February 20, 2011 at 7:25 PM
Fort Report: February 20
Today's minor league notes:
- Top pitching prospects Kyle Weiland and Stomly Pimentel will get the starts for the big club this weekend against Boston College and Northeastern, respectively. According to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal, Weiland will be reincorporating his cutter, a pitch he used at Notre Dame, back into his arsenal this season. Per Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the 21-year-old Pimentel reported to camp at 6’4”, 225. Compare that to July 2006, when the Dominican right-hander was listed at 6’2", 170, upon signing his first professional contract with the Red Sox at the age of sixteen.
- Speier also reports that 2010 eighth-round pick Mathew Price, a right-handed pitcher out of Virginia Tech, underwent Tommy John Surgery this past September. Price, 21, will spend the 2011 season rehabbing.
- PawSox broadcaster Dan Hoard reports that two position players - Nate Spears and Oscar Tejeda - reported to camp all the way back on January 17, the first day that the Player Development Complex opened for the season. Spears and Tejeda could be the starting second-baseman for Triple-A Pawtucket and Double-A Portland this season.
- Jason Bergmann, a reliever with major league experience likely tabbed for the Pawtucket bullpen to start 2011, was shut down early in camp due to shoulder issues and has not yet been permitted to resume pitching.
- Lefty reliever Dennys Reyes is still struggling with visa issues, and has yet to report to camp. He’s expected to report on Thursday.
- The college baseball season got underway this weekend. Pitcher Eric Jaffe, a well-regarded amateur prospect and Boston’s 19th round pick in 2010, transferred from Cal-Berkeley to UCLA this semester. Earlier this off-season, Cal announced that it will cut its baseball program following the 2011 season. A few other ex-Sox draftees to keep an eye on this season are Kentucky RHP Alex Meyer, Southern Cal 1B Ricky Oropesa, Texas LHP Sam Stafford, and Vanderbilt RHP Navery Moore.