Ockimey’s Hot Start Surprises Red Sox

BOSTON—Power represented the primary draw that put first baseman Josh Ockimey on the map at his Philadelphia high school. His ability to park the ball into the right-field bullpen at a Fenway Park workout crystallized his upside for the Red Sox, who took him in the fifth round of the 2014 draft.

Yet, even as Boston believed that Ockimey had the hand-eye coordination and bat-to-ball skills to emerge as a solid hitter, it didn’t envision the 20-year-old’s dominant start to the 2016 season.

Through 41 games, the lefthanded-batting Ockimey hit .288/.438/.554 with eight home runs at low Class A Greenville. He had improved his walk rate from 11 percent at short-season Lowell in 2015 to 20 percent in 2016. Yet the ability to work walks hadn’t compromised Ockimey’s ability to drive the ball, as evidenced by 20 extra-base hits.

In his first taste of full-season ball, he said that he’s arrived at an understanding of what constitutes an offensive plan of attack.

“There are spots where you can show power,” Ockimey said. “If there’s nobody on, nobody out, (then) don’t be afraid to take a big swing. In certain counts, I’m only going to swing at my pitch to hit. If I don’t get it, I’m not scared to hit with two strikes. If (the pitcher) makes a good pitch, tip your cap.”

Ockimey has had to do less hat-tipping in 2016 than the past. He trimmed his strikeout rate from 34 percent to 24 percent, positioning him to make both more frequent (as well as harder) contact as he works his way into advantage counts.

“He’s a big boy and he’s got some juice, but he doesn’t try to jack the ball, which to me is pretty impressive,” Greenville manager Darren Fenster said. “His pitch recognition has been very good.

“To his credit, when he does go after a pitch, he has a very good understanding of the pitches he can hit well, with the discipline to lay off something he might not be able to handle, even if it’s a strike. Those are some learned traits that you very rarely see at this level.”

SOX YARNS

• The Red Sox promoted outfielder Andrew Benintendi to Double-A Portland on May 16, making him the first Boston position prospect since Dustin Pedroia in 2005 to join the Sea Dogs less than a year after being drafted.

• Lefthander Brian Johnson left Triple-A Pawtucket to get treated for anxiety. Prior to leaving the PawSox for the organization’s extended spring-training facility, Johnson struggled to a 4.64 ERA and 6.0 walks per nine innings.