August 6, 2019 at 2:00 PM
Minor Notes: Dalbec highlights post-deadline promotions
- The SoxProspects.com donation drive continues through the month of August. We are thrilled to have reached our initial goal of $7,000 to help cover basic site expenses. Any additional money we raise helps with the costs of scouting trips that allow us to continue to provide the best coverage available of the Red Sox minor league system.
- As is often the case, some promotions were announced in the days following the July 31 trade deadline. Third baseman Bobby Dalbec (pictured) was the most notable of the early-August promotions for a second consecutive season, moving up from Double-A Portland to the Pawtucket Red Sox. Dalbec was leading the Eastern League in both home runs and walks at the time of his promotion. Perhaps more importantly, the former Arizona Wildcat has cut down on the strikeouts, with only 21 in 122 July plate appearances. He made a quick impression, going 2 for 4 against Rochester in his PawSox debut.
- Joining Dalbec in Pawtucket will be right-handed sidearmer Kevin Lenik, who posted a 2.82 ERA while striking out 28 batters in 22 1/3 while with the Sea Dogs. Michael Osinski moves up to Portland after posting a .406 on-base percentage in 24 games at Salem. Logan Browning gets the bump to Salem after a dominant campaign at Greenville. Browning had allowed 13 runs on 39 hits in 57 1/3 innings with the Drive, striking out 75 against 11 strikeouts.
- In other player movement, Mike Miller was granted his release to sign with the Minnesota Twins organization. Miller played in 604 games as a member of the Red Sox organization after being selected in the ninth round of the 2012 draft. He got an extremely brief cup of coffee in the majors back in 2016, getting into exactly one game. He entered in the eighth inning of a blowout loss to Tampa Bay to replace Dustin Pedroia, and grounded to short off of Xavier Cedeno in his only major league at bat.
- The Red Sox also signed veteran first baseman Tommy Joseph to a minor league deal. Joseph blasted 43 homers while with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016 and 2017. He was most recently with the LG Twins of the KBO. It is expected that Joseph will be assigned to Pawtucket.
- The SoxProspects.com Player and Pitcher of the Month were awarded to lefty Daniel McGrath of Portland and infielder Chris Owings of the PawSox. McGrath, who allowed just one earned run in July, also earned Pitcher of the Month honors in the Eastern League.
- The new system rankings were released by the SoxProspects.com brass on August 1st. Among the risers:
- Right-handed pitcher Bryan Mata rises to the #2 spot in the system as he continues to handle the Eastern League as a 20-year old.
- Thaddeus Ward, who began the season toward the bottom of the top 40, has risen all the way to #11. The 2018 fifth-round pick has impressed with the addition of a cutter. Ward has a 2.20 ERA between Greenville and Salem, and he leads the organization with 134 strikeouts.
- Aldo Ramirez rose 11 spots from #40 to #29.
- Left-hander Chris Murphy, Boston's sixth-round pick out of San Diego, was the biggest mover, going from 38th to #30.
Players of the Week (July 29 through August 4)
Josh Ockimey, 1B, Pawtucket
7 G, 9-23, 4 HR, 9 R, 9 RBI, 5 BB, 8 K, .391/.500/.913
Ockimey entered the week mired in a 5-for-56 slump, and hitting only .169 in 68 games going back to the start of May. He then ripped as many home runs in seven games as he had in the previous 40 as part of a monster week for the PawSox.
Jorge Rodriguez, LHP, GCL Red Sox
1 G, 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K, 0.20 WHIP, .063/.063/.125
Rodriguez, signed out of Mexico in 2017, turned in an absolutely dominant effort in his only start of the week. The 18-year-old lefty struck out 12 of he 16 batters he faced, giving up just one hit in five innings for the second straight start. After surrendering a double to the third batter of the game, Rodriguez then retired the final 13 batters he faced, lowering his ERA to 2.35
Photo Credit: Bobby Dalbec by Kelly O'Connor