In case you missed it, check out my ranking of Boston’s top 5 catching prospects here.

In my next installment, we’ll cover outfielders, an area where the Sox have a bit more minor league depth.  Most of the guys on the list are raw talents at this point.  They have high ceilings, but quite a ways to go before they are ready to ply their trade in front of the green walls at 4 Yawkey Way.

1) Josh Reddick
Age: 21
2008 Level: AA

The 21-year-old could be one of the steals of the 2006 draft after the Red Sox selected him in the 17th round.  The corner outfielder was one of the best players in the Sally League in 2007, and was mashing in the California League last season before being promoted to Double-A Portland.  Reddick then struggled to hit in the pitching-rich Eastern League, but considering his age and his criminally low BABIP (.218 by my calculations), we’ll give him a mulligan and watch him closely in 2009.

He’s one of the few long ball threats within Boston’s minor league organization, and his K-rate has been excellent for a power hitter (only 133 strikeouts in 912 career plate appearances).  Reddick’s talent also translates to the field, where he’s drawn rave reviews for his instincts and throwing arm.  The one hole in his game is his tendency to swing at everything, but with his low K rate it’s not a monumental concern.  The best outfield prospect in the system.

2) Che-Hsuan Lin
Age: 20
2008 Level: Low-A

The toolsy Lin made headlines in the Bronx this summer by winning the Futures Game MVP at Yankee Stadium and evoking boos from the citizens of Back Hair Nation.  The 20-year-old might have the highest ceiling of any outfielder in the system, but he is still very raw (he has trouble hitting off-speed pitches, for example).  Lin’s athleticism gives us plenty to be excited about, and he should be patrolling CF next year for the new High-A affiliate in Salem, Virginia.

3) Ryan Kalish
Age: 20
2008 Level: High-A

Ryan was a rising star within the organization in 2007, hitting .368/.471/.540 at Lowell before breaking his hamate bone (wrist).  He came back in 2008 to produce decent numbers in Greenville, and struggled once promoted to High-A Lancaster.  Kalish is similar to Lin; great tools, modest power potential, still 3 or 4 years from the majors.  He’ll likely be playing alongside Lin at Salem in what should be a very exciting team to watch.

4) Ryan Westmoreland
Age: 18
2008 Level: N/A

My ranking of the Ocean State native might be a tad low, as I tend to discount players who have yet to appear in a professional game.  The folks at Baseball America, who admittedly are more familiar with Ryan than I am, call him the best athlete in the entire system, and the #7 Boston prospect overall.  Ryan is yet another high-ceiling player who has impressive tools but still a long way to go in the system (are you sensing a trend here?).  The Sox pried him away from Vanderbilt University with a $2,000,000 bonus, and hope to see their investment yield some impressive results in Greenville next season.

5) Zack Daeges
Age: 24
2008 Level: AA

We’re bucking the trend a bit here, as Daeges is quite a bit different than the kids listed above him.  He’s a polished hitter with good plate discipline, but not much in the way of tools or athleticism.  He’s not young, and thus his ceiling is lower and more visible than the likes of Lin, Kalish, and Westmoreland.  While Daeges is a man without a true position, his offensive prowess cannot be denied.  His career professional line is .314/.415/.504.  Look for him in Pawtucket next season, in what will be one of the best offensive teams in minor league baseball.

Next up: Corner Infielders