Fast-Track Minor Leaguers

Here's an article from yesterday's Maine Sunday Telegram about a few of the Red Sox minor leaguers who are on the fast track to the majors, including Dustin Pedroia, Cla Meredith and Abe Alvarez. Theo Epstein has focused on college players in his drafts, and this is paying quick dividends. For the first time in several years, the Sox have a number of players who look poised to hit Boston (or, very likely, somewhere else in the major leagues) over the next couple of years.

People talk about the Yankees as if they have always been a bought team, but a large part of their core that won four championships between 1996-2000 was home grown: Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. I think that the Red Sox are on the verge of having that kind of influx of young players over the next few years. It will be exciting to watch if it materializes.