July 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Weekly Notes: Barnes and Bogaerts star in Futures Game
This week's minor league notes:
- While the Red Sox had only one All-Star representative for the first time since 2001, their top two prospects were both named to the Futures Game, which took place Sunday evening. Xander Bogaerts (pictured) drew the start as the designated hitter batting in the five-hole for the World Team, going 1 for 4, while Matt Barnes closed out the U.S. team's 17-5 win, retiring the two batters he faced on just two pitches.
- Ryan Lavarnway represented Pawtucket at the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday in Buffalo.The Red Sox fourth-rated prospect started at catcher, going 1 for 2 with a strikeout as the International League fell 3-0 to the Pacific Coast League stars. He was supposed to be joined at the game by infielders Pedro Ciriaco and Mauro Gomez and starting pitcher Justin Germano, but all three were unavailable, having each been called up to the major league club the previous week.
- The Double-A Eastern League All-Star Game was also played on Wednesday. Bryce Brentz started in right field, going 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts. Pitcher Aaron Kurcz entered the game with one out in the third and retired all five batters he faced, two by strikeout. First baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez and starting pitcher Chris Hernandez were also named to the team, but did not appear in the game.
- The emergence of 2011 supplemental first-round draft pick Jackie Bradley, Jr. has been one of the biggest stories of the year. The 22-year-old center fielder out of South Carolina is hitting .354/.468/.506 between two levels. SoxProspects.com Senior Columnist Jon Meoli checks in with Bradley in a contribution to ESPNBoston.
- After leaving Saturday's game with soreness in his groin, Carl Crawford started in left field on Thursday night for Pawtucket, playing six innings, going 2 for 3 with two singles.
- Another rehabbing former All-Star, Jacoby Ellsbury, appeared in two games over the weekend for Pawtucket, going 1 for 8. Ellsbury may return to the Red Sox as early as tonight as they head to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays.
- Also on rehab, Chris Carpenter pitched twice for Greenville this week, both times allowing a run in 2.0 innings. His rehab assignment was transferred to Portland yesterday, and is expected to get into a game tonight.
- Tzu-Wei Lin, the 18-year old shortstop who signed last month for $2.05M, made his professional debut with the GCL Red Sox last Friday, going 1 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored. Through five games, Lin is 4 for 18 with a double.
- Also debuting this week was supplemental first round draft pick Pat Light. The 21-year-old right-hander out of Monmouth tossed 2.0 innings on Monday, allowing two runs while taking the loss.
- After posting a 6.17 ERA in 25 starts with the Sea Dogs in 2011, Brock Huntzinger (pictured) was assigned to repeat Double-A. After going 0-4 with a 9.19 ERA in his first four starts of the season, he was moved to the to the bullpen, where the 2007 third rounder has seemingly turned a corner. In 22 relief appearances covering 37.1 innings, Huntzinger is 3-0 with a 3.11 ERA. 0.93 WHIP, .193 opponent's batting average, 25 strikeouts and nine walks. His velocity has shown improvement as well with the move. Sitting 87-90 as a starter, SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Chris Mellen reported in a recent Scouting Scratch that Huntzinger is now touching 94.
- The draft signing deadline at 5:00 PM EST today, so follow the site throughout the day to get the scoop on any last minute signings. The Red Sox came to terms with three later draft picks this week who are considered high-upside:
- Willie Ethington, a 17th rounder ranked in the top 100 in Baseball America's preseason listings, signed for $200K, which will count $100K against the Red Sox bonus pool. The 6-foot-3 right-hander had a 1.78 ERA his senior year at Arizona's Mountain View High School.
- Brandon Magee, a star linebacker out of Arizona State University who played in only 23 games on the diamond over three years, will play the outfield for the Red Sox after being taken in the 23rd round. Magee tore his Achilles prior to the 2011 football season. He will return to ASU in the fall to play his senior year, and join the Red Sox in 2013. Magee was drafted in the 21st round by the Athletics in 2011, and in the 29th round out of high school in 2008 by the Rays.
- Fellow college football player Khiry Cooper, an outfielder taken in the 25th round, will also report to the organization next spring. Cooper will be playing wide receiver at the University of Tulsa. Cooper transferred to Tulsa from Nebraska. He had previously been drafted out of high school in the fifth round in 2008 by the Los Angeles Angels.
- Dioscar Romero, the big 17-year-old Dominican righty who was considered one of the highlights of the 2011-12 international signing class, tossed his best outing in a Sox uniform. Romero allowed just one hit in 5.0 shutout innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
- 2009 11th-round pick Jason Thompson was released by the Red Sox on Thursday. Originally committed to Louisville University, Thompson was signed to a $300K bonus, but injuries stunted his development and he never played above Short-Season A-Ball.
- A rash of injuries has depleted the Portland starting rotation, necessitating some creative roster management around the All-Star break. Swingman Jeremy Kehrt got the start last Friday, while relievers Caleb Clay and Will Latimer started on Sunday and Thursday, respectively. The contract of Mike McDonald was purchased from the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League, and he got the start on Saturday before going on the disabled list himself on Tuesday.
- McDonald, a native of Camden, became the first Maine native to appear for the Portland Sea Dogs in their history, going back to 1993.
- With the return of Ryan Sweeney to the major league club, Ryan Kalish was optioned to Pawtucket on Saturday. Clay Mortensen was recalled for the day on Saturday under the new rule allowing teams to carry 26 players on their roster for double-headers. He was optioned back to the PawSox after Saturday night's game.