But as the Red Sox daydream about what he might become, there remains the question about what he is now, and of the distance between the present and the future, when potential solidifies into something more defined — a player ready to contribute at the big league level.

"He has rare ability," said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "You don't see his ability in too many types of players."

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — There are no boundaries, no upper limits for what Yoan Moncada might become. He is a standout athlete whose explosiveness permits all kind of imagination when it comes to how impactful a player he become.


The Red Sox thought that time might be the final weeks of the 2016 season — a somewhat surprising conclusion given that he'd struck out in more than three out of every 10 plate appearances in Double A, that he'd had the benefit of only 45 games and 207 plate appearances in Portland, that he'd never spent a game in Triple A, and that he had just 95 innings of professional exposure to third base.

The promotion of Moncada was not an example of unified organizational decision-making.

In contrast to bringing up Andrew Benintendi — a far more polished hitter, given his college background — there were some who had misgivings about Moncada.

Yet the decision was made not just to promote him, but to give the 21-year-old immediate run as the every-game option against righthanded starters. That turned out to be premature. After he collected two hits in back-to-back starts, he struck out in each of his final nine plate appearances.

The rough edges of Moncada's game — in the field, on the bases, and especially at the plate — quickly came into view, in a way that altered the outlook even of those who had been advocating his promotion, not just for 2016 but, in all likelihood, for the start of 2017.


"In July, we would have said we thought he would be ready for the big leagues this year to play," said Dombrowski. "And we still love his abilities . . . but we all saw the same thing as far as the exposure to seeing a steady diet of off-speed pitches and breaking balls, changeups in any counts.

"Right now, I would say his bat probably needs some more seasoning at the minor league level, but I've also seen very talented individuals like him come on very quickly. I would say if we were starting the season tomorrow, my plans would be probably to have him start at the minor league level.

"But I can't rule him out if he comes into spring training . . . Sometimes a guy like that gets away from the game, gets his mind-set, and they're so talented they just take off once again. I've had that happen with players before, so I don't want to rush to judgment on him. But if I had to do that today, that's what I would say."

Dombrowski suggested he wouldn't be surprised if Moncada could handle third base defensively by the end of spring training. Carlos Febles, Moncada's manager in Double A Portland and in his brief stint in the Arizona Fall League, believes it's likely to take him longer to gain comfort at a position he hadn't played professionally until August.


"He needs to play," said Febles. "To me, he's a guy who's only going to get better by playing. He's doing everything he needs to do pregame, and now he needs to get used to it in the game — getting reads off the bat, how to play different balls, putting himself in a good position.

"You cannot simulate game speed during [batting practice]. You can take ground balls, but it's not the same as when it's coming off a bat with a guy throwing 100. It's a different read.

"To me, he just needs to continue to work, playing the game. I think he will need another year, to be honest with you, playing that position."

Febles praised Moncada's outlook during his time in the Arizona Fall League — which lasted just six games because of a left thumb sprain. He showed purpose and an understanding of the approach to work that will be necessary to avoid a repeat of his struggles in the big leagues.

Said Febles, "The one thing he told me is, 'I realized something. It's the big leagues. It's not easy. You need to be able to make adjustments that day.

" 'Everything was a little fast, but when I have to do it again, things are going to be different. I know exactly what to expect. I know exactly how things are going to be. This is a game of adjustments, and I have to be able to make adjustments once I get back to the big leagues.'


"He had the right mind-set. He's not frustrated about it. He knows he needs to work. He's doing everything possible in his power to overcome the struggle that he had in his first taste."

And if Moncada does that? The possibilities are enormous.

"I'm not going to regret what I say right now: He's going to be MVP someday in his career," predicted Sox infield prospect Mauricio Dubon, who has played with Moncada at four levels of the minors over the last two seasons.

But even if that prognostication comes to fruition, it will require time and patience for Moncada. Perhaps that means entrusting third base to Pablo Sandoval, Travis Shaw, and Brock Holt at least for the first half of 2017, or until Moncada proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's ready. The payoff, in all likelihood, will be worth the wait.

Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexspeier.