Prospects are prospects for a reason. A lot of them are a coin flip at best. Actually, a coin flip is being generous. Most prospects never actually get a chance to play in the show. This next guy I’m going to talk about is different. After the Red Sox suffered several injuries to Dustin Pedroia, Brock Holt, and Eduardo Nunez, Boston finally called up
But how are you so sure, Trey? There are sayings that just ring true. Offensive lines travel in the NFL. That’s a fact. Well, so do bats. If someone hits in A ball, AA, AAA, and Major League spring training, odds are that player can hit in the big leagues. A perfect example of this is Jeff McNeil. That f*cker just hits. Hit at every single level of the minors and now continues to hit with the Mets. Chavis isn’t quite similar to McNeil. While both players are infielders, Chavis’ game comes with more swing and miss but a hell of a lot more power.
The Boston Red Sox drafted Chavis in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft. The 2014 MLB Draft was a good one for Boston who also selected Michael Kopech just a few picks later. Kopech was the main piece that helped land Chris Sale but I digress. Chavis comes with a big stick. That’s why the Red Sox drafted him.
It took Chavis some time to adjust to professional baseball. He was committed to Clemson but obviously took the first round baseball money instead. Through various stages of A ball, Chavis never sniffed .250. It wasn’t looking pretty but he finally turned things around at age 21 in 2017. The power started to come. Not that it shouldn’t be that big of a surprise. Humans obviously continue to develop at that age.
Chavis hit 14 homers in 67 games in AA in 2017. Chavis was then caught for PED’s. You would think “oh, he took steroids and then figured out how to hit. Makes sense” Except that didn’t happen. After Chavis got caught, he hit even better after. He crushed three levels of the minors in 2018. In 46 games in 2018 minor league action, the infielder hit .298/.381/.538 with 9 homers. Chavis continued to impress and found his way on to the spring training roster. Guess what? he continued to rake. 4 homers in 24 at bats. Got optioned to start 2019 in AAA. Immediately hit 4 homers in 12 games. Chavis was ready for the show and got hit chance.
The Red Sox farmhand made his big league debut Saturday night against the Rays in a pinch hit opportunity. It didn’t come against any random bum in the pen. No, this was balls deep against Jose Alvarado who yams 100 down your throat along with a 97 MPH sink that takes buckles you. Tought spot to prove your worth. What did Chavis do? Continued to mash just like he’s been doing.
I’m one of those people that believes Dustin Pedroia deserves every opportunity to prove he can still play. That’s only fair for a 3-time World Series Champion and career .300 hitter over 14 big league seasons. Anyone who says otherwise is just ignorant. Pedroia deserves that chance but the reality is there’s a chance that he can’t play anymore. Injuries and constant knee problems are starting to make Pedey feel like David Wright. If the latter is the case, Chavis should be the everyday 2nd baseman.
But what about Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez? If I never had to watch Eduardo Nunez play for the Red Sox again I would throw a party. I truly can’t stand watching him. I’ve never seen a guy mess up more routine ground balls in my life. Hit bat used to make up for it but now Nunez hasn’t been hitting. I’m all good. Holt has always been more of a utility man anyway and lefty off the bench. His value is to play multiple positions.
The Red Sox have gotten off to a slow start but Chavis is the type of boost this team needs. After getting below average production from second base for the past year, Chavis is the guy who can change that in a significant way.
