Minor Notes: Red Sox acquire Rios, Chavis hits his way to Boston

Here are this week's minor league notes:

• Chris and Ian recorded a much-anticipated Podcast episode reviewing the final prospects received in the Andrew Benintendi trade. They also discussed the Olympic Qualifier event and answered mailbag questions. 

• The 2021 SoxProspects.com Donation Drive is live! We have been able to keep this site free, and any donations help us stay free. As always, thanks to all of our readers for visiting the site and all of our forum members for posting!

• The bottom of the 40-man roster saw some turnover last week as Brandon Brennan was designated for assignment. Ryan Weber was added to the 40-man, but after a rough outing against the Blue Jays, he was also designated for assignment. Weber's spot was quickly filled as Yacksel Rios was acquired from Seattle for cash considerations. 

• Rios is a hard-throwing right-hander who has averaged 97 mph on his fastball this season. In 13 2/3 innings in Triple-A this year he has a 0.66 ERA with 17 strikeouts and two walks, but he has struggled in the majors. Over parts of five seasons, he has a 6.47 ERA in 72 1/3 innings. 

• Rios has not been assigned to a team yet, but in the meantime, Michael Chavis (pictured, above) has been called up to Boston. See the bottom of this post for more information on Chavis who has been on a hot streak in Worcester. 

• There were several comings-and-goings from the injured list last week. The highlight was Hudson Potts being activated and making his season debut after working through an oblique injury. Ranked 23rd in the system, Potts is just 1 for 12 to start the year. 

• Roldani Baldwin and Zac Grotz were also activated off the IL, while Tyler Dearden (shoulder), Nick Decker (leg strain), and Jeremy Rivera (undisclosed) were placed on the IL. 

• In addition to Potts, Grant Gambrell also made his system debut last week. Gambrell was acquired in the Andrew Benintendi trade, and he fired five innings of one-run ball in his first start for Greenville. 

• It was also an active week for suspensions as Alex Scherff, Caleb Simpson, and Elih Marrero all were placed on the suspended list. 

• Mike Scioscia, who managed both Triston Casas and Jarren Duran on Team USA earlier this month, told the Boston Herald that Duran reminded him of Mike Trout. Scioscia was Trout's manager for the first eight years of his career.

• While he just missed out on the Player of the Week award below, Brandon Howlett did earn High-A East Player of the Week honors. In six games he hit .391/.462/.826 with two home runs. The 21-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season with a total triple slash of .292/.386/.531.

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Players of the Week 6/8-6/13

Michael Chavis, 1B, Worcester

5 G, 19 AB, 9 H, 3 HR, 5 R, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, .474/.522/1.000

Chavis was one of several Worcester players to beat up on the Syracuse Mets pitching staff, and he capped off the week with a promotion to Boston. Since being sent down to Worcester on May 24, Chavis has hit .275/.338/.420 in 17 games with a strikeout rate just north of 27 percent. Since May 1 Boston's first basemen have hit just .158/.218/.386, and Chavis has a chance to get significant at-bats if he can keep this recent hot streak going. 

Aldo Ramirez, RHP, Salem

2 G, 1-0, 9 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 11 K

In two starts last week the 20-year-old right-hander dominated the Fredericksburg Nationals, continuing his terrific start to the season. In all Ramirez (pictured, right) has a 2.03 ERA and batters are hitting just .221 against him. He has struck out 32 over 31 innings while walking just eight. The Red Sox already promoted one talented pitcher in Brayan Bello, and if Ramirez keeps this up he should find himself in Greenville sooner rather than later. 

Photo Credit: Michael Chavis and Aldo Ramirez by Kelly O'Connor

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