Podcast Ep. #207 - It is not a terrible take

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is just over two weeks old. Chris and Ian got together to discuss what they have seen with the big club, including some early takes on who is figuring things out. There’s some bad news on the injury front, and some good news with Eduard Bazardo’s MLB debut and the return of streaming from the Alternate Site in Worcester. Plus, there’s the hot-button issue of the new rule change experiments the Atlantic League will be trying out this summer. And we close out the show taking a quick dip into the mailbag. Thanks for writing in and make sure to send your questions to podcast@soxprospects.com 

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Minor Notes: Sox scrimmage Mets minor leaguers

Welcome to the first edition of the Minor Notes. The Minor Notes will run every Tuesday throughout the minor league baseball season, catching you up on all things prospect-related, from the Dominican Summer League through Triple-A.

Here are this week's minor league notes: 

• SoxProspects.com's Director of Scouting Ian Cundall has updated the scouting reports on some key players before the season gets going. His first update includes right-hander Brayan Bello, who is currently ranked 26th at SoxProspects.com, along with 2018 second-round selection Nick Decker (pictured). 

• His next update includes 20th rated prospect Blaze Jordan, an 18-year old third baseman the Sox selected in the third round in 2020. He also updates a handful of players in the lower levels of the Red Sox' system. 

• Danny Santana could be ready soon, as he has begun baseball activities in Fort Myers, Christopher Smith of Masslive.com writes. He is another player who can play almost anywhere on the diamond. 

• Pitching coach Paul Abbott talks to Masslive.com's Matt Vautor about the need to keep pitchers ready to go just in case they are needed to be called up to the big league team, rather than just preparing them for the minor league season to begin. 

• Former SoxProspects.com contributor Katie Morrison, now of Masslive.com, added a ton of photos of Red Sox minor leaguers from the first few days of the Alternate Site, including a sim game at Polar Park in Worcester. 

• The Sox minors leaguers got to face some real competition last weekend in Brooklyn, as they played the Mets minor leaguers at their alternate site. The news that these scrimmages would happen was first reported by the Worcester Telegram's Joe McDonald. In her Worcester Red Sox Notebook for Masslive.com, Morrison wrote about the ballpark in Brooklyn and how it is the kind of place Worcester envisions for Polar Park. She also includes that Paul Abbott loves the bullpens at Polar Park. 

• Right-hander Tanner Houck is now at the alternate site, as Eduardo Rodriguez was activated. He made his first start since 2019 after missing the 2020 season due to myocarditis likely caused by COVID-19.

Photo Credit: Nick Decker by Kelly O'Connor

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Scouting Report Updates: Blaze Jordan, Chris Murphy, and a trio of teenage arms

The latest SoxProspects scouting report update features 2020 third-round pick Blaze Jordan, left-handed starter Chris Murphy, as well as three young hurlers in the lower levels of the minor league system--Wilkelman Gonzalez, Juan Daniel Encarnacion, and Gabriel Jackson.

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Chris Murphy, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Athletic frame with some remaining projection. Looks bigger than listed. Average lower half, medium build.

Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, starting on the third base side of the rubber. Takes two small steps before a medium leg kick. Drives towards the plate with a big stride and gets plus extension. Left leg kicks up on follow-through, can tend to fall off towards third base post-delivery. Quick, compact arm action. Slight arm hook with some effort behind. Does not consistently finish delivery and can lose release point at times.

Fastball: 90-94 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Works all over the zone. Command needs work. Especially to the glove side. Much more comfortable locating arm-side at present. May have over-relied on his fastball in college. Potential average pitch.

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Scouting Report Updates: Brayan Bello, Nick Decker and more

Today's SoxProspects scouting report update features five prospects who participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League and who are projected to open the season in either Greenville or Salem.

Brayan Bello

Physical Description: Athletic right-hander with remaining projection. On the skinny side at present.

Mechanics: Loose, quick arm. Throws from a mid-three-quarters arm slot and lands soft and closed on his front side. Could do a better job incorporating his lower half in his delivery. Gets good extension.

Fastball: 93-96 mph. Tops out at 98 mph. Below-average command at present. Tends to crossfire the pitch. Average spin rate. Shows tail down in the zone and some ride when up in the zone. Velocity has steadily increased over his career, from 91-93 mph during the Fall Instructional League in 2018. Will mix in a two-seam fastball on occasion at 92-94 mph. Potential plus offering.

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Fort Report: MLB Opening Day; Alternate Training Site Opens

Welcome to another week of the SoxProspects.com Fort Report. The Fort Report will run every Tuesday throughout spring training, catching you up on all things prospect-related in Fort Myers and the Alternate Training Site in Worcester.

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• The Red Sox made their first addition to the roster of the regular season, signing right-handed pitcher Hector Rondon to a minor league contract and assigning him to the Alternate Training Site on Sunday. The 33-year-old has pitched 436 innings in the major leagues since 2013, mostly with the Cubs, but also with Houston and Arizona.

• Yairo Munoz, a utility player, was also added to the minor league injured list with right wrist inflammation on Sunday.

• Opening Day was Friday and the Red Sox set their Opening Day roster.

• The team outrighted right-handed pitcher John Schreiber to the Alternate Training Site on Friday. He was initially designated for assignment on Tuesday, when outfielder Franchy Cordero was added back to the 40-man roster after he was removed from the COVID-19 injured list.

• Right-handed pitcher Tanner Houck was recalled from the Alternate Training Site on Friday to replace left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez in the starting rotation, as he was placed on the injured list retroactive to March 29 with left elbow inflammation.

• Right-hander Ryan Brasier was also added to the injured list on Friday retroactive to March 29 with a left calf strain.

• Infielder Michael Chavis and right-handed pitcher Colten Brewer were each optioned to the Alternate Training Site on Tuesday.

• Our own Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall published Episode No. 206 of the SoxProspects Podcast, in which they discuss a slight rankings tweak as well as a preview of the big club's season to come.

• LSU right-handed pitcher Jaden Hill will miss the rest of the season with a torn UCL and undergo Tommy John surgery. Prior to the season, he was considered in play for the Red Sox to select at No. 4 overall in this year's MLB Draft, though this injury will likely cause him to slip in the draft. At the time of the injury, he was No. 8 in Baseball America's MLB Draft rankings.

• Rule 5 selection Garret Whitlock made his major league debut in mop-up duty on Sunday, giving the team 3 2/3 innings, and The Boston Globe's Julian McWilliams has the story.

• Houck was also pressed into duty in place of Rodriguez on Saturday and had a solid five-inning outing with 8 strikeouts. McWilliams discussed the hope for the near future that Houck represents.

• He also was able to have family in the stands for the first time, which is important to the right-hander. Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald has the scoop.

• Speaking of Houck, the Boston Herald's Jason Mastrodonato is of the opinion that Houck, between last season and this year, should stay up with the big club for good.

• No. 6 in the SoxProspects.com  rankings, right-handed pitcher Bryan Mata (pictured, left) has resumed his throwing program after a slight UCL tear, according to MassLive's  Chris Cotillo.

• Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported that Kevin McCarthy will remain in the organization despite his upward mobility clause to a 40-man roster spot, as he was not added to the Red Sox 40-man roster.

• The first workout at the Alternate Training Site, which will now be in Worcester at Polar Park rather than Pawtucket, was Thursday. It was the first organized baseball activity at the field since construction began. Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has the story.

• The Portland Sea Dogs will be allowing 2,000 spectators into Hadlock Field for May games. They will be in pods, similar to how the Red Sox opened Fenway Park. Tickets will go on sale to the public on April 14.

Photo Credit: Bryan Mata by Kelly O'Connor

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Podcast Ep. #206 - Maple syrup is overrated

The season is upon us! Chris and Ian are pumped to preview the imminent MLB season (since delayed 24 hours) and hope you're ready too. The guys discussed what prospects (and graduates) are most likely to impact the MLB club this year on the mound and in the lineup. We also just updated the #SP60 coming out of MLB camp, and the guys discussed Bryan Mata's short drop, Garrett Whitlocks big rise, and more. Plus the Matt Barnes COVID scare and what it said about the team's depth this year, and as always, your terrific emails led to some great discussion about the draft, Gilberto Jimenez and... David Price? Thanks for writing in and make sure to send your questions to podcast@soxprospects.com 

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