Weekly Notes: With Red Sox struggling, focus turns to the future

This week's minor league notes:

• On Tuesday, Jackie Bradley Jr. slipped and twisted his ankle running the bases. SoxProspects.com’s Senior Columnist Jon Meoli followed up with Bradley Jr. and reports that the injury appears to be minor and that he hopes to return to the lineup soon.
• Meoli also wrote this week about the dramatic change of the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs' roster after many players have been promoted from High A Salem. Portland is still under .500 for the season, but 28-12 since the All-Star break and are only 4.5 games out of a playoff spot.
• In the latest addition of The Book, SoxProspects.com’s Director of Scouting Chris Mellen takes a closer look at the position prospects in the upper levels of the minors and what their future impact might be.

• SoxProspects.com’s top ranked player, Xander Bogaerts (pictured), continues to rake even as one of the youngest players at Double-A after his recent promotion. In his 53 at-bats at Portland, Bogaerts is hitting .340/.364/.679 with 4 home runs after hitting .302/.378/.505 at Salem.
• SoxProspects.com’s Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews for ESPN Boston lists the prospects that are likely to get called up when the rosters expand on September 1 and also some guys who could possibly get a cup of coffee with the big league club.
• SoxProspects.com Podcast returned this week with Chris Hatfield, Chris Mellen and Matt Huegel discussing Xander Bogaerts, the exodus of talent from Salem to Portland, touching on what that says about the system on the whole, as well as who fans can expect to see called up to Boston when rosters expand. As always, it is a must listen.
• The Providence Journal’s Brian MacPherson writes about how the time to call up Jose Iglesias is nearing, and how while offensive numbers have improved greatly he just needs to stay healthy.
• Overall in August, Iglesias has hit .348/.423/.420 with more walks than strikeouts. Despite repeating the level in 2012, Iglesias is still one of the youngest players at Triple-A. His defense remains among the best in the minor leagues, and perhaps this is a sign that his bat is starting to improve.
• Last Friday Mark Prior was cut to make room for right-hander Pedro Beato who came over from the New York Mets in the Kelly Shoppach deal. Prior started the year well, but after coming back from an oblique strain simply walked too many batters to be effective. WEEI.com’s Alex Speier spoke with some of his former teammates who were sad to see Prior go.
• Speier also wrote that after a very strong start to the season the Red Sox top pitching prospect, Matt Barnes, production has slowed. This is not unexpected for a player in his first full year as a professional, and is part of the normal learning curve for a pitcher.
• Daniel Bard is still struggling to find consistency as a call-up nears, MacPherson notes.
• Garin Cecchini, not known for his speed, stole his 44th base last night in 48 attempts, good for a 92% success rate. The 2010 draft pick is hitting .301/.382/.418 in 110 games this season, all at Low A Greenville.
• Left-hander and 2012 first-round draft pick Brian Johnson was hit on the left side of his face with a liner two pitches into his Futures at Fenway start as Executive Editor Chris Hatfield notes for ESPN Boston.
• The Red Sox first pick in the 2012 draft, Deven Marrero, has now reached base safely in 11 straight games last night after a 2 for 4 effort. He is hitting only .260/.359/.367 on the year, but is second in the New York-Penn League with 22 steals.
• Ben Badler of Baseball America is reporting that Simon Mercedes, a right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic that the Red Sox signed for $800,000 in March, has received his visa from the U.S. Consulate. Major League Baseball has finally approved the deal as well and Mercedes debuted last night throwing 4.0 scoreless innings, with four strikeouts, two walks, and two hits allowed.
• After pouring on 17 hits in a victory last night, the GCL Red Sox can clinch the division with a win tonight.

Photo credit: Xander Bogaerts by Kelly O'Connor

Will Woodward is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.  Follow him on Twitter @SPWill.

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