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. 

• One pitcher who has made a good impression during his brief stint in the majors is Mike Shawaryn. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said they like Shawaryn as a reliever as he can be more aggressive with sharper stuff. Shawaryn has 11 strikeouts in six innings, and he may be in line for a more high-leverage role if those numbers continue. 

• The Carolina League announced its 2019 All-Stars, and Duran, Kutter Crawford, Pedro Castellanos, and Ryan Fitzgerald all made the cut. Duran will not play as he has already been promoted to the Eastern League, but the other players will be in attendance for the game on June 18. 

• Thaddeus Ward allowed a run for the first time in 34 2/3 innings on Tuesday night, but he still has an ERA below 2 on the season. Ward talked to Myron Hosea of greenvilleonline.com, and he credits his new cutter and mental maturity as two of the key reasons for his success. 

• There were a number of roster moves made over the last few days as the big league squad has cycled through pitchers. Darwinzon Hernandez started for Boston on Tuesday and he continued to struggle, walking five and striking out seven over three innings while allowing four runs. He was optioned to Portland after the game. 

• Bobby Poyner, who was called up to Boston on Monday, gave up five runs in three innings of relief after Hernandez left the game on Tuesday, and he was optioned to Pawtucket after the game. 

• With Hernandez and Poyner going down, Travis Lakins and Josh Smith got recalled to replace them. Lakins has also had control issues this season, walking 16 over 26 innings between Pawtucket and Boston. Smith has done a good job of missing bats this season with 50 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings, but he has also been very hittable which has led to ERA's over 5 in both Boston and Pawtucket. 

• There was more movement for the PawSox, as they sent Adam Lau, Matt Kent, and Dedgar Jimenez to Portland. Portland's countermove was to send Dylan Thompson and Hunter Smith to Salem, and Salem sent Robbie Baker to Greenville and Kris Jackson to Lowell. 

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