Red Sox happy with how Yoan Moncada settled into system

BOSTON – When the Red Sox signed Cuban defector Yoan Moncada to a record-setting $31.5 million bonus in February, it came with many expectations and nearly as many questions. While Moncada, who turned 20 in May, had tremendous potential, there was much about him that was unknown.

And when he got off to a slow start the questions continued. In 25 first-half games for Single-A Greenville the second baseman hit just .200 with a .576 OPS and four stolen bases.

But, then something clicked. In 56 second-half games, he hit .310 with a.915 OPS and 45 stolen bases in 48 attempts.

Overall, he hit .278 with an OPS of .817. He led the organization with 49 stolen bases, third-most in the South Atlantic League. Named the Red Sox minor league baserunner of the year, Moncada made his first visit to Fenway Park Saturday, with the organization’s other minor league award winners.

“I’m very happy and excited to receive this honor,” Moncada said. “It’s something that from the outset of the season, I just wanted to get incorporated with my team and help the team play well, and to get this individual achievement, it’s something that I’m very happy about.”

His slow start and subsequent adjustments were not necessarily a surprise to the Sox.

“We saw quite a bit of development, personally and professionally,” said Ben Crockett, Red Sox director of player development. “Just getting a chance to get exposed to not only the programs and the Red Sox expectations and playing the game again, which he had been away from a while, but also culturally, and getting to know his teammates and instructors.

“So you really saw once he got comfortable and settled in and understood the programs and developed a really solid routine along with the Greenville coaching staff, I think that’s really when his performance took off.”

Moncada acknowledges it’s been “a crazy year.” He is currently in Instructional League in Fort Myers, Fla., and will play winter ball in Puerto Rico after that.

“It’s been one full of a lot of hard work, sacrifice, and getting used to a lot of different things,” he said, with Eddie Romero, the Sox director of international scouting, acting as interpreter. “But right now when I’m on the field and I see this stadium here, it makes it all worth it and hopefully I can be here soon.”

Sam Travis, the Sox second-round pick in 2014 out of Indiana University-Bloomington, was named the minor league offensive player of the year. A first baseman/DH, he hit .307/.381/.452 with 78 RBIs in 131 games between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland this season. He led all Sox minor leaguers in average, hits (150), RBIs, and OPS (.833).

“A great honor,” Travis said. “You look at the players throughout the organization and how many prospects and big-name guys there are, to be given this honor, can’t really put it into words.”

Left-hander pitcher Williams Jerez was named the minor league pitcher of the year. Shortstop Javier Guerra is the defensive player of the year. Outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola is the Latin Program player of the year and right-handed pitcher Denyi Reyes is the Latin Program pitcher of the year. Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Aro was named the 2015 recipient of the Lou Gorman Award, which recognizes a minor league player who has demonstrated dedication and perseverance in overcoming obstacles while working his way to the major league team.