December 30, 2023 at 8:22 PM
Pitch Clock: Sale trade, Giolito signing
On today's Pitch Clock, Chris H., Ian, and special guest Chris Clegg discuss the Chris Sale-for-Vaughn Grissom trade and Lucas Giolito signing.
SoxProspects News |
December 29, 2023 at 9:13 PM
Podcast Ep. #303: Slow, Slow, Slooooooow
The offseason's long but so far it's been slooooooowwww.... sorry, we've probably been watching too much White Christmas, but even Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney would've struggled to find something to sing about the Red Sox offseason so far (of course, we recorded the night before the news broke that the Red Sox had agreed to terms with Lucas Giolito). Still, the guys tried to make sense of it all, as well as taking a quick look at the Tyler O'Neill trade, which went down shortly after our last episode. Maybe we just need to keep recording so that moves can happen a day or two later?
December 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Reyes picks up three hits
The Dominican Professional League and Roberto Clemente Professional League, the only two leagues with Red Sox players in action, each continued this past week. The 2024 Rookie Development Program will get going in January. This post covers games from December 11-17.
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Pablo Reyes only got five at-bats this past week, but he made them count. The infielder went 3 for 5 with a trio of singles. He is now slashing .262/.377/.492 in 65 at-bats this winter with four home runs. Enmanuel Valdez did not play.
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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)
Jorge Benitez stayed hot, keeping his scoreless streak going. The left-hander only pitched one inning this past week, but it was a clean one. He did not allow a run and struck out one without issuing a free pass. He has now thrown 12 1/3 innings with 14 strikeouts and just three walks without allowing an earned run.
Photo Credit: Jorge Benitez via MLB.com
December 11, 2023 at 8:30 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Benitez racking up scoreless streak
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Looking at the weekly rosters, Enmanuel Valdez is not listed on their team roster for Toros del Este. However, infielder Pablo Reyes (pictured, left) is still listed on the Este roster and appeared twice this past week. On Thursday against Cibao, he went 1 for 4 and on Friday against Aguilas he went 2 for 4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. The 30-year-old, who is on the 40-man roster now, has a slash line of .233/.333/.483 over 60 at-bats over the winter.----
Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)
Newly signed Jorge Benitez just keeps cranking out scoreless appearances for Caguas. His scoreless streak has continued to 11 1/3 innings and added a strikeout and allowed two hits while closing out Sunday's 7-2 win for Caguas. His season statistics now have him with 13 strikeouts, three walks, and seven hits over his 11 1/3 innings.
Photo Credit: Pablo Reyes by Kelly O'Connor
Will Woodward is a Co-Owner and Senior Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.
December 10, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Podcast Ep. #302: Verdugone, Rule 5 exodus
At the last moment, the Winter Meetings gave us plenty to discuss. First, the Red Sox moved Alex Verdugo to, of all places, New York, with the Yankees sending three arms in return. Then, the organization lost NINE players in the Rule 5 Draft, while a tenth was traded in exchange for a pick in the Major League portion. At the very least, the club kept a tradition alive by selecting a Yankee in the minor league portion. the guys discussed the comings and goings, and then responded to your emails. (NOTE: this episode was recorded before the Tyler O'Neill trade.)
December 4, 2023 at 12:30 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Three minor leaguers play in U23 World Cup Qualifier; Benitez continues hot start in Puerto Rico
The calendar has flipped to December and for the remaining winter leagues, the regular season is now in its final month as teams jockey for playoff position. Aside from the usual goings-on in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, a trio of Dominican farm hands participated in the WBSC U23 World Cup Qualifier that took place in Nicaragua.
WBSC U23 World Cup Qualifier
Eleven nations spent the final week of November in Masaya, Nicaragua competing for one of four places in the U23 World Cup, which will take place in 2024 in China. The Red Sox organization had three representatives, all of which competed for the Dominican Republic, which finished in eighth place with a 1-3 record.
Albertson Asigen appeared in three of the games and went 1 for 8 with a triple. He added a run and an RBI, playing both center and right field. He was joined in the field by Claudio Simon, who played three games at third base and spent one contest as a designated hitter. He was 0 for 11 with six strikeouts, but did score a pair of runs and stole two bases.
Railin Perez was the only pitcher that made the journey and he was able to get into two games. Argentina touched him for two runs in just 2/3 of an inning on a hit and three walks. However, both outs were strikeouts. He pitched better against Nicaragua, with 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball, even if he did allow four hits and another free pass.
December 2, 2023 at 11:45 PM
Podcast Ep. #301: End-of-season Rankings/Winter Meetings Preview
So it turns out the Rule 5 protection and non-tender deadlines led to a somewhat eventful week! First, the Red Sox turned some heads by declining to add Shane Drohan to the 40-man roster on Tuesday. Then, they swung a minor trade with Seattle on Friday in addition to non-tendering Wyatt Mills. Analysis of all this and some minor league comings and goings, plus your emails, await!
November 27, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Fitzgerald debuts for Licey; Santos continues to impress
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Victor Santos was solid yet again in his third start of the winter for Escogido last Wednesday. Going up against Estrellas on the road, the 23-year-old righty picked up the winning decision while allowing just one earned run on three hits and one walk to go along with a season-high of seven strikeouts over five strong innings of work. In five appearances for the Leones this season, Santos is now 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP across 18 2/3 total frames.
November 20, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Santos throws five scoreless innings
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Victor Santos (pictured) picked up the win for Escogido in his only appearance of the week. He threw five shutout innings, striking out two without walking a batter. His ERA now sits at 0.66 after 13 2/3 innings. Enmanuel Valdez did not make an appearance, while Pablo Reyes went 0 for 4 in his lone start. His line dropped to .257/.350/.657 over 35 at-bats.
Photo Credit: Victor Santos by Kelly O'Connor
November 19, 2023 at 12:03 AM
Podcast Ep. #300: Messed with the Drohan
So it turns out the Rule 5 protection and non-tender deadlines led to a somewhat eventful week! First, the Red Sox turned some heads by declining to add Shane Drohan to the 40-man roster on Tuesday. Then, they swung a minor trade with Seattle on Friday in addition to non-tendering Wyatt Mills. Analysis of all this and some minor league comings and goings, plus your emails, await!
November 14, 2023 at 11:40 AM
Podcast Shorts Ep. 1: 2023 Rule 5 Protection Deadline
Welcome to SoxProspects Shorts, Episode 1! We'll explain what it means further on the episode, but as for the matter at hand, Tuesday at 6pm is the deadline to protect players from selection in the Rule 5 Draft by adding them to the 40-man roster, so Chris and Ian hopped on to give their thoughts on who might be protected, who might not, and why.
November 13, 2023 at 2:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: AFL comes to close, McDonough goes deep
The Glendale Desert Dogs' season has ended, with their final three games being played this past week. The Dominican Professional League is also still in full swing. The Roberto Clemente Professional League, Venezuelan League, and Mexican Leagues are also in action, but no Red Sox players have played in those three.
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Glendale dropped their final three games to end their season with a 12-18 record, which landed them in last place on the year. Corey Rosier ended the year on a tough note, going 0 for 13 with four strikeouts over the final three games. He did take two walks and steal his third bag of the season. In 89 AFL at-bats, Rosier ends with a .258/.355/.344 slash line. Nathan Hickey caught one of Glendale's final three games, and he went 1 for 5 with a single and four strikeouts. He ends the fall with a .182 batting average and a .557 OPS in 55 at-bats. Shortstop Tyler McDonough (pictured) was a bright spot at the plate. Although he went just 2 for 11, he smoked a three-run home run and drove in four runs. He also drew a pair of walks. He finishes the fall with a solid .254/.366/.424 line and two home runs over 59 at-bats.
November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Rosier and Penrod help AL win Fall Stars Game
The Arizona Fall League enters its final week with the last games set for Saturday, November 11. However, the Dominican Republic is just starting to ramp up. Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League also started on Friday, but the three Red Sox listed on rosters have yet to play in a game. Similarly, the leagues in Venezuela and Mexico have both started but no Red Sox prospects are in the league. This recap covers games from October 30-November 5.
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Arizona Fall LeagueThe Desert Dogs had one of their best weeks as a team this fall, going 3-1 in the short week. Despite the team's strong record, the hitters struggled a bit with Nathan Hickey, Tyler McDonough, and Corey Rosier (pictured, right) going 5 for 34 (.147) with 6 runs, 1 RBI, 8 walks, and 12 strikeouts over the four games. Despite the tough week, McDonough has had a strong fall season, hitting .271/.379/.417 over 48 at-bats.
Another player that has had a good year despite a slow week is Rosier. He has spent much of the year leading off for the Desert Dogs, hitting .300/.391/.400 over 80 at-bats. That performance had the outfielder secure an invite to the Fall Stars Game, and there he started and hit ninth, going 1 for 2 with a run and a strikeout for the victorious AL Team. Joining him in the Fall Stars game was lefty Zack Penrod who pitched the 2nd inning for the AL, allowing no runs with a hit and a strikeout. That outing continues a strong fall for the 26-year-old.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Enmanuel Valdez, who is playing for Toros, had a rough first week last week, going only 3 for 13. Things did not get much better this week as he now has only 4 hits in 30 at-bats overall on the young winter season. He was joined this week by fellow Red Sox prospect, infielder Pablo Reyes. Reyes saw much more success in his first week, hitting .313/.353/.813 with two home runs over the week.
Enmanuel Valdez, who is playing for Toros, had a rough first week last week, going only 3 for 13. Things did not get much better this week as he now has only 4 hits in 30 at-bats overall on the young winter season. He was joined this week by fellow Red Sox prospect, infielder Pablo Reyes. Reyes saw much more success in his first week, hitting .313/.353/.813 with two home runs over the week.
The only Red Sox pitcher in the league is now Victor Santos, who is pitching for Leones del Escogido. Thus far, he has thrown five shutout innings, allowing two walks and two hits while striking out six.
Photo Credit: Corey Rosier by Kelly O'Connor.
Will Woodward is a Co-Owner and Senior Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com.
October 30, 2023 at 8:22 PM
Podcast Ep. #299: The Breslow-down
The Red Sox found themselves a new Chief Baseball Officer, and it's a familiar face in former Boston reliever Craig Breslow. Since retiring in 2018, Breslow has worked in the Cubs front office - with some familiar faces - and become known as a rising star in front office circles. So what to make of the hire? Too soon? Was it surprising? The guys gave their thoughts on the hire and what it means for the team going forward. Plus some fall/winter ball talk and of course, your emails!
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.
October 23, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Rosier stays hot in AFL; Valdez returns to Dominican for winter ball
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Arizona Fall League
It was a perfect week for Glendale in the Arizona Fall League. After winning just two of their first 12 games, the Desert Dogs rattled off six straight wins and are now 8-10 on the season. They now trail the 11-6 Scottsdale Scorpions by 3 1/2 games for first place in the standings heading into Week 4 of AFL play.
October 18, 2023 at 11:47 PM
Podcast Ep. #298: The Search Is On
That's for the Head of Baseball Operations, of course. The search is on and the guys ran down all of the latest as the Red Sox try to find the next person to run the front office. Plus, the latest from the Arizona Fall League, transactions, and a look at the players for whom the offseason will be most important.
October 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: McDonough debuts in the AFL; Dominican and Venezuelan leagues set to begin
Last week, the team announced that Tyler McDonough (pictured) was joining the Glendale Desert Dogs roster while Brainer Bonaci would be leaving. On Wednesday, it came out that Bonaci was sent home and placed on the restricted list for violating the Minor League Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy. Bonaci was put on the restricted list on August 30 when he was with Portland as well. There is no word yet on his status for next season, but it will be something to monitor in the coming weeks.
With the Dominican and Venezuelan leagues starting this week, our 2023-24 Fall and Winter Leagues page will have updated rosters once available. This week's edition of the Notes runs from October 11-15.
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Arizona Fall League
It was a rough stretch for the Desert Dogs, as they went 0-4 over the four games since our last update. They are now 2-10 and sitting in last place. Corey Rosier continues to see the most playing time, as he started in three of the four games. He went 2 for 11 with an RBI while playing center field. Nathan Hickey appeared in just one game as a designated hitter and went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts. Tyler McDonough made his debut on Saturday and went 0 for 3 while getting the start in left field.
October 11, 2023 at 1:00 PM
Fall/Winter Roundup: Rosier on roll as AFL kicks off
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Arizona Fall League
The highlight of the first week-plus of the AFL season has been the play of outfielder Corey Rosier. The 24-year-old, acquired in the deal with San Diego that included Jay Groome and Eric Hosmer, has hit safely in each of his six starts for the Desert Dogs. He is 9 for 24 (.360) with a double, triple, and three stolen bases. He has seen time at all three outfield positions, getting three starts in center field, two in left field, and one in right.
October 6, 2023 at 12:00 PM
2023 SoxProspects.com Awards: Player of the Year
We have reached the final day of our awards week here at SoxProspects.com. The Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year will be posted today, with this edition being the Player of the Year. Throughout the week, we have announced All-Star position players and pitchers, Graduate of the Year, Homegrown Player of the Year, Ex-Prospects of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and Breakout Player of the Year. Today, we discuss the top player of 2023.
Player of the Year
Ceddanne Rafaela is a repeat Player of the Year, as he won this award last year as well after a breakout season. Rafaela took another huge leap in 2023, and it ended with him getting some time in Boston. He showed off his wide skill set, playing multiple positions well, running the bases at a high level, and taking his offense to new heights. After being named the Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, Rafaela earned the Sox' Minor League Baserunner of the Year honor in 2023.
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2023 SoxProspects.com Awards: Pitcher of the Year
This concludes the fifth and final day of Awards Week here at SoxProspects.com. Throughout the week, we have recognized our All-Star position players and pitchers, our Graduate, Homegrown, and Ex-Prospect of the Year, our Rookie, Comeback, and Breakout Player of the Year, and our Player of the Year. To wrap things up, we will name our Pitcher of the Year for 2023.
Pitcher of the Year
Yordanny Monegro (pictured, right) earns the honors after bursting onto the scene this season and emerging as one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the organization.
at 7:57 AM
Podcast Ep. #297: 2023 Season in Review
After 20 years in review, we narrowed our focus to just this one, looking back at the season's best on the farm. We highlighted the SoxProspects.com award winners and all-stars as part of our position-by-position look back at 2023. Plus, we discussed the final month in Boston, the start of the Arizona Fall League, and remembered Tim Wakefield. Plus, your emails!
October 5, 2023 at 9:17 PM
2023 SoxProspects.com Awards: Rookie, Comeback, and Breakout players of the year
Award season continues, as we introduce our Rookie, Comeback and Breakout players of the year, one of which is a first in nearly 10 years.
In most years, the Rookie of the Year has been from a player that spends the year at full-season affiliates, as they have the sample size to better prove that they're the best first-year player in the system than those in Rookie ball. This is particularly true of players in the Dominican Summer League, where statistics are even less valuable than those from higher up on the minor league ladder.
Prior to this year, the only DSL players to win the award in site history are Rafael Devers (2014) and Xander Bogaerts (2010), making impressive company for Yoeilin Cespedes, who has become the third award winner to spend their rookie season in the Dominican Republic.
October 4, 2023 at 10:00 AM
2023 SoxProspects.com Awards: Graduate, Homegrown and Ex-Prospect
Graduate of the Year: Triston Casas
Casas' (pictured, left) first full season in the majors did not get off to the best of starts. After debuting and showing signs of promise last September, the 23-year-old broke camp this spring as Boston's Opening Day first baseman. He then struggled out of the gate, batting just .133/.283/.293 with three home runs and eight RBIs in his first 25 games (92 plate appearances) of the year.
October 3, 2023 at 3:44 PM
Minor Notes: Drive win SAL title; Arizona Fall League begins
The season has officially come to an end in the minor leagues. The WooSox were the last team to finish up, missing the playoffs. The Greenville Drive ended their season on a very high note, capturing the South Atlantic League championship. The offseason is underway and the fall leagues are already starting up. Drive Sweep the Postseason
Greenville went 4-0 in the 2023 playoffs, winning each of their series in two games. Kristian Campbell (pictured), Ronald Rosario, and Allan Castro each played in all four games and posted an OPS north of 1.000. Rosario and Campbell each homered in the clinching game. Zach Penrod and Felix Cepeda were standouts on the mound in the playoffs for Greenville. Cepeda tossed three shutout innings with five strikeouts, and we'll have more on Penrod in a bit. It was the Drive's second SAL championship.
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2023 SoxProspects.com All-Stars: Pitchers
Following up on Monday's position player All-Stars, today brings the SoxProspects.com 2023 All-Star pitchers. While several of the hitters had previously achieved All-Star status, the pitching selections represent a changing of the guard in the system - none of the eight selections had previously been chosen. Greenville was your best bet for catching one of the system's stars in 2023: six of the eight spent time with the Drive.
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The 21-year-old righthander from Venezuela pushed his way into the system's top ten on the strength of a 2023 season in which he was nearly unhittable. In 25 outings between Greenville and Portland, Gonzalez led the organization with 168 strikeouts, and his .190 opponents' batting average was the lowest among pitchers with at least 60 innings. He gave up just seven home runs in 111 1/3 innings, and his 3.96 ERA on the year is even more impressive when considering his slow start. In four April appearances, Gonzalez surrendered 15 earned runs in just 8 2/3 innings, entering May with an unsightly 15.58 mark. He had a 3.48 ERA in his next 11 outings, forcing the promotion to Portland where he gave up just 13 runs in 48 1/3 (2.42). He is currently ranked eighth in the system.
October 2, 2023 at 7:00 AM
2023 SoxProspects.com All-Stars: Position Players
Welcome to the 2023 SoxProspects.com Awards week! Over the next five days, we will present our annual awards on the news page, recognizing the standout performers from the season. The schedule will be as follows:
Monday: All-Star position players
Tuesday: All-Star pitchers
Wednesday: Graduate of the Year; Homegrown Player of the Year; Ex-Prospect of the Year
Thursday: Rookie of the Year; Breakout Player of the Year; Comeback Player of the Year
Friday: Player of the Year; Pitcher of the Year
We kick things off with the position players selected by the SoxProspects.com staff for their All-Star performances. While we consider factors such as age advancement and opponent quality, these awards recognize the players' in-game performances rather than a commentary on any status as a prospect. While injuries kept players like Marcelo Mayer and Miguel Bleis from reaching All-Star status, several other top players had excellent seasons. Eight of the system's top 22 prospects are highlighted below, with the ninth player being a former top-5 prospect who graduated in May of 2021.
September 27, 2023 at 11:24 PM
Podcast Ep. #296: 20th Anniversary Special, Pt. 2
Our celebration continues for one more episode, as the full SoxProspects Brass of Mike, Chris, Ian and James gathers to talk about 20 years of SoxProspects. Plus, Mike and Chris got on the line with former Director of Scouting Chris Mellen!
September 25, 2023 at 7:01 AM
Podcast Ep. #295: 20th Anniversary Special, Pt. 1
Yep, that's right, this past week, SoxProspects.com celebrated its 20th anniversary! In Part 1 of our special podcast, Chris is joined by site founder and Editor-in-Chief Mike Andrews. The two discussed the origins of the site, the Forum, the News Page, the podcast, and more great stories from the site's history. At the end of the episode, they were joined by Baltimore Banner Orioles columnist and, more importantly, former SoxProspects staffer Jon Meoli to discuss his time at the site and his launch into the big-time as one of the best follows on the Orioles beat and the writer for Baseball America's Orioles prospect list in the Prospect Handbook. Keep an eye out for Part 2 later this week!
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Cup of Coffee: Abreu homers in Boston; Worcester's season finale called off due to rain
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Worcester Red Sox @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) (cancelled)
For the second year in a row, Worcester's last game of the season was cancelled due to inclement weather on the road. It will not be made up. As such, the WooSox finish the 2023 campaign with a final record of 79-68 under Chad Tracy. They went 39-36 in the first half and 40-32 in the second half but ultimately fell short of securing a spot in the International League playoffs.
September 24, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Rain cancels season's penultimate contest
Worcester Red Sox @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI), canceled
Worcester ended Lehigh Valley's playoff hopes on Friday, so the teams will not have to make up Saturday's rainout. They'll finish out the season on Sunday if the weather allows.
If you need to fill the void left by the lack of games to be recapped, please check out the recent piece on the history of SoxProspects.com by Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.
Photo Credit: Manuel Margot by Kelly O'Connor
September 23, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Sogard's three hits support strong start for Walter
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Brandon Walter improved to 3-5 as he ended his season on a high note. Walter allowed one run over five innings, striking out four without walking a batter. Joely Rodríguez threw a shutout inning in his second rehab appearance, and Luis Guerrero picked up his first save for Worcester. Guerrero did make things interesting by walking two batters and allowing a single, but he got a strikeout with two runners on to end the game. Nick Sogard had three of the team's seven hits and scored all three of their runs, going 3 for 4 with a walk, double, and triple. He stole a base for good measure. Ronaldo Hernández went 1 for 3 and was hit by two pitches.
September 22, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: McDonough, Kavadas lead offense, quintet combines for two-hitter
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Worcester was able to play spoiler on Thursday night, helping to cut Durham's (TB) magic number to one in the International League playoff hunt. Niko Kavadas kicked off the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. Tyler McDonough (pictured) went 2 for 3 with a triple and a run scored. The utility man got the start at second base and is 3 for 5 since joining Worcester at the close of the Double-A season. A quintet of pitchers split up the work on the two-hit victory. Chase Shugart got the spot start, going 2 1/3 hitless innings, striking out two and walking three. Justin Hagenman got credit for the win, following Shugart with 2 2/3 frames of shutout ball. Ryan Fernandez surrendered the IronPigs' only score. Joe Jacques walked one and struck out two in a pair of hitless frames, and AJ Politi also did not allow a hit in the ninth on his way to his 15th save of the year.
September 21, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Kavadas records two hits as Worcester falls to Lehigh Valley
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It was a rough night for the pitching staff as Worcester dropped its second straight to Lehigh Valley. Brian Van Belle got the start and allowed four earned runs on three hits, five walks (tying a season-high), and four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of work. Of the 88 pitches the right-hander threw, 46 went for strikes and 10 elicited a swing-and-miss. Oddanier Mosqueda received the first call out of the WooSox bullpen and did not fare much better, surrendering four more runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. The rehabbing Zack Kelly gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth before Brendan Nail recorded the final two outs of the inning. From there, Bryan Mata yielded two runs in his second appearance back from the injured list while Logan Gillaspie scattered three hits and a walk across 1 1/3 scoreless frames.
September 20, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Drive win second SAL championship in franchise history
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Stephen Scott had a nice night for the WooSox, hitting his 13th home run of the year with Worcester and 19th overall this season. He also drew a walk and raised his OPS to .822 in 60 games for Worcester. Corey Rosier had a couple of hits, including a double, and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Ronaldo Hernandez added a double as well. Kyle Barraclough started and labored through four innings. He walked seven and allowed five hits, but limited the damage to just two runs. He also stuck out five. Cam Booser had a great night in relief, tossing 1 2/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
September 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: Greenville advances to championship series, Chaim Bloom fired
Chaim Bloom, Red Sox part ways
It was quite the bombshell on Thursday, as Red Sox ownership announced just prior to the start of a doubleheader against the Yankees that Chaim Bloom had been fired as Chief Baseball Officer. Bloom had been hired in 2019, seemingly as a direct response to the freewheeling and big spending ways of the Dave Dombrowski era, as he had built the Rays into a perennial contender through drafting and developing inexpensive talent.
September 18, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Esplin tallies 7 RBIs in Portland; Perales leads Greenville to Game 1 win
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The WooSox came away with a series-splitting victory in their final home game of the season at Polar Park. Five members of Worcester's starting lineup enjoyed multi-hit days at the plate. Nick Sogard paced the group by going 3 for 5 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Enmanuel Valdez and Ronaldo Hernandez each went 2 for 4 in the process of combining for two RBIs, six runs scored, and two walks. Batting behind them, Corey Rosier doubled and drove in a run as part of his first two-hit showing at the Triple-A level. Like Sogard, Niko Kavadas provided some pop by going 2 for 5 with a two-run single and a three-run home run that travelled an estimated 447 feet over the Worcester Wall. David Hamilton reached base twice and swiped one bag to bring his season total to 57.
September 17, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Koss records two hits; Kelly and Ort make rehab appearances for Worcester
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Corey Kluber was originally scheduled to make a rehab start for Worcester on Saturday but was instead scratched as a result of being shut down for the remainder of the season. In his place, Rio Gomez put forth a solid effort. The 28-year-old lefty allowed only two earned runs on six hits (one home run), two walks, and five strikeouts over five innings of work. He finished with 86 pitches (56 strikes) and induced nine swings-and-misses. In relief of Gomez, the rehabbing duo of Zack Kelly and Kaleb Ort each made appearances out of the WooSox bullpen. The former took the loss after serving up a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. The latter retired the only three batters he faced in a scoreless top of the eighth. Additionally, Chase Shugart was tagged for three runs in the seventh inning while Ryan Fernandez put up a zero in the ninth.
September 16, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Van Belle strikes out nine; Dalbec drives in two
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Brian Van Belle struck out nine over six innings of two-run ball in a win for Worcester. Justin Garza and Logan Gillaspie tossed scoreless innings as they picked up a hold and a save, respectively. Worcester scored all five runs in the third inning, with Nick Sogard lacing a two-run single and Bobby Dalbec adding a two-run double. Corey Rosier went 1 for 3 with a double, David Hamilton stole his 56th base, and Enmanuel Valdez drew three walks.
September 15, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Teel blasts first Double-A homer; Monegro sends Drive to SAL finals
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With scheduled starter Brandon Walter joining the major league squad, the WooSox turned to a bullpen game to try to avoid a second straight loss at Polar Park. Oddanier Mosqueda got the first call, giving up three runs on five hits in two innings, including a pair of round-trippers. Brendan Nail was Worceter's most effective hurler, going two hitless innings with a walk and a strikeout. David Hamilton led the offense, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Enmanuel Valdez singled and drew a pair of walks on the night.
at 1:28 AM
Podcast Ep. #294: Chaim Bloom Fired
Sound the emergency podcast alarm - the Red Sox announced on Thursday they've parted ways with CBO Chaim Bloom. Chris and Ian got on the horn for an episode discussing the move, Bloom's tenure, and what's next for the franchise.
(Production Note: Chris may not have had the right microphone on - apologies for the sound quality.)
September 14, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Dearden, Hickey lead offensive surge in Portland
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Kyle Barraclough suffered his first loss as a member of the WooSox. Making his 12th start of the season for Worcester on Wednesday night, the journeyman right-hander allowed six earned runs on four hits, four walks, and one hit-by-pitch with eight strikeouts over just 3 2/3 innings of work. In relief of Barraclough, Justin Hagenman scattered two hits and two walks across 3 1/3 scoreless frames. Ryan Fernandez then worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning before yielding one run on two hits and a walk in the top of the ninth.
September 13, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Kavadas homers twice; Portland rallies; Drive win playoff game
9/13 Cup of Coffee: It was an exciting night for the system, as all three teams in action won. Greenville won their first playoff game behind some great pitching. Niko Kavadas (pictured) blasted two home runs in Worcester's 10-run effort. Hunter Dobbins pitched well for the Sea Dogs before Nathan Hickey led a huge late-inning comeback.
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Niko Kavadas led the way, going 2 for 4 with a pair of home runs. The left-handed slugger hit a solo shot in the fourth inning and then a two-run homer in the seventh. Narciso Crook had a big night, belting a solo home run in addition to drawing two walks. Christian Koss also went 1 for 4 with the first Triple-A home run of his career. Stephen Scott and Bobby Dalbec each doubled and drove in a couple of runs, while Ronaldo Hernandez went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Corey Kluber got the start in this one, making it his third appearance of the year for Worcester. The righty did now allow a run in 2 2/3 frames with two strikeouts and no walks. Shane Drohan picked up the win in relief with one of the craziest outings you'll see. He pitched 3 2/3 innings and walked seven batters, but somehow managed to escape with no runs allowed, as he did not surrender a base hit. He added three strikeouts. Chase Shugart tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts.
September 12, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: Mayer shut down; Meidroth and Troye shine for Portland
Salem's season comes to an end; Greenville prepares for playoffs
The final two games of Salem's season were rained out and will not be made up. With a second-half record of 25-39 and a final record of 55-27, the Red Sox failed to qualify for postseason play. The Carolina Mudcats (MIL) and Down East Wood Ducks (TEX) will instead represent the North division in the Carolina League playoffs.
September 11, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Anthony rips three doubles, Yorke steals three bases for Portland
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A five-run fourth inning lifted Worcester to a series-splitting win over Gwinnett on Sunday afternoon. Narciso Crook led the way offensively, going 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI double out of the nine-hole. Niko Kavadas and Bradley Zimmer each recorded run-scoring doubles as well while Ronaldo Hernandez plated a pair with his 15th two-bagger of the year. David Hamilton and the rehabbing Pablo Reyes each went 1 for 4 with a stolen base. Hamilton -- who also drew a walk -- brought his season total up to 55 while Reyes -- who scored a run -- played six innings of second base before making way for Nick Sogard.
September 10, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: WooSox fall despite Dalbec heroics; Anthony notches two doubles
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Despite not generating a hit through the first six innings, Worcester actually carried a lead into the bottom of the ninth before suffering their second walk-off in three days. Bobby Dalbec snapped the no-hit bid with a single to lead off the seventh inning, and he later gave the WooSox a 2-1 lead with a solo homer to start the ninth. In between a Niko Kavadas solo shot spoiled the Gwinnett shutout bid. On for the ninth to try to close out the win, Luis Guerrero saw his control abandon him. He walked the first four batters he faced, forcing in a run to tie the game at 2-2. A 6-2 force out erased what would have been the winning run, but the next batter delivered the walk-off base hit. Before Guerrero's struggles, a quintet of veteran hurlers had limited the Stripers to one run on six hits. Corey Kluber made the rehab start, going one inning, striking out one batter and inducing groundouts to the other two.
September 9, 2023 at 11:53 PM
Podcast Ep. #293: A visit to Greenville
Ian sat in on a full series down in lovely Greenville (thanks again for all your support, generous donors!) and has plenty to report back! Check in here for a full set of reports from the High-A affiliate, plus thoughts on Ceddanne Rafaela in Boston, Marcelo Mayer being done for the year, and your emails!
at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Anthony hits first Double-A home run; Teel continues to shine
9/9 Cup of Coffee: As the end of the regular season draws near, Worcester and Portland have seen their playoff chances dwindle. Worcester got reinforcements, with Pablo Reyes starting a rehab assignment, and Roman Anthony and Chase Meidroth helped Portland with home runs. Yordanny Monegro had an up-and-down start for Greenville, while Albertson Asigen had another good game for Salem.
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The WooSox dropped their second game in a row and are now four out of a playoff spot with eight games left. The Worcester pitching staff racked up 12 strikeouts but also surrendered 11 hits. Brian Van Belle went the first four innings and allowed three runs, and Chase Shugart allowed two runs over two innings. Pablo Reyes started a rehab assignment and went 1 for 3 with a throwing error. Nick Sogard went 1 for 3 with a walk, and Ronaldo Hernández went 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly.
September 8, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Duffy rebounds with strong start in Salem
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Worcester fell in the bottom of the ninth of Thursday's back-and-forth contest. All of the WooSox scoring came via the long ball. Bobby Dalbec and Narciso Crook both hit solo homers, and Niko Kavadas delivered a two-run blast in the eighth to give his team a short-lived 4-3 advantage. It was the 32nd homer of the season for Dalbec, but just his second since August 13. He now is just one off of the league lead in home runs. Christian Koss reached base three times, going 2 for 2 with a hit batsman. Kyle Barraclough allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out five but walking six. Luis Guerrero was a highlight in his Triple-A debut, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a scoreless eighth. Ryan Fernandez took the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) in 2/3 of an inning.
September 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Murphy, Zimmer propel Worcester; Anderson has first multi-hit game
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A three-run fifth-inning lifted Worcester to a come-from-behind win over Gwinnett. Held hitless to that point in the contest, Bradley Zimmer followed a Narciso Crook leadoff walk by cranking a game-tying, two-run homer for his fifth big fly with the WooSox. Five batters and one pitching change later, Bobby Dalbec came through with a go-ahead, RBI single that scored David Hamilton and gave the visitors a 3-2 lead. In addition to scoring what would prove to be the winning run, Hamilton drew three walks and stole his 54th base of the season. Ryan Fitzgerald also swiped a bag while Stephen Scott drew two walks for the second straight night.
September 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Teel, Anthony pick up hits in Portland debuts
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The Sox came storming back with four runs in the ninth inning to steal a win in exciting fashion. In the inning, David Hamilton singled home Christian Koss, who lead off with a double. Then, the game was tied when two runs scored on a fielder's choice error off the bat of Stephen Scott. Ronaldo Hernandez then knocked in what would turn out to be the game-winning run with a single. Hamilton had another hit as well and scored a run. Nick Sogard also went 2 for 4, Bradley Zimmer roped a triple, and Niko Kavadas singled and drew a walk. Rio Gomez struggled on the mound, giving up five earned run over 4 1/3 frames with three strikeouts and two walks. The Sox bullpen was great, starting with Justin Hagenman, who did not allow a run or a hit with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Brendan Nail pitched a hitless inning, and Justin Garza tossed two innings without surrendering a run or a hit.
September 5, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: Anthony and Teel promoted to Portland; Gonzalez continues to impress
Anthony and Teel promoted to Portland
Two of the system's top-five prospects got promoted to Portland, with Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel heading north for the last two weeks of the season. The Sea Dogs are unlikely to make the playoffs, and the regular season will end on September 17. Anthony tore through the South Atlantic League, batting .294/.412/.569 with 12 home runs in 54 games. The only hole you can poke in his stats is his strikeout rate of 30%, which may be problematic as he moves into the upper minors. But the 19-year-old impressed fans and scouts with his brilliant play with the Drive.