Two fast-rising prospects among Red Sox Minor League Award winners
Kristian Campbell’s trophy case is already getting crowded after the top Red Sox prospect took home two major awards earlier this week, and Friday he’ll receive another honor from his own employer.
Campbell is among eight recipients of this year’s Red Sox Minor League Awards, which annually aim to recognize some of the top performers in the farm system. The recipients will be honored at Fenway Park ahead of Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, during which the players will receive their awards as part of the pregame festivities.
The award winners are as follows.
Offensive Player of the Year: INF/OF Kristian Campbell
Defensive Player of the Year: OF Nelly Taylor
Starting Pitcher of the Year: RHP Hunter Dobbins
Relief Pitcher of the Year: RHP Chase Shugart
Baserunner of the Year: INF Franklin Arias
Latin Program Position Player of the Year: 1B/OF Justin Gonzales
Latin Program Pitcher of the Year: RHP Yermain Ruiz
Lou Gorman Award: LHP Cam Booser
The Lou Gorman Award is given annually to a Red Sox minor leaguer who has demonstrated dedication and perseverance in overcoming obstacles while working his way to the big leagues, and Booser might be the most appropriate winner in the award’s history. The left-hander reached the majors this April as a 31-year-old rookie after an 11-year journey in which he overcame injuries, a marijuana suspension and several years in retirement before returning after nearly four years away from the game. Booser emerged as a key bullpen weapon for Boston upon his promotion, posting a 3.38 ERA in 43 MLB appearances.
Campbell was among the top hitters in the minor leagues this season, batting .330 with 20 home runs, 24 stolen bases and a .997 OPS in 115 games. Campbell rose from High-A to Triple-A and went from a relative afterthought to No. 24 on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect rankings. This week he was also named Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year and Eastern League MVP for his performance in Double-A.
Arias was also a fast-rising prospect, jumping into Baseball America’s Top 100 at No. 92 after a brilliant season in which he batted .309 with an .896 OPS and 35 stolen bases as an 18-year-old across 87 games in the Florida Complex League and at Low-A Salem.
Dobbins has been one of Boston’s most consistent minor league starters over the past two years and recently wrapped up a season in which he went 8-5 with a 3.08 ERA in 25 starts. He finished the year in Triple-A and will most likely be added to the 40-man roster this coming winter.
Shugart posted a 4.46 ERA in 70.2 innings at Triple-A and was called up to the majors in mid-August. He went on to allow four earned runs in 7.2 innings (4.70 ERA) in his five big league appearances.
Taylor is a 21-year-old outfielder who stole 33 bases this past season and finished the year at High-A Greenville. Gonzales and Ruiz are both teenagers who helped the Red Sox capture the Dominican Summer League championship.