BRANDON JACOBS RUMORS

Dwight Evans, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, likes what he’s seeing in a pair of outfielders in the Red Sox system. Evans says he’s thinking big leagues when it comes to Brandon Jacobs, drafted in 2009, and Jackie Bradley Jr., picked 40th in 2011. Jacobs turned down the Auburn University football program to take swings in the minor leagues, while Bradley was the College World Series MVP.

Over at the seminal Baseball Prospectus site, prospect maven Kevin Goldstein has his ranking of the top 20 prospects in the Red Sox system. Goldstein listed 4 players from the Red Sox system on his top 101 prospects list. Consensus top prospects Will Middlebrooks (55) and Xander Bogaerts (32) made the top 101, along with Ryan Lavarnway (98) and the surprise pick of the group Brandon...

We were disappointed to see just two Red Sox on ESPN's top 100 prospects list earlier this month, but Baseball Prospectus paints a rosier picture today. Four Red Sox are featured in Kevin Goldstein's top 101 in baseball: 32. SS Xander Bogaerts 46. OF Brandon Jacobs 55. 3B Will Middlebrooks 98. C Ryan Lavarnway Keith Law had noted that Middlebrooks and Lavarnway just...

Brandon Jacobs had a chance to shine on the gridiron. A standout running back at Parkview (Ga.) High School, Jacobs pledged to Auburn and could have suited alongside quarterback Cam Newton. Instead, he traded college football for pro baseball. Slowly but surely, the Red Sox’s 10th-round pick in the 2009 draft is validating that decision, especially after blasting 17 homers and...