What Cody Rosier brings to the Red Sox
The Red Sox continued to add to the farm system in the Eric Hosmer trade
Corey Rosier’s performance for UNC-Greensboro earned him a 12th-round selection by the Seattle Mariners. (UNC-Greensboro)
Over the last few days, the Red Sox have added to their farm system. In a deal with the Padres on Tuesday, they acquired Eric Hosmer and two prospects, including Corey Rosier. The Maryland native was the Padres' best 26th prospect and joins the Red Sox system with his stock on the rise.
In 85 games this year, Rosier is hitting .263 with a career-high six home runs. The twenty-three-year-old also has 21 extra-base hits but has been on fire over the last few weeks. After a slow start, Rosier has been an on-base machine. He has terrorized pitchers on the basepaths with 33 stolen bases in 37 attempts.
Additionally, Rosier has a good sense of the strike zone and has drawn 72 walks in the minors. The former twelfth-round pick is not known for his power, but he has shown the ability to get on base. Before the trade, Rosier had his best month of the season with a .346 average in July, which included eight with multi-hit games.
While Rosier has started to find his groove at the plate, he is a solid defender. His speed allows him to make the occasional spectacular grab. The University of North Carolina product has only committed three errors during his first two minor league seasons and posted a .985 fielding percentage. However, he doesn’t always take the optimal route to a flyball. Scouts see him as a fourth outfielder in the majors, but that could change if his offense and decision-making improve.
The Red Sox's newest prospect was optioned to Greenville after the trade. Rosier's major league debut is still a few years away as he hasn't played above High-A in the Mariners or Padres system. He is not on the Red Sox's top 30 prospect list, but that could change depending on what moves happen in the winter.
Regardless of how the season unfolds, the Red Sox can now take a closer look at Rosier. He has had a low walk rate and the minors and hit .380 in 2021. How the Red Sox maximizes his skills will determine if he exceeds his projections and becomes a starter in the majors.
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