Weekly Notes: Greenville makes playoff push, GCL Sox reach finals

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• SoxProspects.com's Chris Hatfield, Matt Huegel, and Ian Cundall sat down and discussed some questions to the mailbag from fans on episode 84 of the podcast. They talked about some of the best arms in the system, which players rank the best in each of the five tools, expectations from Dave Dombrowski, and the recent offensive outburst from Jackie Bradley Jr.
• The Greenville Drive are making a playoff push, and are currently tied with the Asheville Tourists (COL) for a playoff spot. Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi have been leading the way for the Drive. Benintendi is hitting .341/.423/.568 in 11 games with Greenville and Moncada is hitting .352/.465/.606 in August.
• The GCL Red Sox won the semi-final game on Sunday against the Cardinals and have moved on to face the Blue Jays in the finals. They have been led by a tremendous pitching staff, including Anderson Espinoza, who did not allow an earned run in August.
• Ryan Hannable of WEEI wrote about Espinoza and Logan Allen in his Minor League Notebook. One of the GCL pitching coaches, Nick Green, was interviewed and said that Espinoza is very competitive and reminds him of Pedro Martinez. Espinoza said his favorite pitcher to watch is Felix Hernandez. Hannable also looked further into Allen's decision between the Red Sox and the University of South Carolina.
• Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe wrote about PawSox pitcher Jorge Marban and his path to where he is now. Marban started 2015 in Salem and worked his way up to Pawtucket.
• Eric Wilbur of Boston.com wrote a piece detailing Andrew Benintendi and the Spinners' attendance. He notes Benintendi's success with both Lowell and Greenville, and mentions how he met with Red Sox baseball operations people at the SEC tournament and again at Fenway Park, and how Dave Dombrowski coming on means that he has no personal ties or connections with Benintendi or any of the new draft picks. Lowell has been able to maintain good attendance numbers, drawing an average of 3,816 fans per game, which is fifth in the league.
• Jessica Camerato of Boston.com wrote a terrific story on SoxProspects.com's 14th ranked prospect Travis Shaw. Shaw has been raking for Boston since his call-up to the tune of a .303/.352/.576 line in 108 plate appearances. The story details his life and how he grew up around the game, with his father being in the big leagues. He also loves Rihanna, hamburgers, pizza, and numbers, as he even taught Mookie Betts about on-base percentage.
• Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com writes that Boston could move to a six-man rotation, with Steven Wright and Matt Barnes in contention for the sixth spot.
• Meredith Perri of MassLive.com wrote that Peter Gammons reported that Red Sox director of pro scouting, Jared Porter, is leaving and will join the Chicago Cubs. He had been the director of pro scouting for the past four years, and Dombrowski said the change was in place before his hiring.
• Christopher Smith of MassLive.com wrote a story on Henry Owens and his family growing up in California.
• Paul Grimaldi and Kate Bramson of the Providence Journal wrote about how the federal government would request to be reimbursed if the land usage of where the PawSox want to build changes. See more about the PawSox new plans at the Providence Journal.

Players of the Week:

Bryan Hudson, OF, Greenville Drive

5 G, 20 PA, 7 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2 SB, 5 BB, 1 K, .467/.600/.600

With a majority of the attention on guys like Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, and Rafael Devers, it was Bryan Hudson (pictured, top) who stood out this past week for the Greenville Drive. The 20-year old, 2013 15th round draft pick posted a 1.200 OPS this past week, leading Greenville to a 4-2 week. Hudson spent 2013 in the GCL and 2014 in Lowell. This year, he began his season on June 19 with Lowell, and then was called up to Greenville just six days later. Hudson has yet to hit a home run this year, but he has still managed to post some very solid numbers.

Season Stats (Lowell and Greenville): 51 G, 216 PA, 7 2B, 1 3B, 38 R, 15 RBI, 18 SB, 29 BB, 35 K, .308/.405/.357

Kyle Kraus, RHP, Salem Red Sox

2 G, 0-0, 11 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 8 K

In a loss on Tuesday, Kraus (pictured) was terrific out of the bullpen. He managed to log 5 1/3 innings in that outing, relieving Trey Ball, and allowed just four hits, one walk, and no runs to go along with five strikeouts. It's rare to see a relief pitcher go five or more innings, but Kraus was certainly up to the task. Yesterday, Kraus made a start and went six innings. The Red Sox lost the game, but it wasn't Kraus' fault. He allowed just one earned run on three hits and a walk in that outing. The 2012 seventh round selection has had an interesting season, bouncing around three different levels, including one relief appearance in Pawtucket.

Season Stats (Salem, Portland, and Pawtucket): 29 G, 3 GS, 1-3, 95 1/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 31 ER, 89 H, 20 BB, 58 K

Photo Credit: Bryan Hudson and Kyle Kraus by Kelly O'Connor

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Cup of Coffee: Espinoza, De Jesus pitch Sox into GCL finals

8/31 Cup of Coffee: Of the six Red Sox affiliates still playing, only one was able to pick up a win on Sunday. However, it was in the most important game, as the GCL Red Sox won their semi-final contest and will advance to the league finals to defend their championship. Elsewhere, Portland dropped a marathon contest in the New Britain Rock Cats' final home game. Lowell fell in an extra-innings slugfest, while Greenville's loss dropped them into a tie in its race for a playoff spot.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 0

When the 2015 PawSox commemorative DVD is released, this game won't be on it. Pawtucket managed only five hits, none for extra bases. The only time a player advanced past second base was in the sixth, when Matt Spring was thrown out at home by former Sox farmhand Reynaldo Rodriguez (MIN). Shawn Haviland took the loss for the PawSox, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in five innings.

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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi powers Greenville to victory

8/30 Cup of Coffee: With the exception of Greenville's 10-run, 13-hit night led by designated hitter Andrew Benintendi (pictured), it was a weak night at the plate for the majority of the minor league affiliates. Pawtucket managed one run in a loss to Rochester, the Sea Dogs went 2 for 28 in a defeat against New Britain and Salem lost 5-1 after going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position against Potomac. The Spinners battled to a 4-3 extra innings win over rival Connecticut, scoring three runs in the top of the 10th inning to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

The PawSox outhit Rochester 7-6 but managed only one run, struggling mightily against Red Wings starter Logan Darnell (MIN). Darnell stymied Pawtucket for the lion's share of his eight-inning start, fanning eight batters and allowing just five hits. Third baseman Carlos Rivero did the bulk of the legwork at the dish, going 2 for 4 with an RBI double, knocking in shortstop Deven Marrero (1 for 4) in the top of the sixth. Second baseman Marco Hernandez also turned in a multi-hit night, finishing 2 for 4. Catcher Sandy Leon went 1 for 4 with a double.

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Cup of Coffee: Callahan helps move Greenville into wild card lead

8/29 Cup of Coffee: It was a strong night on the farm, as five out of six affiliates in action took home victories. Greenville's victory propelled them forward in the wild card race while Lowell's loss further dimmed their chances of playoff dreams. Pawtucket remained hot and Salem's offense came alive in their win over Potomac. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 6

A late Buffalo rally could not overcome a strong offensive performance from the PawSox. William Cuevas moved to 2-2 as he allowed two runs on five hits and three walks, punching out six, in 5 2/3 innings. Robby Scott allowed four runs on five hits in just 2 1/3 innings of relief. Noe Ramirez picked up his third save, tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Every member of the Pawtucket starting lineup, with the exception of Allen Craig, had at least one hit. Sandy Leon, Chris Marrero, Marco Hernandez, and Jonathan Roof each had two hits in the 12-hit attack. The PawSox have now won five in a row, matching their season's best stretch. 

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Podcast Ep. 84: Mailbag extravaganza!

We've got a backlog of listener emails to get to, so what better time than the present to talk about what you want to hear? You guys had some outstanding questions that gave us plenty to talk about. What are the odds of a top prospect becoming a good major leaguer? Which pitchers have the highest ceilings in the system? What players rank as the best in each of the five tools? And of course there's current events: What can we expect from Dave Dombrowski as President of Baseball Ops, and is Jackie Bradley's rebound for real? All of this and more awaits!

Click through for download links and in-site player!

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Cup of Coffee: Longhi, Watkins power Greenville playoff push

8/28 Cup of Coffee: The Greenville offense erupted on Thursday, powered by a pair of home runs from Nick Longhi (pictured) and J.T. Watkins to pull within a half-game of Asheville in the South Atlantic League Wild Card race. The PawSox came out on the winning end of a pitchers duel, getting a stellar outing from the recently re-signed Rich Hill. The Spinners suffered one of their toughest losses of the year in extra innings, hurting their playoff chances.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 1, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 0
Rich Hill was absolutely dominant in the third start of his second stint with the Red Sox organization. Hill scattered four hits over six shutout innings while striking out eight and walking three. Primarily a reliever for most of his career, this is the most starts Hill has made since he made six starts across three levels in the Red Sox system in 2012. Jonathan Aro pitched two innings of shutout relief and Ryan Cook picked up the save. Allen Craig went 2 for 4 and Marco Hernandez drove in the game's lone run.

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Cup of Coffee: Drive step closer to playoffs behind Drehoff, Moncada

8/27 Cup of Coffee: The GCL Red Sox grabbed their 40th win of the season behind another solid outing from Logan Allen. Jake Drehoff (pictured) also turned in a marvelous start for Greenville. The Drive also saw some good offensive performances from Yoan Moncada, who homered, and Michael Chavis. Allen Craig added a long home run drought in Pawtucket as part of a walk-off win for the PawSox. Sam Travis also stayed hot, pushing his batting average over .300 with Portland.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Scranton-Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (NYY) 3

The PawSox were able to squeeze out a walk-off win at McCoy Stadium in 10 innings. Jonathan Roof did the honors, singling home Allen Craig in the bottom half of the 10th. Roof also added a double and two walks earlier in the game. Craig also had a good night, adding a home run, his first since June 17, as part of a 2 for 5 night. Deven Marrero continued to swing the bat well by going 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI. Mike Miller also went 2 for 4.

Zeke Spruill started and pitched pretty well. He gave up three earned runs while walking three and striking out six over six innings. The bullpen for Pawtucket was rock solid, as Keith Couch tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball. He did not allow a hit, walked two, and struck out three. Pat Light was credited with the win, getting the final two outs of the 10th inning.

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Cup of Coffee: Season comes to an end for DSL Red Sox

8/26 Cup of Coffee: The DSL Red Sox2 were eliminated from the playoffs yesterday, and now both of Boston's affiliates in the Dominican Summer League are done for the season. Every affiliate except for Lowell struggled to score runs, as the affiliates combined to score 14 runs over seven games. Shawn Haviland, Sam Travis (pictured), Ben Taylor, and Yoan Moncada were a few of the bright spots, with Moncada swiping his 41st base of the year. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 2,  Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 0

Shawn Haviland had his best start since joining the PawSox, tossing six scoreless innings, striking out four without walking a batter. He had picked up the loss in his first three appearances for Pawtucket, but he pitched well enough to get the win last night. Jorge Marban followed with two scoreless innings, and Noe Ramirez notched his second save with a perfect ninth. Ramirez has not allowed a run in eight of his 10 appearances since being sent down from Boston on July 25. 

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Cup of Coffee: DSL Sox drop playoff opener; Espinoza dominates

8/25 Cup of Coffee: The first playoffs on the minor league calendar kicked off on Monday in the Dominican Summer League, as the DSL Red Sox2 squad dropped the opener of their best-of-three set. In regular season action, the GCL Red Sox fell in their contest but had another outstanding outing from Anderson Espinoza (pictured) and are cruising into the playoffs. Lowell battered its way to a win, while Pawtucket and Salem prevailed as well. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (NYY) 1

The resurgence continues for Edwin Escobar, who turned in another strong start to help lead the PawSox. Escobar allowed a run on four hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out two. After missing the start of the season due to injury and then struggling with ineffectiveness out of the bullpen, the left-hander has allowed only two runs in 20 innings across his last four starts. The stretch has cut Escobar's ERA nearly in half from 8.69 to 4.76. To close out the win, Ryan Cook struck out four in two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

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Weekly Notes: Greenville lineup turning heads

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• On episode 83 of the SoxProspects Podcast, SoxProspects.com Executive Editor Chris Hatfield sat down with a pair of Greenville Drive players during his recent trip to scout the team. Michael Chavis discussed the pressures of being a first-round pick, which he was in 2014, while Nick Longhi reflected on what it's like to grow up a Red Sox fan and then get drafted by the Sox.
• SoxProspects.com Director of Scouting Ian Cundall gave an in-depth breakdown of the recently red-hot Yoan Moncada (pictured) in his latest Scouting Scratch. Cundall noted that Moncada is now showing the tools that prompted the Red Sox to give him a huge signing bonus after a slow start. Moncada has been tearing it up in 43 games since the Single-A All-Star Break, hitting .341/.432/.551 with six home runs, 23 RBI and 36 steals.

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Cup of Coffee: McGrath lights-out, Sea Dogs' bats back Wilkerson

8/24 Cup of Coffee: While the Spinners and PawSox suffered tough losses, it was a great day for the Sea Dogs, Salem Red Sox and the Drive. An eight-run inning from the Sea Dogs lineup coupled with strong performances from Aaron Wilkerson and Williams Jerez on the mound made for an impressive lopsided victory. Daniel McGrath dominated for the Red Sox, and the combination of Luis Ramos and Jamie Callahan preserved a shutout for the Drive as they fight for a playoff spot.

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
Starter William Cuevas was sharp aside from the third inning, when he allowed a walk and home run. Over six innings, he allowed just one other hit and two more walks, striking out seven. Cuevas has been very solid in his first four starts for Pawtucket, posting a 2.63 ERA over 24 innings. Reliever Robby Scott preserved a 2-2 tie with three shutout innings, giving up just two hits and fanning three. But Pat Light struggled in the 10th, walking three straight batters with two outs. Two of those runners would score to give the IronPigs the lead.

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Cup of Coffee: Perez helps GCL Red Sox clinch division

8/23 Cup of Coffee: Outside of the GCL Red Sox and DSL Red Sox2 clinching their respective divisions – with the GCL Red Sox doing so thanks in large part to a strong offensive showing from designated hitter Andy Perez (pictured) – it was mostly a night to forget about for the Red Sox minor league affiliates. The PawSox were shut out by Lehigh Valley, while Harrisburg rode a nine-run first inning to a runaway win against Portland. Lowell's offense struggled mightily en route to the team dropping both legs of its doubleheader against Staten Island.

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 0

The PawSox offense managed just six hits in the shutout loss, with catcher Sandy Leon and second baseman Marco Hernandez leading an otherwise toothless attack. Leon posted two hits, going 2 for 4 while Hernandez finished 1 for 4 with a double. Pawtucket had plenty of chances to get on the board but failed to capitalize, finishing 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi remains hot, Hernandez impressive for DSL Sox

8/22 Cup of Coffee: Greenville, The GCL Sox, and the DSL Red Sox2 all picked up victories on Friday night, helping them in their playoff battles. Salem dropped its seventh straight while Portland and the DSL Red Sox1 also dropped their contests. Pawtucket was boosted by a solid pitching performance and the Spinners were rained out. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 3

Rick Porcello continued his rehab assignment, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out six, in 5 2/3 innings of work. Porcello retired the last 13 hitters he faced, including striking out five of the last six. Jorge Marban relieved Porcello and hurled 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit and striking out four, picking up his second win of the season. 

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Podcast Ep. 83: Interview Special with Michael Chavis and Nick Longhi

This week, we're hitting you with a couple of interviews with members of the Greenville Drive: third baseman Michael Chavis and first baseman/outfielder Nick Longhi. Chavis, a 2014 first-round pick, discussed what it was like sharing third base with Rafael Devers, the pressures of being a first-rounder, and what's with the whole "11:11" thing. Longhi talked about what most listeners of the podcast could probably only dream about - being a Red Sox fan drafted by the Red Sox - as well as a number of other topics including visiting the Dominican Instructional League.

Click through for download links and in-site player!

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Cup of Coffee: Moncada steals 40th, GCL Sox on brink of division

8/21 Cup of Coffee: A dramatic come-from-behind, walk-off victory put the GCL Red Sox on the brink of winning the Gulf Coast League South Division for the fourth straight season. Yoan Moncada (pictured) reached a personal milestone, but the Drive fell as they battle for a playoff spot. A late bullpen collapse left the second DSL Red Sox team clinging to a one-game lead in its division with two games to play.

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Altoona Curve (PIT) 7, Portland Sea Dogs 2 

A rough second inning for Danny Rosenbaum put the Sea Dogs in an early hole they could not climb out of. The Curve touched up Rosenbaum for six runs (four earned) in the frame as he was lifted after just 1 1/3 innings. A bases-clearing double was the nail in the coffin for the 27-year-old lefty, who fell to 0-6 with the Sea Dogs. Manuel Margot went 3 for 5 with a run and Tzu-Wei Lin had a 2-for-4 game with a two-run triple, but those were the only offensive highlights for Portland. The Sea Dogs left ten men on base.

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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi powers Drive with two home runs

8/20 Cup of Coffee: Recently-promoted Greenville center fielder Andrew Benintendi (pictured) had a coming out party against Greensboro, smashing two home runs to help the Drive grab an extra innings victory. The PawSox had an extra innings odyssey of their own, falling in 13 innings to Syracuse. Lowell dropped its game against Brooklyn, and now sits one-and-a-half games out of the New York Penn League wild card spot, while the GCL Red Sox maintained their spot atop the division standings after grabbing a 4-0 win.

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Syracuse Chiefs (WSH) 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 1 (13 innings)

The PawSox tied things up at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning that pushed the game into extra innings, but eventually dropped a heartbreaker of a loss thanks to a Syracuse home run in the 13th inning. Pawtucket had its chances, however, putting a runner on third base in the bottom of the eighth, 10th and 12th innings and finishing the game 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position. Shortstop and leadoff man Deven Marerro paced the lineup at the dish, going 3 for 5 with a run scored. Center fielder Quintin Berry had the Red Sox' other multi-hit showing, going 2 for 4. First baseman Allen Craig went 1 for 6 and chipped in an RBI.

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Cup of Coffee: Moncada and Espinoza continue to dominate

8/19 Cup of Coffee: With Yoan Moncada (pictured) and Anderson Espinoza having two of the highest ceilings in all of the minor leagues, they have the ability to do something special every time they take the field. Both were tremendous on Tuesday, giving Red Sox fans a glimpse at a promising future during some uncertain times. Other than Moncada, the offense struggled throughout the system, with Manuel Margot's two hits and Tyler Hill's 3-for-3 performance highlighting the night. Both Anderson and Junior Espinoza had great starts, and Aaron Wilkerson also turned things around in Portland. 

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

The PawSox managed only five hits in a four-run loss to the Chiefs. Shawn Haviland picked up the loss after giving up four runs in his six innings of work. Noe Ramirez was the only pitcher to not allow a run, tossing a scoreless top of the ninth as he rebounded from a tough appearance last time out. 

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Scouting Scratch: Yoan Moncada

The Greenville Drive lineup is one of the deepest in the system prospect-wise. After looking at the pitchers (Part 1, Part 2), it is time to look at the position players. During the four games we were down in Greenville, we got a chance to see every position player. After covering Rafael Devers first, below is the second piece on the hitters, breaking down the other member of the Drive who was in the discussion for new number one prospect in the August SoxProspects.com rankings.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – When Yoan Moncada signed, high expectations were placed on him because of the price tag and associated penalties. Along with his bonus, there were glowing reports based upon his workouts and time in Cuba. Though Moncada got off to a slow start after staying behind in extended spring training due to the fact he had not faced live pitching since December 2013, as the season has progressed he has steadily improved. He is now showing off the tools and potential that warranted the lofty bonus. Through August 17th, Moncada is hitting .282/.374/.437 in 245 at-bats, with six home runs and 35 steals in 38 attempts. Looking closer at the numbers, since the All-Star break, Moncada is hitting .329/.422/.523 in 155 at-bats, with five of his six home runs and 28 steals.

Over the recent four-game look, Moncada showed significant improvement at the plate from when I saw him in Spring Training. However, in the field he was not as impressive, and looked more similar to how he did in the spring.

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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi arrives, bullpen shines as Drive win in 13

8/18 Cup of Coffee: The Greenville debut of Andrew Benintendi was an extended feature, as it took the Drive 13 innings to come away with the victory. Pawtucket's veteran reinforcements continue to help get the squad back on track, as it finally was able to beat the team who has been a thorn in its side. The GCL Red Sox dropped a pitcher's duel, missing a chance to move closer to a playoff berth, and the two Dominican Summer League squads split their contests.

Pawtucket Red Sox 6, Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 1

Ravaged by callups to the majors and injuries of their own, the PawSox lost to Syracuse on seven consecutive days earlier in the month. After bringing in some veteran reinforcements, Pawtucket has seen its fortunes change a bit, winning for the fourth time in five games. Carlos Rivero, acquired last week in a trade with Seattle, had two hits including a solo home run in the sixth. Fellow newcomer Chris Marrero had two hits of his own, including a double, in his third game with the PawSox. Major league veterans Allen Craig and Sandy Leon also had two hits apiece to help the cause.

Left-hander Edwin Escobar struggled in the PawSox bullpen for most of the season, but has begun to turn his season around. He drew the start Monday night, scattering four hits across five scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two. In 13 innings across his last three outings, Escobar has allowed only on run to lower his ERA from 8.69 to 5.51. Jorge Marban allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings, striking out three against one walk, and Pat Light closed out the victory, striking out a pair in 1 2/3 perfect frames.

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Weekly Notes: Benintendi gets a promotion

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• The biggest news of the week came right at the end of it, when 2015 seventh overall pick, Andrew Benintendi (pictured, right) was promoted to the Greenville Drive. SoxProspects Executive Editor Chris Hatfield was the first to report the news, and has all the details of his performances transitioning from college to pro-ball this year. Benintendi enjoyed a great last week for the Lowell Spinners and you can read more about that below in the Players of the Week section. 
• As Hatfield points out, the Greenville roster is loaded with a large majority of the Red Sox top talent including third baseman Rafael Devers (#1 on the SoxProspects rankings), second baseman Yoan Moncada (#2), shortstop Javier Guerra (#5), third baseman Michael Chavis (#13), and first baseman/right fielder Nick Longhi (#19). 

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Cup of Coffee: William Cuevas strong in PawSox win, Spinners' offense falters

8/17 Cup of Coffee: The PawSox offense finally lent some run support to starter William Cuevas (pictured) as the righty earned his first win for Pawtucket, backed by seven runs. Otherwise, offense was hard to come by on Sunday for the Red Sox farm teams, as the Spinners managed just four hits in 13 innings on Sunday, as they completed Saturday's suspended game and played a shortened seven-inning game for the nightcap of an unconventional doubleheader, while the Salem Red Sox were rained out after three innings.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 1

Making his third start for the PawSox, William Cuevas looked very strong on Sunday, going six innings and allowing just one run on six hits and a walk, fanning six. Robby Scott followed up with his finest outing since earning a promotion, tossing three shutout innings and permitting just two hits, earning the save.

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BREAKING: Andrew Benintendi promoted to Greenville

According to SoxProspects.com sources, Lowell Spinners outfielder Andrew Benintendi, the seventh-overall pick in this year's draft and the eighth-ranked prospect on the SoxProspects.com rankings, is being promoted to Greenville and could join the Drive as early as Monday. UPDATE: According to sources, Drive outfielder Mike Meyers will be promoted to Salem to make room.

With the New York-Penn League entering its All-Star Break, the center fielder out of the University of Arkansas will bid the circuit adieu. As of press time, league leaderboards show Benintendi leading the league with his .948 OPS, as well as ranking ninth in average, fifth in on-base percentage, and second in slugging with his .298/.416/.554 slash line. He is also tied with teammate Luis Alexander Basabe for third in the league with seven home runs.

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Cup of Coffee: Chavis' multi-home run night powers Drive comeback

8/16 Cup of Coffee: Salem and the DSL Red Sox2 were the only Red Sox minor league affiliates to emerge winless from last night's contests, which featured Pawtucket splitting a doubleheader with Lehigh Valley and Greenville mounting an eighth-inning rally to steal a victory at Fluor Field thanks to a Michael Chavis (pictured) power surge. Rain and thunderstorms forced Lowell to suspend its game against Tri-City in the top of the fourth inning, while Portland edged out Akron thanks to solid showings from Carlos Asuaje and Sam Travis.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 5, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 2 (Game One, Makeup of 7/9)

The PawSox grabbed game one of their day-night doubleheader thanks to a quality start from newly-signed left-hander Rich Hill, who tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings. The 35-year-old journeyman, who joined Pawtucket on Friday from the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League, allowed four hits and three walks against two strikeouts before making way for right-hander Jonathan Aro. The Dominican turned in two innings of work, allowing both Lehigh Valley runs in a nervy bottom of the ninth. Closer Heath Hembree extinguished the IronPigs' late rally, facing just two batters and striking out one en route to his eighth save of the season.

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Cup of Coffee: Spinners have a Glorius night against Batavia

8/15 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket and Lowell provided the only two victories of the day for the affiliates, as offense proved hard to come by across most of the farm. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 6 (10 innings)

After surrendering a late lead, the PawSox came through in extra innings to defeat the IronPigs. Zeke Spruill pitched well, hurling eight innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out eight in a no decision. Noe Ramirez was roughed up for four runs (three earned) on three hits and a walk in just 1/3 of an inning. The recently promoted Jorge Marban pitched the last 1 2/3 to collect his first victory as a member of the PawSox.

Leading 3-2 in the ninth, Sandy Leon's three-run home run gave the PawSox a 6-2 cushion. However, in the bottom of the ninth, the IronPigs plated four runs to tie the game, 6-6. In the tenth, Jonathan Roof laced an RBI double that proved to be the winning run. Leon, Carlos Rivero, and Deven Marrero each had three hits to lead the Pawtucket offense.

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Cup of Coffee: Haley hurls gem for Sea Dogs, Steen solid for Spinners

8/14 Cup of Coffee: Kevin Steen fared well in his second start for Lowell, but came up a third of an inning short of qualifying for his first win due to a rising pitch count. Andrew Benintendi continued his torrid pace with another extra-base hit for the Spinners. Justin Haley (pictured) pitched an absolute gem in a Sea Dogs win. Luis Ramos took a step back in his third start for Greenville since his call-up from Lowell. The GCL Sox offense beat up on the Orioles for a lopsided win.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

The PawSox offense could not support an impressive start from Shawn Haviland in Thursday's loss. Haviland put together a quality start, lasting 7 1/3 innings. allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two. Noe Ramirez allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth, which proved to be the difference. Carlos Rivero and Sandy Leon drove in the PawSox' two runs. Marco Hernandez went 2 for 4. Pawtucket left 10 men on base.

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Cup of Coffee: Anderson Espinoza dominates again for GCL Red Sox

8/13 Cup of Coffee: There was some great pitching all throughout the system last night. Anderson Espinoza stood out again, tossing four more scoreless innings. Jalen Beeks also was tremendous in Greenville's tough loss. Edwin Escobar stood out for Pawtucket. The bullpens for Portland, Salem, the DSL Red Sox, and the GCL Red Sox also showed very well. Manuel Margot (pictured) showed off his tools again for the Sea Dogs.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

The PawSox dropped a heartbreaker to Scranton in 12 innings. Edwin Escobar made his second start with the PawSox and went five innings for the first time this season. He pitched well, allowing just one earned run on three hits during his five innings. He walked two and struck out two. Jonathan Aro was charged with a blown save, as he gave up two earned runs in his 2 2/3 innings pitched. Pat Light tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings despite walking three batters and not striking anybody out. Heath Hembree took the loss, as he gave up the winning run in the 12th.

Quintin Berry smashed his third home run of the year, a two-run shot in the first inning to put Pawtucket on top. Allen Craig went 2 for 5 with a double and Mike Miller added a two-bagger. Humberto Quintero also had a pair of hits.

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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi goes deep twice in Spinners victory

8/12 Cup of Coffee: It was a good night for power, with Andrew Benintendi (pictured), Luis Alexander Basabe, Javier Guerra, Quintin Berry, and Sean Coyle all hitting home runs. Berry's home run was not enough for the PawSox as their skid continued, Salem could not get any run support for Teddy Stankiewicz, and Michael Chavis continued to show signs of improvement for the Drive.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 2
The struggles continue for the PawSox, as they dropped their ninth straight game. William Cuevas got the start, going the first five innings and allowing two runs on two hits, walking three and striking out four. Robby Scott came on in the sixth, and after allowing back-to-back singles, Aaron Judge connected for a three-run home run that proved to be the difference.

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After surge up draft boards, Benintendi adjusting quickly to pro life

LOWELL, Mass. -- As a senior, Andrew Benintendi set Ohio state high school records for hits and runs. After becoming the state’s all-time hit king, he was selected in the 2013 MLB Draft by his hometown Cincinnati Reds, choosing instead to pursue college ball at Arkansas.

Yet leading into the 2015 draft, all the talk was about how Benintendi had come out of nowhere his sophomore college season to be a top ten pick this year.

Was this characterization surprising to the outfielder after all the high school accolades?

“Not really. My first year at Arkansas was pretty frustrating,” the seventh overall pick said recently. “I think overall, it wasn’t a bad year, but for me, I set my goals pretty high that year and didn’t reach any of them. I just learned from my freshman year and tried to take what I learned into my sophomore year.”

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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi homers, walks thrice as Spinners roll

8/11 Cup of Coffee: The Red Sox have seen a lot of good play in the lower levels of the minors this season, and that trend continued on Monday. Top draftee Andrew Benintendi (pictured, left) continues to impress, leading Lowell to victory. The GCL Red Sox have responded well to a packed recent schedule, sweeping a doubleheader to extend their winning streak to five games. Pawtucket finally got to play a different opponent, but the result was unfortunately the same, as they dropped a crazy walk-off--which did not involve any walking--to fall to their eighth straight loss.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

At least it was someone other than the Syracuse Chiefs. After dropping seven consecutive games in a brutal home-and-home stretch with the Washington Nationals affiliate, the PawSox were probably happy to see a different uniform across the field. Unfortunately, that happiness did not manifest itself in a different result, as the PawSox continue reeling.

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Weekly Notes: Owens makes major league debut

This week's minor league notes:

• The SoxProspects.com scouting staff got to take in a lot of games in July, and they started churning out reports last week. Director of Scouting Ian Cundall wrote up a report on Rafael Devers (pictured, right), the system's current top prospect. Devers was impressive both at the plate and in the field, and Cundall did not rule out a promotion to Salem this season for Devers. The 18-year-old is currently batting .282 with 10 home runs for Greenville. 

• While the arms in Greenville are not quite as strong as the bats, Cundall went in-depth on some of the more interesting pitchers on the team, including Ben Taylor, who looks like he could be a steal from the 2015 draft. Other players covered in the two-part series (Part One, Part Two) include Reid Reilly, Carlos Pinales, Jalen Beeks, Jamie Callahan, and more. 

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Cup of Coffee: Manuel Margot steals the show in return to Portland lineup

8/10 Cup of coffee: Offense was hard to come by for the Red Sox farm teams on Sunday. Actually, solid pitching was pretty hard to come by as well, as all five teams in action on Sunday were dealt losses. Mookie Betts' brief return to the Sea Dogs on a rehab assignment may have been the biggest news of the day, but Manuel Margot (pictured left) returned to the Portland lineup with a bang. Meanwhile, Trey Ball struggled mightily in Salem and Williams Jerez was roughed up in a rare ugly outing.

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

The PawSox' losing streak reached seven games as they were unable to generate much offense on Sunday, collecting just three hits across the board. Jonathan Roof drove in the team's only run on a solo home run, his first of the season, and just the team's third home run in their last 18 games.  Jemile Weeks reached base twice with a single and a walk.

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Five Spinners named to All-Star Game

The Lowell Spinners will be well-represented at the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. It was announced by the team on Saturday that five Spinners will play for the North Team: first baseman Josh Ockimey, second baseman Chad De La Guerra, third baseman Victor Acosta, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe (pictured, right) and reliever Edwar Garcia. Lowell manager Joe Oliver and the entire coaching and training staff will lead the team.

Ockimey, a fifth-round pick in 2014 who is in his first season with the Spinners, is hitting .267/.351/.431 in 34 games for the Spinners this season. He's tied for the team lead in RBI (21) with Basabe despite playing in nine fewer games than the outfielder. The big 19-year-old, standing at 6'1 and 215 pounds, boasts impressive offensive potential, and has shown flashes of power with seven doubles, three triples and two home runs. Ockimey just cracked the SoxProspects.com top 60 prospects, coming in at number 58.

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Cup of Coffee: Moncada leads Greenville in win

8/9 Cup of Coffee: Yoan Moncada (pictured) was terrific again for the Greenville Drive, hitting a home run and stealing two more bases. Michael Chavis and Nick Longhi also had homers. On the pitching side, Kevin Steen and Ty Buttrey put together great starts. Luis Alexander Basabe walked it off for Lowell and the GCL and DSL Red Sox all received tremendous pitching performances.

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

The PawSox attempted a comeback in the eighth inning, but  fell just short. Sandy Leon, now hitting .367 for Pawtucket, went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Marco Hernandez also went 2 for 4 and Allen Craig added an RBI with a sacrifice fly. Quintin Berry had a nice game as well, drawing two walks and throwing out a runner at second base from right field.

Shawn Haviland made his first start for Pawtucket and went five innings while allowing eight hits, two walks, and four earned runs. Tommy Layne, Jonathan Aro, and Ryan Cook combined for four shutout innings out of the bullpen.

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Cup of Coffee: Chavis, Longhi pace Greenville, Espinoza continues to impress

8/8 Cup of Coffee: Pawtucket and Portland were blanked while Salem's bats fell quiet in the latter half of their loss. Greenville's offensive allowed them to sweep a doubleheader against Lexington, while Lowell could not tame the Tigers. The GCL squad split a doubleheader of its own, while the DSL squads out-muscled their competition.  

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 0

For the second night in a row, the PawSox were shut out by the Chiefs. The Chiefs seem to have the Paw Sox number as of late, winning their eighth game in a row against Pawtucket. Keith Couch took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in just three innings of work. Edwin Escobar followed Couch with three scoreless innings of relief, walking three and striking out four. Allen Craig had a single to extend his hitting streak to five games. 

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Scouting Scratch: Rafael Devers

The Greenville Drive lineup is one of the deepest in the system prospect-wise. After looking at the pitchers these past few days (Part 1, Part 2), it is time to look at the position players. During the four games we were down in Greenville, we got a chance to see every position player and below is the first piece on these players, starting with the new number one prospect in the SoxProspects.com rankings.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Every time I’ve seen Rafael Devers play, going back to his first Spring Training in 2014, he has impressed me. A recent four-game stint in Greenville was no different; in a lineup loaded with prospects, the 18-year-old Dominican third baseman was the clear standout at the plate, and perhaps more notably, he was also impressive in the field.

As we have discussed here before, except for his face, Devers doesn’t look like a teenager. His listed height and weight of 6-foot-0, 210 pounds, looks about right, and there is some projection remaining, especially in his upper body. He has a thick, well-developed lower half, and looks to be in much better shape than he was in spring training. It is notable that he was coming off a stress fracture in his ankle during the Fall Instructional League that limited him for part of the offseason. Devers does have a high-maintenance body, but in the shape he is currently in, he moved much better and showed more agility and range at third base than in prior looks. Previous concerns about his ability to stay at third base were based mostly on concerns that he would outgrow the position, but if he continues on the path he is on physically, that should not be much of a concern.

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Cup of Coffee: Cuevas solid in PawSox debut, takes loss

8/7 Cup of Coffee: Several lower-level pitchers had solid starts in the Red Sox farm system on Thursday with Gerson Bautista (GCL), Junior Espinoza (DSL1) and Kevin McAvoy (Salem) each picking up wins. William Cuevas (pictured) got no help from the PawSox offense, suffering a tough-luck loss in his Triple-A debut.

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 0

The only major blemishes on the night for William Cuevas in his Pawtucket debut were a pair of solo home runs. The offense could not support him, however, as Cuevas suffered the loss. He lasted seven innings, allowing the two solo shots and four hits total. Cuevas struck out five and walked two. The PawSox actually outhit Syracuse 8-6, but stranded seven runners and grounded into a pair of crucial double plays. Garin Cecchini went 2 for 4 with a double out of the cleanup spot.

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July Players of the Month: Henry Owens and Kevin Heller

The SoxProspects.com community has voted left-hander Henry Owens (pictured) and outfielder Kevin Heller as the Pitcher and Player of the Month for July.

Owens was nothing short of dominant in the month of July, which prompted his call up to the majors on Aug. 4. He ran away with the vote for Pitcher of the Month, receiving nearly 62-percent of ballots cast. While he only posted a modest 1-2 record, four of his five starts in July were quality starts. He finished with a 2.84 ERA in 31 2/3 innings pitched, while leading the Red Sox farm system with 34 strikeouts. His early-season struggles with walks are a distant memory now, having gone nine straight starts with two or fewer walks. In the month, his WHIP was 1.04 and he held opposing batters to a .210 average. The 23-year-old lefty also did not wilt under the bright spotlight of Yankee Stadium in his pro debut, contrary to what the 13-3 final score suggested. He lasted five-plus innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking one before the Boston bullpen imploded. Owens will reportedly remain in the Boston rotation for the time being.

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Cup of Coffee: Offense explodes for Portland, Salem, Greenville, Lowell

8/6 Cup of Coffee: Offense was a major theme yesterday, with four teams scoring at least seven runs. Wendell Rijo (pictured), Cole Sturgeon, and Nick Longhi all recorded four-hit games. Yoan Moncada, Josh Ockimey and Andrew Benintendi also had big nights. Tzu-Wei Lin and Carlos Asuaje tripled and Keury De La Cruz homered to give Portland a thrilling win. Aaron Wilkerson made his debut for Portland and Logan Allen pitched well in his third start. Matt Barnes also made his first start in over three months and Ryan Cook made his debut.

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Syracuse Chiefs (WSH) 7, Pawtucket Red Sox 4

Matt Barnes found himself back in the PawSox rotation and made his first start since May 1. He was not sharp, lasting just 3 1/3 innings and allowing five hits, three walks, and four earned runs while taking the loss. Pat Light relieved Barnes and dominated, striking out six batters in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. Tommy Layne, who was recently sent down from Boston, had a rough outing. He allowed three earned runs on four hits and a walk in just 2/3 of an inning. Newly acquired reliever Ryan Cook made his debut in a PawSox uniform by throwing 1 1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Pawtucket didn't do much offensively until the eighth inning. Sandy Leon and Allen Craig each had RBI singles in the inning. Leon finished 3 for 4 on the day. Jeff Bianchi and Garin Cecchini also added doubles.

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Podcast Ep. 82: Teddy Stankiewicz Interview, August Rankings

It's now August, and we've got our second straight new top prospect! Why did Rafael Devers leapfrog Yoan Moncada to take the top spot? How about the jumps made by the likes of Anderson Espinoza, Marco Hernandez, and Luis Alexander Basabe? Plus the guys talked about the (then-pending) debut of Henry Owens, the injury to Brian Johnson, the move of Matt Barnes back to the rotation, and the promotion of Kevin Steen to Lowell. To cap the episode, we present Chris' interview with Salem right-hander Teddy Stankiewicz, talking about pitching, bus rides, and the shocking discovery from his pre-signing physical.

Click through for download links and in-site player!

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Scouting Scratch: Greenville Arms Part 2

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- While the Greenville Drive lineup is one of the deepest in the system prospect-wise, following the suspension of Michael Kopech, the pitching staff is on the thin side. Despite the lack of top-end talent, there are a few pitchers with the potential to be bullpen arms at the big league level. During the four games we saw down in Greenville, we got a chance to see most of the pitching staff, and below is the second of a two-part series breaking down the Drive pitchers.

- Left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks impressed during Spring Training and continued to show an intriguing arsenal that could play out of a big league bullpen. Beeks doesn’t have a lot of projection as he isn’t very big, listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, and has a filled-out frame. His stuff was impressive, and along with Ben Taylor, he was the other standout pitcher from the trip. Beeks throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, starting on the first base side of the rubber with his hands by his waist. He works very quickly, getting the ball and immediately getting ready to throw his next pitch.

Beeks has some effort and funk in his delivery, as he keeps his hands low then brings them behind with a slight trunk twist and rock back before coming forward. He has long arm action behind and slight stab. The delivery is best suited for a bullpen role, as it will be tough to repeat consistently, especially as he tires. His stuff, however, could play in a bullpen role, especially coming from a lefty. Beeks has a live arm and his fastball sat 91-93 mph for the outing, getting up to 94-95 mph on occasion. The pitch lacks plane due to his height and is on the straight side, but it has average life and he gets some deception from his delivery. Beeks compliments his fastball with a changeup and slider, both of which are below-average at present, but flashed at least average to solid-average. He threw his changeup 83-86 mph with deceptive arm speed, with the pitch showing late drop when he finished it. His slider worked 82-86 mph with it showing shorter, more vertical break on the higher end, and longer, two-pane break at the lower end of the velocity band. The pitch flashed solid depth and late bite, but it was inconsistent as he also yanked a few that he held onto too long.

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Cup of Coffee: Cecchini and Rijo perform well in losses

8/5 Cup of Coffee: There were some impressive individual performances last night, led by Garin Cecchini (pictured) and Wendell Rijo who each reached base four times. Mike McCarthy had a strong showing in Portland's loss, but that was overshadowed by Manuel Margot leaving the game after being hit by a pitch. Trey Ball was roughed up again in Salem, while both Basabe brothers had strong showings in the lower levels of the system. 

 

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 1

Cecchini tried to single-handedly carry the offense, but the team fell short in a 3-1 loss. Zeke Spruill turned in a quality start, allowing three runs over six innings, but it was not enough to avoid his eighth loss of the season. Jonathan Aro struck out three over two shutout innings, as he continues to put up good strikeout numbers out of the Pawtucket bullpen.

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The Write-Up: Benintendi, Basabe and more from Lowell

LOWELL, Mass. -- Over the month of July, Assistant Director of Scouting Chaz Fiorino took in several Lowell Spinners games at LeLacheur Park. The following are his reports on six players, including two top picks and a potential steal from this year's draft class.

OF Luis Alexander Basabe



Age: 18

Born: August 26, 1996
, El Vigia, Venezuela
Height: 6-0

Weight: 170
 

Bats: Switch

Throws: Right

How Acquired: International 
free agent (August 2012)



Dates Seen: 7/10-7/13; 7/25 (24 plate appearances) 



Physical Description - Athletic, lean, room for added strength. 



Stance/Hit Approach -  Switch hitter. Left-handed, stands slightly open with slight crouch; small leg lift; hands in good position to hit; left-handed pull approach. Right-handed stance more square to the plate and crouched; short stride; hands in good position to hit. 



Hit - 20/40  (current/future grade) - Quick bat from both sides. Left-handed swing appeared more advanced; more length in swing from right side. Very aggressive early in counts; first-pitch swinger; wants to hit; poor pitch recognition lead to lots of swing-and-miss; will improve with experience. 



Power - 30/50 - Surprising power for strength; raw power at present; good frame to add strength.



Run - 60/60 - Makes the defense rush; showed instincts to steal bases; definite basestealer potential. 



Arm - 60/60 - On-line throws with carry; made a throw from right field warning track to second base on the fly. 



Field - 30/50 - Dropped routine fly ball in center field trying to rush throw to get runner at home tagging from third; did not get great first-step reads; inefficient route running; misplayed a few balls in the gaps; covers plenty of ground; athleticism and speed will improve defense along with more experience.



Summation - 18 year old; switch-hitting outfielder. Raw at present with athleticism; speed, arm strength and raw power. Current lack of plate approach & fundamentals defensively. High risk; future potential regular; everyday-type center fielder.


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Cup of Coffee: Benintendi has three hits in return to Lowell lineup

8/4 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night in the Red Sox system, as none of the stateside teams came away with a win. Pawtucket faced off against a rehabbing ace in a series opener, while both Greenville and Lowell had pitchers making their debuts at their respective levels. Rain continues to be the biggest nemesis for the GCL Red Sox as their afternoon game was suspended in the second inning. Results were better in the Dominican Summer League. Two pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout in the DSL Red Sox1 win, while DSL Red Sox2 pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts on their way to victory.

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Syracuse Chiefs (WAS) 9, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

It was a tall order for the PawSox, with Stephen Strasburg (WAS) taking the mound for the Chiefs in the second start of his rehab assignment. Making matters tougher was the state of flux that Pawtucket's own rotation is in. With Henry Owens getting set to make his major league debut Tuesday night in Yankee Stadium, and Brian Johnson going on the disabled list with elbow soreness, Monday was a bullpen game.

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Weekly Notes: Sox quiet at deadline, Owens called up

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• There was a lot of talk this past week about the Red Sox possibly using their prospects to trade for a starting pitcher, but it didn't happen, and the farm system remains intact.
• SoxProspects.com's fifth-ranked prospect, Henry Owens, was called up to Boston yesterday after the Red Sox game. He has a 3.16 ERA this year with Pawtucket and will make his major league debut tomorrow in Yankee Stadium.
• Matt Huegel of SoxPropects.com recently wrote a story on the improvement of Garin Cecchini over the past few weeks. Cecchini put up big numbers in the minor leagues until last season. His batting average was below the Mendoza line for a majority of the season, but he is now batting .220 after a hot stretch. He has also had to deal with adjusting to left field, along with playing some games at third, first, and designated hitter.
• David Lee of The Augusta Chronicle took some scouting notes on what he saw with some Greenville Drive players during their series against the GreenJackets from July 22-24.
• Josh Norris of Baseball America was able to take in a game between the GCL Red Sox and GCL Orioles with SoxProspects.com's number seven prospect Anderson Espinoza on the hill. He showed very well, living in the upper 90's with his fastball. He also showed great secondary stuff.

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Scouting Scratch: Greenville Arms Part 1

While the Greenville Drive lineup is one of the deepest in the system prospect-wise, following the suspension of Michael Kopech, the pitching staff  is on the thin side. However, despite the lack of top-end talent, there are a few pitchers who have the potential to be bullpen arms at the big league level. During the four games we were down in Greenville, we got a chance to see most of the pitching staff and below is the first of a two-part series breaking down the Drive pitchers.

- SoxProspects.com Assistant Director of Scouting Chaz Fiorino will have a more detailed report on 2015 seventh-round pick Ben Taylor this week, so this will be relatively brief. Taylor was one of the best pitchers I saw from Greenville while down there, after also impressing during his stint with Lowell. Considering he was signed as a college senior and only received a $10,000 bonus, he looks like he could be a steal.

Taylor does not have a huge ceiling, but he’s advanced with a high floor. The right-hander has strong pitchability and a solid three-pitch mix. His fastball sat in the low-90s in this outing, topping out at 94 mph a handful of times. The pitch jumps on hitters with late sink and run, showing the ability to miss bats. Taylor has very good control of the pitch with the potential for above-average command. He has feel for both his secondary offerings, a slider and changeup. He threw his changeup at 79-81 mph in this outing and his slider at 80-82 mph, showing the ability to bury it down or backdoor it to left-handed hitters. Taylor is a great example of a prospect who could potentially move very quickly as a reliever, but for now the Red Sox will continue to develop him as a starter. This makes sense especially while he is in the lower minors as his advanced arsenal would eat up hitters at that level and he wouldn’t be forced to throw all his pitches.

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Kevin Steen promoted to Lowell

The Red Sox have promoted right-handed pitcher Kevin Steen to the Short Season A Lowell Spinners. The 2014 ninth-round pick has been announced as the starting pitcher for Lowell's game on Monday against Brooklyn at LeLacheur Park. 

Steen, 19, was given a $255,000 bonus out of Oak Hill (TN) High School to sign him away from a commitment for the University of Tennessee. He appeared in three games for the GCL Red Sox last season and was assigned there again to start 2015. He got off to a very strong start, going 18 innings without allowing an earned run to begin the year. Through 24 2/3 innings across six appearances, Steen has posted a 1.82 ERA and 0.892 ERA, striking out 24 and walking only four. Gulf Coast League opponents have hit just .189/.238/.305 on the season. Steen is also a finalist for the SoxProspects.com July Pitcher of the Month after posting a 2.70 ERA and an 18-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

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