April 24, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Minor Notes: Workman dominant in PawSox bullpen
Here are Monday's minor league notes:
- SoxProspects.com's System Restart series continues its position-by-position breakdown of Red Sox minor leaguers. The series has now taken a look at catchers, corner infielders, middle infielders, and outfielders.
- Assistant director of scouting Chaz Fiorino has attended some games in Portland in the first few weeks of the season and discussed starts by Teddy Stankiewicz and Jalen Beeks in his most recent two editions of The Write-Up.
- The SoxProspects Featured Video contained footage of Victor Garcia facing batters in spring training.
- Right-hander Brandon Workman (pictured) has been opening eyes while pitching out of the bullpen in Pawtucket. In three appearances this season, he has tossed seven shutout innings, striking out ten while allowing just a hit and a walk. If Workman continues to impress, he will position himself for a call-up at some point this season.
- Andrew Benintendi, who will graduate from prospect status on May 1, recorded his first five-hit game as a major leaguer on Sunday. Benintendi went 5 for 5 in a win against the Orioles and is now slashing .347/.415/.444 in Boston.
- Brian Johnson has overcome a number of obstacles: an elbow injury, an armed carjacking, anxiety, and two line drives off the head. However, he has made the long road back to the majors and picked up his first major league win last week with Eduardo Rodriguez on the paternity list.
- The Greenville Drive played their longest game in team history on Friday night, losing 7-4 in 18 innings. The game lasted five hours and 14 minutes. Shaun Anderson threw six shutout innings and Bobby Dalbec collected three hits but the Rome Braves were able to come back and win.
- The Drive were forced to dig deep into their pitching depth in this game and Tucker Tubbs, who began the game as the designated hitter, was forced to throw three innings. A first baseman by trade, Tubbs impressed on the mound with three shutout frames, striking out four and walking none.
- Southpaw Darwinzon Hernandez threw five no-hit innings on Saturday night, striking out five and walking two against Rome. Watch him pick up his fifth strikeout of the game.
- Nick Longhi has gotten off to a tough start at the plate but he's beginning to pick it up and hit for some power. Watch him blast his second home run of the season on Saturday.
Players of the Week: 4/17-4/23
7 G, 21 AB, 10 H, 3 2B, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 4 K, .476/.607/1.333
Chavis has been on an incredible tear to start the season in Salem. Last week, he hit five home runs in a span of four games, including a three-homer performance on Wednesday. The Red Sox selected Chavis in the first round of the 2014 draft and his minor league career has been lackluster thus far. However, he may be turning a corner in his first full season in Salem as he's hitting a remarkable .440/.563/1.160 in his first eight games of the season. Chavis was also named to MLBPipeline.com's Prospect Team of the Week as well as the Carolina League's Player of the Week.
1 start, 1-0, 7 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Beeks turned in a masterful performance with seven scoreless innings against Trenton on Saturday. He has now dominated in two of his three starts this season and his ERA sits at 2.87 with 22 strikeouts and seven walks in 15 2/3 innings pitched. The former 12th-rounder still profiles best as a reliever in the long run but the southpaw is looking good to start the year.
Photo Credit: Brandon Workman by Kelly O'Connor