Minor Notes: Lugo and Duran excel as Trade Deadline passes

Here are Thursday's Minor League Notes:

• Thanks to your generous contributions the SoxProspects.com donation drive reached its goal more than a month ahead of schedule! However, if you missed your chance to contribute, the drive will be running through the end of August. Any donation is greatly appreciated by our team, as we strive to bring you the best free prospect content on the internet.

• It's been a good week for the Red Sox system, as three players took home silverware in their respective leagues. Chris Owings and Pedro Castellanos took home the International League and Carolina League Player of the Week awards, respectively, thanks to power surges, while Daniel McGrath secured Pitcher of the Week honors in the Eastern League thanks to his remarkable scoreless streak.

• Unfortunately for McGrath, his aforementioned scoreless streak came to an end Wednesday night as he allowed his first earned run in 48 1/3 innings. True to form McGrath still put in an excellent shift, as he struck out seven across six one-run innings. 

• At the plate, both Jarren Duran and 2019 second-round draft pick Matthew Lugo have been in fine form of late. Lugo and Duran sport seven- and ten-game hitting streaks respectively, with Lugo recording eight hits in his last three games. Both hitters had to overcome struggles recently, but seem to have turned things around in a big way as the season inches closer to the finish line. 

• With the Red Sox choosing to stand pat at the trade deadline, all eyes are now on the internal options the Red Sox will inevitably turn to in search of bullpen help. Darwinzon Hernandez has already proven a boon to the 'pen as he has not allowed an earned run since his most recent call-up while garnering 14 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings pitched. 

• One factor that may have contributed to the Red Sox's decision to do nothing at the deadline is an unwillingness to weaken an already poorly regarded farm system. Matt Collins of Over the Monster questioned whether Boston's trade chips and therefore the system as a whole, was really as bad as it appears. 

• Headed into the trade deadline there was much speculation about who the Red Sox may move in exchange for an impact player, with Bobby Dalbec headlining a number of theoretical trade packages. However, Chris Smith of MassLive.com argues that Dalbec, along with Triston Casas and Bryan Mata, should be untouchable. Smith believes that all three players have the potential to be every day major leaguers, and represent more value as future Red Sox than potential trade chips.

• Due to rule restrictions, one player who did not feature in any trade discussions was Red Sox first-round draftee Cameron Cannon. Gershon Rabinowitz of Baseball Prospect Journal recently featured Cannon in a piece that included an interview and video. In the interview, Cannon told Rabinowitz that he puts his trust in the athleticism that made him such a versatile defender at Arizona, as well as his tireless work ethic.

• In his most recent Farm Report, Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald highlighted Denyi Reyes who has steadily climbed his way up the ladder despite not blowing away hitters with his stuff. Thomas writes that Reyes is one of a dying breed, a pitcher that does not possess knock-down stuff but makes the most of a four-pitch mix and excellent command to deceive batters. 

Photo Credit: Jarren Duran by Kelly O'Connor

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