Perez covering lots of ground
Put yourself in Kenny Perez's spikes. First, he faced the challenge of gaining recognition as only the fourth-best shortstop prospect in Miami high schools in 2000.
Then he found himself playing in the shadows of more highly touted shortstops in the Red Sox system. First there was Freddy Sanchez, then Hanley Ramirez.
But don't cry for Perez. He is doing just fine at Double A Portland, having eclipsed all of the three higher-ranked prospects from his hometown since the Sox drafted him in the sixth round (182d overall) out of South Miami High School.
That's no small feat, considering Luis Montanez of Coral Park High School was selected third overall by the Cubs and received a $2.75 million signing bonus. And that David Espinosa of Gulliver Preparatory School received a $2.95 million contract from the Reds, who drafted him 23d overall. And that Raul Tablado of Southridge Senior High went 118th overall to the Blue Jays.
Four years later, Perez, 22, is the only one still playing shortstop. And other than Espinosa, an outfielder for Double A Erie, Perez is the only one who has made it to Double A. What's more, the Sox expect even better for Perez, who has hit .301 with two homers and 31 RBIs in his first 59 games for the Sea Dogs.
"He has come a long way as a player and he's really doing a good job," said Ben Cherington, director of player development for the Sox. "We certainly think he has a chance to get to the big leagues."
That's saying a lot, since the Sox are so high on Ramirez and last winter invested a $500,000 signing bonus in another Dominican shortstop, Luis Soto. Ramirez, who is coming back from a sprained wrist, has been sharing time at shortstop with Soto for Boston's rookie team in the Gulf Coast League and is expected to rejoin Single A Sarasota by the middle of next week.
Perez has outlasted Sanchez, who was traded last year to the Pirates. He has maintained an upward trajectory while persevering through a number of injuries. And his defense is sound enough that the Sox are not concerned about the 15 errors he has committed this season.
"He has worked very hard to overcome his physical adversities," Cherington said. "He also has gained the maturity he needs to compete at that level."
Perez entered yesterday on a 11-for-20 tear with eight RBIs over his last six games.
Recovery time
With Ramirez back in action, several other injured prospects are inching closer to returning. Lefthander Jon Lester (elbow tendinitis) worked one scoreless inning Friday for the Gulf Coast team on his way back to Sarasota. Single A Augusta outfielder Mickey Hall (minor groin pull) is expected to return this week. And Portland third baseman John Hattig (lower back strain) is due to play again as soon as tomorrow. But several others have more work ahead of them, including Sarasota outfielder David Murphy (deep bone bruise of his right foot), who remains at least two weeks away, and Sarasota third baseman Chad Spann (left knee surgery), who is expected to need at least three more weeks . . . Notable among the players in the Cape Cod League are a couple of college kids the Sox drafted this month and have not signed, including eighth-rounder Kyle Bono, a righthander from the University of Central Florida, and 39th-rounder Zak Farkes, an infielder from Harvard . . . Another Sox draftee, 23d-round righthander Matthew Goodson, is still playing in the College World Series with the University of Texas . . . Triple A Pawtucket righthander John Stephens and Portland outfielder Bret Roneberg could miss much of August to play for Australia's Olympic team. "That's an opportunity I doubt we would hold them back from," Cherington said.
Power plant
Pawtucket has one of the most powerful trios in the minors at the heart of its lineup: Brian Daubach (.341, 8 homers, 27 RBIs in 25 games), Andy Dominique (.294, 10 homers, 45 RBIs in 58 games), and Earl Snyder (.293, 19 homers, 58 RBIs in 72 games). The problem has been the bullpen, which has blown 7 of 18 save opportunities and has squandered more leads than the PawSox care to remember. Manager Buddy Bailey, whose team is struggling to get back to .500, hopes the return of Anastacio Martinez and Mark Malaska from the big club will help. Righthander Bryan Hebson also is close to coming back from the disabled list. And the PawSox may get more help from Portland closer Joe Nelson, the former Braves reliever who is due for a promotion after going 3-2 with a 1.59 ERA and 13 saves while holding opponents to a .153 average and fanning 46 in 28 1/3 innings . . . Kelly Shoppach, Boston's top catching prospect, had reached base in 23 straight games for Pawtucket . . . Portland outfielder George Lombard, who has played in the majors for the Braves, Tigers, and Devil Rays, was hitting .400 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 15 games as he comes back from shoulder surgery . . . West Roxbury High grad Manny Delcarmen has struggled coming back from Tommy John surgery, going 0-4 with a 7.29 ERA for Single A Augusta. But Augusta outfielder Brandon Moss continued to shine as he ranked among the league leaders in batting (.347), RBIs (65), hits (94), and on-base percentage (.415) . . . Righthander Anibal Sanchez, who was clocked in the mid-90s, was 1-1 with 1.64 ERA in his first two starts for short-season Single A Lowell.
