Prospect Downs making up for lost time 

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It was mid-morning during a sim game on Tuesday at JetBlue Park when speedy Red Sox prospect Gilberto Jimenez tapped a ball toward the middle and was eyeing the type of infield hit he’ll probably get plenty of in the Minor Leagues this season.

But another prospect named Jeter Downs, the one ranked No. 2 in Boston’s farm system by MLB Pipeline, ranged toward the bag from shortstop and in one swift motion, fired to first for the out.

It was a play that needed to be executed with precision -- the kind that Downs had sometimes struggled with earlier in camp in his quest to gain the consistency that will be so vital once he is in the Major Leagues.

“That a boy, Jeet,” hollered Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Much better. Hey.”

The “hey” at the end is because Cora wanted to make sure Downs saw him making progress, and the manager added a thumbs up for emphasis once Downs looked his way.

Making routine plays look easy is a goal for Downs. So, too, is grinding out every at-bat.

“Consistency,” Downs said. “That’s the biggest thing for me. I just want to be consistent on both sides of the ball on every pitch, every play and give it my best.”

• Red Sox's 2021 Top 30 Prospects list

Catching up for lost time
At 22 years old, Downs has yet to play higher than Double-A (12 games), due to the pandemic that wiped out the Minor League season last year.

Downs, a right-handed hitter with pop who plays both middle infield spots, can’t wait to catch up on the reps he missed. But he isn’t going to waste time contemplating if the lost season cost him.

“I don’t think about it. If I let that get in my head, it’s tough, you know what I mean? I don’t want to think about that. I just try to do as much as I can to keep going,” said Downs.

Right now, the beauty for Downs is that he is going again. Stuck at home in South Florida for three months when baseball was shut down a year ago, he worked out every day with his brother Jerry, another Red Sox Minor Leaguer.

“I honestly just worked. I like cooking so I did that a little bit,” said Downs. “I was with my brother back home and we literally put our head down and worked. It was fun and we learned a lot about ourselves so it was cool.”

The main thing Downs learned without organized baseball is how much he loves it. At the same time, he acknowledges the break -- one he hadn’t really had since before high school -- gave him perspective.

“I think it was good to finally not necessarily take a break, but take a step back in learning about yourself as a person. Because before it was just non-stop baseball, baseball, baseball,” Downs said. “So it was cool just for once having that experience and knowing things you can do to improve yourself on and off the field. I looked at it that way.

“I would just say having the game taken away from me was a big thing. I realized how much I really loved it and loved the sport and loved being out there competing in front of people and just playing the game. So that was something I was just itching to get back to do. That was one thing I finally realized.”

Finally getting settled
It has been a whirlwind few years for Downs. Drafted by the Reds with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2017 Draft, Downs was traded to the Dodgers 18 months later.

And 14 months after that, he was on the move again, this time to the Red Sox along with Alex Verdugo and Connor Wong in that blockbuster trade for Mookie Betts and David Price.

Instead of a traditional year to acclimate with his new team, Downs just had a brief glimpse, first in Spring Training and then at the alternate training site in Pawtucket, R.I.

“It was definitely difficult and not ideal for any of our players, never mind someone new to the organization,” said Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham. “Early on, we relied heavily on our internal evaluations and really just got to know Jeter as a person. It was important for us to allow Jeter to talk to us about what he thought his strengths and weaknesses were, what he felt worked for him or didn’t, so when we did want to present something to him or make an adjustment, it was a conversation, not a demand.”

The getting-to-know-you process between Downs and the Red Sox has been methodical but productive.

“A big thing for Jeter was just getting to know people within the organization -- and for us to get know him -- understanding he can be himself, but also that we are going to push him to get better daily. That continued into the offseason with constant communication and updates on his workouts and now during Major League Spring Training,” Abraham said.

One thing people learn about Downs as they get to know him better is how much personality he has. Now that he knows everyone, he will be able to let that show.

“That’s the biggest thing for me. I’m a people person and I like messing around and goofing around, so just knowing everybody and being comfortable with everybody and being able to be myself with everybody, that’s one of the biggest things,” Downs said. “The people are amazing over here, I love it. People were great everywhere else as well, but I just feel really comfortable right now. I’m just having fun and enjoying the moment.”

First impressions
Downs made a positive impression at the alternate training site and looks to build off that in a traditional Minor League season in 2021.

“Obviously Jeter has had a lot of success in his young career, but like most players as they rise through the Minor League system, little things can have a major impact and were areas of focus at the alternate site and will continue to be this year -- that is continued focus on daily routines, consistency with fundamentals and remaining open to making adjustments,” said Abraham.

Despite the alternate training site being less than ideal, the Red Sox were able to make some productive evaluations.

“Our group was extremely excited to see a well-rounded baseball player that can impact the game in a variety of ways -- with his baseball intelligence, bat, glove and legs,” Abraham said. “The athleticism, instincts and pure ability that he already has, combined with his competitiveness and dedication to improve, are a few of the things that make him a fun guy to watch and work with. We have challenged him to continue to get better and he’s taken that challenge head on.

“Specifically, offensively when Jeter was at his best, we saw a controlled swing with strength and bat speed to drive the ball with authority to all fields. His hands really stand out on both sides of the ball – quick at the plate and soft in the field. He’s shown the ability to play both shortstop and second base, and with some early work at the alternate site and with our staff and Bruce Crabbe, he showed improvements in body control, range and footwork.

“In general, when you have players that are willing to listen, that want to improve and be challenged, it creates an environment of growth and development that is beneficial for everyone involved.”

Spring in his step (and bat)
The talent Downs possesses was there for all to see when he went deep in his first at-bat of this Spring Training against the Twins

“It was definitely cool,” said Downs. “I thank God for that moment. Definitely a cool feeling, getting that feeling again and feeling like all the work I’ve been putting in is going to show, so it was definitely cool to get that sensation and those feelings back of seeing the crowd, hearing the crowd and just playing baseball again and competing. That’s the best part about this game. I love the competition and how hard it is.”

For Cora, who wasn’t with the Red Sox last season, it was his first glimpse of Downs in the box during a game.

“It seems like slowing down the game is natural for him,” said Cora. “It’s a slow pace, slow heartbeat. He crushed that ball to right field [against the Twins]. He’s really good. He’s part of the future.”

Fellow Red Sox prospect Jarren Duran, the team’s No. 4 prospect, offered a scouting report on what he saw every day at the alternate training site last year.

“His hands. He’s strong. He’s sneaky strong. You wouldn’t look at him and be like, ‘Oh my God, this guy crushes the ball.’ But he’s really strong,” said Duran. “He’s sneaky quick too. He’s pretty fast.”

Ultimately, Downs will determine how fast he gets to the Majors by demonstrating daily dependability.

“The best Major Leaguers have a lot of talent, but are also the most consistent and do the 'little things' really well. They make the routine plays, grind out every AB and are smart on the basepaths,” said Abraham. “Along with just the general improvements and refining of his game overall, those are things that Jeter will continue to work on and improve upon wherever he starts this year.”