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Drive Alums Recognized by Baseball America

Jay Groome headlines six Drive alums among top 10 Red Sox prospects
(Mike Burton)
December 18, 2017

Baseball America has released its top 10 prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization, and the list features six Drive alums, several of whom played crucial roles in the team's run to the 2017 South Atlantic League Championship.Left-hander Jay Groome tops the list, ranking as Boston's top overall prospect. The 19-year

Baseball America has released its top 10 prospects in the Boston Red Sox organization, and the list features six Drive alums, several of whom played crucial roles in the team's run to the 2017 South Atlantic League Championship.
Left-hander Jay Groome tops the list, ranking as Boston's top overall prospect. The 19-year old battled injuries this season in Greenville, making just 11 starts, but he showed flashes of dominance, as he struck out 58 hitters in 44 1/3 innings and took home a South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week award.
Infielder Michael Chavis (2015-16) comes in at #2 on the list following a monster season between A-Salem and AA-Portland. Chavis belted 31 homers between the two levels, which ranked third in all of Minor League Baseball, while posting a .282 average and driving in 94 runs. He capped his breakout year with a selection to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game.
Bryan Mata was ranked as Boston's #4 prospect. Mata joined the Drive in late-May, shortly after turning 18, and the right-hander held his own all season long. He finished the year with a 3.74 ERA in 16 starts, and he struck out 77 in 74 innings. He pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his first playoff start against Charleston.
Left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez was ranked as the Red Sox #6 prospect after a strong 2017 season in Greenville. Among the hardest throwers in the system, Hernandez recorded 116 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings over 23 starts this year, and his highlight was allowing just one run in seven innings in the Drive's first playoff game of 2017, a victory in Charleston.
First baseman Sam Travis (2014) ranks #7 on Boston's list of top prospects. Travis reached the major leagues for the first time in 2017, and he hit .263 in 33 games with Boston. The Indiana University product spent much of the season in AAA-Pawtucket, where he hit .270 with six homers in 82 contests. 
Right-hander Mike Shawaryn is the final Drive alum on Baseball America's list, checking in at #8. Shawaryn was dominant in his early season run in Greenville, as he punched out 78 hitters in 53 1/3 innings over 10 starts before receiving a promotion to A-Salem. Shawaryn set the Drive's franchise record by striking out 12 hitters against Augusta on May 6th. 

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