July 5, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: Bello to make MLB debut, July rankings released with a new number one
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New Rankings
The July rankings are officially out here at SoxProspects.com, and there's a new number one. Boston's 2021 first-round pick Marcelo Mayer (pictured, below) has jumped Triston Casas for the top spot. He has certainly earned it, as the 19-year-old shortstop has hit .291/.371/.525 across 43 games for Salem this season. He has been bit by the injury bug, missing a little over 40% of Salem's games this year, but when healthy he hasn't missed a beat. He has 21 doubles, seven home runs, and 10 stolen bases without being caught. This is not a knock on Casas, who slides into the number two spot, as he has also run into injuries in 2022 that have kept him off the field since May 17. He is hitting .248/.359/.457 in 36 games, although those numbers look a little worse than they probably should, as he has been hitting the ball very hard all year.
Another notable jump is Ceddanne Rafaela's climb from 19th to eighth. The 21-year-old has broken out in 2022, hitting .314/.357/.589 with 22 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs, and 17 stolen bases in 68 games between Greenville and Portland. Pitchers Josh Winckowski and Chris Murphy also leaped into the Top 10 at ninth and 10th, respectively. Winckowski has been very good for the big league club, posting a 3.12 ERA and a 2.96 FIP in 26 innings, while the left-handed Murphy has a 2.72 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings for Portland and Worcester this year.
A few other notable jumps include left-hander Shane Drohan (52nd to 28th), first baseman Niko Kavadas, (46th to 29th), shortstop Matthew Lugo (29th to 15th), and Eddinson Paulino (23rd to 12th). Check out the full rankings on SoxProspects.com's home page.
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Transactions
Bello to start against the Rays
The biggest news of the week belongs to Brayan Bello, who has officially been called up to the Red Sox and will make his MLB debut on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, Katie Morrison of MassLive.com reports. The 23-year-old right-hander is the top pitching prospect in the system and will replace the injured Rich Hill. Boston will be Bello's third stop of the 2022 season, as he began in Portland before spending the past month and a half in Worcester. With those two teams combined, Bello is 10-4 in 15 games (14 starts) with a 2.33 ERA. He has a very impressive 114 strikeouts to just 33 walks in 85 innings. He has thrown at least five full innings in every one of his outings this season and punched out at least eight in nine of his 15 games.
Seabold returns to Worcester after a solid outing in Chicago
Connor Seabold was optioned back to Triple-A following his start against the Cubs. After being roughed up by a great Blue Jays lineup, Seabold bounced back with a nice start against Chicago at Wrigley Field. He went four innings and gave up just one run in Boston's 4-2 win. He has a 2.09 ERA in 11 starts for the WooSox.
Crawford called back up, dominates vs. Rays
Kutter Crawford was called back up to Boston after back-to-back terrific outings for Worcester. Yesterday, he made his first appearance with the big league club since June 18 and shut down the Rays over 5 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He struck out eight and did not allow a run on two hits.
Hernandez Activated
Darwinzon Hernandez was officially activated by Worcester yesterday. The left-hander has not pitched since May 13. He has a 5.95 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.
Ward, Cannon rehab with FCL Sox
Thaddeus Ward and Cameron Cannon have begun playing games for the FCL Sox. Ward, who had not played yet this year, has appeared in one game for the FCL Red Sox, going two innings without allowing a hit with three strikeouts. Cannon had played in 24 games with Portland before getting hurt. He has played in three games so far since coming back, going 2 for 10 with a walk.
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Key Links
June Players of the Month
One of those players who made a big jump in the SoxProspects.com rankings, Niko Kavadas, was named the Player of the Month for June after a historic month at the plate with a 1.550 OPS. Brayan Bello will make his MLB debut tomorrow coming off a Pitcher of the Month nod for June. Read more here.
New Podcast Episode Released
Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall recorded the 251st episode of the SoxProspecs.com podcast. They discuss where things stand around the midway point of the season, including a hot start for the DSL Red Sox Blue.
Chad Jennings of The Athletic talks to Brian Abraham
Red Sox Director of Player Development Brian Abraham talked to Chad Jennings of The Athletic (paywall) about a few players in the minors who had made an impression this season. They discuss when Triston Casas will be ready to return, Ceddanne Rafaela's breakout season, and more.
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Players of the Week
Marcelo Mayer, SS, Salem Red Sox
5 G, 23 AB, 10 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, 1 SB, .435/.500/.913
The new number one prospect in the system is also this week's Player of the Week. He is currently riding a six-game hitting streak and posted back-to-back three-hit games over the weekend. The power has also been impressive with seven extra-base hits over the past week. He already has 13 total bases in three July games, posting a .538/.625/1.000 line in those games.
Mayer was the fourth overall pick by the Sox last summer and has been doing nothing but live up to the hype so far. He posted a solid .817 OPS with eight extra-base hits in 26 games for the FCL Sox last year, and this year he has clearly already taken a big step forward, hitting .286/.377/.495 with 28 extra-base hits so far for Salem in 44 games.
Luis De La Rosa, RHP, FCL Red Sox
2 G, 1-0, 8 1/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 15 K
De La Rosa had a huge week for the FCL Sox, striking out nearly two batters per inning in his two appearances. In his first start of the week, he punched out 10 in five innings and allowed just one hit. In his second outing, he posted another five strikeouts in 3 1/3 frames.
The 19-year-old, who was one of three players that came over from Kansas City in the Andrew Benintendi trade, has limited the opposition to just five hits in his 14 1/3 innings this year. He has a 1.26 ERA with 20 strikeouts. Overall in his minor league career, he has tossed 79 2/3 innings with 93 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA.
Photo Credit: Brayan Bello and Marcelo Mayer by Kelly O'Connor