As you’ve seen over the past few days, I’ve been updating you with posts about the top 20 Boston Red Sox prospects in each league by Baseball America. Within those prospect lists from each league has been three former members of the UConn Huskies baseball team.
Here’s the release from UConn:
DURHAM, N.C. – Former UConn baseball players George Springer, Matt Barnes and Nick Ahmed, all selected in the 2011 MLB Draft, were named to the Top 20 Prospects list in their respective leagues by Baseball America.
Springer, a first round draft pick of the Houston Astros, was tabbed as the number-two prospect coming out of the California League after spending the majority of the season with the Lancaster JetHawks. Springer was edged out by league MVP and Cincinnati Reds prospect Billy Hamilton for the league’s top spot.
Before a promotion to Double-A, Springer hit .316 and was named a California League All-Star. He slugged 22 home runs, drove in 82 runs, scored 101 and swiped 28 bags. Springer’s season continued with a 22-game stint at Corpus Christi and then on to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.
Barnes, a first round pick of the Boston Red Sox, was pegged as the third best prospect out of the Carolina League. He dominated the South Atlantic League before receiving a promotion to the Salem Red Sox. Barnes posted a 5-5 record at Single-A Advanced and 3.58 earned run average. Overall, his record stood at 7-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 119.2 innings pitched.
Ahmed, a second round pick by the Atlanta Braves, joins Barnes on the Carolina League prospect list at number 13. For the season, he hit .269 with 84 runs scored and 40 stolen bases. Ahmed was a Carolina League All-Star and named the playoff MVP after leading the Lynchburg Hillcats to the league championship. Ahmed’s season is extended into the Arizona Fall League where he is playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
Complete lists for all leagues at Baseball America.
