September 4, 2008
Josh Reddick chats with Fire Brand
Josh Reddick, 21, was named a California League Post-Season All Star after hitting .343/.375/.593 in 312 at-bats, 17 home runs and stealing nine bases (caught once) for Lancaster. He had a cup of coffee with Greenville, hitting .340/.397/.491 in 53 at-bats to start the year. Rocketing up the prospect lists, he is in Portland now andhitting .238/.314/.486 in 105 at-bats with six home runs. Read on to see his thoughts on a few things, including his low average at Portland...
You've burst onto the scene of top Red Sox prospects after being drafted in the 17th round in 2006. What do you attribute your success to?
Basically just hard work and commitment to the game. If you don't enjoy the game of baseball then you are not gonna have very much success. So love for the game plays a very big part. Mainly going out there everyday and working hard to keep yourself motivated.
Lancaster is considered a hitter's paradise, and you certainly seem to have liked it, looking at your statistics for the team. However, being in a hitter's paradise may end up being a curse as bad habits could develop. How was Lancaster integral to your development as a hitter? Were there bad habits you slipped into or did Lancaster boost your confidence?
Personally, I don't believe I got into any bad habits. Carlos Febles [Evan: Yes, the former Royals second baseman who retired in 2003 at age 27],my hitting coach, told me practically everyday not to change my swing and just try to hit a line drive up the middle and everything just worked in my favor as a result to my success. You just have to keep the same swing every day; that way you don't develop a lift to your swing.
The Red Sox have been asking you to work on being more patient at the plate, but you seem to be having a hard time adjusting to this process. How are you feeling your way through this?      
It is a very hard adjustment for me. I have never been the patient guy at the plate. I was always told if I see a pitch I can handle, then go after it and drive it. As for the Red Sox telling me to walk more, my average has dropped severely below where I would like it so it is very frustrating.
Last year, you mentioned that the Red Sox asked you to work on your nutrition. How is that coming along? Do you think you can pack on some extra muscle and see that translate into power, or do you feel that your current physique is perfect for your game? Why?
I am still struggling to gain weight. But this off season I haven't been informed on playing in any winter leagues baseball so I will go home and work on that. My body has a lot of potential to fill out and I do believe that it will help me develop more power to my game, therefore increasing my value as a player.
Have you been keeping tabs on your future with the Red Sox and driving to a goal of being a starter for the team once J.D. Drew or Jason Bay leaves as a free agent, or are you the type to stay focused on the present and let things evolve?
I do a little bit of both. I do keep track of what is going on in the big league club. But on the other hand, I just let things play out for me. Because I don't want to get my hopes up on something and then it not go the way I want it to. I stay focused on the present and let things play out for me because you never know when you are going to get traded or stay with your current club.
How are you handling constantly being on the road and away from your family and friends? What adjustments have you had to make psychologically?
Just having good friends on your team is a great thing to have. Matt Sheely and I were really good buddies out in Lancaster and we lived together so that helped out. I call my parents every day, that way I can keep up with them. And I have a little sister that I need to keep up with so she can tell me stories about what she does at school every day.
Who's the best player you've ever competed with or against, and why?
One of them has to be Lars Anderson. Lars has such potential as a big leaguer that it is ridiculous. His power to all fields is amazing and he has such a great swing fit for Fenway Park. Defensively he is a great first basemen and will put his body in front of the ball to make the play.
Do you read any baseball articles/blogs? If you play baseball, you must be a baseball fan, so how do you indulge your fandom?
I don't read much of anything unless I am told something is interesting in it to read. Mainly I just keep up with baseball and University of Georgia football. I'm a huge Georgia fan.
Have you thought about debuting in the major leagues? What would you love to do in your debut?
I think every minor league ball player dreams about their major league debut. Personally I would just enjoy the experience of being there just because so few people have that chance. If I have a good day at the plate, that would just be a added bonus.
Thanks to Josh for the time, and good luck on figuring out how to balance hitting for average and being more patient at the plate!
Discussion
9 Comments on "Josh Reddick chats with Fire Brand"
#1
Posted by JaredK, September 4, 2008 12:26 AM
it is a little early to speculate but while you're doing it Hissey, Kalish and Lin are also all capable of covering some serious ground as well. I'm sure there will be plenty of attrition but the Sox seem to be putting a premium on athletic types who can manage the strike zone.
Would love to see them add a few slugging types into the mix in the next few drafts or via trade. Place, while I'm not writing him off, is looking like a long-shot...unless a Yockey or Bryan peterson develops there is not a lot of hope for 30-40 home-run potential from the corner outfield spots.
Weird stat on Reddick to me is 15 doubles in 430 at bats between Lancaster/Portland. For a guy with some pop and above avg athleticism that seems like a small total. In Greenville in 2007 he had 17 in 370 at bats which also seems a little low although not as bad. Soxprospects notes that he is primarily a line-drive hitter but I wonder if he actually gets some loft on the ball. I saw his line-drive % in Portland was like 12.5% although that is a small sample size.
#2
Posted by Evan Brunell, September 4, 2008 12:57 AM
Yeah, Bob, I am! I'm pretty lucky. I have another pretty neat name for you guys next week.
I'm not as concerned with the dearth of power in the system as other people (Sean O) are --- because of Lars and Reddick. Also, power always seems to develop last, so there's going to be some guys that suddenly can jerk them out of the park --- Brandon Moss and George Kottaras are examples.
#3
Posted by Bob, September 4, 2008 11:19 AM
Evan, you're really getting them all these days. This is another guy I'm really high on, really the reason that I don't want to see the Sox give Bay a huge extension. He's a great defensive player with a very strong arm and a lot of power potential as a hitter. He's clearly become more patient at the plate, despite the low batting average the gap between his batting ave and obp is encouraging, the hits will come. If he continues to make adjustments in the offseason and next season, it's not inconceivable that both he and Anderson could make Ellsbury-type leaps and be ready for big-league action come 2010.
#4
Posted by JaredK, September 4, 2008 11:30 AM
This guy is made for right field...19 assists in 94 games in 2007. Hopefully he continues his improvement with his patience at the plate...I could see his power #'s climbing if he gets into more hitters counts and is able to add to his frame in the off-season.
#5
Posted by Bob, September 4, 2008 11:48 AM
Like I've said before, how sick would a future outfield of Reddick Ellsbury and Westmoreland be around 2013. Best defensive outfield in the game by far.
#6
Posted by Bob, September 4, 2008 1:35 PM
Oh I know I'm being really speculative Jared, but that's what makes it so much fun. I like Hissey, Kalish, and Lin a lot too, although I'm a little concerned that Kalish and Lin haven't really shown much power. I personally just feel that Ellsbury is in Boston to stay (bumps in the road this season aside), with the right adjustments Reddick is clearly ahead of the curve, and that of all the lower level outfielders, Westmoreland has the most potential to be a really special player (I think he could be JD Drew with more speed). It's really great to have all these toolsy outfielder types, eventually a couple of them have to get dealt right? I'd say Kalish is probably the most likely to be a prospect in a big deal.
I think the philosophy of drafting athletes doesn't just apply to position players in the system, the Red Sox clearly go for athletic pitchers with a certain makeup also. Paps, Lester, Masterson, Bowden, Buchholz (despite him turning into a headcase), Kelly (unbelievable athlete) are all great athletes with real strong competitive drives. It took a couple of years, but I think that the front office has finally found a formula for success with the farm system. This year's draft was an unbelievable haul.
#7
Posted by JaredK, September 4, 2008 3:34 PM
Yeah, I wasn't being critical...I'm guilty of the same thing. Sometimes I got to remind myself they are like stocks and to stop checking the box scores for every affiliate every day...or maybe I just need to get a life. Kalish was dissapointing regarding power (considering Lancaster effect) but those Hamate injuries are always a bitch and take a while to recoup fully...or maybe he'll be Gabe Kapler where you ask yourself why a guy built like that doesn't pop at least 20. It will be a big year for him next year as I assume he'll be back in Lancaster. Definitely happy with the job the front office has done regarding stocking the system and I hope they continue to spend a ton on signability picks and international free agents...even at the cost of free agent spending...clearly we have gotten far more performance value in-house then through free agency.
#8
Posted by DaveA, September 8, 2008 11:02 AM
I am not one of the guys who's all that high on Kalish. In Greenville he had a 68% GB rate. He just doesn't have that much pop. The guy had one good week in Lowell, one good week in Greenville. In fact he was promoted while going on something like a 3-38 run. Josh Reddick is the real deal....he does have some power in that swing and will really hit it hard once he puts on some weight.
#9
Posted by JSteigler, September 8, 2008 9:44 PM
Kalish is a good athlete and had good trade value coming into this year, but the lack of pop is a real issue, the difference between him projecting as Chris Snelling instead of Nick Markakis. Maybe Lew Ford. Reddick has real power now and ready defense. He is a step ahead of the Moss/Murton/Murphy class, but he needs to make a better showing in AA. It probably turns on pitch selection for this quality prospect.
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