The 2014 season may have been a trying one for the entire Boston Red Sox family, but 2015 brings plenty of promise and renewed optimism after an offseason full of upgrades and intrigue. Who's ready to help lead Red Sox team back to the big stage of the Fall Classic? Here's our list of 3 Breakout Candidates For The 2015 Boston Red Sox.
C Blake Swihart
An MRI on starting catcher Christian Vazquez's ailing right elbow has both the team and Vazquez himself nervous, with no exact timeline for his return having been given as of yet. That means Ryan Hanigan will likely take over starting duties for now, but that also means that top prospect Blake Swihart could get an early shot at making his mark on the big league club. Swihart, 23, threw out 46 percent of runners who attempted to steal on him last year and has a career mark of 39 percent over three professional seasons. However, it's his increased muscle mass (up to 200 pounds from 175) that could help him stick in The Show if/when increased pop comes along with it.
OF Rusney Castillo
Castillo, 27, has been turning heads in Florida with some feature-length bombs and an all-around performance that just screams "Major League ready." He might get squeezed off the roster for Opening Day, but there's nothing in Castillo's body of work as of late that suggests he'll be toiling on the farm for long. He's got all the tools to be a true top-of-the-lineup catalyst, and it's almost a lock that he'll get a chance to prove that sometime in 2015. When does get the call, expect Castillo to shine thanks to his innate on-field instincts and dynamite-filled bat.
SS Xander Bogaerts
Bogaerts is a year old and a year wiser after suffering through a prolonged slump in 2014, and the 2013 postseason hero is probably the best even-money bet the Sox have for a breakout this season. The 22-year-old has gone back to taking what he's given at the plate, spraying balls all over the field in Spring Training after attempting to force his will in the batter's box in 2014. If he continues to slow the game down and patiently chip away at AL pitchers, Bogaerts has too much talent and too much determination to be held down for a second-straight year.
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