Cup of Coffee: Duran leads Worcester power surge

4/30 Cup of Coffee: It was a big night for Jarren Duran (pictured) and the rest of the Worcester lineup, as the WooSox pounded out 17 hits to pick up the system's only victory. That effort used up all of the octane in the system, as Duran's four hits were at least as many as the other three squads in action. 

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 6

Jarren Duran is still finding Polar Park to his liking. The 25-year-old fell just a double short of hitting for the cycle, blasting his first home run of the year during a 4-for-5 night. He scored twice, drove in a pair, and stole his seventh base of the season. Connor Wong and Yolmer Sanchez had three hits apiece, with Wong picking up a double and driving in two runs. Triston Casas singled and walked, and Christin Stewart added a pair of RBI in the win.

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Cup of Coffee: Hickey homers as part of two-hit night

4/29 Cup of Coffee: It was a conventional yet rough Thursday for Boston affiliates as they went a collective 0-4. Worcester came up short in their comeback attempt against Buffalo, Tyler Dearden homered in Portland's blowout loss to Somerset, Gilberto Jimenez went deep as Greenville lost its eighth straight in heartbreaking fashion, and Nathan Hickey (pictured) collected two hits in Salem's loss to Lynchburg. 

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 5, Worcester Red Sox 4

Rhode Island native Thomas Pannone celebrated his 28th birthday on Thursday by making his fifth start of the season for Worcester. The left-hander surrendered three runs within his first two innings of work at Polar Park, but settled in by retiring nine of the final 11 batters he faced and allowing just the three runs on six hits, three walks, one hit batsman, and five strikeouts over five innings pitched. Out of the Worcester bullpen, Eduard Bazardo yielded two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk in the sixth while Durbin Feltman and Derek Holland combined for three scoreless frames in which they struck out five total batters.

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Cup of Coffee: Downs and Fitzgerald homer, Walter continues impressive run to begin season

4/28 Cup of Coffee: It was an action-packed Wednesday for Boston affiliates, who went 3-3 across the system. Worcester and Salem both split doubleheaders after rainouts on Tuesday, Portland received another strong starting pitching performance from Brandon Walter (pictured), and Greenville was shut out as they lost their seventh straight game. 

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Worcester Red Sox 4, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 2 (Game 1)

Worcester returned to Polar Park and kicked off their second homestand of the season by taking Game 1 of a seven-inning doubleheader against Buffalo. Connor Seabold ran into some early trouble when he served up a two-run home run in the second inning. But the right-hander was otherwise solid in his fourth start of the season as he allowed just those two runs on six hits, no walks, and six strikeouts over six innings of work. Zack Kelly picked up his first save of the season, slamming the door on Buffalo in the final frame. 

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Cup of Coffee: Murphy fires gem; Northcut homers twice

4/27 Cup of Coffee: Only two of the four affiliates were able to kick off their series as scheduled Tuesday, as rain pushed back both the Worcester and Salem contests. Portland dropped its opener in New Jersey in extra innings, wasting a masterful effort by starter Chris Murphy (pictured). Greenville also fell, as two Nick Northcut round-trippers were not enough to take a slugfest in Hickory.

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Worcester Red Sox vs Buffalo Bisons (TOR), PPD (Weather)

After a weird 2021 split between Buffalo and Trenton, the Bisons are nomads no more, but their series opener in Worcester will have to wait a day. The teams will try for a doubleheader tomorrow. 

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Somerset Patriots (NYY) 2, Portland Sea Dogs 1

Portland's four-game winning streak was halted despite the work of Chris Murphy. The left-hander allowed just two hits across six scoreless innings, striking out six and walking one. He lowered his ERA through four starts on the young season to 2.25, but he is still in search of his first win. After Somerset tagged Chase Shugart for a single run in the seventh, Frank German continued his ownership of Eastern League batters. He struck out two of the three batters he saw, giving him 15 punchouts through eight innings on the season. In his last four appearances, German has faced 19 batters, striking out 13 and allowing just one baserunner when he hit a batter. Somerset walked off with the win when a single off Oddanier Mosqueda plated the automatic runner in the 10th.

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Podcast Ep. #245: Time for Triston?

The Red Sox are scuffling, particularly on offense, so it's time to ask: when do the Red Sox call up Triston Casas? Ian and Chris looked at what's ailing the MLB club and whether giving the organization's top prospect his first taste of the Bigs is what the doctor ordered. Plus, Ian has reports from Portland, with the best pitching staff in the system, and as always, your emails!

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Minor Notes: COVID woes lead to recalls, roster shuffling

The 2022 minor-league season is in full swing and all the minor league affiliates find themselves .500 or better, with Portland tying for the lead in their division, the Eastern League Northeast. Meanwhile, the big-league club went 3-and-5 this week, slipping to 3.5 games back in the division.

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Transactions

More COVID fallout as Vazquez and Arauz placed on 10-day IL

While it was overall a week light on transactions, the constant roster shuffling necessitated by COVID-19 continued with catcher Christian Vazquez joining felling catcher Kevin Plawecki on the IL after testing positive for COVID-19 on April 18th.  Infielder Jonathan Arauz also joined the run of Red Sox players on the IL on the 18th, but he has yet to be reinstated. Both players are vaccinated, but that left only recently recalled Connor Wong as the only catcher on the roster. Much to Red Sox and Red Sox fans' relief, Vazquez was able to be reinstated only a day later but Arauz has yet to be reinstated.

As corresponding moves for these two IL trips, the Red Sox selected the contract of infielder Rob Refsnyder (pictured, right) and recalled righty Tyler Danish, both from Worcester. Refsnyder is a bit of a journeyman, with the 31-year-old seeing time in the majors for six different major league teams over seven seasons. He played seven innings on Saturday and a full game Sunday, going 1 for 5 with a double and a walk. Danish also saw action in two games and continued his streak of scoreless innings to begin the year. His appearance on Wednesday stood out, throwing two innings with five strikeouts while only allowing a walk. Danish was optioned back on Sunday but does have opt-outs on June 1st and July 1st so he is likely to return to the Red Sox later this spring.

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Cup of Coffee: Binelas homers again; Koss notches four hits

4/25 Cup of Coffee: Portland's offense provided plenty of run support for Jay Groome, as the Sea Dogs hit five home runs. Alex Binelas tied Ceddanne Rafaela for the most home runs in the organization with six, and Tyler McDonough hit his third home run in the last nine games. Chih-Jung Liu got off to a hot start before fading, and Blaze Jordan added two hits for Salem.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 4, Worcester Red Sox 2

A disappointing road trip ended with another tough loss for Worcester as the Mets took five out of six games in this series. Up 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Geoff Hartlieb gave up a three-run home run that proved to be the difference. The pitching was stellar before that, with Brian Keller starting with three innings of one-run ball and Silvino Bracho following with two hitless innings. Derek Holland and Eduard Bazardo each fired a scoreless frame as well. The Worcester offense managed just four hits, with Ryan Fitzgerald and Jeter Downs each going 1 for 4 with a double, and Jarren Duran and Yolmer Sánchez each added a single. 

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Cup of Coffee: Mieses belts two homers, Mayer hits first long ball

4/24 Cup of Coffee: Marcelo Mayer headlined the day, as the fourth overall pick hit his first home run of the 2022 season. Johan Mieses (pictured) stole the show in Worcester's big offensive showing, blasting two home runs. David Hamilton and Alex Binelas each had three hits and a home run. Thomas Pannone and Brayan Bello turned in good outings on the bump. 

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Worcester Red Sox 9, Syracuse Mets (NYM) 2

Worcester scored in every inning except three, led by Johan Mieses. The DH went 3 for 5 with a pair of home runs and three runs scored. His second came off old friend Stephen Nogosek. Mieses now has four long balls to go along with a 1.528 OPS. Triston Casas reached four times with three singles and a walk, while Franchy Cordero went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and three knocked in. Yolmer Sanchez added two hits and two RBI and Ryan Fitzgerald and Jarren Duran both doubled. 

Thomas Pannone was fantastic, going the first six innings while allowing just two runs with seven strikeouts and one walk. Derek Holland, Durbin Feltman, and Kaleb Ort each threw a scoreless frame, with Feltman and Ort each striking out a pair. 

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Cup of Coffee: Walter, German bookend Portland staff's 17 K night

4/23 Cup of Coffee: The Portland pitching staff was a highlight on a night when the staffs of the other three affiliates struggled mightily. Brandon Walter, Frank German (pictured), and company struck out 17 batters in a 10-inning comeback win. That magic did not extend past the Maine border, as Worcester, Greenville, and Salem combined to find themselves outscored 33 to 10. 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 13, Worcester Red Sox 3

Worcester was 9-3 as it entered its series with the 1-10 Syracuse squad but has now lost the first four games of the matchup. Friday night's contest got off to a good start, as Triston Casas ripped a double off the right-center field wall and came around to score on a Christin Stewart base hit, giving Worcester a 1-0 lead in the first. The closest thing to a highlight the rest of the night was a lovely postgame fireworks show. Nick Sogard did have a good effort in his Triple-A debut, going 2 for 4. Yolmer Sanchez had a homer and a double, and Johan Mieses notched a pair of hits. It was a struggle for starter Kyle Hart, who allowed eight runs on four hits in 4 1/3, taking the loss. 

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Cup of Coffee: Casas homers, Potts finishes triple shy of cycle, Mayer collects four hits

4/22 Cup of Coffee: It was an eventful night for Boston's minor-league affiliates, who went a collective 1-3 on Thursday. Triston Casas and Ryan Fitzgerald both homered for Worcester, Hudson Potts (pictured) went deep twice and finished a triple shy of the cycle while Tyreque Reed got involved in a benches-clearing brawl in Portland, Shane Drohan struck out eight for Greenville, and Marcelo Mayer hit a pair of doubles as part of a four-hit day in Salem. 

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Syracuse Mets (NYM) 10

Darwinzon Hernandez made his fourth start of the season for Worcester and struggled with his command. The left-hander surrendered five earned runs on just one hit, but also four walks and one hit batsman to go along with one strikeout over 1 2/3 innings of work. Only 22 of the 45 pitches Hernandez threw went for strikes. Out of Worcester's bullpen, John Schreiber allowed one of the runners he inherited to score in the second. The right-hander settled in, though, and the only other run scored off him came on a Daniel Palka home run in the fifth. An inning later, Geoff Hartlieb got rocked for four runs on three hits and one walk. Eduard Bazardo and Derek Holland closed things out with a scoreless frame each. 

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Cup of Coffee: Seabold impresses, Northcut and Rafaela both homer

4/21 Cup of Coffee: Boston affiliates went 1-4 on an eventful Wednesday night. Worcester lost both games of a doubleheader in Syracuse despite a strong start from Connor Seabold (pictured) in the day cap, Portland fell to Binghamton despite a solid effort from Chris Murphy, Greenville pitchers combined to give up 21 hits in a loss to Charleston in which Nick Northcut and Ceddanne Rafaela both homered, and Salem salvaged the day thanks in part to Jose Garcia's first home run of the season.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 1, Worcester Red Sox 0 (Game 1)

After their series opener was snowed out on Tuesday, Worcester was swept by Syracuse in a day-night doubleheader at NBT Bank Stadium on Wednesday. Connor Seabold made his third start of the season for Worcester in the day cap and impressed, allowing just four hits and two walks to go along with five strikeouts over six scoreless innings of work. 54 of the 83 pitches the 26-year-old threw went for strikes. Kaleb Ort pitched in relief of Seabold and -- after striking out the side in the seventh -- gave up the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth. 

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Podcast Ep. #244: Ceddanne in the Groove

The first full week of the minor league season is in the books, and whoever told you that's not enough of a sample size to draw conclusions from... was probably right, but we're talking about it anyway! The Portland arms and Greenville bats are red hot, but who else caught the guys' eyes? Ian has some reports from Worcester as well, plus, your emails!

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Cup of Coffee: Liu strikes out nine before Scott blasts walk-off winner

4/20 Cup of Coffee: Both affiliate wins on Tuesday were of the walk-off variety. Stephen Scott was the hero for Greenville following an outstanding performance on the mound by Chih-Jung Liu (pictured). Portland took a different path to victory, as starter Jay Groome struggled for the first time in a Double-A start before the Sea Dogs clawed back, eventually prevailing on a decisive error. Salem had a forgettable night in a blowout loss, and inclement weather pushed back Worcester's contest.

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Worcester Red Sox @ Syracuse Mets (NYM), postponed

The WooSox series opener against the Mets was postponed because it snows in Syracuse on April 19. They'll try to play two on Wednesday. 

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Portland Sea Dogs 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) 5

It was an inauspicious start in Portland, as starter Jay Groome failed to survive the first inning. Groome, who allowed just one baserunner in his first start of the season, was not sharp in his follow-up, walking three batters, hitting another, and allowing three runs on two hits while recording just one out. The line could've been worse had it not been for Dylan Spacke, who entered with the bases loaded and promptly induced a strikeout and groundout. Spacke went 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven of the 13 batters he faced, walking one and allowing just one hit. Despite being stretched into center field duty, Devlin Granberg was the offensive star for Portland, going 3 for 5 with a double, triple, RBI, and two runs scored. Frank German struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning to set up the walk-off victory. After the Granberg double and an intentional walk to Tyler Dearden, a costly error on a Kole Cottam ground ball to second base gave the Sea Dogs the win. 

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Minor Notes: COVID-19 issues surface, Rafaela earns weekly honor

The 2022 minor-league season is in full swing, with Monday representing the second off day of the year for all four of Boston's full-season affiliates in Worcester, Portland, Greenville, and Salem. The big-league club has gotten off to a 5-5 start, with their most recent loss coming at the hands of Minnesota on Patriots' Day.

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Transactions

Kevin Plawecki placed on COVID-19-related injured list, Connor Wong recalled from Worcester

Kevin Plawecki arrived at Fenway Park on Monday morning but was seen leaving in street clothes after testing positive for COVID-19. Despite being fully vaccinated against the virus, the veteran catcher was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list and could miss up to 10 days. Because of his status, though, Plawecki could return sooner if he passes certain protocols, such as presenting two negative PCR tests, not having a fever, and receiving approval from the joint COVID medical committee.

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Cup of Coffee: Bello strikes out eight; Duran returns

4/18 Cup of Coffee: Brayan Bello turned in another impressive start on Sunday, though it was not enough to carry Portland to a victory. In Worcester, the return of Jarren Duran was overshadowed by the offensive onslaught of the IronPigs. Greenville mounted an impressive comeback led by Jaxx Groshans and Gilberto Jimenez, while Salem was doubled up by the Woodpeckers. 

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 19, Worcester Red Sox 11

Josh Taylor made his first appearance of the season after missing time with a low back strain. Taylor gave up a leadoff home run but was otherwise effective. The bullpen was hit hard, with Thomas Pannone allowing seven runs on nine hits over four innings. Derek Holland followed and recorded only one out while walking three and allowing four runs. Eduard Bazardo was also unable to complete a full inning, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning. 

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Cup of Coffee: Rafaela, Lugo stay hot for Greenville

4/17 Cup of Coffee: There were some great offensive performances throughout the system, as Worcester scored 13 and Greenville put up nine. Triston Casas, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Franchy Cordero led the way yet again against the IronPigs. Ceddanne Rafaela (pictured) hit two home runs and Matthew Lugo picked up four hits for the Drive. Darwinzon Hernandez, Brandon Walter, and Gabriel Jackson turned in great performances on the mound.

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Worcester Red Sox 13, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 1
Triston Casas showed that he's more than just a big time power bat, going 3 for 4 with three hard-hit singles and three runs scored to lead Worcester's 15-hit attack. Roberto Ramos went 2 for 2 with his third long ball of the year, while Rob Refsnyder doubled and homered as well. Ryan Fitzgerald and Franchy Cordero just keep on hitting, as each collected two hits, with Fitzgerald roping his second triple and Cordero notching his fifth double. 

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Cup of Coffee: Bonaci, Ugueto set table for Salem in rout

4/16 Cup of Coffee: Not to be lost in the festivities of opening day at Fenway Park was a busy day on the farm, with all four affiliates in action. Worcester suffered just its second loss of the season but rallied to salvage a split in its twinbill. Brainer Bonaci and Miguel Ugueto (pictured) combined to reach base nine times atop the Salem order in another rout. Portland also emerged victorious despite a quiet day at the plate as Victor Santos was excellent on the mound. Greenville was the only affiliate not to record a win despite the continued efforts of Matthew Lugo. 

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7, Worcester Red Sox 3 (Game 1)

The WooSox five-game winning streak came to an end in the makeup of Thursday's rained-out contest. Josh Winckowski got the start, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in five innings, striking out two against three walks. Lehigh Valley reached Durbin Feltman for four runs in two innings of work. Ryan Fitzgerald continues to be a catalyst at the top of the lineup, going 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI. Jeter Downs blasted a solo homer in the first, his second round-tripper of the young season. Christin Stewart and Yolmer Sanchez both doubled as part of two-hit efforts. 

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Cup of Coffee: Gonzalez fans 9, McDonough crushes first homer of season

4/15 Cup of Coffee: Red Sox affiliates went 3-0 on Thursday after Worcester's game was postponed due to inclement weather. Wilkelman Gonzalez (pictured) and Chris Murphy put together impressive outings in their respective starts for Salem and Portland. Tyler McDonough hit his first home run of the year while Alex Binelas and Ceddanne Rafaela stayed hot for Greenville. 

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Worcester Red Sox, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (PHI): PPD

Josh Winckowski was originally slated to start for Worcester on Thursday but the game began in a rain delay and was ultimately called off due to inclement weather within the vicinity of Polar Park. It will be made up as part of a single-admission, seven-inning doubleheader on Friday. 

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Cup of Coffee: Yorke heats up and Casas homers again

4/14 Cup of Coffee: Red Sox affiliates went 2-2 on Wednesday. Jay Groome continued Portland's run of outstanding starting pitching by tossing five scoreless frames. The same can be said for Connor Seabold in Worcester. Speaking of Worcester, Triston Casas launched another no-doubt home run over the Worcester Wall at Polar Park. In Greenville, Alex Binelas hit his third homer of the season in as many games, and, after a slow start to the year, Nick Yorke's (pictured) bat woke up as he joined in on the offensive explosion.

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Worcester Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (PHI) 3

Triston Casas homered for the second night in a row, with this one traveling 410 feet over the Worcester Wall at Polar Park and coming off former first-round draft pick Mark Appel. Casas also reached base via a two-run single as he finished his productive day at the plate having gone 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Grant Williams and Rob Refsnyder were responsible for Worcester's first four runs. Williams got the scoring started with a two-run double in the second inning and Refsnyder followed with a two-run knock of his own in the fourth. 

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Cup of Coffee: Bello strikes out 10, Casas hits 477-foot home run

4/13 Cup of Coffee: After the scheduled day off for the affiliates on Monday, the players came back with some exciting performances on Tuesday. Brayan Bello (pictured), Yusniel Padron-Artiles, and Thomas Pannone all had terrific starts that led to victories. Triston Casas hit a ball out of Polar Park, David Hamilton showed off his elite speed and Gilberto Jimenez flashed his power and speed. In Salem, a grand slam from Nathan Hickey broke the game open in extra innings. 

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 3

A 477-foot home run from Triston Casas was one of many highlights during Worcester's home opener. Casas also added two walks in addition to the home run that left Polar Park. Yolmer Sánchez provided some pop as well as he went 3 for 3 with a home run, double, walk, and a steal. The third WooSox home run came from Ryan Fitzgerald in his first game since April 7. The home run was Fitzgerald's fourth in four games. Rob Refsnyder went 2 for 4 with a double as he raised his average to .368 over his first 28 plate appearances. 

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Minor Notes: We've got games, Whitlock signs extension

For the last time in 2022, baseball is officially back. Spring training is over and the minor league affiliates opened up their seasons, with Worcester starting on April 5, followed by the rest of the full-season squads on April 8. The big club has also gotten underway, with Opening Day on April 8, as a rainstorm in New York postponed the festivities in The Bronx.

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Transactions

Whitlock signs four-year extension

Garrett Whitlock, a Rule 5 pick from the Yankees in 2020, signed a four-year, $18.75 million contract extension, which was announced on Sunday. The agreement buys out the remainder of his pre-arbitration and arbitration seasons, while also including two club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons to buy out his first two free agent years, as well. Those would pay $8.25 million and $10.5 million, respectively.

Whitlock was one of the team's most effective relievers in 2021, seeming like he hardly missed a beat after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2019, going nearly two years between organized appearances. He threw 73 1/3 innings across 46 appearances in the bullpen, pitching to a 1.96 ERA. He also struck out 81 batters against 17 walks, utilizing sinker, slider and change-up mix. While he was used carefully after missing so much time with an elbow injury in 2021, it seems as though he will continue in the bullpen to begin 2022, but has the build and repertoire to be extended to a starter, should the organization choose to do so. In the interim, Whitlock will likely be used as a multi-inning, high-leverage reliever.

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2022 SoxProspects Pre-Season All-Stars Pt. 2 - Pitchers

For Part Two of our look at the best the Red Sox system has to offer entering 2022, we look to the mound and honor the pitchers selected as SoxProspects.com Pre-Season All-Stars. The list is highlighted by four starters ranked in the top 11 and three relievers from the upper minors. 

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Starting pitcher: Brayan Bello, Portland Sea Dogs

The 2021 Red Sox Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year, Bello is the consensus top pitching prospect in the system. After dominating High-A last year to the tune of a 2.27 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings, Bello was promoted to Double-A Portland where he continued to put up high strikeout numbers. The breakout season led to the 22-year-old being added to the 40-man roster. Bello will begin

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2022 SoxProspects Pre-Season All-Stars Pt. 1 - Hitters

The 2022 minor league season is underway, and the SoxProspects.com community has chosen its annual slate of All-Stars. The class includes three 2021 draftees (two of whom were selected by Boston) and ranges in age from 18 to 27. Seven players are making their first appearance, while it is the fourth selection for four players. 

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Catcher: Nathan Hickey, Salem Red Sox

Boston's fifth-round pick last July, Hickey got a $1 million bonus to convince him to forgo his final three years of eligibility at the University of Florida. The bat-first backstop is noted for his advanced approach, and he hit an impressive .316/.436/.539 in 75 career games for the Gators. Hickey appeared in just 11 games after signing, going 6 for 28 with two doubles between the FCL squad and Salem. He is currently ranked 30th in the system.

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Cup of Coffee: Walter shines in Double-A debut

4/11 Cup of Coffee: The left-handed starters in the upper minors were excellent on Sunday, with Darwinzon Hernandez and Brandon Walter combining to allow just one hit while striking out 13. Home runs from Franchy Cordero, Joe Davis, and Alex Binelas provided some firepower, and David Hamilton stole two more bases. 

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Worcester Red Sox 9, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 4

Darwinzon Hernandez did not allow a hit over three shutout innings in his second start of the season. He struck out six and did not walk a batter, though he did hit two batters. Kyle Hart proved to be more hittable, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 3 2/3. Zack Kelly stuck out two and walked two over 1 1/3 innings, and Derek Holland allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth.

Another home run from Franchy Cordero set the pace for Worcester's offense. It's the third of the season for Cordero, who raised his OPS to 1.237. Roldani Baldwin launched his first home run of the year, while Johan Mieses went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. The top offensive prospects struggled with Jeter Downs striking out four times and Triston Casas going 0 for 3 with a walk. 

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Cup of Coffee: Mayer stays hot, Jordan belts first homer

4/10 Cup of Coffee: Marcelo Mayer (pictured) and Blaze Jordan helped Salem to a pair of wins, including the completion of Friday's suspended game. Franchy Cordero and Johan Mieses lifted Worcester over Jacksonville to continue their great start to the campaign. Matthew Lugo and Ceddanne Rafaela also showed off their power for Greenville. 

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Worcester Red Sox 5, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 1
Worcester picked up its fourth win in five games to start 2022. Franchy Cordero continued his hot start to the season with three hits in five at-bats, including a double and two runs scored. Johan Mieses had the big blow in the game, a three-run shot in the third inning off of old friend Matthew Kent. Brian Keller pitched well, allowing just one unearned run in 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and two hits allowed. John Schreiber picked up his second win on the young season, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no free passes. Tyler Danish, Taylor Cole, and Durbin Feltman added clean innings of their own, with Danish and Cole punching out two.

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New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) 3, Portland Sea Dogs 0 (6 innings)
The Sea Dogs weren't given much time to dig themselves out of their three-run first-inning deficit, as the game was called after the top of the sixth due to rain. They only had three hits, two of them coming off the bat of Brandon Howlett, including a two-bagger. Pedro Castellanos had the other hit, and David Hamilton walked and swiped his second base of the year. Victor Santos went five innings and allowed three runs, although only one of them was earned. After that three-run first, he tossed four straight scoreless innings. Brendan Nail also pitched an inning without allowing a run.

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Hudson Valley Renegades (NYY) 8, Greenville Drive 6 (10 innings)
The Drive dropped a tough hard-fought extra-inning game. Matthew Lugo led the offense by going 2 for 5 with a home run, a double, and three runs knocked in. Ceddanne Rafaela also had a big night with a 2-for-5 game, belting his second home run of the year. Alex Binelas had a nice night at the plate as well, going 1 for 3 with an RBI single and two walks.

On the mound, the highlight of the night was... Joe Davis. Yes, big Joe Davis was called on in the 10th inning and he was able to get a couple outs. Shane Drohan started and pitched a decent game, allowing one run over 3 1/3. He struck out five but also walked four. Jacinto Arredondo did not give up an earned run in 2 2/3 frames, while Michael Gettys tossed 1 2/3 clean innings.

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Salem Red Sox 11, Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE) 8
In a completion of Friday's suspended matchup, the Sox came out swinging in the bottom of the second when action resumed. Marcelo Mayer got the big hit, a two-run single that extended the lead to five. Blaze Jordan, ranked 10th at SoxProspects.com, belted his first home run of 2022 to go along with a walk in five trips to the plate. Niko Kavadas and Phillip Sikes, a pair of 2021 draft picks, each went 2 for 4 with a walk, two singles, and an RBI. Brainer Bonaci set the table nicely with four walks and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. 

Joey Stock picked up where Wilkelman Gonzalez left off Friday with a pair of scoreless innings of his own. Barbaro Pinero struggled, allowing seven runs (five earned) without recording an out. Osvaldo De La Rosa, who ended up with the win, tossed three shutout innings with three punchouts. Nate Tellier picked up save No. 1on the year with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.

Salem Red Sox 4, Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE) 3 (7 innings)
Salem picked up its second win of the day in their regularly scheduled game behind another big game from Mayer. The 19-year old shortstop went 3 for 4 including his second double of the year, a run, and an RBI. Bonaci continued to get on with a pair of singles and another walk. Miguel Ugueto, who had a big year last year with the FCL Sox, went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run. It has only been a couple games, but the top three in the Salem order are off to hot starts, as Bonaci, Mayer, and Jordan all boast an OPS north of 1.200. 

Angel Bastardo breezed through three frames before hitting a bump in the fourth, when he allowed all three of his runs on a three-run blast. The 19-year old righty fanned five over 3 1/3 innings. Sox relievers did not allow a hit, as Miguel Suero threw 2 2/3 prefect innings before Jhonny Felix earned his first save of the year with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh.

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Player of the Day: Marcelo Mayer is living up to the hype so far in his first full season of professional baseball. The 2021 fourth overall pick, and SoxProspects.com's second-ranked prospect, picked up four hits on the day. His sweet stroke led to an opposite field line drive double against a left-handed arm. 

Photo Credit: Marcelo Mayer by Kelly O'Connor

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Podcast Ep. #243: Rosters and Rankings '22

The minor league season is here, and that means two things: our updated rankings and the release of the opening day rosters? That means plenty for Ian and Chris to discuss and analyze, so listening for who's starting where, who moved up or down in the #SP60, and as always, your emails!

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Cup of Coffee: Hamilton a hit in huge Portland debut

4/9 Cup of Coffee: Along with the major league club, three affiliates had their openers on tap Friday. David Hamilton (pictured) didn't miss a shot as Portland prevailed in a slugfest. Ceddanne Rafaela and Gilberto Jimenez helped key a comeback victory for Greenville, while Marcelo Mayer gave a sneak peek before Salem's opener was suspended. Jeter Downs, coming off a tough spring training and start to 2022, had a big night to help Worcester to its third win in four contests.

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 4

Despite the absence of scorching-hot Ryan Fitzgerald from the lineup, Worcester continued to make use of the long ball, blasting three homers to give the team 10 through four games. Franchy Cordero went deep for the second time this season when he blasted a third-inning grand slam that gave the WooSox a lead they would not relinquish. He added a double and a pair of walks on the evening. Jeter Downs looked to get back on track, blasting a home run and double as part of a 2-for-4 evening. Triston Casas also submitted his first two-hit game of the year, while Johan Mieses went deep for the first time this season after a 22-homer effort in 2021.

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Cup of Coffee: Fitzgerald stays hot by homering twice, but WooSox suffer first loss of season

 4/7 Cup of Coffee: Despite a two-homer effort from a red-hot Ryan Fitzgerald (pictured), Worcester suffered its first loss of the young season on Thursday. Fitzgerald drove in three of his side's four runs. Roberto Ramos drove in the other on his first home run of the year. Rob Refsnyder reached base three times in four trips to the plate. Ronaldo Hernandez threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. 

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Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 8, Worcester Red Sox 4

Worcester dropped to 2-1 on the year by falling to Jacksonville, 8-4, on Thursday night. Ryan Fitzgerald picked up where he left off on Wednesday by taking Jeff Lindgren deep to lead off the first inning. Roberto Ramos showed off his power four innings later by crushing a leadoff solo shot off Lindgren in the fifth. Fitzgerald followed with yet another big fly, this one coming with one runner on and one out in the fifth to give Worcester a 4-2 lead.

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Cup of Coffee: Casas and Cordero homer as WooSox remain perfect

4/7 Cup of Coffee: For a second straight night, the WooSox were the only show in town among Boston's minor-league affiliates on Wednesday. Triston Casas, Franchy Cordero (pictured), and Yolmer Sanchez all hit their first home runs of the season. Ryan Fitzgerald collected three hits in four trips to the plate. The WooSox bullpen combined to allow just one run on one hit in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

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Worcester Red Sox 7, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 6

Worcester improved to 2-0 on the young season with a win over Jacksonville on Wednesday night. Facing off against former first-round pick Braxton Garrett, Yolmer Sanchez got the scoring started for his side with a game-tying solo home run in the third inning. Ryan Fitzgerald built off of his strong Opening Day with an RBI single in the fourth that pulled Worcester back to within one run of Jacksonville at 3-2. Triston Casas led off the sixth inning and crushed his first home run of the year to the opposite field. After Rob Refsnyder drew a walk, Franchy Cordero tied things up at 5-5 with a two-run blast to left-center. Jeter Downs went 1 for 4 on the night with a seventh-inning single and scored on an RBI base hit from Refsnyder. Refsnyder later scored on a Cordero single to give Worcester a 7-6 lead.

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Cup of Coffee: Fitzgerald powers WooSox to opening day victory

4/6 Cup of Coffee: The 2022 minor league season kicked off with a single game Tuesday evening.  Worcester remained in Florida, featuring a lineup that is one of the most prospect-laden the organization has had at Triple-A in some time. The WooSox have five players ranking among the SoxProspects.com Top 30, including top prospect Triston Casas and the evening's hero, Ryan Fitzgerald (pictured). 

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Worcester Red Sox 6, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (MIA) 5

Worcester drew a tough assignment on day one, facing off against Max Meyer, the third overall pick in the 2020 draft. Following an impressive spring training in which he nearly forced his way onto the major league club, Ryan Fitzgerald had an opening day to remember. He singled in the fifth, coming around to score on a Jarren Duran double to give Worcester a 3-2 lead. The following inning, the 27-year-old blasted a solo home run that proved to be decisive. Duran had a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot, while Connor Wong also delivered a two-hit effort. Triston Casas was hitless in four at-bats, but he did score a run after being hit by a pitch, as well as submit an RBI on a ground out. 

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Fort Report: Regular season set to begin as final rosters take shape

It did not seem likely at various points this winter, but the regular season is about to begin. Players had a final chance to impress in spring training, and the Red Sox opening day rosters for the major and minor league teams are just about finalized. For the most up-to-date view of each roster, please check out our 2022 Projected Rosters page. 

From the Fort

Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall provided an in-depth recap of their trip to Fort Myers in the most recent episode of the Podcast. Listen in to see who impressed, who struggled, and which player may be a sleeper this season. They also discussed how the top of the system now compares with 2016, when the Red Sox had Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, and Rafael Devers as the top three prospects in the system.

Cundall also continued to provide his insights for the Red Sox Prospect Outlook series on NESN.com. Articles this week covered Jeter Downs, Marcelo Mayer, Alex Binelas (pictured, right), Nick Yorke, Jay Groome, and Josh Winckowski. 

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Podcast Ep. #242: Back to the back fields

After two years (or three, depending on how you're counting) the SoxProspects crew made its triumphant return to the back fields at Fenway South! Chris and Ian have the highlights regarding who impressed, who didn't, and who to watch this season. Plus, we dissect who the Red Sox might carry on the final few roster spots and potential complications there, as well as examine how the Triston Casas-Marcelo Mayer-Nick Yorke trio compares to other top threesomes across the league and historically in the organization.

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