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SoxProspects News

July 26, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Valera, Rodriguez debut at new levels; FCL Sox knocked out


7/26 Cup of Coffee:
Thursday was the final full slate of the 2024 season, with the FCL Red Sox playoff hopes coming down to the final day. The team got a win to put themselves in position, but fate was not on their side as the Pirates and the weather conspired to send them home for the winter. Elsewhere, Juan Valera (pictured) extended his hitless streak to a new level in his Salem debut, while Elmer Rodriguez turned in a solid first High-A start in Greenville's win. Roman Anthony and Nick Decker keyed a ninth-inning rally for Portland, while Worcester squandered an excellent Grant Gambrell effort. 

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An outstanding start by Grant Gambrell went for naught as the bullpen slumped to a seven-run seventh inning. Gambrell surrendered just two hits across six shutout innings, striking out four and walking one. He pounded the strike zone, throwing 53 of 81 pitches for strikes. Unfortunately, that was not the case for Alex Speas, who relieved Gambrell to start the seventh and walked four of the five batters he faced, with a double mixed in. A pair of singles and a walk surrendered by Brian Van Belle allowed all of those runners to score, and suddenly a 2-0 advantage became a 7-2 deficit. Bobby Dalbec got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second inning. Nick Yorke ripped a double and worked a walk, going 1 for 3 to snap a three-game hitless skid.
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July 25, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Anderson stays hot, Arias crushes first Low-A homer for Salem


7/25 Cup of Coffee: Boston's affiliates went 3-2 on Wednesday. Bobby Dalbec aided Worcester in salvaging a doubleheader split against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Wikelman Gonzalez struck out five over four one-run innings in Portland's loss to Somerset. Greenville's game was suspended in the eighth inning due to rain. In Salem, Antonio Anderson stayed hot while Franklin Arias (pictured) clubbed his first Low-A home run. There were also some late-game heroics in the Dominican Summer League.
 
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Justin Hagenman took the loss in his start for Worcester, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, one walk, and four strikeouts over four innings. Wyatt Olds struggled in his Triple-A debut, surrendering four additional runs on three hits (two of which were home runs), two walks, and one strikeout in 2/3 of an inning. Joely Rodriguez retired all four batters he faced. Offensively, Chase Meidroth accounted for his side's only run by going 1 for 2 with an RBI double. Matthew Lugo also doubled and scored that one run as part of a 1 for 3 showing.
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July 24, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Gasper stays hot, Sogard homers for Worcester


7/24 Cup of Coffee
: It was a rough night on the farm, as the Sox affiliates combined to go 0-7. Mickey Gasper stayed red hot for Worcester, while Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell each collected an extra-base hit for Portland. Luis Guerrero and Bryce Bonnin (pictured) had terrific outings out of the bullpen for Worcester and Greenville. 

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Mickey Gasper continued to rake for Worcester, going 3 for 3 with three singles, raising his batting average to .393 in 26 games with the WooSox. Nick Sogard went 2 for 5 with his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot in the first inning. Chase Meidroth went 1 for 4 with an RBI single and a walk, and Eddy Alvarez smoked a two-run double. Brad Keller opened up the game on the mound with a perfect frame and one strikeout. Jorge Benitez and Naoyuki Uwasawa struggled in relief, as each allowed four runs. Luis Guerrero was dominant in two innings scoreless innings, striking out four without a walk. 
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July 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Minor Notes: Mid-year promotions roll in; Arias and Valera dominate the FCL


The full-season affiliates were out of action until Friday, so it was a lighter week for game action. Franklin Arias (pictured, right) had a full slate in the FCL, and he turned in a near-historic week. Mid-year promotions are the big story while pitching injuries continue for the organization. 

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Measuring up the 2024 draft class
Chris and Ian got together to recap Boston's 2024 draft class in the most recent episode of the podcast. They discuss any different strategies with Craig Breslow now installed as the Chief Baseball Officer while going pick-by-pick through the whole draft. The Red Sox went very pitching and college-heavy, and they debated what that could mean for the system for the remainder of the year. 
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Jimenez leads way as FCL Sox stay tied atop division


7/23 Cup of Coffee: The race in the Florida Complex League is coming down to the wire, and Frederik Jimenez (pictured) led the offense to keep the Sox in a tie for first place in the post-Arias era. The DSL squads were in action as well, but both saw their contests suspended by rain.

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Entering Monday's contest, the FCL Sox were locked in a three-way tie for first place in the South Division and a four-way tie for the wild card with only three games left to play. One rain-shortened victory later, the standings haven't budged. It was announced in the morning that scorching-hot shortstop Franklin Arias was being promoted to Salem, but Frederik Jimenez took on the offensive load in his stead. Jimenez started off the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning and then ripped doubles in his other two at-bats. Stijn Van Der Schaaf worked around some wobbly control to go four scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits while he struck out one, walked four, and hit a batter. Diego Hernandez walked a pair in a scoreless fifth and was credited with the win when the game was called for rain before the sixth inning. 
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July 22, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Romero, Rosario power Greenville to walk-off win in extras


7/22 Cup of Coffee:
Boston's affiliates went 2-2 on Sunday. Mikey Romero (pictured) stole the show by homering twice while Ronald Rosario played hero in Greenville's walk-off victory over Bowling Green in extra innings. Gerardo Rodriguez tallied three hits in his Salem debut as the Red Sox extended their winning streak to four. Elsewhere, Justin Gonzales and Anderson Fermin played in the Dominican Summer League All-Star Game.

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Richard Fitts took the loss in his start for Worcester after allowing four earned runs on six hits, three walks, one hit batsman, and just one strikeout over four innings. He gave up two homers as his ERA on the season rose to 4.98. Trey Wingenter struck out three in two scoreless frames out of the bullpen. At the plate, Nick Sogard went 2 for 5 with one double and one run scored. Vaughn Grissom and Mickey Gasper both went 1 for 4 with one RBI. Eddy Alvarez drove in a run as well.
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July 21, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Teel and Anthony homer; Arias swipes four bases


7/21 Cup of Coffee:
It was a day full of close games, with Boston's affiliates coming out on the losing end in most of them. Worcester, Portland, Greenville, and the FCL squad lost one-run games, while Salem squeaked by with a walk-off victory. Kyle Teel (pictured) had one of his best games of the season, and Yordanny Monegro pitched well for the Drive. Franklin Arias has been showing off his power, but his speed stole the show on Saturday. 

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A strong game from Niko Kavadas was not enough to get Worcester past the IronPigs. Kavadas went 2 for 4 with a double and his 17th home run in the losing effort. He is now tied for 11th place in the International League home run chase. Matthew Lugo continued to acclimate to Triple-A as he went 2 for 3 with a walk, and Enmanuel Valdez went 2 for 5. Jason Alexander allowed two runs over five innings, with both coming via a solo home run. Ryan Zeferjahn took the loss after walking in the winning run in the ninth. It was his second walk of the inning, and he also hit a batter. 
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July 20, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: DSL no-hitter; Mayer goes 3 for 3


7/20 Cup of Coffee:
It was quite the Friday on the farm, as a DSL squad threw a no-hitter, Salem walked off a wild one in extras and each team that played won their game. Individually, Marcelo Mayer (pictured) was 3 for 3, including a home run, as the only big flies came in the upper minors. Chase Meidroth, Nick Sogard and Enmanuel Valdez each went yard in a drubbing for Worcester, which featured a strong start by Grant Gambrell. The FCL team also held on to its one-game lead over the Pirates and Rays with just one week left in the regular season.
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Lehigh Valley scored first, but Worcester took a commanding lead with a five-run third, then left no doubt with a seven-run ninth that included home runs by both Nick Sogard and Enmanuel Valdez. Six hitters had multiple base knocks as the team combined for 16. Chase Meidroth, who also homered, Bobby Dalbec and Nick Yorke each ripped a trio of hits, while Eddy Alvarez, Sogard and Valdez each had a pair. Grant Gambrell allowed just the first-inning run, scattering three hits and two walks over five innings of work. He struck out four. Lucas Luetge and Chase Shugart combined for three innings of shutout ball before the ninth, when Lehigh Valley grabbed a pair well after the result was decided.
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July 19, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Arias, Valera propel FCL Sox into division lead


7/19 Cup of Coffee
: While the full-season clubs were on the final day of their midseason All-Star breaks, it was a big day down on the complexes. The FCL Red Sox swept a key doubleheader to move into first place, largely due to the efforts of pitcher Juan Valera (pictured) and shortstop Franklin Arias. The DSL teams both won as well, with the Red squad prevailing for a seventh straight contest. 

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Tied at 3-3 through the end of regulation, the Sox piled on five runs in the eighth inning to come away victorious. Franklin Arias continues playing incredible baseball, blasting a game-tying homer in the seventh that sent the game to extras and then delivering a two-run double as part of the decisive eighth-inning rally. Raimundo De Los Santos was 3 for 4, while Starlyn Nunez added a triple. Yeferson Vargas allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Diego Hernandez got the win, giving up one run in 2 1/3 frames, and Cristofer Soriano went a scoreless eighth to close out the win. 
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July 18, 2024 at 8:00 AM

Podcast Ep. #325: Measuring Up The 2024 Draft Class


The 2024 MLB Draft is over, so Chris and Ian circled up to discuss the newest set of potential Sox prospects. What have we learned about how the Red Sox front office now targets amateur talent? What's up with the class being so college-heavy? Why are all of these pitchers so tall? The answers to these questions and more await!
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Baker, Mambel among top performers in DSL sweep


7/18 Cup of Coffee: The two Dominican Summer League squads were the only affiliates in action on Wednesday. Alexander Mambel recorded three RBIs off the bench in DSL Red Sox Red's extra-innings win over the DSL White Sox. Tavano Baker delivered a walk-off single in the 10th inning of DSL Red Sox Blue's victory over DSL CLE Goryl.

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A five-run 11th inning propelled the Red squad to an 11-6 win on the road. Alexander Mambel led the way offensively by going 2 for 2 with two doubles and three RBIs after taking over for starting first baseman Kenyon Simmons in the ninth inning. Simmons went 2 for 3 with one RBI, one run scored, and one walk. Christopher Alvarado doubled and drove in one run as part of a 2-for-5 showing. Efren Teran and Enddy Azocar each went 2 for 5 as well. The former scored one run and drew one walk while the latter drove in one run and scored three times.
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July 17, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Minor Notes: Montgomery taken with top pick; Duran wins All-Star Game MVP


To say that this is one of the busiest times on the baseball calendar would be an understatement. Between the MLB Draft, the Futures Game, the All-Star Game, and the upcoming trade deadline, there is a lot happening around the sport right now. As it pertains to the Red Sox, the club has been well represented at all the festivities in Arlington, Texas. They are also in the thick of the American League Wild Card race, so the trade rumors have been flowing as well.

Montgomery headlines Sox' 2024 MLB Draft class

The Red Sox landed Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Sunday. The athletic 21-year-old was viewed as a consensus top-10 prospect heading into the draft, but his stock fell after he fractured his right ankle in a Super Regionals game on June 8. It remains to be seen if Montgomery will be able to make his professional debut this season, but he told reporters that he is progressing well and somewhat ahead of schedule.
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Arias keeps hitting, Bido dominantes


7/17 Cup of Coffee: As the All-Star break and MLB First-Year Player Draft continue on, there were just a pair of games in the Sox organization yesterday. Franklin Arias refuses to make outs with another big day for the FCL Sox on their win. The DSL teams played against each other as well, with Merlin Bido headlining the action in that one. 

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Franklin Arias remains scorching hot, as he went 3 for 3 with three singles and a walk to push his hitting streak to eight games. He also now has a hit in seven consecutive at-bats and is hitting .465 in July. Kleyver Salazar had a huge game as well, going 2 for 4 with a double and a grand slam. He is up to seven doubles, four home runs, and 30 RBI this season. Justin Riemer was 1 for 3 with a walk. Wuilliams Rodriguez started on the bump and pitched four no-hit innings with four strikeouts and just two walks. Yonfi Rodriguez finished off the final three innings with three runs (two earned) allowed and a pair of strikeouts. 
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July 16, 2024 at 10:00 PM

2024 Draft Recap: How Boston's picks ranked


Of Boston's 20 selections in the 2024 Draft, 10 were ranked in the Baseball America Top 500, 10 appeared in the Perfect Game Top 500, and six in the MLB Pipeline Top 250 list. 11 Red Sox selections appeared on at least one of the lists, including each of the team's first ten selections.

See below for a listing of the 2024 Red Sox draftees who were ranked by BA, PG, or MLB.com. The full list of this year's draft selections can be found over at the SoxProspects.com Draft History page.


Round-Pick: Player, Position (Rank)

1-12: Braden Montgomery, OF (BA: 7; MLB: 8; PG: 7)
2-50: Payton Tolle, LHP (BA: 82; MLB: 87; PG: 72)
3-86: Brandon Neely, RHP (BA: 212; MLB: 193; PG: 206)
4-115: Zach Ehrhard, OF (BA: 399; MLB: 221; PG: 133)
5-148: Brandon Clarke, LHP (BA: 289; MLB: 177)
6-177: Blake Aita, RHP (PG: 496)
7-207: Will Turner, OF (BA: 177; PG: 121)
8-237: Conrad Cason, RHP/SS (BA: 124; MLB: 102; PG: 168)
9-267: Hudson White, C (BA: 318; PG: 327)
10-297: Devin Futrell, LHP (BA: 210; PG: 280)
12-357: Brady Tygart, RHP (BA: 175; MLB: 181; PG: 116)
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at 9:59 PM

2024 Draft Day 3 Recap: Rounds 16-20


The Red Sox wrapped up the third and final day of the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday by nabbing three more college pitchers, a Puerto Rican outfielder, and the son of a franchise icon. For more information on what could happen between now and the signing deadline later this month, be sure to check out this breakdown from our own Mike Andrews.

With that, here are brief summaries of who the Red Sox selected with their 16th, 17, 18th, 19th, and 20th-round picks:
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at 5:16 PM

Welcome to the 2024 Draft Signing Period!


Now that the 2024 First-Year Player Draft is in the books, the signing period is upon us. With some limited exceptions, this year's signing deadline is 5:00 pm ET on July 30, 2024. As most of our readers know, each team's spending on draft pick bonuses is capped. The overall bonus cap is determined by the number and placement of each team's selections.

The bonus cap sets an aggregate limit for a team to spend on its selections in the first ten rounds and also limits teams from spending over $150,000 on players taken after the 10th round (the excess on any late-round bonuses will count against the bonus pool). Boston's cap is $10,521,600 this year. If the club exceeds its pool: (1) by 0-5%, it will be charged a 75% tax on the excess; (2) by 5-10%, it will pay the same tax and will also lose its first-round pick next season; (3) by 10-15%, it will be charged a 100% tax on the excess and lose its first- and second-round picks next season; and (4) by more than 15%, 100% tax on the excess and lose its next two first-round picks.
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at 3:36 PM

2024 Draft Day 3 Recap: Rounds 11-15


After ending day two with a college pitcher, the Red Sox went back to the well to take college pitchers with each of their picks in rounds 11 through 15. Two of the picks recently underwent Tommy John surgery, while another was a top-rated prep pitcher who saw his season end early with a shoulder injury. 

Here are brief recaps of selections 11 through 15: 

11. Steven Brooks, RHP, Cal Poly (CA)
The trend of drafting tall pitchers continued on day three, with the Red Sox using their first pick of the day on the 6-foot-6 right-hander. Brooks was not ranked by any major publications, but Prospects Live noted that he has solid command of a five-pitch arsenal, with a fastball that tops out around 93. The 21-year-old started 15 games this year for the Mustangs, posting an ERA of 5.25 over 82 1/3 innings. He struck out 72 and walked 23. 

12. Brady Tygart, RHP, Arkansas
Tygart (pictured) was one of the top college pitching prospects left on the board entering the draft's final day. Baseball America ranked him 175, and MLB Pipeline slotted him at 181. The 6-foot-2 right-hander likely fell in the draft due to a shoulder injury that ended his junior season early. The reports state that it will not require surgery, but not much additional information is available. Tygart flashes an above-average breaking ball with very high spin rates. He posted an ERA of 3.94 for the Razorbacks this season, striking out 69 over 59 1/3 innings. He also walked 36 and hit 15 batters, and control of his arsenal was noted as an area of opportunity in his scouting reports. He was ranked as the top prep pitching prospect in Mississippi in 2021 and named a Perfect Game First-Team Freshman All-American selection in 2022. 
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Arias stays hot, Riemer collects first hits in FCL Sox sweep


7/16 Cup of Coffee: While many eyes were on the second day of the draft and the Home Run Derby festivities, Franklin Arias was leading a sweep of the complex leagues. Arias continued his hot play, picking up five hits and two doubles in a doubleheader sweep with playoff implications. The DSL squads also both picked up wins, led by homers from Edwin (DSL Red) and Josue (DSL Blue) Brito
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The FCL Sox continue to get outstanding pitching down the stretch. Starter Deybi Salcedo went four no-hit innings, walking and striking out three apiece. Denis Reguillo gave up two runs in three innings to get credit for the win. Justin Riemer was 0 for 5 to start both his rehab assignment and his professional career, but had a monster day at the plate to lead the offense. The 2023 fourth-round compensation pick was 2 for 2 with two walks, a steal, an RBI, and a run scored. Franklin Arias picked up his 14th double of the season during his 1-for-4 effort. 
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July 15, 2024 at 5:32 PM

Red Sox select Devin Futrell with 10th-round pick


With the 297th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Devin Futrell, a left-handed pitcher out of Vanderbilt University. Futrell is the 210th-ranked draft prospect in Baseball America's Top 500 but is not included in MLB Pipeline's Top 250.

Futrell, 21, hails from Pembroke Pines, Fla., and attended the same high school as Triston Casas (American Heritage) before arriving at Vanderbilt in 2021. As a junior this past spring, the lefty posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 44 strikeouts to 10 walks in 12 appearances (10 starts) spanning 48 1/3 innings for the Commodores.
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at 5:11 PM

Red Sox select Hudson White with ninth-round pick


With the 268th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Hudson White, a catcher out of Arkansas.
 
The Keller, Texas native spent two seasons at Texas Tech before making the jump to Arkansas. He was a full-time player for the Red Raiders, making 102 starts, and had a power surge as a sophomore, knocking 11 home runs in 169 at-bats, which led to a .550 slugging percentage and an all-Big 12 honorable mention nod.
 
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at 4:41 PM

Red Sox select Conrad Cason with eighth-round pick


With the 237th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Conrad Cason, a two-way player out of Greater Atlanta Christian High School (GA). He is ranked 102nd by MLB Pipeline, 124th by Baseball America, 168th by Perfect Game, and 141st by ESPN.
 
The Sox go with one of the more exciting players in the draft in the eighth round, a two-way prep player who was Georgia's Gatorade high school player of the year. He bats and throws right-handed and stands at 6-foot-2, weighing 190 pounds. 
 
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at 4:13 PM

Red Sox select Will Turner with seventh-round pick


With the 207th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Will Turner, an outfielder out of the University of South Alabama. Turner is the 177th-ranked draft prospect in Baseball America's Top 500 but is not included in MLB Pipeline's Top 250.

Turner, 21, was projected as a potential Day 1 pick coming into the spring following a successful sophomore year at South Alabama and with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The left-handed hitting junior instead saw his draft stock fall after slashing .218/.409/.421 with 13 doubles, nine home runs, 24 RBIs, 49 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 56 walks, and 47 strikeouts in 56 games (268 plate appearances) for the Jaguars in 2024.
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at 3:34 PM

Red Sox select Blake Aita with sixth-round pick


With the 177th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Blake Aita, a right-handed pitcher from Kennesaw State University. Aita was not ranked in Baseball America's Top 500 or MLB Pipeline's Top 250, but he did slot in as the 496th-ranked prospect by Perfect Game USA. 

Standing at 6-foot-4, Aita is a draft-eligible sophomore who turned 21 last month. The MLB.com broadcast noted that Aita is likely an analytics-driven pick, as he has high spin rates on his fastball and breaking ball. He was a starter for Kennesaw State this year, where he pitched to a 3.90 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings. He was an All-Atlantic Sun First Team selection. He also played in the Cape Cod League last summer, striking out 22 over 19 innings for Yarmouth-Dennis. 
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at 3:11 PM

Red Sox select Brandon Clarke with fifth-round pick


With the 148th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Brandon Clarke, a left-handed pitcher out of State College of Florida (Junior College).
 
Clarke landed with the Manatees by way of Alabama, where he spent his freshman year but did not pitch. He was the No. 2 left-hander in the Class of 2021 from Virginia according to both Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game, but was not drafted out of high school. The organization will try to sign him away from a South Carolina commitment.
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at 2:40 PM

Red Sox select Zach Ehrhard with fourth-round pick


With the 115th pick in the 2024 draft, the Red Sox selected Zach Ehrhard, an outfielder from Oklahoma State University. He is ranked #399 in the Baseball America top 500 and #221 in the MLB.com Top 250. Ehrhard was previously drafted by Boston in the 13th round of the 2021 draft out of Paul Wharton High School in Tampa Florida.
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at 2:13 PM

Red Sox select Brandon Neely with third-round pick


With the 86th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Brandon Neely, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Florida. Neely is the 212th-ranked draft prospect in Baseball America's Top 500 and the 193rd-ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline's Top 250.

The 6-foot-3 junior spent all three years with the Gators, primarily working out of the bullpen. His most starts came as a freshman in 2021, when he started in 10 out of 21 appearances. He finished with a 3.76 ERA and was named to the 2022 Freshman All-SEC Team. In 2023 all 34 of his appearances came out of the bullpen. He struck out 72 over 55 1/3 innings while recording 13 saves and notching a 3.58 ERA. He was a 2023 First Team All-SEC selection and entered 2024 as a Preseason All-American First Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. 
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Monegro headlines impressive day of pitching that included two shutouts


7/15 Cup of Coffee:
Boston's affiliates went 3-1 on Sunday to take us into the All-Star break. Sunday's slate featured plenty of strong pitching performances. Brad Keller tossed four scoreless innings in Worcester's shutout win over Rochester. Yordanny Monegro (pictured) fired five scoreless frames as Greenville blanked Rome. Jojo Ingrassia struck out seven and gave up only one unearned run in Salem's 2-1 victory over Down East.

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Brad Keller was solid in his start for Worcester, as he walked only two and struck out four over four scoreless, no-hit innings. Bryan Mata, Luis Guerrero, Trey Wingenter, and Ryan Zeferjahn preserved the shutout by combining for five more scoreless frames out of the bullpen. Mata, whose rehab window is set to expire on Monday, hit one batter and struck out another in the fifth. Wingenter fanned two of the three batters he faced in his first appearance since being optioned on Friday.
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at 1:52 AM

Podcast Ep. #324: First Round Instant Reax - Montgomery & Tolle


Night one of the 2024 draft is complete. Listen in for Chris and Ian's instant reaction to the selections of OF Braden Montgomery from Texas A&M and LHP Payton Tolle of TCU!
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July 14, 2024 at 10:34 PM

Red Sox select Payton Tolle with 50th overall pick


With the 50th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Payton Tolle, a left-handed pitcher out of Texas Christian University. Tolle is the 82nd-ranked draft prospect in Baseball America's Top 500 and the 87th-ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline's Top 250.

Tolle, 21, spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Wichita State University -- where he was a standout two-way player -- before transferring to TCU for his junior season. The Oklahoma native was used on both sides of the ball by the Horned Frogs this past season, but he found more success on the mound than at the plate.
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at 8:11 PM

Red Sox select Braden Montgomery with 12th overall pick


With the 12th overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox selected Braden Montgomery, an outfielder out of Texas A&M University. Montgomery is the seventh-ranked draft prospect in the Baseball America Top 500 and eighth by MLB.com. 
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Salem no-hit in doubleheader split; Kavadas goes yard again


7/14 Cup of Coffee
: It was a tough Saturday as the affiliates combined for a 3-5 day, while Salem was no-hit in the second half of its doubleheader with Down East. The pitching was mostly able to keep the offenses in check, as only one team allowed more than five runs. Niko Kavadas (pictured) has loved Rochester pitching, as he had three hits and knocked another home run. Isaac Coffey helped Portland to victory, contributing five shutout innings, while Francis Hernandez threw three shutout frames for Salem in the first half of the twin bill. Givian Sirvania had three hits for DSL Blue, as well.

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Matthew Lugo knocked a two-run home run in the second to open the scoring as part of a 2-for-3 day, but the Red Sox could not hold on to that lead and fell on Saturday. Niko Kavadas followed up his seven-RBI performance on Friday with another strong performance, as he was 3 for 4 with another home run. Chase Shugart was on the mound and two runs scored on his watch, as he handled the first 3 1/3 innings. He allowed three hits and one walk, striking out five. Alex Speas (1 inning) and Lucas Luetge (1 2/3 innings) each did not allow a hit in their appearances.
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July 13, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Salem shuts out Down East; Van Belle goes 4.2 scoreless


7/13 Cup of Coffee
: Portland, which was the final game to finish, spoiled the potential full-season sweep, as it allowed three unanswered runs to end the game, stranding the go-ahead run at first. Otherwise, it was a strong day for the farm clubs. Worcester received 4 2/3 scoreless innings from Brian Van Belle, while Niko Kavadas (pictured) was 3 for 5 with a team-record seven RBI, including a home run. Eduardo Lopez notched four singles for Greenville, while Matt Duffy and Danny Kirwin combined to record a shutout for Salem. It was a mixed bag in the complex leagues, as the FCL and DSL Blue squads each fell in close affairs, while DSL Red squeezed out a win.

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It was a high-scoring first inning in Worcester, as both squads put three runs on the board, but the Red Sox responded with three runs in the third and fourth, as well as two more in the fifth, to run away with the contest. Niko Kavadas had seven of those RBI as part of a 3-for-5 performance, including a three-run big fly in the third that proved to bring in the game-winning run. Nick Yorke, Nathan Hickey and Bobby Dalbec, who had three RBI, each had two hits as well. Brian Van Belle was more than impressive in relief, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless frames. He faced two over the minimum, with just two singles on his tab while striking out five. Luis Guerrero also struck out the side in order in the ninth.
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July 12, 2024 at 11:20 PM

Podcast Ep. #323: Draft Preview with Geoff Pontes of Baseball America


Ian hosted Geoff Pontes of Baseball America to preview the upcoming MLB Draft! Ian and Geoff started by comparing how the 2024 draft class stacks up to past years and discussing why the offensive numbers in the college game were so extreme this year. They then talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the draft class and some options for the Red Sox, including high school shortstops Bryce Rainer and Konor Griffin, East Carolina right-hander Trey Yesavage, North Carolina center fielder Vance Honeycutt, Tennessee second baseman Christian Moore, Florida State third baseman Cam Smith and Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt. They wrapped by discussing which of the players projected to go in the top 10 have the best chance of falling to 12 and who the top Northeast players are in the class.
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at 7:30 AM

2024 Red Sox Draft Preview


It’s that time of year again! The MLB Draft gets underway Sunday evening at 7:00 pm ET. Day One will include the first two rounds; Day Two will be Monday at 2:00 pm, covering rounds 3 through 10; and Day Three will be Tuesday at 2:00 pm, covering rounds 11 through 20.

This year, the Red Sox have three picks in the top 100: #12 (first round), #50 (second round), and #86 (third round). 

You can follow the Red Sox draft with us at SoxProspects.com as the picks come in, as we’ll have live coverage of Boston’s selections on SoxProspects News, the 2024 Draft page, and the @SoxProspects Twitter account. For now, here's a preview of some potential first round and local draft picks to whet your palette. Scouting reports are compiled from our review of video, college baseball games, and ongoing review of scouting reports from sites such as Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and Perfect Game.
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Trio of Greenville arms hurl no-hitter to open twinbill; Castro homers three times


7/12 Cup of Coffee
: It was an eventful day down on the farm, with much of the excitement coming in Greenville's doubleheader split. The first game featured a combined no-hitter supported by two Allan Castro (pictured) home runs. The nightcap had a walk-off loss as Castro went deep again. Nick Decker and Eddinson Paulino led Portland's blowout, while Worceter succumbed to the big inning in its loss. The FCL squad fell despite another unhittable effort by Juan Valera, while the DSL teams had an increasingly common split.

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Richard Fitts and the WooSox were done in by a disastrous second inning. Fitts allowed three home runs in a four-batter stretch, putting Worcester in a hole it would not dig out of. Overall, Fitts allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings, striking out three while walking one. Sal Romano and Jorge Benitez kept things close with a combined five innings of shutout relief, but the offense managed only four hits. Bobby Dalbec scored two of the three Worcester runs, picking up a single and two walks. Matthew Lugo doubled for the only extra-base hit of the contest.
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at 6:00 AM

June Players of the Month: Kristian Campbell and Elmer Rodriguez


The June selections for players of the month are both former fourth-round picks who now rank among the top 15 prospects in the organization. Kristian Campbell (pictured) wins his second consecutive monthly recognition, while Elmer Rodriguez gets the nod for pitchers. 
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July 11, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Yorke homers twice in Worcester; Bleis comes through late for Greenville


7/11 Cup of Coffee:
Boston's affiliates went 3-1 on Wednesday. Nick Yorke (pictured) homered twice while Nick Sogard and Enmanuel Valdez added home runs of their own for Worcester. Alex Binelas also went deep while Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell recorded doubles for Portland. Bryan Gonzalez and Miguel Bleis had two clutch hits while David Sandlin put together a strong start for Greenville. Nazzan Zanetello left the yard while Trennor O'Donnell struck out seven for Salem.

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Nick Yorke led the way by recording his second multi-homer game of the month. He went 2 for 4 with a pair of solo shots off old friend Thaddeus Ward and has now homered six times in 27 games for Worcester. Nick Sogard and Enmanuel Valdez also went deep, crushing go-ahead two- and three-run shots, respectively. Brad Keller started on the mound and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Bryan Mata surrendered three additional runs out of the bullpen before Luis Guerrero, Isaiah Campbell, and Ryan Zeferjahn combined for 4 1/3 scoreless frames of relief.
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July 10, 2024 at 5:30 PM

Minor Notes: The SoxProspects.com-to-All-Star pipeline



July's first full week saw the official SoxProspects.com midseason rankings released, as well as the announcement of All-Star selections of four graduated prospects. 
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Four All-Stars, including two first timers

The rosters for the 2024 All-Star Game were released this weekend, and the list includes four players who came up through the Red Sox system, including three current members of the team. 

All-Star honors are yet another accolade in a breakout season for Jarren Duran (pictured). Drafted as a singles-hitting second baseman out of Long Beach State in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, the Red Sox saw potential in Duran's natural power and worked with him on putting more loft on the ball. The results were immediate, with a slugging percentage at Lowell over .150 points higher than during his Junior season in college. He rose quickly through both the systems and the rankings, moving across three levels during his 2019 season and getting recognized as the third-ranked player in the system. After two uneven trips to the majors in 2021 and 2022, Duran solidified himself as a major leaguer with a solid 2023 season and has broken out this year. He leads the American League in triples with 10, and is the fourth-ranked position player in the circuit in Wins Above Replacement (via Baseball-Reference) at 4.7. He also ranks in the top ten in the AL in hits (3rd), doubles (2nd) runs (6th), steals (5th), and total bases (5th). 
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Dobbins dominant, Campbell ropes two doubles in Portland win


7/10 Cup of Coffee
: The Sea Dogs had a great night offensively and on the mound. Hunter Dobbins (pictured) led the way with six shoutout innings, while Kyle Teel and Kristian Campbell led the way on offense. Andy Lugo and Brooks Brannon also homered in Salem's loss. 

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Jason Alexander started for the Sox and took a tough loss, as he allowed two runs over five innings. He struck out four and walked three. Joely Rodriguez tossed a shutout frame before Chase Shugart threw two scoreless innings with one strikeout and no walks. At the plate, Nick Yorke went 2 for 3 with a walk, raising his batting average to .330 with the WooSox. Bobby Dalbec provided the only run with a sacrifice fly. Matthew Lugo had two hits and Niko Kavadas added a two-bagger. 
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July 9, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Salcedo dominates, Jimenez drives in three in key FCL Sox win


7/9 Cup of Coffee:
A key division matchup in the Florida Complex League took center stage, with the FCL Sox knocking off the Rays to move within a 1/2 game of first place in the South Division. In the Dominican Republic, the Red squad was held at bay in a three-hit shutout, while Team Blue squandered a ninth-inning lead only to see the contest suspended due to rain in the 10th. 

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Entering the key head-to-head contest just 1 1/2 games out with 15 to play, the FCL Sox pounded out 12 hits on their way to victory. Franklin Arias (pictured) continues to be the table-setter, going 2 for 5 with a stolen base and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Frederik Jimenez had a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI double in the sixth, adding a stolen base and a run scored. Deybi Salcedo was excellent in his start, scattering three hits across four scoreless innings, striking out three against one walk. Yonfi Rodriguez went 3 2/3 scoreless to pick up the win in relief. 
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July 8, 2024 at 8:00 AM

Podcast Ep. #322: July Rankings


Chris and Ian welcomed Mike Andrews on for a three-man booth. On the agenda were a preview of what may be a hectic July for promotions, the July rankings update, and more. Plus, as always, your emails!
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July 7, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Criswell shuts down the Mets; Romero wins it for Greenville


7/7 Cup of Coffee: The full-season affiliates are off on Sunday and Monday, but fans were treated to some extra baseball on Saturday. Cooper Criswell (pictured) was excellent in Worcester, while Mikey Romero came through in the clutch for the Drive. Kleyver Salazar hit two home runs in the FCL, and Moises Bolivar filled up the box score in the DSL. 

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Cooper Criswell dominated a strong Syracuse lineup in a shutout victory. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight, allowing one hit over six innings. Alex Speas made his system debut and worked around a hit and a walk to post a scoreless seventh. He was claimed off waivers from Houston last week. Bryan Mata went the final two innings and allowed a hit and a walk while notching a strikeout. Home runs from Eddy Alvarez and Mickey Gasper provided all the offense they would need. Alvarez finished 2 for 4 with a steal, and Chase Meidroth went 1 for 2 with two more walks to raise his on-base percentage to .447. 
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July 6, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: 5 hitless innings for Wehunt, Bleis homers


7/6 Cup of Coffee:
There was a bit of an Independence Day hangover, as the system struggled to score. One DSL team was the only one able to exceed five runs, though Portland and an FCL game were both suspended in the bottom of the first. There were just two home runs, one by Miguel Bleis to score his team's only run, while Salem's Albert Feliz had the other. There were some good pitching performances, however, highlighted by Blake Wehunt's (pictured) five no-hit frames before giving way to the bullpen. He also registered nine punchouts.
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The Red Sox were ahead 2-1 after five, but a three-run sixth was enough for Syracuse to take the win. Each squad had just five hits, with doubles from Chase Meidroth and Matthew Lugo. Grant Gambrell was on the mound and had a lot of baserunners, with four hits and three walks, but only allowed one run over four innings. Ryan Zeferjahn and Lucas Luetge each pitched hitless frames, as well.
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July 5, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Anthony inside-the-park homer highlights July 4th fireworks


7/5 Cup of Coffee:
The affiliates earned a split decision on a July 4, winning four of the seven contests on the card. Roman Anthony provided the highlight, racing home for an inside-the-park home run in Portland's victory. Ovis Portes turned in a strong start for Salem, while Juan Valera and Yeferson Vargas teamed up in the FCL Sox win. Worcester and Greenville dropped their contests, while the DSL Sox managed a split.

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Very little went right for the WooSox as they returned from Syracuse to Polar Park for the second half of their home-and-home series. Richard Fitts went four innings, surrendering three runs, all on a three-run homer in the fourth. He gave up five hits, struck out six, and walked two. The offense generated only four hits, all singles. Mickey Gasper extended his hitting streak to seven games with an infield hit. Gasper is 25 for 61 (.410) since his promotion from Portland.

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The Sea Dogs won their fifth straight with an all-around effort that saw five batters collect multiple hits. Roman Anthony provided the spotlight, hitting a sky-high fly ball to left-center field that appeared to get lost between the lights and the dusk. By the time it landed 20 feet from any defender, Anthony had plenty of time to race around the bases for a stand-up inside-the-park home run. The system's top-ranked prospect also singled, walked, and stole a base. Nick Decker blasted a three run homer, while Tyler Miller doubled as part of his two-hit night. A good indication of how hot Kristian Campbell has been: with only a single and a walk, his Double-A OPS fell by 17 points.

Wikelman Gonzalez turned in a scoreless three-inning start, allowing just one hit, striking out three, and walking two. After making two appearances out of the bullpen, it was the second straight start in which Gonzalez was held to three innings despite not having allowed a run. Christopher Troye got the win in relief, surrendering one run that came on a solo homer in three innings, striking out five and walking two.

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A late Drive rally fell short as both teams brought the high-powered offenses back from Asheville. The Tourists jumped on starter Dalton Rogers for a seven-run second inning, knocking him out after just 1 1/3. The 2022 third-round pick struggled with his control, walking four batters while striking out one. Cooper Adams gave up one run on one hit in 3 2/3 of relief. He was followed by Nathan Landry, who struck out seven of the 16 batters he faced in four innings while also allowing one run. At the plate, Bryan Gonzalez and Ronald Rosario clubbed solo homers. Luis Ravelo scored three runs, going 1 for 2 with a double and two walks. Mikey Romero tripled, and Miguel Bleis added a single and a walk. 

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A balanced offensive attack in which every starter reached base supported a strong effort by Ovis Portes. The 19-year-old Antiguan went four shutout innings, scattering two hits, striking out four without walking a batter. Across two levels, Portes has given up only 16 hits in 29 innings, spinning an impressive .160 opponents' batting average. Francis Hernandez picked up his first win of the year in relief, giving up three runs in 2 2/3. Brooks Brannon doubled and drove in a run as part of his 2-for-4 evening. Andy Lugo also picked up a pair of singles while Nelly Taylor added his 20th double of the season.

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The two pitchers generating some of the strongest buzz out of Fort Myers split the pitching duties in the FCL squad's win. Juan Valera went the first four innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out four without issuing a walk. It was the first time since May 23 that Valera had given up more than one run, and he's yet to allow more than two in any of his nine appearances. Yeferson Vargas followed with three hitless innings, striking out three against two walks. Pitching mostly in a piggyback role, Vargas has not allowed more than one earned run in an outing since his first appearance of the season on May 7th. At the plate, Starlyn Nunez ripped two doubles and drove in a run, while Kleyver Salazar was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI, and run scored.

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The first-place Red squad continues to roll, winning their seventh straight to push their record to 16-5. Madinson Frias gave up just one hit in three scoreless innings in his start. Yander Bonaci got the win, surrendering one run in two frames. Yoandys Veraza spun four scoreless innings to get credit for the save, scattering four hits while striking out three without issuing a walk. Carlos Carrasquel delivered the biggest hit, a bases-loaded double in the second inning that plated two runs. 

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An early 7-0 advantage was too much to overcome for the Blue squad. Ilan Fernandez had a strong day at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and run scored. Tavano Baker was 2 for 2 with an RBI before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. Jose Golidano took the loss, giving up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. 

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Player of the Day: Add "inside-the-park homer on the 4th of July" to the ever-growing list of Roman Anthony accomplishments. Anthony has seen his prospect status rocket since being with the 79th pick of the 2022 draft. His 10 homers on the year rank second on the Sea Dogs, and he leads the team with 37 walks. While his .245/.353/.455 may look pedestrian at first glance, Anthony is doing that as the second-youngest player to start the season the Eastern League and third-youngest in all of Double-A. 

Photo Credit: Roman Anthony by Kelly O'Connor
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July 4, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Alvarez goes 5 for 5, Dean takes no-hitter into sixth inning


7/4 Cup of Coffee:
Happy Fourth of July. Boston's minor-league affiliates went 3-1 on Wednesday. Eddy Alvarez tallied five hits for Worcester. Kristian Campbell recorded three hits and Alex Binelas came through with a go-ahead grand slam for Portland. David Sandlin, Jedixson Paez, and Jeremy Wu-Yelland struck out a total of 12 for Greenville. Noah Dean (pictured) tossed five-plus no-hit innings in his latest start for Salem.

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Eddy Alvarez led the way offensively by going 5 for 5 with one double, one solo home run, and three runs scored. Niko Kavadas went 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI singles. Both Tyler Heineman and Mark Contreras homered for their only hits of the night. Despite going hitless, Nick Yorke drew two walks, scored one run, and stole one base. On the mound, Jason Alexander got the start and allowed three earned runs on four hits, one walk, and one hit batter while striking out four over five innings. All three runs came in on a homer from old friend Pablo Reyes in the bottom of the first. In relief of Alexander, Sal Romano and Cam Booser combined to surrender five additional runs out of the bullpen.
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July 3, 2024 at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Yorke goes off in WooSox big win, Anthony homers


7/3 Cup of Coffee
: Worcester and Greenville combined for 28 runs, with monster games from Nick Yorke (pictured), Bobby Dalbec, Mickey Gasper, Miguel Ugueto, and Allan Castro. Roman Anthony went deep as well for Portland in their win. The Drive pitching staff had the strikeout pitch working, as three pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts. Jojo Ingrassia pitched well for Salem despite their loss.

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Nick Yorke and Bobby Dalbec led the way from the number three and four spots in the order, respectively. Yorke went 3 for 5 with two home runs, a walk, five RBI, and four runs scored. He is now hitting .348 with a .988 OPS in Worcester. Dalbec had four hits, including his 11th home run of the year as well as a double. He bumps his WooSox OPS up to .931. Mickey Gasper also stayed red hot, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and a home run, raising his WooSox OPS to a staggering 1.197 in 16 games. Nick Sogard went 3 for 6 with a double as well, while Matthew Lugo reached four times with two singles and two walks. 
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July 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM

Minor Notes: Cespedes promoted to Salem; Sox claim right-hander


After some tough injury news last week, there was some more positive news this week, as the sixth-ranked prospect in the system is getting promoted. The Sox also claimed a pitcher off waivers and got a couple of great weeks from players in the lower levels of the minors. 

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Cespedes promoted to Salem 
The sixth-ranked prospect here at SoxProspects.com is getting a much-deserved promotion. Shortstop Yoeilin Cespedes is moving up to Salem after a dominant start to his 2024 season in the FCL. In 25 games, he hit .319/.400/.615 with 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 24 RBI, and three stolen bases. He was especially hot in June, going 14 for 39 (.359) with four doubles, a triple, three home runs, and a 1.163 OPS. Cespedes is currently dealing with some left hand soreness according to Chris Hatfield, which is why he has yet to debut in Salem.
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at 7:00 AM

Cup of Coffee: Scorching-hot Arias leads FCL Sox sweep


7/2 Cup of Coffee:
Mondays are usually reserved for the complex leagues, but Franlin Arias (pictured) allowed his full-season compatriots enjoy the fun, if not the spotlight. Arias continues to rake his way through the FCL, going 4 for 7 in a doubleheader sweep. Jamie Westbrook and Chase Meidroth teamed up in the Worcester win, while Jhostynxson Garcia again went deep as Greenville rolled. Isaac Coffey performed his magic in a Sea Dogs win, while Salem took the only stateside loss despite a big night out of Nazzan Zanetello

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The WooSox were powered by a big night from Jamie Westbrook. The third baseman drove in four of the five Worcester runs in his 3-for-4 effort, including a tie-breaking two-run homer in the eighth inning. Chase Meidroth also submitted three hits, his fourth consecutive multi-hit game. Justin Hagenman got the start, allowing three runs on four hits in a season-high five innings, striking out five without walking a batter. Chase Shugart got the win with two hitless innings of relief. With three strikeouts, he has now fanned 53 in 40 1/3 innings. 

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It was a bend-but-don't-break night on the mound for Isaac Coffey, who allowed 10 baserunners in five innings but escaped having surrendered just one run. Coffey gave up seven hits, hit one batter, and walked a pair, managing to load the bases without allowing a run in both the first and fourth innings. Wyatt Olds followed Coffey and left less to fortune: he went three hitless frames, striking out six and walking two to hold the Fisher Cats scoreless. Eddinson Paulino led the way at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a run, RBI, and a stolen base. Kyle Teel scored twice, and Phillip Sikes doubled for the only Portland extra-base hit. Kristian Campbell saw his hitting streak halted at 13 games. He had gone 20 for 44 (.455) during the stretch.

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The Greenville lineup took well to the hitter-friendly environs of Asheville, with all starters picking up at least one hit and the lineup totaling 15. Ronald Rosario and Jhostynxson Garcia blasted back-to-back homers in the first inning, giving the Drive a lead they would not relinquish. Rosario finished the contest 3 for 5, scoring and driving in two apiece, while Garcia scored three runs as part of a 2-for-5 effort. The homer was Garcia's 15th of the season, giving him a tie for the organizational lead. Cutter Coffey and Allan Castro also went deep for Greenville. 

Three pitchers went three innings apiece in the win. Gabriel Jackson got the spot start, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. Bryce Bonnin gave up just one hit in three scoreless frames, striking out three and walking one as he picked up the win. Isaac Stebens picked up the save as he surrendered a pair of runs.

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Salem was the only full-season affiliate to fall on Monday, despite the efforts of Nazzan Zanetello. The 2023 second-round pick had scuffled some since returning from injury in late May, but he was 3 for 5 with a double and four runs driven in out of the leadoff spot. Stanley Tucker was 2 for 3 with a walk. while Daniel McElveny reached base four times with a single, two walks, and a hit batsman, scoring three runs. Luis Cohen allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in three innings in his start. Michael Sansone took the loss in relief as his ERA rose above the 2.00 mark for the first time this season.

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The Franklin Arias show continue in Fort Myers as he led a doubleheader sweep. He was 3 for 4 out of the leadoff spot, picking up a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Andruw Musett was 2 for 3 with a walk, double, and two RBI, while Armando Sierra contributed a three-run homer. Deybi Salcedo went four innings in his start, allowing four runs on six hits. Jesus Garcia picked up the win in relief, scattering three hits across three scoreless frames, striking out four, and walking one. 

The Sox lineup delivered 10 hits in just five innings in the rain-shortened nightcap. Arias again set the table, picking up a double, walk, stolen base, and run scored. Yosander Asencio was the star in the second game, blasting a solo home run in the first and adding a double, walk, and two runs. Sierra was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs, while Kleyver Salazar drove in a pair and added a double of his own in a 2-for-3 effort. There was more than enough support for a pair of FCL hurlers. Wuilliams Rodriguez went three shutout innings, allowing three hits, striking out three, and walking one. Willian Colmaneras got credit for the win with his two scoreless frames in relief. 

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The first place Red squad won their sixth straight to go to 15-5 on the year. Chad Delancey led the way out of the ninth spot, going 2 for 2 with a triple, walk, hit batsman, and three RBI. Jorge Rodriguez scored a pair of runs, and Efran Teran picked up a double and run scored. All four runs allowed by Dariel Morillo were unearned, as the 17-year-old righty allowed three hits in three innings. Cesar Muziotti, Oscar Sanchez, and Juan Henriquez went two shutout innings apiece, with Henriquez getting the win. 

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Team Blue has been moving in the opposite direction of their Red counterparts, losing for the sixth time in seven games. Ilan Fernandez had two of the team's four hits, with Justin Gonzales and Edwin Darville adding doubles for the other two. Abis Prado surrendered seven runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss.

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Player of the Day: Franklin Arias is on fire in Florida. With his 4-for-7, two-double effort on Monday, his season line is up to .308/.432/.513 with an FCL-leading 13 doubles. As you narrow the timeframe, his numbers get even more impressive. In 16 games over the last month, Arias is hitting .404/.493/.719 with nine doubles and three homers, and he is 11 for 20 with five two-baggers and seven driven in in his last six contests. The offensive outburst is all the more impressive since his defense is considered his strength. The 17-year-old signed to a $525,000 bonus in January 2023 out of Venezuela, and he is currently ranked 21st in the system.

Photo Credit: Franlin Arias by Kelly O'Connor

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