What About Ryan Kalish?

Sometimes a decision to go with veterans over youngsters will hurt both players and teams. For several years, the Sox seems to have run their organization this way. Perhaps that's one of the reasons that, with the exception of Will Middlebrooks, no rookie has  really made his presence felt since Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury 5 years ago.
 
For years Boston fans had heard about outfielder Ryan Kalish as a coming star. A product of an Irish mother and Jewish father who both grew up in Dorchester, Kalish first excelled at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey. A three-sport star, Ryan became almost legendary in baseball, fanning 10 players in a game in his first contest as a freshman in 2003. His sophomore stats include a .507 average, 32 stolen bases, and a 6-1 record with a 1.60 ERA. It was said that during his senior year (in which he batted .422  while stealing 30) he never missed a swing, making hard contact every time. On the mound, he threw close to 90 mph and had 190 career strikeouts. In 06, he was named Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame High School Male Athlete of the Year.
 
Kalish was signed by the Red Sox, but not until the ninth round, since he had originally committed to the University of Virginia. He decided to forego college for the time being and go right into the Sox organization. HIs first season with the Lowell Spinners was ended by a broken wrist that required surgery. At the time of the injury, he was leading the league in stolen bases and runs scored and was hitting .368. His manager, Gary DiSarcina, commented: "speed and guts…he's my favorite player."
 
In January 08 Peter Gammons callled him one of the three top hitting prospects in the Sox organization. Kalish struggled that year and in the first half of 09, perhaps because of his injury, but exploded in midseason, batting .302 with a .561 slugging percentage. He led Boston minor leaguers in several categories, stealing 21 bases in 27 attempts and was voted the team's Minor League Offensive Player of the Year.
 
After excelling at both Portland and Pawtucket, Kalish came up to the Sox on July 31, 2010, and was soon playing every day. His rookie season was definitely a successful one. He batted .252, but hit .313 with two out and runners in scoring position. He was second among AL rookies in extra-base hits and second in rbi's. He also made some spectacular catches in the outfield, including a diving and rolling one against the Yankees that was spotlighted on ESPN. At the end of the season, he was voted top Sox rookie.
 
Off this season, one might expect Kalish to open the 2011 season in the Red Sox outfield. But after a fine spring training, he fell victim to an  outfield logjam involving Ellsbury, newly-signed Carl Crawford, Mike Cameron, and (gulp) JD Drew. Sent to Pawtucket, he was injured after 14 games and missed most of the year. Though showing occasional power, he hit only .228, poorest of his career. 2012 was similarly disappointing, as played sparingly for the Sox with a .217 average and no homers. By July, he was back at Pawtucket.
 
As the Sox try to rebuild, Kalish's name seems to be seldom mentioned. Still just 24, he has gone from budding superstar to also-ran. Perhaps injuries have held him back. But looking back to 2011, the team kept Cameron and Drew ahead of him. Has he been in the minors too long and lost his edge? Ask Theo Epstein.