Fall/Winter Roundup: AFL season ends; Mata debuts in Venezuela

With the 2024 Arizona Fall League season ending on Saturday, eight Red Sox minor leaguers saw their years draw to a close. Several other members of the organization continue to play winter ball across the Caribbean. That includes a former top pitching prospect taking the mound in his native Venezuela. This update covers all the game action from November 11-17. Please also visit our SoxProspects.com Fall/Winter page, updated daily.

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Arizona Fall League

The sixth and final week of the AFL regular season was a quiet one at the plate for Boston's position-playing contingent on the Mesa Solar Sox, who fell short of advancing to the playoffs. Brooks Brannon appeared in two games and went 1 for 8 with one RBI, and three strikeouts. Caden Rose appeared in three games and went 1 for 8 with one double, four walks, and five strikeouts. Max Ferguson appeared in two games and went 1 for 7 with one stolen base and one walk.

Brannon finished the fall having batted .309/.347/.456 with four doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, eight runs scored, four walks, and 21 strikeouts in 16 games (72 plate appearances) for Mesa. The 22-year-old catcher made nine starts behind the plate and threw out five of 26 possible base stealers. Rose slashed .224/.353/.341 with four doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs, 12 runs scored, five stolen bases, 16 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 26 games (102 plate appearances) while seeing playing time at all three outfield spots. Ferguson hit .235/.357/.338 with four doubles, one home run, 10 RBIs, 11 runs scored, three stolen bases, 14 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 19 games (84 plate appearances). The versatile 25-year-old made nine starts at shortstop, seven starts at second base, and three starts in right field.

On the mound, all five of Boston's pitchers appeared in one game this past week. Cooper Adams got the start for Mesa last Monday and took the loss after surrendering a two-run home run to Matt McLain in his lone inning of work. Danny Kirwin, Zach Fogell, and Tyler Uberstine combined for four scoreless innings of relief between Wednesday's and Thursday's contests while Conor Steinbaugh yielded three runs (one earned) on two hits (both homers) in a losing effort on Thursday.

Adams finished the fall having posted a 9.49 ERA and 1.86 WHIP with nine strikeouts to seven walks in six outings (three starts) spanning 12 1/3 innings for Mesa. Kirwin forged a 2.84 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 16 strikeouts to one walk in five outings (one start) spanning 12 2/3 frames. The righty was named a 2024 AFL All-Star alongside the aforementioned Brannon and Ferguson. Fogell produced a 0.96 ERA and 0.64 WHIP with 10 strikeouts to four walks in eight relief appearances (9 1/3 innings). Uberstine pitched to 3.12 ERA and 2.19 WHIP with seven strikeouts to six walks in seven relief appearances (8 2/3 innings). Steinbaugh appeared in just four games and put up a 1.80 ERA (1.20 WHIP) with eight strikeouts to two walks over five innings out of the bullpen.

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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC/Puerto Rico)

The Puerto Rican Winter League season rolls on for four members of the Red Sox organization. Early on, Mickey Gasper has gone 4 for 14 with one double, one RBI, one stolen base, four walks, and two strikeouts in four games for Caguas. Fellow catcher Juan Montero has appeared in two games for Ponce and is 0 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts thus far.

On the flip side, Brian Van Belle is with Gasper in Caguas. The 28-year-old righty has yet to allow a run in two appearances (one start) for the Criollos. He has allowed three hits and no walks while striking out four of the 18 batters he has faced over five scoreless innings. Eduardo Rivera, meanwhile, is pitching for Santurce. The 21-year-old southpaw has yielded one unearned run on two hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts in three relief outings (4 2/3 innings) for the Cangrejeros.

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Dominican Winter League (LIDOM)

Enmanuel Valdez is having a rough go of things with Estrellas. After going 0 for 3 on Sunday, the 25-year-old infielder is batting just .164/.243/.224 with one double, one home run, four RBIs, nine runs scored, one stolen base, seven walks, and 10 strikeouts through 18 games (74 plate appearances). Elsewhere, Bryan Gonzalez has gone 1 for 4 with one RBI, one run scored, and two strikeouts in three games for Escogido.

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Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP)

Bryan Mata (pictured, above) joined Navegantes del Magallanes late last month and has since appeared in two games for the club. In 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, the 25-year-old righty has allowed one hit and one walk without recording a strikeout.

Photo Credit: Bryan Mata by Kelly O'Connor

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