Minor Notes: Chavis, six others headed to AFL

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The 2017 Arizona Fall League rosters have been announced, with seven members of the Red Sox set to play for the Peoria Javelinas. They will send infielders Michael Chavis, Josh Tobias, and Chad De La Guerra, and pitchers Brian Johnson, Henry Owens, Ty Buttrey, and Bobby Poyner. Former Red Sox prospect Javier Guerra will also play with the Javelinas. 
• Alex Speier of the Boston Globe wrote more on the Sox' AFL players, including a note that Chavis will see time at first base. Johnson, who will be out of options next season, will pitch in a bullpen role, although he will be stretched out as a starter next spring.
• Two Pawtucket outfielders were honored as International League Postseason All-Stars. Rusney Castillo and Bryce Brentz were selected, as both have enjoyed breakout seasons. Castillo is hitting .314 with 15 home runs and 14 stolen bases while Brentz is hitting .274 with 30 long balls and 82 RBI. 
• First baseman Josh Ockimey was named to the Carolina League's Postseason All-Star team. In 100 games with Salem, Ockimey hit .275/.388/.438 with 11 home runs for Salem, earning a promotion to Portland on August 1.
• Roldani Baldwin was also selected to the South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star team. After splitting time between third base and catcher last season, Baldwin has been a full-time catcher in 2017. He has responded well, throwing out 33% of would-be base sealers. He has also had a big year with the bat, hitting .275 with 14 home runs, 34 doubles, and a triple. 
• On the negative side, 19-year-old top pitching prospect Jay Groome will be shut down for the remainder of 2017 with a forearm strain. However, as SoxProspects.com's Executive Editor Chris Hatfield noted on Twitter, this will only cost him two regular season starts, plus however many playoff starts he would have made for the Drive. Groome had an up-and-down year, posting a 5.69 ERA between Lowell and Greenville and missing significant time with a lat injury. He did strikeout an impressive 72 batters in 55 1/3 innings. 

Photo Credit: Michael Chavis by Kelly O'Connor 

Tweet