The Sox Are Done, But These 8 Prospects Aren't

I wouldn't have noticed it if not for faithful PawSox fan and e-mailer Don Werner, but the Arizona Fall League got underway on Tuesday.

That means another five weeks of baseball for eight Red Sox prospects including PawSox pitcher Dustin Richardson.

(photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor)

It's been a tremendous year for the 25-year old lefty from Newton, KS.  After struggling as a starting pitcher in 2008 (7-11, 6.45 ERA), Richardson was moved to the bullpen this season and was "lights out," posting a 2.44 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 77.1 IP (11.2 per 9 IP) between Portland, Pawtucket and Boston.

"In the end it's still pitching," Richardson told me recently at Fenway Park.  "But I think it fits me better to go out there and cut it loose for two innings.  I was just thankful to bounce back after last year when I struggled.  It was great to come back and put together a good year - especially out of the bullpen."

Dustin was told in August that he would be pitching for Mesa in the Arizona Fall League, but his late-September promotion to Boston was a huge surprise.  Before joining the Red Sox on September 28^th, Richardson was quietly sent to Ft. Myers to get ready in case he was needed.

"It seemed like it took forever," Richardson said.  "I was starting to doubt that I would get called up, so it caught me off guard when they said, 'Hey, you're getting on a plane and going to Boston.'  It was all a blur."

After being told at 1:30 in the afternoon that he was reporting to Fenway, Dustin didn't even have a chance to talk to his parents before making his big league debut that night against Toronto.  He finally got his folks on the phone after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings in his first major league outing. 

"It didn't really hit me until the next day," Dustin told me.  "It was one of the greatest days of my life.  When I talked to my parents it was more emotional for them than it was for me.  I've never seen my dad like that - he was really choked up.  I must have made him proud I guess."

I don't really think that's a guess.

* * * * *

Here are the eight Red Sox prospects on the Mesa Solar Sox roster:

Pitchers:  Randor Bierd, Richie Lentz, Chris Province, Dustin Richardson

Catcher:  Luis Exposito

Infielders:  Jose Iglesias, Casey Kelly

Outfielder:  Ryan Kalish

Mesa won its opening game 10-6 (here's the box score) as Bierd earned the win by tossing three hitless and scoreless innings.  Richardson added two scoreless innings in relief with 3 strikeouts.

Cuban defector Jose Iglesias figures to be one of the league's most closely-watched players after signing for $8.2 million with Boston.  The 19-year-old shortstop went 2-for-4 with a single, double, 2 RBI and a walk.  He's the youngest player in the Arizona Fall League.