July 13, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: DSL kicks off; Seabold rehabs in Fort Myers
7/13 Cup of Coffee: With most eyes on the second day of the 2021 entry draft, there were a pair of very eventful contests on Monday. The Dominican Summer League season made its long-awaited return, with the top signee in the 2019-20 class starting the season with a triple in the DSL Blue squad's victory. The DSL Red Sox Red were rained out and will attempt to get their season underway on Tuesday. Meanwhile, it was a wild win in the FCL featuring a rehabbing Connor Seabold (pictured), a perfect Wilkelman Gonzalez, and a walk-off homer by Blaze Jordan.
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It was a rare contest under the lights for the FCL Sox, and the on-field events were worthy of the event. Connor Seabold, out since the start of the season with right elbow inflammation, took the mound in a rehab start against fellow rehabbing hurler Chris Archer. Seabold, currently ranked 6th in the system, went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on one hit. Seven of the eight outs he recorded were via strikeout. Seabold also walked three and hit a batter. A trio of relievers followed, with Wilkelman Gonzalez the most impressive. Gonzalez was perfect over five innings, striking out nine batters.
The two top-ranked (non-rehabbing) players on the roster starred at the plate. Brainer Bonaci came into the contest on a 2-for-23 skid, but he reached base five times out of the leadoff spot. Bonaci had a single, double, and three walks, along with an RBI and run scored. With the Sox down 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Blaze Jordan came through with a game-winning two-run homer, the first round-tripper of his professional career.
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The Dominican Summer League was back in action for the first time in nearly 23 months. Juan Chacon, who received a $900,000 bonus on July 2, 2019, finally got the chance to make his professional debut, leading off and playing right field. It was an auspicious start for the 18-year-old, as he tripled to lead off the first and added a run and a walk. Armando Sierra and Johnfrank Salazar both delivered solo home runs in the win. Right-hander Yordanny Monegro got the starting nod, allowing one run on three hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four, and walking three. Carlos Velez, Irving Medina, and Railin Perez combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Rain arrived in the seventh, leading to the contest getting called early.
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DSL Red Sox Red @ DSL Royals Blue, postponed (rain)
Boston's other DSL team's interminable offseason will have to wait one more day, as the opening day contest was unplayable due to rain. They will attempt to makeup as part of a doubleheader on August 5, and the Red Sox Red will look to start its season on Tuesday.
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Player of the Day: Several impressive debuts in the Domincan, Brainer Bonaci reaching base five times, and a Blaze Jordan walk-off homer were not quite enough to beat perfection. Wilkelman Gonzalez retired all 15 batters he faced, striking out nine of them. The 19-year-old right-hander bounced back from allowing five runs in just 1 1/3 in his previous outing to stifle the Rays. Despite an unsightly overall ERA, Gonzalez now has 16 strikeouts and just two walks over 10 1/3 innings on the year.
Photo Credit: Connor Seabold by Kelly O'Connor