Minor Notes: New June rankings released

(Editorial note: Our apologies for publishing the Thursday notes one day late due to unforeseen circumstances.)

Here are Friday's minor league notes:

• In the latest edition of the SoxProspects.com podcast, episode 120, Executive Editor Chris Hatfield and Director of Scouting Ian Cundall were joined by Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times. They discussed the latest on the PawSox stadium situation, as well as Rusney Castillo, Henry Owens, and other Pawtucket players. Chris and Ian also talked about the system rankings, which were updated on Thursday.
• The new SoxProspects rankings for June were released. Check them out: 1-20, 21-60. There is some notable movement within the top 10, as Josh Ockimey, who began the season ranked 10th, has risen to fourth with his terrific start to the 2017 season. He's batting .318/.422/.518 for Salem. Michael Chavis, who is hitting .356/.430/.693 for Salem, moves up to number seven, and Bobby Dalbec gets bumped down to number eight. Bryan Mata, at age 18, inches closer to the top 10 at number 13.
• In his second start with Greenville, Mata excelled in a manner that belied his being the youngest player in the South Atlantic League. The youngster struck out six and allowed one run in six innings of work.
• Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com noted that left-handed pitcher Jay Groome, ranked second on SoxProspects.com, threw in a game for the first time since April 10 when he left his start in Greenville with a lat injury. He threw two innings in extended spring training at JetBlue Park.
• Josh Jackson of MiLB.com wrote about Tyler Hill and his tremendous day at the plate during Tuesday's Greenville doubleheader. Hill talked about his struggles in April, noting Fluor Field's mini-Green Monster got in his head a little bit. After getting back to his approach, the 21-year-old posted an .813 OPS in May.
• In transactions news, Salem added Jeremy Rivera at the end of his 50-game suspension and sent Nick Lovullo to Greenville. Greenville has also added Tyler Spoon from his own suspension and Dakota Smith back from a paper move while removing Logan Boyd on a paper move of his own. Hildemaro Requena was also activated from the DL. Portland has also added Carlos Tovar and Jake Drehoff from Greenville, the latter of whom from a glorified rehab assignment after missing the start of the season due to injury.

Photo Credit: Josh Ockimey by Kelly O'Connor

Tweet