Moncada (thumb) will start the 2017 season in the minors, presumably at Triple-A, Mass Live's Christopher Smith reports. "I think he would be able to play third base well enough with a month of spring training," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "And he has versatility, too, if we needed that. But right now, I'd say his bat probably needs some more seasoning in the minor league level."

EDGE Analysis

This was expected, as Moncada struggled to hit offspeed pitches and breaking balls in the upper levels of the minors and in the majors last season. Despite those struggles, Moncada will enter 2017 as the top prospect in the game for dynasty league purposes, as he still offers superstar level tools. A minor thumb injury cut short his run in the Arizona Fall League, but he will be good to go for the start of spring training. Travis Shaw, Pablo Sandoval and Brock Holt all project to make the 25-man roster out of spring training as options at third base, so the Red Sox can afford to be patient with Moncada. However, once he proves himself capable of handling a steady diet of offspeed pitches at Triple-A, the Red Sox will likely promote him as he would then profile as the organization's best option at the hot corner.

Moncada will leave the Arizona Fall League after sustaining a left thumb sprain, Rob Bradford of WEEI reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's unclear when the injury happened, but it appears to be a relatively minor ailment considering the Red Sox only expect Moncada to rest for two weeks before resuming baseball activities. Unless some extraneous circumstances pop up, the top prospect should be 100 percent when spring training rolls around.

Moncada told Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski that his biggest takeaway from his time in the majors was the need to anticipate different pitches, Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com reports. "You can tell people that, but until they experience it," Dombrowski said. "When he's hitting at the minor league level and it's a 2-0 count and there's nobody on base and they're losing by a run he's probably seeing a fastball the majority of the time and here he might see a changeup or breaking ball."

EDGE Analysis

Dombrowski said he doesn't regret bringing Boston's top prospect up to the majors for September, feeling a minor league player will never learn what its like at the major league level until they're here. Moncada, who is currently playing third base in the Arizona Fall League, went 3-for-5 with a double and solo homer in his first game for the Surprise Saguaros. He'll continue to get action at third base in the AFL and is most likely to start the 2017 season in the minors.

Moncada has gone to Arizona to prepare for Fall League, ending his season with the Red Sox, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Moncada is immensely talented and certainly a centerpiece of the Red Sox future, his youth and inexperience were evident during his stint with the big league ball club this fall as he slashed .211/.250/.263 with 12 strikeouts in 19 at-bats. Brock Holt and Travis Shaw figure to man the hot corner the rest of the way while Moncada reports to Arizona Fall League.

Moncada remains in the running for starting time at third base late in the season, and John Farrell referred to the position as "a spot that can further be grabbed," Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the fact that Moncada hasn't started a game since Sept. 6 and has logged just two at-bats since, Red Sox manager John Farrell is keeping him in mind. " ... that's why Moncada came here," Farrell said. "We're looking for production at third base to continue to climb." Needless to say, Farrell has not been wowed by the inconsistent bunch that includes Travis Shaw, Aaron Hill, and Brock Holt.

Moncada was named the Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America.

EDGE Analysis

In two minor-league stops, Moncada hit .294/.407/.511/.918 with 15 homers, 62 RBI and 45 stolen bases. His development this season was so tantalizing that the Red Sox summoned him to Boston for the September roster expansion. Unfortunately, what we learned at the Double-A level -- he's challenged by offspeed pitches, particularly the changeup -- was exposed to a greater degree in the majors. Offspeed pitch recognition is an obvious area of improvement for the young infielder entering the 2017 season.

Moncada, who lost hold of the starting third-base job against right-handers, will get "an occasional at-bat" over the final 21 games, manager John Farrell told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada is having a difficult transition to the majors. The rookie was handed the third-base job with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski saying he could "help us win ball games" and the "he looks ready." However, the man who struck out 36 percent of the time in Double-A has whiffed 11 times in 22 at-bats, including eight straight, and has been replaced by Travis Shaw. Reduced to a bench role where he gets on the field for pinch-running duties, he blanked on a fundamental rule of baseball Saturday when he returned to first base on a pop up with two outs. "That's an elementary play, to be honest with you, at this level," Farrell said. "Two outs and you're on the move no matter what direction the ball's going in. That's been addressed... we've got to be better than that."

Moncada now appears to be behind Travis Shaw and Aaron Hill on the depth chart at third base, WEEI's Rob Bradford reports.

EDGE Analysis

Shaw has been heating up at the plate, while Moncada has really struggled since his promotion, and manager John Farrell said the team is putting winning ahead of player development at this point. There's no denying Moncada's talent and long-term potential, but he appears overmatched by big league pitching (57.9 percent K-rate) and now looks destined to only get one or two starts per week going forward.

Moncada is once again not listed in the lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Blue Jays, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada was given a day off Wednesday after starting the week 0-for-7 with seven K's. His absence from the lineup marks his third straight game being sidelined. Manager John Farrell indicated that the 21-year-old would see most of his starts down the stretch.

Moncada is not in Friday's lineup against the Blue Jays, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada had a rough start to the week, going 0-for-7 while striking out in all seven at bats before getting a day off Wednesday, and he'll now be held out of the lineup for a second straight game. Manager John Farrell had previously indicated the 21-year-old would get the majority of the starts down the stretch, particularly against right-handed pitching, but Travis Shaw -- who has homered in each of his past two starts -- will get the nod at third base again against righty Marco Estrada.