Fall/Winter Roundup: Koss homers as Caguas wins 21st LBPRC title

Red Sox minor league action in the winter season has come to an end with the Roberto Clemente League wrapping up its season. Caguas took home the championship.

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)

Caguas captured its 21st LBPRC championship, winning the series five games to three. It was a productive series for both Sox farmhands, as Christian Koss (pictured) played in seven of the eight games for Caguas. He went 5 for 20 with a home run, three RBI, and a stolen base. His home run and all three of his RBI came in Game Two, when Caguas exploded for 13 runs in the win. He also picked up a single and a stolen base in the eighth and final game of the series, a 4-1 Caguas win. 

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Caguas moves to LBPRC final, Jorge Benitez shines

The calendar has flipped to 2024 and with that, the winter league seasons are beginning to come to a close. Red Sox minor leaguers are only still playing in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League and one team has already punched its ticket to the championship series, while Game 6 in the other best-of-seven semifinal series is on Monday night.

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)

Caguas took down Santurce in five games to advance to the championship series. Two farmhands are playing for Caguas: Jorge Benitez and Christian Koss (pictured). Benitez pitched in three games and contributed 4 1/3 no-hit innings over Games 2, 3, and 5. He pitched two frames in the deciding contest and struck out four Santurce hitters against one walk, his only of the playoffs. He had a punchout each in his other two appearances. Koss appeared in each of the series' first three contests, with a 1-6 line, including four strikeouts.

They are the only two to appear in the postseason to date, as Vaughn Grissom suited up for now-eliminated Santurce, while Juan Montero did not factor into any of the first five games in the series between Ponce and Gigantes de Carolina. Gigantes leads the series, 3-2. If Ponce wins Game 6, Game 7 is scheduled for Wednesday. The championship series, for the right to represent Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series, begins Friday.

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Photo Credit: Christian Koss by Kelly O'Connor

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Fall/Winter Roundup: Grissom acquired from Braves in stunning trade

The first winter roundup of 2024 is highlighted by none other than Vaughn Grissom (pictured, left), who the Red Sox stunningly acquired from the Braves this past Saturday in exchange for left-hander Chris Sale and cash considerations.

Grissom, who turns 23 later this week, was originally selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2019 amateur draft. The right-handed-hitting infielder broke in with Atlanta in August of 2022, most notably recording his first career hit (and first career home run) against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. He has appeared in a total of 64 big-league contests over the last two seasons and has batted .287/.339/.407 with nine doubles, one triple, five homers, 27 RBIs, 29 runs scored, five stolen bases, 13 walks, and 49 strikeouts while seeing playing time at both middle infield positions. 

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