Red Sox manager John Farrell said today that “nothing but positives could come” from a September promotion for top infield prospect Yoan Moncada.
This doesn’t mean he’s a sure thing -- Dave Dombrowski has seemed bearish on a September callup in the past -- but it sure would be exciting to see one of baseball’s best prospects in the heat of a pennant race. Moncada is batting .298/.411/.518 with 15 home runs and 45 steals in 105 games this season between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He’d certainly have some adjustments to make if he skipped Triple-A to hit the bigs, but like Travis Shaw, Aaron Hill, and Brock Holt are tearing up the pea patch.
Atlanta’s Dansby Swanson made such a leap recently. Obviously the pressure on him is much less than that which Moncada would face. But Moncada is going to be a special player eventually and, heck, when would a Boston player NOT be under a microscope?