Minor Notes: Red Sox commit to minor league aid amid pandemic uncertainty

Here are Tuesday's minor league notes:

• The MLB Draft is just around the corner and that means SoxProspects' draft coverage is back again for another year. Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews kicked things off with his annual draft preview which took an in-depth look at the Red Sox potential options in each round as well as undrafted free agents that may interest the team. Make sure to check the SoxProspects news page in order to keep up with all the site's upcoming draft coverage. 

• Elsewhere on SoxProspects, the scouting team continued to update their scouting reports on players throughout the system. The most recent round of updates was highlighted by pitchers Jay Groome and Tanner Houck (pictured) as well as infielders CJ Chatham and Nick Lovullo in addition to a number of lesser-known prospects such as Elih Marrero.

• In the most recent entry in the State of the System series, SoxProspects Director of Scouting Ian Cundall and Executive Editor Chris Hatfield took a look at the noteworthy extras that were not previously featured in the series. This covered a wide array of players such as Chase Shugart, Devlin Granberg, and Chad de la Guerra. To read the previous editions of the series please visit our State of the System page. 

• As part of MLB.com's draft coverage, Jim Callis released his predictions for each team's first-round pick. Given the loss of the Red Sox second-round pick, Callis believes the team will be focusing on upside, predicting Boston will select right-handed pitcher Mick Abel out of Jesuit High School in Oregon. 

• Last week the Red Sox were among a number of teams who released minor league players from across their farm system, releasing a total of 22 players. Jen McCaffrey and Chad Finn of the Athletic ($) gave some background to the cuts which normally would happen at the end of Spring Training, but take on a different context with the cloud of COVID-19 hovering over the minor league season. 

• In a move that will likely bring some measure of certainty to the lives of minor leaguers, the Red Sox recently committed to continuing to pay the $400 weekly stipend to their players. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe ($) broke down these payments which are planned to continue through August, the normal end of the minor league season.   

• While most minor leaguers face increased uncertainty due to the unprecedented challenges facing baseball, the prospect of a shortened season could bring opportunity for some according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Cotillo argues that the current proposal for a shortened season includes a 30-man active roster and a 20-man "taxi squad" which could give opportunities to players such as Bobby Dalbec, Jeter Downs, and Tanner Houck.

Photo Credit: Tanner Houck by Kelly O'Connor

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