Minor Notes: Drohan returns; Campbell, Coffey win weekly awards

The Red Sox have won six of their last eight coming into play on Tuesday. They have made a few roster moves in the process of doing so and are on the verge of getting a key reliever back from the injured list. As far as Boston's farm system is concerned, a former top pitching prospect is back in the organization and a former top draft pick is tearing the cover off the ball in Greenville. We get into that, and much more, in this week's notes.

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Gonzalez activated, Westbrook optioned

Before opening a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Monday, the Red Sox activated Romy Gonzalez from the 10-day injured list and optioned Jamie Westbrook to Worcester. Gonzalez had been sidelined since May 31 with a left hamstring strain. He was sent on a rehab assignment with the WooSox on Thursday and went 6 for 12 (.500) with one double and four RBIs in three games.

Westbrook, meanwhile, made his major-league debut earlier this month after spending 11 years in the minors. In his first 11 games with Boston, the 29-year-old went 4 for 18 (.222) with one double, one home run, four RBIs, one run scored, two walks, and eight strikeouts. He saw the majority of his playing time come at second base but also made one appearance at third base and another in right field.

Cooper released

Three days after being designated for assignment, Garrett Cooper was released by the Red Sox on Friday. The 33-year-old first baseman lost his spot on Boston's 40-man roster when outfielder Masataka Yoshida (left thumb strain) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. He was acquired from the Cubs in a minor trade at the end of April but slashed just .171/.227/.229 in 24 games with the club.

Drohan returned, placed on development list

Six months after being plucked by the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft, Shane Drohan (pictured) was returned to the Red Sox last Wednesday. The 25-year-old left-hander never appeared in a game for Chicago after undergoing left shoulder nerve decompression surgery in February. He opened the season on the 60-day injured list before being sent out on a rehab assignment in late May.

In 10 rehab appearances across three minor-league levels, Drohan allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on nine hits, eight walks, and 15 strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings of relief. Opponents batted .250 against him. He was designated for assignment on June 9 and was offered back to Boston for $50,000 after clearing waivers three days later. The Red Sox obliged and have since transferred Drohan to Worcester's development list.

Martin, Mata begin rehab assignments

Chris Martin and Bryan Mata began rehab assignments on Sunday with Worcester and Portland, respectively. Martin, who was retroactively placed on the 15-day injured list due to anxiety on June 2, worked a scoreless seventh inning against the Buffalo Bisons and has re-joined the Red Sox in Toronto. Mata, who suffered a right lat strain last month, worked two scoreless innings against the Reading Fightin Phils.

Other pitching updates

David Sandlin was activated from Greenville's 7-day injured list on Saturday after being sidelined by right forearm tightness for over a month. Juan Encarnacion was promoted from Greenville to Portland on Thursday after CJ Liu was placed on the 7-day injured list. Eduardo Rivera, a former 2021 11th-round draft pick of the Athletics, was signed to a minor-league contract on Wednesday. Raphy Gil, an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, was also signed to his first professional contract.

New podcast episode

On episode No. 320 of the SoxProspects Podcast, Chris Hatfield and Ian Cundall discuss Miguel Bleis' promotion to Greenville, Cutter Coffey's recent hot streak, and Luis Perales' injury. They also respond to reader emails. You can check out the full episode by clicking here.

Donation Drive

The 2024 SoxProspects Donation Drive continues. We are asking for your help in raising money for the site and are aiming to raise $10,000 this year in order to keep SoxProspects.com firing on all cylinders. Any amount helps, and you can donate by following this link.

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Players of the Week for June 10-16

Cutter Coffey, IF, Greenville Drive

5 G, 19 AB, 8 H, 1 2B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 1 K, .421/.542/1.421

Coffey earned South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors after putting on quite the power display for Greenville. Having already homered last Sunday, the right-handed hitting 20-year-old went deep in all five games he appeared in this past week, most notably crushing a grand slam and three-run homer on Friday. He is the first player in Drive history to homer in six consecutive games and is currently ranked as the No. 35 prospect in the organization.

Kristian Campbell is an honorable mention here after being named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of June 10-16. The right-handed hitting 21-year-old went 12 for 28 (.429) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, one walk, and eight strikeouts in six games for Portland.

Josh Winckowski, RHP, Worcester Red Sox

1 G, 1-0, 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Winckowski went a season-high six innings in Worcester's 14-1 win drubbing of Buffalo on Thursday. The soon-to-be 26-year-old righty retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced before giving up one run on two hits in the sixth. He finished with 75 pitches (51 strikes) and induced 14 swings-and-misses. He lowered his ERA to 3.55 in six outings (five starts) spanning 25 1/3 innings since being optioned by Boston last month.

Photo Credit: Shane Drohan by Kelly O'Connor

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