An array of Red Sox prospects receive promotions

If you casually follow the Red Sox minor league system and only glance at the stats and roster of each affiliate every few weeks, it's time for a refresher course on where several Red Sox prospects are playing.

First, as reported on SoxProspects.com via Baseball Prospectus, the Red Sox have "seemingly come to terms" with outfielders and 2008 draft picks Peter Hissey (fourth round) and Ryan Westmoreland (fifth round). In the last week, Boston also signed first rounder Casey Kelly and second rounder Derrik Gibson. Kelly is highly regarded as a shortstop and a pitcher while Gibson is a shortstop. Both have been assigned to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, where Kelly will play shortstop and Gibson will be moved to another position.

Top Red Sox prospects who have recently received promotions include:

Pawtucket

• Jeff Corsaletti - The 25-year-old outfielder has slowly climbed the Red Sox minor league ladder. A fifth round pick out of the University of Florida in 2005, Corsaletti projects as a fourth outfielder at the Major League level. Of course, so did David Murphy, and he is a Rookie of the Year candidate as a starting outfielder for the Texas Rangers. Corsaletti, who batted .311 at Double-A Portland and is hitting .273 in 11 at-bats with the Paw Sox, offers the Red Sox outfield insurance next season, much like Brandon Moss this year.
• Justin Masterson - OK, so technically Masterson was sent down from Boston to Pawtucket, but only to prepare himself for a role in the Red Sox bullpen. Considering the state of Boston's relievers, Masterson will return to Boston soon. He tossed a scoreless inning in each of his first two appearances as a Paw Sox reliever before serving up two runs and two hits in 1.1 innings of work on July 17. Masterson proved himself as an effective No. 5 starter with the Red Sox. He could also return to that role if Clay Buchholz continues to struggle, and Bartolo Colon's rehab stalls.

Portland

• Josh Reddick - If you are a Sox and Pinstripes regular, you have likely read quite a bit about the 21-year-old Reddick, who is the outfield prospect I am most excited about in the Red Sox system (Ryan Kalish is a close second). Today, Reddick was promoted to Portland. Reddick started the year at low Single-A Greenville, where he hit .340. He batted .343 with 17 home runs and 57 RBI in 312 at-bats for the Jet Hawks. Red Sox officials would like him to be more patient - Reddick has just 17 walks and is aggressive at the plate - but if he keeps hitting so well, the organization will have no choice but to see what he can do at the Double-A level. In the field, Reddick has plus range to accompany a strong and accurate arm. He can play all three outfield positions, but is most comfortable in right field.
• Lars Anderson - The left-handed hitting, 20-year-old first baseman is one of Boston's most heralded prospects. He was recently promoted from advanced Single-A Lancaster, where he hit .317 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 306 at-bats. Anderson has just 10 at-bats with the Sea Dogs (2-for-10). He could make his big league debut as early as 2010 and might replace Mike Lowell in the Red Sox lineup with Lowell's contract expires after the 2010 season (Kevin Youkilis would be moved to third base).
• Argenis Diaz - The 21-year-old from Venezuela is one of the top defensive shortstops in the minor leagues, and he could play the position right now in the big leagues if only his bat was more advanced. He did bat .281 for Lancaster before joining the Sea Dogs, where he is 2-for-9 in three games. Diaz has no power and just marginal speed, but if he can reach base as an effective slap hitter, he will reach the big leagues because of his exceptional range, arm and glove in the field. With Jed Lowrie, Diaz and Yamaico Navarro rising through the Red Sox minor league system, Julio Lugo's days in Boston are undoubtedly numbered.
• Richie Lentz - Perhaps the most pleasant surprise among pitchers in the Red Sox, Lentz had a remarkable 77 strikeouts in 53.1 innings at Lancaster, which prompted his promotion to Portland. The 23-year-old right-hander, who was drafted out of the University of Washington in the 16th round in 2006, has allowed no runs and six hits in 5.1 innings with the Sea Dogs. He has 10 strikeouts in three appearances.

Lancaster

• Yamaico Navarro - The 20-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic was impressive at Greenville, where he hit .280 with seven home runs and 54 RBI in 325 at-bats. Navarro continues to swing a hot bat at Lancaster, where he has a .471 average (8-for-17). Like Jed Lowrie, Navarro can proficiently play seocnd, shortstop and third, but he is a better defensive shortstop than Lowrie.
• Luis Exposito - With Jason Varitek aging and struggling, the watch is on for catchers in the Red Sox system who can help at the big league level. Chances are, Pawtucket's Dusty Brown will be the backup catcher in Boston next season. Paw Sox teammate George Kottaras is prospect as well, as is Portland's Mark Wagner, who some consider Varitek's future replacement. Luis Exposito has emerged as a top catching prospect this season. The 21-year-old backstop is highly regarded for his arm and game-calling ability. And he can hit. At Greenville, he had a .283 average with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 191 at-bats before arriving in Lancaster, where he is hitting .272 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 81 at-bats. Next season, Exposito will likely start at Portland while Wagner and Kottaras will share duties at Pawtucket (if Brown gets the backup job in Boston).

Greenville

• Michael Almanzar - The son of former Major League reliever Carlos Almanzar, Michael Almanzar is just 17, but he was recently promoted from the Gulf Coast League Red Sox to low Single-A Greenville, where he joins another teenage phenom, 19-year-old Oscar Tejeda. That Almanzar and Tejeda are playing in the South Atlantic League as teenagers says a lot about their abilities. While it is uncertain whether Tejeda projects as a shortstop or third baseman, Almanzar will remain at third base. He is in the early stages of his development, so don't expect him at Fenway Park anytime before 2012 or 2013, but he will be an exciting prospect to watch as he rises through the Red Sox system.