Sox' Top 10 list needs updating

On Opening Day 12 1/2 weeks ago Jonathan Papelbon was in the Red Sox bullpen, Jon Lester was in Triple A Pawtucket's starting rotation, Manny Delcarmen was in Pawtucket's bullpen, and Craig Hansen was in Double A Portland's bullpen. Now, all four are in Boston, probably to stay. That means the Sox' top three prospects (Lester, Papelbon, and Hansen) are in the majors, as well as another consensus top-10 prospect (Delcarmen).

And that begs this question: Who are now the top 10 prospects in the Sox' system? Here's one take, based upon several measuring tools: the Globe's preseason poll of major league general managers and executives, the rankings compiled by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, and ongoing communication with Sox executives. This list does not include 2006 draft picks.

1. 2B/SS Dustin Pedroia -- A shoulder injury cost Pedroia March and effectively turned April into his spring training, making for a misleading statistical start to the season. But he's climbed to .290 with the same number of doubles as strikeouts (19). ``Dustin continues to show great instincts no matter where he is on the baseball field," said Ben Cherington, the Sox' vice president for player personnel. ``He's got a knack for getting the barrel to the ball and continues to have more extra-base hits than strikeouts, remarkable for a player his age in Triple A. He's played well defensively on both sides of the bag. As he matures he will continue to figure out how to maintain himself physically over a full season, something he has made good strides with this year." Provided Alex Cora, Mark Loretta, and Alex Gonzalez remain healthy, Pedroia won't see the big leagues until September. But he could be a regular come Opening Day next April.

2. CF Jacoby Ellsbury -- Ellsbury, the club's top pick last year, has had to overcome injuries to his wrist late last season and right quadriceps early this season. But his totals haven't suffered. In 35 games at short-season Single A Lowell and 49 games at Single A Wilmington he's combined to hit .314 with 41 steals. ``Jacoby has the skills to impact the game offensively [including on the bases] and defensively," Cherington said. ``He's got a simple, compact swing, and the ball jumps off his bat. He has been one of the better offensive players in the Carolina League while playing in a pitchers' park and pitchers' league. Defensively, he has made dramatic improvement in his jumps and reads, which has allowed his speed and athleticism to translate into above-average defense."

3. RHP Michael Bowden -- Picked 47th overall last year, Bowden, 19, is 4-4 with a 3.57 ERA, 73 strikeouts, and just 14 walks in 14 starts with Single A Greenville. ``Michael is a very mature young man," Cherington said. ``He's got three major league-quality pitches and is a great competitor. We asked him to make some minor delivery adjustments this spring and he has been able to incorporate these while competing as a 19-year-old at the full-season level."

4. RHP Clay Buchholz -- Buchholz, like Bowden, is a 6-foot-3-inch righthander with Single A Greenville. A sandwich pick (42d overall) last June, he probably would have gone higher if not for an off-field issue in high school (he was arrested for stealing and selling laptops). In 12 starts, he's 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and 13 walks. ``Clay has made good progress this year," Cherington said. ``There were a couple of minor delivery adjustments we asked him to make, and he has worked hard to do so. He's got above-average secondary pitches, which are very tough on A ball hitters. We have asked him to focus on using his fastball to develop command of that pitch and improve his pitch efficiency."

5. RHP Edgar Martinez -- Double A righthander has power arm behind El Guapo-type body. Entering last night he'd limited lefthanded batters to a .149 average (10 for 67). He's 2-3 with a 3.53 ERA, having allowed 13 of his 16 runs to score on home runs. He hasn't allowed any inherited runners to score (0 for 10). Former catcher needs more seasoning but will be a back-of-the-bullpen presence as soon as next summer.

6. 2B/SS Jed Lowrie -- Lowrie, the former Stanford infielder picked 45th overall last year, missed more than five weeks with a sprained ankle and has slumped at Single A Wilmington, batting .224 through 39 games after leading the New York-Penn League in on-base percentage last year at .429.

7. CF/RF Adam Stern -- Stern went 4 for 5 with two homers and four RBIs Tuesday and followed that up with a three-hit night Wednesday but with that was still hitting just .254 at Pawtucket. The 26-year-old still needs another 500 or so minor league at-bats to figure out what it takes to play on a daily basis. His arm, speed, and glove are excellent.

8. CF David Murphy -- Murphy, who in the eyes of many talent evaluators has underperformed in three years since he was selected 17th overall in 2003, has been a revelation since being promoted to Pawtucket in late May. In 29 games with the PawSox he's batting .321 with 11 doubles, 4 homers, and 17 RBIs. He's intent on proving he's more than a candidate for a fourth-outfield spot.

9. RF Brandon Moss -- The 22-year-old was named Eastern League Player of the Week for June 19-25. He hit .478 (11 for 23) with four doubles, a triple, a homer, five RBIs, and seven runs in just six games with Double A Portland. That lifted the right fielder's average, through 68 games, to .263 with 22 doubles (second most in the EL) and 46 RBIs (fourth most). His biggest issue is consistency at the plate.

10. OF Yahmed Yema -- The 21-year-old outfielder with Single A Greenville went into yesterday batting .297 with 14 doubles, 6 homers, and 45 RBIs in 59 games.

Double A righthander Chris Smith, who has overcome the loss of his father, a shoulder procedure, and lengthy rehab since joining the organization, improved to 9-3 with a 2.27 ERA in 15 starts. Smith was one of four Sea Dogs named yesterday to the Eastern League All-Star Game. The others: OF Tyler Minges (.297, 3 HRs, 28 RBIs), 3B Chad Spann (.289, 6, 34), and 1B/DH Jeremy West (.310, 7, 36). Smith isn't a highly regarded prospect, but the 25-year-old has put himself in position to make a spot start if the Sox need him . . . Wondering what's up with Hee Seop Choi? The former Dodger, who was claimed off waivers in late March, hit .253 with 15 homers and 42 RBIs in just 320 at-bats in the big leagues in 2005. But he entered last night's game with the PawSox just 11 for his last 88 (.125), leaving his season average at a weak .205 with eight homers and 27 RBIs in 219 at-bats. His power totals appear adequate, but a closer look shows that he homered three times in 28 at-bats to begin the year and has just five homers in 191 at-bats since. What's his deal? Hard to tell, even to those in the organization. Could be a case of the Triple A blues . . . Phil Seibel's streak of 22 1/3 scoreless innings, a Portland record, remains intact, though it helps that he hasn't pitched since June 11. Seibel, who missed all of last season rehabbing following Tommy John elbow surgery, has what the Sox labeled a slight case of dead arm. To be cautious, the team probably will hold him out for a couple more weeks.