PAWTUCKET — When lists are compiled of the top prospects in the Red Sox' organization, fans usually have to search a bit to find the name Aaron Bates. But that could be changing.

Boston's third pick in the 2006 draft (83rd overall), Bates is nowhere to be found on most of the top-10 lists compiled by different organizations. The Web site Soxprospects.com, which puts together a longer list, has Bates at No. 22.

If that is true, the Boston organization is in even better shape than most people realize. Nine days into his Triple-A career with Pawtucket, Bates is making a name for himself. He is making it hard for anyone to ignore him.

The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder from Los Gatos, Calif., entered Tuesday night's doubleheader against Charlotte at McCoy having had a hit or an RBI in each of his first six games with the PawSox. He was hitting .400, with two home runs, a .520 on-base percentage and a whopping OPS at 1.270.

"It's been fun watching him so far," said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson. "They told me when he came up here that he had a really good idea of what he was tying to do. He knows the strike zone. It's very evident. The results have showed.

"It's played out real well," Johnson added, "and he's a neat kid, too."

Bates was promoted from Portland, where he hit .340 and led the Eastern League in hits, with 70, and runs, with 41. He had seven home runs and 39 RBI. That came after a 2008 season with the Sea Dogs in which he batted .276 and led his team in RBI (69) and hits (126).

One reason the former North Carolina star is not more highly rated is that he is older than some others, at 25. Another is that for the last two years he has played in the shadow of Lars Anderson, another first baseman who is No. 1 on Boston's prospect sheet on most lists.

"Me and Lars are close. We're good buddies," Bates said. "When he came up to Portland last year, one day I went up to him and said, 'I think we're supposed to be feuding.' We laughed about it. Lars is a good player . . . In this game you've got to root for your teammates."

Because of Anderson, Bates played left field for the Sea Dogs this season.

"This year, with about a week to go in spring training, Mike Hazen, our player development director, said, 'You want to try some left field?' I said, 'Yeah, absolutely, whatever is going to get me in the lineup more and make me more versatile.' "

Bates had played first until this year, a situation Johnson can understand.

"He's a very good first baseman," the manager said.

Bates showed his prowess in Tuesday night's opener, scooping a low throw out of the dirt to complete a double play.

Bates is back at first with Pawtucket — and batting cleanup. He is serious when he said he wants to be versatile. He did some catching at North Carolina State and even at Portland, although the work behind the plate in Portland was in the bullpen.

"I like to work in the bullpen and talk to pitchers about what they're thinking in certain situations," Bates said. "I like to pick their brains."

He said he is not worried about what position he plays. He also said he is not one to keep up with his stats.

"I really don't pay attention to them," he said. "I want to go out and take care of business and let those things work themselves out. I don't worry about it because you can't control any of that. … As a player, you deal with what you can control and hopefully be a part of that puzzle in the long run."

pkenyon @projo.com