October 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Strong start for Penrod, McDonough keeps hitting
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Arizona Fall League
Glendale is just 9-14 in the Arizona Fall League, which puts the Desert Dogs in a tie for last place with Mesa. Their elimination number is three. There haven't been many bright spots among Red Sox farmhands, but Tyler McDonough (pictured) has been hitting well, as he has an OPS of .940 over 33 at-bats. He was 4 for 9 on the week over two games. One was at shortstop and one was at second base. Even after coming late to the Arizona Fall League, he's adjusted well in a part-time role.
He's one of three position players on the roster, along with Nathan Hickey and Corey Rosier. Over four games, Rosier was 4 for 16, hitting mostly at the top of the lineup, and played all three outfield spots once. He occupied the designated hitter spot in his fourth game. This week pushed his batting average down to .313 and his OPS to a respectable .790, as all four hits were singles. Hickey was behind the plate twice this week and was 3 for 7, including a two-hit day with a double on Saturday.
On the mound, Zach Penrod has been pitching well in a big test after being signed from independent ball in August. He had the start on Saturday and pitched three shutout innings, with two hits, a walk, and three strikeouts. His batting average against is down to .184 in 14 innings and has been quite a revelation.
He leads the organization in innings, but Wyatt Olds is second, at eight frames. He only got in one game this week and pitched one inning. A solo home run was the only blemish on the day and has eight strikeouts in eight innings. He's one of four pitchers operating primarily in relief. Bryan Mata has been working to get more reps after injury and only pitched on Saturday, but had a disastrous outing. He only got two outs but allowed four runs to score. In six innings, his ERA is up to 10.29. Christopher Troye did not pitch, but Felix Cepeda also had a tough outing. Three runs, two of which were earned, went on his ledger over one inning of work. He allowed four hits but struck out two batters.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Enmanuel Valdez, who is playing for Toros, is the only position player in the system playing in LIDOM, which had its first full week of competition this week. He got into four games and was 3 for 16, scoring a pair of runs. He registered one walk and one stolen base but had a trio of strikeouts.
The only Red Sox pitcher in the league, Rio Gomez, made a pair of appearances. He threw 3 1/3 shutout innings on Tuesday, with four hits against four strikeouts, but coughed up four runs, three of which were earned, over three innings of work on Sunday. He had three strikeouts, but surrendered seven hits and walked a batter.
Photo Credit: Tyler McDonough by Kelly O'Connor