Minor Notes: Duran to represent Red Sox at Futures Game

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• Our mid-season rankings update is now up at SoxProspects.com, with four 2019 draftees showing up in the top 40. Second round pick Matthew Lugo, Cameron Canning, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Brock Bell are ranked 11th, 12th, 20th, and 32nd, respectively. 
• Salem right-handed pitcher Thaddeus Ward was also bumped up to 19th. Ward dominated in Greenville this year with a 1.99 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings before being promoted to Salem. Another right-handed pitcher, Chase Shugart, was moved to 22nd, as he has put up a 2.04 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP in 39 2/3 innings with Greenville. Aldo Ramirez is also up to 39th after posting a 0.39 ERA last year in 23 innings with the DSL Red Sox. He currently has a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings with Lowell. 
• There are also three more debuts, with GCL Red Sox Felix Cepeda 33rd, and DSL Red Sox Bryan Gonzalez and Brainer Bonaci at 43rd and 44th, respectively. 
• The Red Sox also announced more signings, including sixth-rounder Chris Murphy, ninth-rounder Cody Scroggins, 20th-rounder Reed Harrington, and undrafted free agent Casey Sutherland. Murphy, a left-handed pitcher from San Diego State, signed under slot at $200,000. Scroggins is a right-handed pitcher who can touch 96 MPH with his fastball. He signed under slot as well, at $100,000. Harrington and Sutherland are also right-handed pitchers, as Harrington posted a 0.00 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings at Spokane Community College, while Sutherland had a 2.49 ERA in 79 2/3 innings at Davidson. 
• Jarren Duran will be the lone member of the Red Sox to play in the Futures Game. Duran, a seventh-round selection in 2018, has been enjoying a breakout campaign in 2019. In 50 games with Salem, the left-handed hitter slashed .387/.456/.543. He has struggled a bit since being called up to Portland with a .542 OPS in 24 games. 
• Matt Kent has been up and down between Portland and Pawtucket this year, and Ian Ward of the Portland Press Herald wrote about how he has been succeeding in Portland with his seven-pitch mix. The left-hander has a 2.62 ERA in 58 1/3 innings with the Sea Dogs in 2019. 
• We are still looking to reach our goal of raising $7,000 with the 2019 Donation Drive. Help keep SoxProspects.com free, and we will be able to provide new scouting reports on 2019 draft picks.

Players of the Week (June 24 through June 30)

Chad De La Guerra, 2B, Pawtucket

6 G, 25 AB, 10 H, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 10 K, .400/.464/.640

After struggling last season, De La Guerra (pictured, above) is enjoying a breakout season in 2019 for Pawtucket. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter is batting .324/.399/.600 in 40 games. He is currently riding a six-game hitting streak and has had a four-hit game twice in his last nine games. He was drafted in 2015 in the 17th round and has a career .761 OPS in 376 minor league games with the Red Sox.

Enmanuel De Jesus, LHP, Salem

2 G, 12 2/3 IP, 1-1, 0.71 ERA, 14 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 18 K, 1.26 WHIP

De Jesus (pictured, left) is having a solid season for Salem again after spending a majority of 2018 in Salem as well. This year, he has a 3.81 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 14 starts. He has 70 strikeouts and 23 walks in 75 2/3 innings.





Photo Credit: Chad De La Guerra and Enmanuel De Jesus by Kelly O'Connor

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