Cup of Coffee: De Jesus punches out 8; 3 RBI for Hernandez

6/30 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough night for the Red Sox full-season affiliates as only Salem emerged victorious on the back of a strong Enmanuel De Jesus (pictured) start. The summer affiliates were much more fortunate, with the GCL and DSL teams triumphing in their games. Recent draftee Leon Paulino recorded his first major league hit, and Bryan Gonzalez continued his reign of terror in the DSL.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 9, Pawtucket Red Sox 6

The PawSox fell short of Rochester despite loading the bases in the top of the ninth. Gorkys Hernandez was the big performer at the dish for the PawSox, as he launched a home run and singled as part of a three-RBI night. Joining Hernandez in the home run column was Chris Owings, who smacked a solo home run in the fifth. Juan Centeno chipped in with a pair of singles, while Tzu-Wei Lin reached base twice on a pair of walks.

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Cup of Coffee: Ward, Santana turn in solid outings

6/29 Cup of Coffee: Thaddeus Ward (pictured) bounced back from a rough first outing with Salem with six solid frames. The bats were hot for the PawSox, as several players chipped in with big nights. Jarren Duran and Tate Matheny played well in Portland's loss to Reading, while Yasel Santana pitched well for Lowell.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 5

Jantzen Witte came through in the clutch with a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning as part of his 2-for-5 night. Bryce Brentz also stayed hot with his fifth home run in his last 10 games. Tzu-Wei Lin and Cole Sturgeon had three hits apiece and Juan Centeno went 2 for 4 with a double. Teddy Stankiewicz struggled through five, allowing five runs on nine hits. Jenrry Mejia, Bobby Poyner, and Trevor Kelley combined for four shutout frames.

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Cup of Coffee: Benge walks it off for Salem

6/28 Cup of Coffee: Garrett Benge (pictured) walked off for Salem in the 10th as part of his big night. Cole Brannen also played well for Greenville and Yusniel Padron-Artiles turned in a tremendous outing for Lowell.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

The PawSox faced 15-year MLB veteran Ervin Santana and scored three times in five innings against him. Josh Tobias went 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored. A rehabbing Steve Pearce  doubled, walked, and scored twice. Chris Owings also added a base knock. Kyle Hart went the first four innings and allowed just one run with three strikeouts and one walk. Domingo Tapia threw two scoreless innings and Trevor Kelley struck out three in his lone inning despite being charged with a blown save.

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Minor Notes: Draft signings continue with deadline two weeks away

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The draft signings continue to roll in, with 28th rounder Daniel Bakst agreeing to terms. Bakst was a big prospect coming out of high school, being named the 2016 Gatorade New York Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Orioles and did not sign, instead opting to go to Stanford. He was an All Pac-12 player his freshman year, but he suffered an injury during his sophomore season and did not return for his junior season. He signed for $75,000 and will likely debut with the GCL Red Sox in the coming weeks. 

• The Red Sox also signed undrafted free agent Mason Duke, a right-handed pitcher out of the University of Tampa. As a junior Duke pitched for the University of Alabama, striking out 33 batters over 31 2/3 innings with a 3.41 ERA. His workload increased greatly his senior season, throwing 100 2/3 innings with a 2.59 ERA. 

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Cup of Coffee: De La Guerra homers; Campana helps Lowell walk off

Cup of Coffee 6/27: It was an action-packed evening down on the farm, as both Portland and Lowell played doubleheaders, in addition to each of the other affiliates taking the field. The short season teams were much more successful than their full-season counterparts. Lowell walked off with a win in Game 1 of its doubleheader, while in the GCL, Trey Ball delivered a sacrifice fly for the only run of the contest as he tries to rediscover his offensive form. The DSL squads each had three-hit performances from Axel James and Albert Feliz and both emerged as victors. Salem did not record a hit until the eighth inning, while Pawtucket took a loss and Portland split a doubleheader.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

Chris Owings had three hits and the PawSox owned a 2-1 lead in the middle of the sixth, but in the bottom of the seventh, Syracuse scored four times to take the lead and the game with it. Erasmo Ramirez got one out in the seventh, but his otherwise strong start was erased when five straight Met batters reached to tally four runs. Three of those were charged to Dan Runzler, who completed the frame. Tyler Thornburg allowed two hits in a shutout eighth inning. Chad De La Guerra (pictured) also drilled his eighth home run of the season.

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Cup of Coffee: Homers from Casas and Howlett lead the Drive

6/26 Cup of Coffee: The rain washed away three of the games, but there were still several strong performances throughout the system on Tuesday. In a doubleheader Greenville combined to score 23 runs, with Triston Casas, Brandon Howlett, Jonathan Ortega, and Alan Marrero all going deep. Daniel Gonzalez (pictured, right) and Chase Shugart each had solid starts, and the DSL saw one of the all-time bad defensive performances.

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) @ Pawtucket Red Sox, PPD (rain)

Tuesday's game was postponed, and will be made up as part of a doubleheader when Buffalo returns to Pawtucket on July 12. 

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New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) @ Portland Sea Dogs, PPD (rain)

The Sea Dogs were also rained out, and their game will be made up as a single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. 

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Minor Notes: GCL season gets underway

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• Chris and Ian take you through the latest on the organization's depth and the impact that the signing of Chris Owings could have on the 161st episode of the SoxProspects.com podcast. They also discuss draft signings, Michael Chavis, Rafael Devers, scouting reports from Lowell, and the DSL. 
• Along with being named the SoxProspects.com Player of the Week, Salem outfielder Marcus Wilson was also named to the MLB Pipeline Prospect Team of the Week. 
• Trevor Kelley is having a great season for Pawtucket, and Christopher Smith of MassLive.com got a chance to talk to Mike Shawaryn, Josh Taylor, and Brian Bannister about him. Kelley was a Red Sox fan growing up and he reminds Bannister of Darren O'Day. 

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Cup of Coffee: Chatham goes yard as GCL opens

6/25 Cup of Coffee: The Gulf Coast League got underway on Monday, with the Red Sox squad taking home the win. Pawtucket came up short despite a trio of home runs, and Portland emerged triumphant thanks to the heroics of CJ Chatham (pictured). In Salem, Enmanuel De Jesus struck out 10 but was the unlucky loser of a rain-abbreviated game and Brandon Howlett went yard for Greenville.

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 10, Pawtucket Red Sox 6

A power surge from Pawtucket wasn't enough as the PawSox dropped their sixth game in seven. Bryce Brentz, Sam Travis, and Rusney Castillo each launched a home run. This was the third night in a row that Brentz has gone deep, and he now has fourteen home runs on the year. Chris Owings had his best night in a PawSox uniform as he singled twice and doubled. 

Darwinzon Hernandez was roughed up in his start to the tune of five earned runs in just three innings. Jordan Weems was lights out as he struck out four over two scoreless innings. After another rough outing from Tyler Thornburg, Bobby Poyner settled things down by striking out three in two perfect frames and Trevor Kelley ended things with a perfect ninth. 

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Cup of Coffee: Jimenez leads triples parade; Tendler walks off

6/24 Cup of Coffee: All was not quiet on GCL Eve, with promotions, returns, a walkoff, and continued Lowell dominance. The Spinners got seven extra-base hits, including two off the bat of Gilberto Jimenez (pictured), as they complete their sweep. Kutter Crawford and Thaddeus Ward made their first appearances since being promoted to Portland and Salem, respectively. Luke Tendler blasted a pair of two-run homers to lead the Sea Dogs, the second a walk-off game winner. A 17-hit attack boosted Ward, while Brandon Howlett continued his fine play for Greenville, helping the Drive to the series win. Pawtucket had the only loss on the day despite the efforts of starter Ryan Weber.

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Indianapolis Indians (PIT) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

Ryan Weber turned things around after a pair of rough outings, but that and a pair of home runs were not enough to get the PawSox over the hump. Weber gave up just two hits over six innings, surrendering one run. He struck out two and walked one, needing only 70 pitches to get through six. He was supported by a pair of veteran outfielders, as Gorkys Hernandez and Bryce Brentz provided the offense. Hernandez homered as part of a 2-for-3 afternoon in which he also walked twice. Brentz blasted his 13th homer of the year in addition to an RBI single.

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Cup of Coffee: Wilson homers twice, Jimenez continues to rake

6/23 Cup of Coffee: It was a night full of fireworks for the Red Sox system as four affiliates came home victorious Saturday night. In Salem, Marcus Wilson (pictured) brought the power with a pair of home runs, and Andrew Politi was dominant in relief to earn a Red Sox win. Gilberto Jimenez kept on rolling for Lowell with another productive game at the plate, and Teddy Stankiewicz highlighted a shutout in Pawtucket.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 3, Indianapolis Indians (PIT) 0

It took a village for Pawtucket, as five pitchers combined to deliver Pawtucket just its second shutout of the season. Teddy Stankiewicz got the nod and was superb, striking out five batters across 4 2/3 innings. Brock Runzler sat down a single batter, while the rehabbing Steven Wright, Bobby Poyner, and Travis Lakins combined for four shut down innings to end the game. On the offensive side, Bryce Brentz provided all the offense the PawSox needed with his three-run home run, while Rusney Castillo and the newly-signed Chris Owings chipped in with a double apiece.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas goes deep; Wilson, Diaz lead Salem

6/22 Cup of Coffee: The Drive put together a complete game, as Triston Casas homered and the pitching staff tossed a shutout. Marcus Wilson also had a huge night, collecting four hits in two games for Salem. C.J. Chatham had a big night at the dish as well for Portland. Jhonathan Diaz (pictured) also pitched well for Salem.

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Indianapolis Indians (PIT) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

All three PawSox runs came on one swing, as Sam Travis belted a two-out, three-run home run in the third inning. Pawtucket only had three other hits, all singles. Kyle Hart went six innings, but took the loss. He surrendered four runs (three earned) on 11 hits with just two strikeouts. Jordan Weems threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Trevor Kelley also tossed a clean ninth.

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Cup of Coffee: De La Guerra powers PawSox; Howlett heating up

6/21 Cup of Coffee: Weather and lady luck were not on the system's side on Thursday. Pawtucket and Greenville both fell after staging thrilling ninth-inning comebacks and getting big nights from Chad De La Guerra (pictured, left) and Brandon Howlett. Meanwhile, rain halted any chance at baseball for Salem or Lowell. The DSL Red Sox2 provided the organization's only victory, walking off with a three-run homer by Elio Prado.

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Durham Bulls (TB) 11, Pawtucket Red Sox 7 (10 innings)

It was a high-octane evening at McCoy, as the two teams combined for 26 hits and six home runs. Chad De La Guerra was a monster, doubling twice and delivering a solo homer as part of a four-hit night. The 26-year-old utilityman scored four of Pawtucket's seven runs and raised his slugging percentage to .625. Josh Tobias also doubled twice during his 3-for-5 showing. Steve Pearce continued his rehab by going 2 for 4 with a run scored, while Rusney Castillo extended his hitting streak to nine games with a fourth-inning single.

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Podcast Ep. #161: We always finish with the emails

With the short season clubs starting to get into full swing, Chris and Ian have a lot to talk about as we enter the busiest time of the year. The guys discuss what the Chris Owings signing means for the organization's roster depth, Michael Chavis' adjustments, Rafael Devers becoming one of the club's best players, and some draft signings to open things. Ian provides some updates from Lowell's opening weekend on Antoni Flores, Nick Decker, Gilberto Jimenez, Nick Northcut and more. Chris then takes over, analyzing some of the early returns from the DSL and looking at quick starts from Bryan Gonzalez, Albert Feliz, Brainer Bonaci, and more. A listener email asks about Jarren Duran's raw power and whether Decker could rise in the rankings.

Listen in!

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Minor Notes: Casas highlights Red Sox minor league All-Stars

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The SoxProspects.com donation drive is in full swing! Please help us keep SoxProspects free, as it has been for the past 15 years. Our goal is $7000 and we ask that you consider donating so that we can keep giving you the same quality content you are used to and beyond.

• 
  The Lowell Spinners kicked off their season on Friday and have already seen some quality performances from the likes of Nick Northcut and Ricardo Cubillan. Additionally, several 2019 draftees have joined the team with Luke Bandy, Alex Erro, Jaxx Groshans, and Wil Dalton all making their debuts.

• In both Salem and Greenville, the All-Star breaks have come and gone, with Triston Casas (pictured) highlighting the group of Boston prospects to represent their clubs in their respective All-Star game. Also representing the Drive were Devlin Granberg, Jordan Wren, and Logan Browning; while Ryan Fitzgerald, Pedro Castellanos, and Eduard Bazardo represented Salem in the Carolina League All-Star game. 

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Cup of Coffee: 7 walks in 5 frames for Hernandez; De La Guerra homers

Cup of Coffee 6/20: Salem and Greenville each had the day off as part of the all-star break, but there was still plenty of action, as Pawtucket played a doubleheader with Durham and the short-season teams continued to play the early parts of their seasons. The stateside teams struggled with the bats, as no team scored more than four runs. However, Darwinzon Hernandez (pictured), Konner Wade and Yusniel Padron-Artiles each turned in strong starts for their teams. On the offensive side, Chad De La Guerra hit his sixth home run of the year in the first half of Pawtucket's doubleheader. 

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Durham Bulls (TB) 3, Pawtucket Red Sox 2 (7 Innings, Game 1)

Pawtucket owned a 2-1 lead headed into the penultimate inning of the first half of a twin bill. However, a pair of two-out RBI charged to Tyler Thornburg made the difference. Darwinzon Hernandez delivered a five-inning start, allowing just one run on two hits. He battled wildness, walking seven while striking out one. Pawtucket recorded six hits off the bats of six hitters. Chad De La Guerra, on a home run, and Rusney Castillo provided the RBI. Steven Wright pitched the seventh and did not allow a run.

Durham Bulls (TB) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 4 (8 Innings, Game 2)
Ryan Weber threw three strong innings, but allowed the first four hitters he faced to reach base in the fourth inning and was lifted in favor of Bobby Poyner. Four runs would be charged to Weber's tab in three-plus innings of work. Poyner pitched two innings of shutout ball and Trevor Kelley and Bryan Ellington followed with an inning each. However, Domingo Tapia suffered from the runner starting on second base in extra innings, as he gave up just a single, but it was enough to plate the game-winning run. Sam Travis, Josh Ockimey and Nick Lovullo each had two hits.

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Cup of Coffee: Kent fires seven scoreless innings, Darwinzon's Pawtucket debut rained out

6/19 Cup of Coffee: With Pawtucket rained out and both the Carolina League and South Atlantic League having their All-Star games, it was a lighter slate on Tuesday. Matthew Kent (pictured, right) had by far the best performance of the day, while some recent draftees made their professional debuts for Lowell. 

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Durham Bulls @ Pawtucket Red Sox, PPD (rain)

It was going to be an exciting night in Pawtucket, with Steve Pearce getting a rehab start and Darwinzon Hernandez making his Triple-A debut. The weather did not cooperate, and the game will be made up on Wednesday as single-admission doubleheader starting at 5:05 pm.

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Cup of Coffee: Northcut rakes as affiliates sweep

6/18 Cup of Coffee: Strong offensive performances were the flavor of the day as all four affiliates in action won their contests Monday night. The Sea Dogs were the low scorers with six runs, but a solid outing from Tanner Houck was enough to earn them the win. In Lowell, Nick Northcut's (pictured) torrid start continued as he drove in three, and Bryan Gonzalez and Brainer Bonaci continued to tear up the DSL. 

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Portland Sea Dogs 6, Erie SeaWolves (DET) 3

The Sea Dogs overcame a first-inning deficit to win their fourth game in a row. A power display put Portland over the edge, with both Luke Tendler and Jeremy Rivera launching two-run blasts. Out of the leadoff spot, Jarren Duran smacked his third double of the season and scored a run. Jhon Nunez continued his strong season with a double as part of his two-hit night, while CJ Chatham notched a pair of hits batting behind him.

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Minor Notes: Sox sign 16 draft picks

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• The 160th episode of the SoxProspects.com podcast is now available. Listen to Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall discuss Bryan Mata, Marco Herandez, Mike Shawaryn, and Michael Chavis. They also recap the draft and talk about the June rankings update. 
• The Red Sox have signed 16 of their draft picks, including six of their top eight selections. Their top pick, Cameron Cannon, signed for under slot value at $1.3 million. They also signed their battery from Kansas, Ryan Zeferjahn and Jaxx Groshans, and did not have to go over slot for either. 
• Other players the Sox have signed include Chris Murphy, Brock Bell, Will Dalton, Alex Erro, Jacob Herbert, Joe Davis, Dylan Spacke, Dom D'Alessandro, Leon Paulino, Dean Miller, Brandon Walter, Devon Roedahl, and Luke Bandy. Bell will play for the GCL Sox, while Zeferjahn, Groshans, Dalton, Erro, and Bandy have joined the Lowell Spinners. 

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Cup of Coffee: Castillo, Dalbec shine in Father's Day twinbills

6/17 Cup of Coffee: It was an eventful Father's Day down on the farm, with two teams in doubleheader action and two other squads closing out first-half play. Strong pitching was the story down the system, with no starter allowing more than three runs. Teddy Stankiewicz tossed a shutout as Rusney Castillo (pictured) kept raking in the PawSox split. Portland got quality starts on both ends of its twinbill, with Bobby Dalbec and a returning CJ Chatham helping to break out the brooms. A huge offensive day sent Salem into the All-Star break as winners, while Greenville could not break through heading into the break. Lowell gave another look at why it is the most interesting affiliate in the system, with Gilberto Jimenez and Aldo Ramirez leading the way. 

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Indianapolis Indians (PIT) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 3 (Game 1)

A pair of rehabbing hurlers took the mound in the first game of the PawSox doubleheader. Steven Wright went the first two innings, allowing a run on two hits as he struck out one and walked a pair. Tyler Thornburg took the loss, allowing a run and walking two in 2/3 of an inning. Daniel McGrath made his Triple-A debut in a long-relief role, allowing three runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Rusney Castillo cut a four-run deficit in half with a sixth-inning two-run homer. Sam Travis doubled twice in his return from a two-week stint with the major league club. 

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Cup of Coffee: Casas rakes, Scherff dominates in Greenville win

6/16 Cup of Coffee: On a weather-stricken day for the Red Sox system, three of the four affiliates in action came out on top of their contests. A team effort saw Salem emerge victorious over Frederick, while a heroic performance from Triston Casas (pictured) helped Greenville overcome their South Atlantic League rivals. Lowell fell despite a strong offensive showing, and Brainer Bonaci stayed hot to see the DSL Red Sox1 come out on top.

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Pawtucket Red Sox @ Indianapolis Indians (PIT) PPD, Inclement Weather

The PawSox had their contest with the Indians postponed due to rain. The game will be made up Sunday as part of a doubleheader starting at 12:05 p.m.

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Cup of Coffee: Mata deals, Lowell opens season

6/15 Cup of Coffee: Red Sox affiliates won seven of eight games last night, as Salem swept a doubleheader and Lowell opened up their season with a solid win. Nick Northcut had a big day for Lowell, while Bryan Mata (pictured) dominated again for Salem. Kyle Hart also turned in a good start for Pawtucket.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Indianapolis Indians (PIT) 2

Kyle Hart bounced back from a couple tough outings with seven innings of two-run ball. He struck out five and did not issue a free pass. Dan Runzler picked up the two-inning save without surrendering a hit or a run. Jantzen Witte had a good night at the plate by going 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Rusney Castillo went 3 for 4 and Cole Sturgeon added two knocks.

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Cup of Coffee: Brentz homers twice in slugfest; Granberg spoils no-no

6/14 Cup of Coffee: A monster game by veteran mainstay Bryce Brentz (pictured) powered the PawSox in their offensive explosion. Salem also had a big night at the plate, while the DSL squads both came away victorious. Portland and Greenville suffered the organizations two losses, with Devlin Granberg saving the Drive from ignominy. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 10, Louisville Bats (CIN) 8

Every starter reached base at least twice in the PawSox 17-hit outburst. Bryce Brentz hit two-run homers in the third and sixth inning to lead the attack. Josh Tobias was 4 for 5 with a double and pair of RBI, while Chad De La Guerra ripped his fourth double in six games. Rusney Castillo blasted his fifth homer of the season during his 3-for-5 night. It was the third consecutive multi-hit effort for Castillo, bringing him to 9 for 13 in that stretch.

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Podcast Ep. #160: The G-forces will make you lose consciousness

The 2019 draft is in the books, and it’s time for Chris and Ian to break it all down! Off the heels of our recap of the first two picks, we examined trends and discussed noteworthy players selected in rounds 3-40. Plus, we’ve got new June rankings, including a new top prospect, and the guys broke it all down. And as always, we answer your listener emails!

Listen in!

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Minor Notes: Talented Spinners squad set to play on Friday

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The Red Sox had a few interesting draft picks this year, but arguably none have a more fascinating background than fourth-rounder Noah Song. Song told Joon Lee of ESPN that he intends to sign with the Red Sox and play with the Lowell Spinners this summer. He will then attend flight school in November to start training as a naval flight officer. 

• Lowell's season begins on Friday, and the projected roster is available on the SoxProspects.com Team Rosters page. The team is stacked with talented players, and it will get even better once some of the 2019 draftees sign. 

• With recent graduations, Triston Casas and Jarren Duran each made it onto the Baseball America top 100 prospects list at 98 and 99, respectively. 

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Cup of Coffee: De La Guerra knocks grand slam; Castillo notches 4 hits

Cup of Coffee 6/13: It was a productive night on the farm, as Red Sox affiliates went 4-2 on Wednesday. Rusney Castillo (pictured) was 4 for 4 and scored twice in Pawtucket's loss, while Chad De La Guerra drilled a grand slam. Tanner Houck and Chase Shugart each had strong performances on the mound for Portland and Greenville, while each DSL squad was successful at the plate with varying degrees of effectiveness on the mound.

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Cup of Coffee: Ward's scoreless streak ends at 34 2/3 innings

6/12 Cup of Coffee: Thaddeus Ward allowed a run for the first time since May 9, Bobby Dalbec hit his sixth home run in the last 10 games, and Kole Cottam  (pictured) added a double and a home run for the Drive.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 3, Louisville Bats (CIN) 2
This game turned into a nail-biter, as Domingo Tapia struck out the final two batters with the bases loaded to pick up the save. Teddy Stankiewicz pitched well to start the game striking out six while allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Trevor Kelley followed with 1 2/3 shutout innings, and Tapia cruised through the eighth before running into trouble in the ninth. Kelley has been one of the top performers in the system this year, allowing only four earned runs over 31 2/3 innings with Pawtucket.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas, Scherff drive Greenville

6/11 Cup of Coffee: It was a slow day for the Red Sox system, with just one full season affiliate in action. Both Portland and Pawtucket had days off while Salem saw its game delayed due to weather. However, due to an offensive barrage by Triston Casas (pictured), it was far from a quiet night, as Casas nearly single-handedly willed the Drive to victory. Alex Scherff was excellent on the mound for Greenville, while Bryan Gonzalez continued to dominate DSL pitching with another impressive performance.

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Salem Red Sox @ Winston-Salem Dash (CWS) PPD (Inclement weather)

Monday night's contest was postponed after the field conditions were deemed unplayable due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 5:00 PM.

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Minor Notes: Ortiz shot, signings, and De La Guerra/Ward win POTW

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• While it does not involve minor leaguers, the biggest Red Sox news over the weekend was that retired superstar David Ortiz (pictured, right, from 2013) was shot while in the Dominican Republic last night. While there are still many unknowns, he is believed to have come out of surgery okay and is resting. Details about his status and recovery as well as the motive for the shooting have not been fully revealed, but the latest reports indicate he is supposed to fully recover. The Boston Globe has a summary of the events to date. After retiring in 2016, Ortiz has held the position of Special Assistant to Fenway Sports Group.
• Thaddeus Ward and Triston Casas took home the SoxProspects.com Player of the Month honors with dominant Mays. Ward has certainly not slowed down as you can see in the weekly honors below.

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Cup of Coffee: Granberg powers Drive; Wright on mound in Pawtucket

While this post was in process, the news emerged from the Dominican Republic that Red Sox legend David Ortiz had been shot during a robbery attempt. While we remain hopeful waiting for updates on Ortiz's condition, he and his family are in the thoughts of the SoxProspects.com team. 

6/10 Cup of Coffee: The affiliates earned a split of their four games on Sunday, with the two Class A teams coming out victorious. Devlin Granberg (pictured) led an 11-hit attack as the Drive prevailed while the rain and Kutter Crawford preserved a win for Salem. Pawtucket fell despite a bevy of ringers while Portland endured a long, frustrating day at the plate.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 5, Pawtucket Red Sox 3 

Despite the presence of four rehabbing major leaguers for the PawSox, Rochester completed the four-game sweep at McCoy Stadium. Starter Brian Johnson turned in his best outing since starting his assignment, giving up a run on four hits in four innings, striking out six and walking two. Steven Wright made his first rehab appearance as he comes back from an 80-game suspension, allowing a solo homer and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings. Tyler Thornburg was also in his first action since being placed on the Injured List, striking out one in a perfect seventh. Finally, Tzu-Wei Lin went 2 for 3 as the shortstop after going 0 for 2 on Saturday.

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Cup of Coffee: Dalbec homers, De La Guerra stays hot

6/9 Cup of Coffee: It was another nice day for Chad De La Guerra (pictured) who continued to find his power stroke despite the Pawtucket loss. Portland fell in a tight game, though Bobby Dalbec launched his 13th home run of the year and Durbin Feltman tossed two scoreless innings. The Greenville bullpen was nearly flawless to earn the win and Bryan Gonzalez continued his power surge as the DSL affiliates swept their opponents. 

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 6, Pawtucket Red Sox 2

The heroics of Chad De La Guerra were not enough to lift Pawtucket over Rochester Saturday night. De La Guerra was a one-man wrecking crew as he walked, doubled and launched his fourth home run of the season (also his fourth of the week). On the mound, Matt Kent made his return to Pawtucket, but was roughed up to the tune of six runs in as many innings. Bobby Poyner struck out one in a scoreless seventh and Brian Ellington hurled two shut out frames to end the game.

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Cup of Coffee: Nunez leads Portland, Mata returns

6/8 Cup of Coffee: Jhon Nunez (pictured) led Portland to a win with four hits and a home run. Tate Matheny also homered for the Sea Dogs for the fifth time in the last 10 games. Josh Ockimey belted his 14th home run of the year. On the bump, Dylan Thompson and Chase Shugart turned in quality starts while Bryan Mata returned and picked up right where he left off.

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Rochester Red Wings (MIN) 19, Pawtucket Red Sox 4 (Game 1)

The PawSox let this one get away early, as starter Dedgar Jimenez gave up nine earned runs in just two innings on six walks and five hits. The bullpen wasn't much better, but Domingo Tapia gave up just one run in three innings. Marco Hernandez went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and Juan Centeno reached twice with a walk and his second home run of the season.

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May Players of the Month: Triston Casas and Thaddeus Ward

To culminate a busy week highlighted by the 2019 MLB Draft, two players from the 2018 draft, first baseman Triston Casas and right-hander Thaddeus Ward, are taking home SoxProspects.com Player of the Month honors for the month of May. Selected 134 picks apart almost exactly a year ago, the two players had different backgrounds and profiles, but both were able to dominate for a month and further elevate their profiles while playing as teammates for the Greenville Drive.

Casas (pictured, left) is the much bigger name after being selected with the 26th overall pick last year out of American Heritage High School in Florida and entering the season as number three prospect on the SoxProspects.com rankings. That profile was built largely on his draft pedigree, as he was only able to play in two games before his season was ended with a thumb injury. Despite the reputation, the 19-year-old really struggled to start the year at Greenville. Through the end of April he was hitting only .208/.284/.364 with a 35% strikeout rate. Casas turned things around right as the calendar turned with four home runs in his first eight games of the month. That success, coinciding with a simplification of his pre-pitch setup at the plate, was in part due to a strikeout rate that was almost cut in half (18.9%), and he finished the month with eight home runs and a .315/.396/.652 line over 92 at-bats. With the graduation of Michael Chavis, Casas also took over the top spot on the June SoxProspects.com rankings.

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Cup of Coffee: Ward keeps rolling, Houck Ks 11

6/7 Cup of Coffee: A pair of highly-regarded hurlers set career highs in strikeouts on Thursday, with Thaddeus Ward (pictured, left) punching out nine in a Greenville win and Tanner Houck tallying 11 in the Sea Dogs' extra-innings loss. Albert Feliz turned in a monster three-homer game for the DSL Red Sox1 squad as the Dominican affiliated split their games. Pawtucket fell in the ninth despite the efforts of Gorkys Hernandez, while Marcus Wilson led a Salem victory. 

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 4, Pawtucket Red Sox 3

The PawSox suffered a crushing walk-off loss, giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Gorkys Hernandez was a catalyst at the top of the order, leading off the game with a solo homer, working three walks, and stealing a base. Chad De La Guerra blasted a third-inning homer, his third in four games. Erasmo Ramirez allowed two runs on three hits in six innings. Travis Lakins and Bobby Poyner tossed a scoreless innings apiece, but the IronPigs reached Jenrry Mejia for a pair in the bottom of the ninth.

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Minor notes: MLB Draft wraps up, Duran promoted

Here are Thursday's minor league notes:

• The MLB Draft has come and gone for the Red Sox who made the most of their small bonus pool and draft position. You can read individual breakdowns for each pick from 1-10 on the SoxProspects.com news page here and read the recap of picks 11-40 here.

• Following Day 1 the SoxProspects podcast team got into the studio and broke down the team's first two selections, Cameron Cannon and Matthew Lugo. Chris and Ian also discussed Jarren Duran's (pictured) recent promotion and who could be next, specifically mentioning Thaddeus Ward.

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13 former Red Sox draftees selected in 2019 Draft

In the 2019 MLB Draft, 13 former Red Sox draft picks were chosen by teams, up from the eight selections in 2018. 2018 draftee Davis Wendzel was the first off of the board, as the Texas Rangers snagged him in the Competitive Balance round with the 41st pick of the draft. 2016's 11th-rounder, Nick Quintana, followed Wendzel off the board just six picks later, as the Detroit Tigers used their second-round selection on the Arizona third baseman. 

Here is the complete list of former Red Sox draftees who were selected this week:

2018 Red Sox draftees

37. Davis Wendzel, 3B, Baylor University - Competitive Balance round A by Texas
39. Shane Selman, OF, McNeese State - 21st round by Oakland

40. Zach Watson, CF, Louisiana State University - 3rd round by Baltimore

2017 Red Sox draftees

28. Oraj Anu, LF, George Wallace Community College - 16th round by Boston
39. Ridge Chapman, RHP, University of South Carolina - 34th round by Los Angeles (NL)

2016 Red Sox draftees

11. Nick Quintana, 3B, University of Arizona - 2nd round by Detroit
15. Michael Wilson, CF, SUNY Stony Brook - 16th round by Milwaukee
29. Cam Shepherd, SS, University of Georgia - 20th round by Tampa Bay
30. Tyler Fitzgerald, SS, University of Louisville - 4th round by San Francisco
32. Jeff Belge, LHP, St. John's University - 18th round by Los Angeles (NL)
35. John Rave, CF, Illinois State University - 5th round by Kansas City
37. Carter Aldrete, 2B, Arizona State University - 15th round by San Francisco
38. Austin Bergner, RHP, University of North Carolina - 9th round by Detroit

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Cup of Coffee: Stankiewicz goes six strong; Brentz, Witte homer

Cup of Coffee 6/6: Red Sox affiliates were 1-4 on the day as both DSL squads lost and the Sea Dogs were shut out while Greenville lost in a close contest. Most of the bright performances came from Pawtucket, as five batters, including Bryce Brentz and Jantzen Witte, each of whom delivered a home run and three RBI. Teddy Stankiewicz (pictured) allowed just one run for the PawSox in what was a close game throughout the first half of the contest. Jarren Duran also grabbed a pair of base knocks in his second game in Portland.

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Pawtucket Red Sox 13, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 2

Pawtucket held a narrow 2-1 advantage after five innings but the PawSox scored five runs in the sixth and earned a dominant victory. Five batters recorded a pair of hits, while Bryce Brentz hit a three-run home run, his eighth of the year. Jantzen Witte also had three RBI, two of which came on a deep fly of his own. Teddy Stankiewicz spun six one-run innings, allowing seven hits. Domingo Tapia and Dan Runzler each added a shutout frame. 

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MLB Draft Day 3 Red Sox recap: Rounds 11-40

In 2018 the Red Sox signed 20 of their late round draft picks, an improvement on 2017 where they signed just 12. The Red Sox took an aggressive approach in the last 30 rounds of 2018, targeting and signing several notable high school prospects such as Brandon Howlett and Nick Northcut. Other notable prospects selected on the third day of the 2018 draft were Chase Shugart, Andrew Politi, and Chris Machamer.

Past players of note taken on Day 3 include Jalen Beeks, Kyle Hart, and Bobby Poyner.

Here is a pick-by-pick look at each of Wednesday's Red Sox selections:

11th Round: Sebastian Keane, RHP, North Andover HS (MA)
With their first selection of Day 3 the Red Sox selected just their second high schooler of the draft, and a local one at that. Keane was once a highly rated soccer player but has since converted to the mound full time, where he impressed as one of the top prep arms in all of the Northeast. The tall righty was ranked 140th by both Baseball America and MLB.com, 190th by Perfect Game, and snuck into Keith Law's top 100 at 98. Keane doesn't have any explosive stuff at the moment, but given his large frame, pitch mix, and easy delivery, it is easy to see what scouts see in the Massachusetts native. Keane's arsenal currently contains a fastball that sits 90-92 but has touched as high as 95, a breaking ball that has been identified by scouts as either a curveball or a slider, and a raw changeup that he seems to have good feel for. Given his commitment to Northeastern and the Red Sox small bonus pool it is not a given that Keane will sign, but his proximity to Boston may give the team an edge in negotiations.

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2019 Draft Recap: How Boston's picks ranked

Of Boston's 40 selections in the 2019, 12 were ranked in the Baseball America Top 500, 19 in the Perfect Game Top 610, six in the MLB Pipeline Top 200 list, and four from the Fangraphs Top 138. Twenty Red Sox selections appeared in at least one of the lists, up from 19 in 2018, including each of their first eight picks.

See below for a listing of the 2019 Red Sox draftees who were ranked by BA, PG, Fangraphs, or MLB.com. The full list of this year's draft selections can be found over at the SoxProspects.com Draft History page.

Round-Pick: Player, Position (Rank)

2-43: Cameron Cannon, SS (BA: 94; MLB: 79; PG: 73; FG: 48)

2-69: Matthew Lugo, SS (BA: 74; MLB: 38; PG: 50; FG: 26)

3-107: Ryan Zeferjahn, RHP (BA: 57; MLB, 84; PG, 87)

4-137: Noah Song, RHP (BA: 65; MLB: 68; PG:22; FG: 49)

5-167: Jaxx Groshans, C (BA: 204; MLB: 138; PG: 216)

6-197: Chris Murphy, LHP (BA: 155; PG: 182)

7-227: Brock Bell, RHP (PG:192)

8-257: Wil Dalton, OF (BA: 389; PG: 232)

10-317: Stephen Scott, OF (PG: 607)

11-347: Sebastian Keane, RHP (BA: 140; MLB: 140; PG: 190)

14-437: Jordan Beck, 1B (PG: 400)

15-467: Aaron Roberts, RHP (BA: 369; PG: 421)

16-497: Oraj Anu, OF (PG: 277)

19-587: Joe Davis, 1B (PG: 406)

24-737: Dean Miller, CF (BA:495)

27-827: David Roedhal, RHP (PG: 467)

29-887: Luke Bandy, CF (PG: 574)
37-1127: Connor Prielipp, LHP (PG: 232)
38-1157: Cameron Marks, RHP (BA: 240; PG:301)
39-1187: Samson Faltine III, SS, (BA: 89; PG:142; FG: 118)

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Welcome to the Draft Signing Period!

Now that the 2019 First-Year Player Draft is in the books, the signing period is upon us. This year's signing deadline is 5:00 pm ET on July 12, 2019. As most of our readers know, each team's spending on draft pick bonuses is capped. The bonus cap is determined by the number and placement of each team's selections.  (Editor's Note: on June 17, the date of the signing deadline was updated in this post from July 15 to July 12).

The bonus cap sets an aggregate limit for a team to spend on its selections in the first ten rounds, and also limits teams from spending over $125,000 on players taken after the 10th round (the excess on any late-round bonuses will count against the bonus pool). Boston's cap is $4,788,100 this year. If the club exceeds its pool: (1) by 0-5%, it will be charged a 75% tax on the excess; (2) by 5-10%, it will pay the same tax and will also lose its first-round pick next season; (3) by 10-15%, it will be charged a 100% tax on the excess and lose its first- and second-round picks next season; and (4) by more than 15%, 100% tax on the excess and lose its next two first-round picks.

These are obviously harsh penalties, making it highly unlikely that the Red Sox will go more than 5% over the pool limit this year. However, the team has shown that it is willing to pay the requisite tax and go up to 5% over the cap, which would place the team's spending limit (not counting the first $125,000 given to any pick after the 10th round) at about $5,027,505. One other wrinkle to remember is that if Boston fails to sign any of its picks from the first 10 rounds, the team's pool will be reduced by the slot amount for the unsigned player's draft position. Here are the bonus slots for each of Boston's top picks:

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Cup of Coffee: Hernandez homers twice, Duran debuts in Portland

6/5 Cup of Coffee: Jarren Duran picked up where he left off as he made his Double-A debut, while top prospect Triston Casas also had another strong showing at the plate. The PawSox were led by two home runs from Gorkys Hernandez (pictured, right), and Brian Johnson inched closer to a return to Boston. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 5

The PawSox used a four-run seventh inning to extend their winning streak to four games. The big hit came from Chad De La Guerra, who launched a three-run home run with two outs in the seventh to give Pawtucket the lead. Gorkys Hernandez contributed two home runs of his own, both of which were solo shots. In his first game since being added from Portland, Josh Tobias went 2 for 4 with a double, triple, and an RBI.

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Red Sox select Stephen Scott with their 10th-round pick

With their 10th-round selection of the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Stephen Scott, an outfielder from Vanderbilt University, 317th overall.

Scott, a senior, was ranked 607th by Perfect Game, who referred to him as one of the most accomplished college seniors in the country. Scott put up an impressive 1.035 OPS this season at Vanderbilt, making the 2019 season his second consecutive with an OPS north of 1.000. He also went deep 11 times to complement his .335 average, and showed a keen eye and advanced approach at the plate, with 42 walks to 58 strikeouts.

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Red Sox select Cody Scroggins with their ninth-round pick

With their ninth-round selection of the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Cody Scroggins, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Arkansas, 287th overall.

Listed at 6-feet, 195 pounds, the redshirt Junior out of Bentonville, Arkansas, underwent Tommy John surgery as a Sophomore and slowly worked his way back into the Razorbacks' rotation over the past two seasons. During the 2018-2019 season, Scroggins has been used both as a starter and a reliever, pitching 43 innings with a 53:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Opponents batted .227 against him. In April, Scroggins dealt with elbow soreness, however, he was given a clean bill of health and returned to the Razorbacks' pitching staff.

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Red Sox select Wil Dalton with their eighth-round pick

With their eighth round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft the Red Sox took outfielder Wil Dalton out of the University of Florida. The 6'0" Junior out of Spring Hill, TN posted an impressive .847 OPS in 56 games this season for the Gators but saw his overall production dip after a stellar 2018 season. Dalton earned numerous accolades following his 2018 campaign in which he was named All SEC-Second Team and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy after finishing the year ranked second in the SEC on home runs, RBI, and total bases.

As of right now, Dalton projects as a bat-first outfielder. Some scouts are concerned that he widened his stance this past season and that his power hasn't completely transitioned into game action from batting practice. Though he reduced his strikeout rate this year to just 18.5 percent, some scouts are still wary about the amount of swing-and-miss in his game. Dalton projects as an average corner outfielder on either side.

Prior to his time with the Gators, Dalton was drafted in the 29th-round by the Orioles in 2016 but elected to enroll at Columbia State Junior College where he was named First Team All-TJCAA after hitting .392.

Photo Credit: Wil Dalton by University of Florida Gators

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Red Sox select Brock Bell with seventh-round pick

With their seventh pick in the 2019 MLB Draft the Red Sox took right-handed pitcher Brock Bell out of State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota. Bell was ranked 192nd by Perfect Game USA, the 55th college pitcher outside of the top 138 by Fangraphs, and was listed as one of the top 50 Junior College Prospects heading into the 2018 season.

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Red Sox select Chris Murphy with their sixth-round pick

With their sixth-round pick (197 overall) in the 2019 draft, Boston has selected Chris Murphy, a left-handed pitcher out of the University of San Diego. He is ranked 155th by Baseball America and 182nd by Perfect Game.

Murphy will turn 21 on June 5, and he has consistently missed bats throughout his college career. In 64 1/3 innings this season he struck out 87 batters, though he also walked 43 and hit 15. He finished with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has a fastball that sits in the low-90s that he can ramp up to 95, and he complements that with an above-average curveball and average changeup. He has the arsenal to stick in the rotation, but he will need to improve his command and control in order to work deeper into games.

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Red Sox select Jaxx Groshans with fifth-round pick

With their fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft, Boston has selected Jaxx Groshans, a catcher out of the University of Kansas. He is ranked 204th by Baseball America, 138th by MLB Pipeline, and 216th by Perfect Game.

Groshans is coming off of a breakout season with the Jayhawks. He blasted 12 homers in 54 games after compiling just five during his first two seasons, on his way to a 2019 slash line of .333/.469/.602. Per Baseball America, he flashes average power that is "more of the gap-to-gap" variety that plays up due to his excellent plate discipline and control of the strike zone. That approach manifested itself with 49 walks during his junior year while striking out just 39 times.

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Red Sox select Noah Song with their fourth-round pick

With their fourth-round selection of the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Noah Song, a right-handed pitcher from the United States Naval Academy, 137th overall.

He was ranked No. 49 by FanGraphs, No. 68 by MLB Pipeline, No. 65 by Baseball America, and No. 22 by Perfect Game.

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Red Sox select Ryan Zeferjahn with their third-round pick

With the 107th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn from the University of Kansas. The tall righty was ranked 57th by Baseball America, 84th by MLB.com, 87th by Perfect Game, 78th by ESPN's Keith Law and was ranked among the top remaining prospects on Day 2 of the MLB Draft by Baseball America. Zeferjahn was a highly ranked prep arm in a loaded Kansas class that saw the likes of Riley Pint and Joey wentz drafted, but opted to attend Kansas rather than entertain draft suitors. The Topeka native spent the summer of 2017 on the Cape with the Falmouth Commodores, where he was excellent pitching primarily out of the bullpen, and has recently appeared as a reliever for Team USA.

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Best available players: Day two

The first day of the MLB first-year player draft has wrapped, and the Boston Red Sox selected Cameron Cannon with the 43rd overall selection. Boston then chose Matthew Lugo with the 69th overall selection. Boston will have eight picks on Tuesday during Day 2 of the draft, starting with pick number 107 at the end of the third round. Currently, 21 players remain who are ranked in the top-80 of MLB.com's Top 200 and there's a chance one could slip to the Red Sox at 107.

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Podcast Ep. #159: 2019 Draft Day 1 (and Duran Promotion) Special

It's that time of year: the Red Sox are adding some new blood to the system! On the first night of the 2019 MLB Draft, Boston selected Arizona shortstop Cameron Cannon and Puerto Rican shortstop Matthew Lugo. Chris and Ian hopped on for some SoxProspects After Dark analysis of the picks, plus some quick thoughts on outfielder Jarren Duran's promotion to Portland and a mea culpa on missing Greenville right-hander Thaddeus Ward when they discussed pending promotions last week.

Listen in!

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Cup of Coffee: De La Guerra red hot on Draft night

6/4 Cup of Coffee: As the opening rounds of the MLB Draft got underway, Pawtucket's Josh Smith found himself in the middle of a pitcher's duel that the PawSox came out on top of thanks to the heroics of Chad De La Guerra (pictured). Salem and Greenville each suffered frustrating losses in their contests, while the DSL affiliates split their games with Bryan Gonzalez bringing the power once again. 

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Pawtucket Red Sox 4, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 1

It was a low scoring affair for much of Monday night's contest until Chad De La Guerra broke things open in the bottom of the eighth. De La Guerra was a one-man wrecking crew for Pawtucket, going 3 for 4 with a home run and the game-winning double. Josh Ockimey finished the job for Pawtucket, doubling home two runners in the eighth to secure Pawtucket the win. Josh Smith squared off with Tyler Viza in an intense pitcher's duel and was brilliant to keep the PawSox in the game. Smith surrendered just one run in his five innings on the mound and struck out a season-high 11 batters. The bullpen then went to work and performed admirably, as Bobby Poyner followed Smith with two perfect innings. Travis Lakins and Trevor Kelley earned the win and then the save, respectively, with a shutout inning apiece to slam the door.

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Red Sox select Matthew Lugo with their second-round pick

With the final pick of both the second round and Day 1 of the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Matthew Lugo, a shortstop from the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico with the No. 69 overall pick. He was ranked No. 26 by FanGraphs, No. 38 by MLB Pipeline, No. 46 by Keith Law of ESPN and No. 50 by Perfect Game.

The raw 18-year-old is listed at 6-foot-1 and is still fairly skinny, but there is room to pack on some muscle to his 185-pound frame. Lugo is a plus runner and has an above-average arm, but some scouts say there is a lack of consistency with the glove, as he needs to improve his routes to the ball. Scouts are also undecided about whether Lugo will stick at shortstop or whether he will move to second or third as his professional career begins. His athleticism could prove very valuable up the middle, as Perfect Game said Lugo is capable of running sub-6.5 second 60-yard dashes, but his arm strength may push him over to second base.

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Red Sox select Cameron Cannon with the 43rd overall pick

With the 43rd overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player draft, the Red Sox selected Cameron Cannon, an infielder from the University of Arizona. Cannon was ranked 94th by Baseball America, 79th by MLB Pipeline, 73rd by Perfect Game, and 87th by Keith Law of ESPN.

Cannon's calling card has been his hit tool, riding an advanced approach and  line-drive swing from the right side of the plate to steady improvement to his three years in Arizona. He was a top bat in the Pac-12 this year with a .390/.479/.638 line, most notably leading all of Division I with 29 doubles. He also stroked seven homers and drove in 53 runs in 50 games, posting 34 walks against 28 strikeouts. Cannon was also a Cape Cod League All-Star during the summer of 2018 was a member of the Falmouth Commodores. Baseball America described his bat as being "pull-heavy" with MLB Pipeline crediting that his "best attribute is his ability to make repeated line-drive contact."

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2019 MLB First Year Player Draft picks No. 1-30

The first round of the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft has been completed as part of the first of three days and 40 rounds of festivities. College hitters dominated the first few picks, as six of the first 10 and 13 of the first 30 teams went that way. This continues a trend from last year, where the top of the draft skewed away from the prep ranks. Catcher Adley Rutschman of Oregon State went No. 1 overall to Baltimore, while the first pitcher was not taken until No. 7, when Cincinnati selected TCU left-hander Nick Lodolo. 

Only nine high schoolers went in the first 30 picks, the first of which was Bobby Witt Jr. of Coleyville Heritage High School in Texas. He went No. 2 overall to Kansas City.

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Minor Notes: MLB draft begins tonight

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• With the MLB draft beginning tonight, be sure to follow along with SoxProspects.com for instant updates on Red Sox selections here. 
• Chris Hatfield has updated scouting reports for Ryan Fitzgerald, Pedro Castellanos, Kervin Suarez, Dylan Hardy, and Deiner Lopez. These updates will be posted on the News Page as well as Player Pages. 
• Be sure to check out the 158th episode of the SoxProspects.com podcast with Chris and Ian Cundall as they discuss Michael Chavis, the draft, and potential promotions this summer. 
• Mike Shawaryn has been called up to Boston to replace Hector Velazquez, who landed on the Injured List. The right-hander was 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA in 55 innings for Pawtucket this year. He has 46 strikeouts, 28 walks, and a 1.33 WHIP. 

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