Minor Notes: Song impresses, Owings called up

Here are Monday's minor league notes:

• After Hector Velazquez was optioned to Pawtucket, Boston called up Chris Owings to make his Red Sox debut Sunday. As Chris Cotillo details for MassLive.com, Owings had to catch a flight at 5:45 a.m. before leading off and playing second base for the Red Sox' afternoon tilt with the Angels. 
• Chris Hatfield was in attendance to watch Noah Song throw for Lowell on Saturday. He had some tweets about what he saw, including a fastball that touched 95 MPH and a changeup that was his best secondary offering. Gilberto Jimenez also flashed his 80-grade speed. 
• Hatfield also pointed out that Austin Maddox threw off a mound for the first time since he underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason. 
• Kevin Thomas of The Portland Press Herald wrote about Jarren Duran, who has been on fire for the Sea Dogs lately. Sea Dogs manager Joe Oliver says Duran may have been pressing a little bit early on, but has made some good adjustments. 
• Outfielder Kyri Washington has announced his retirement on Instagram. Washington had been battling injuries and had not played a game in 2019. 

Players of the Week (August 5 through August 11)

Ceddanne Rafaela, 3B, GCL

6 G, 21 AB, 10 H, 3 3B, 2 HR, 7 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, .476/.542/1.048

Rafaela is a small infielder signed as an international free agent in July 2017. He is 18 years old and having a strong season for the GCL Sox, hitting .269/.353/.490 in 28 games. An interesting quirk in his stat line this year is that he has nine extra-base hits, but zero doubles. He has racked up four triples and five long balls. He also has nine stolen bases on the year and has been caught just once.

Daniel McGrath, LHP, Portland

2 G, 13 IP, 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 7 H, 2 R, 6 BB, 16 K, 1.00 WHIP

McGrath has continued his sensational 2019 campaign with two more great starts. Against Erie on August 6, he fanned a career-high nine hitters. After not pitching six innings in any of his first 19 outings of the year, seven of them starts, McGrath is now on a six-start streak of lasting at least six frames. The one issue for the lefty this year has been walks, as he has 43 free passes in 96 1/3 innings, with multiple walks in eight of his last nine appearances. Overall, he has a sparkling 1.59 ERA this year with Portland and Pawtucket. 

Photo Credit: Daniel McGrath by Kelly O'Connor

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