 59 games
An outfielder would make the most sense for the Red Sox because general manger Ben Cherington used the team's first-round picks in 2014 and 2012 to select shortstops Michael Chavis and Deven Marrero (even though Chavis was moved to third base this year). Either way, the last time they selected an outfielder was in 2011 when they took Jackie Bradley Jr., who can't seem to get it together at the plate and is slowly watching his window of opportunity close.
Additionally, the Sox have only two outfielders in their top 20 prospects, according to SoxProspects.com. Manuel Margot (No. 5) is in Class A Advanced Salem and Bryce Brentz (No. 19) is at Triple-A Pawtucket. Margot is a promising talent, but Brentz, 26, has struggled offensively since last season after an impressive stint with Pawtucket in 2013.
On the other hand, Boston has prospects Yoan Moncada (No. 2), Marrero (No. 11), Javier Guerra (No. 12) and Mauricio Dubon (No. 18), who are all capable of playing shortstop in some capacity. Xander Bogaerts is currently their starting shortstop and he's only 22 years old.
Based on the potential options provided for Boston's draft pick this upcoming Monday, we'd say Benintendi is the most likely selection. Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs also projects the Red Sox to take Benintendi in his last mock draft. Here's what he had to say:
"[Daz]Cameron, [Carson] Fulmer and Benintendi all make it here and it isn't clear which Boston would prefer, but Benintendi's combination of up-the-middle fit and high level of play in the SEC have scouts suggesting he's the most likely pick here in this scenario."
We'll know for sure what the Red Sox decide to do on June 8.
