Buchholz, Ellsbury on the way
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by MegECass110
Buccholz, in AA Portland and AAA Pawtucket this season, has gone 8-3 with a 2.15 ERA. He is viewed as the top prospect in the Red Sox very deep farm system, and one of the best prospects in all of baseball. The 23-year-old righty was drafted in the first round of the 2005 draft by the Red Sox out of Angelina Junior College. Buchholz has an excellent curveball and changeup, and a 91-94 mph fastball. Buchholz is said to have ace makeup, and is a strong contender to be in the rotation at some point in 2008. More on Buchholz here.
Ellsbury (coincidentally a Johnny Damon look-alike, but not nearly as much of a douchbag) spent 6 games in Boston this summer, relieving centerfielder Coco Crisp while he was banged up. In 6 games, the lefty batted .375, scored 6 runs and stole one base. He immediately became a fan favorite in Boston, when he legged out an infield hit for his first hit in the major leagues. Like Buchholz, the 23-year-old was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2005 draft out of Oregon State University. Ellsbury has great athleticism and gets on base consistently, and projects to be the leadoff hitter of the future for the Red Sox. There is a good chance Crisp may be traded in the offseason, and the keys will be handed to Ellsbury to roam the triangle in center full time in 2008. More on Ellsbury here.
Buchholz' start will simply be a spot start, and Ellsbury is thought not to be up in the bigs for long. But there is a good chance both will come back up in September when the rosters expand. If Pena is traded, Ellsbury has a good chance to make the postseason roster as the fourth outfielder (if the Sox make the postseason).
