Cup of Coffee: Stock rises as Worcester opens minor league schedule

3/29 Cup of Coffee: The 2025 minor league season got underway on Friday afternoon at Polar Park. An Abraham Toro homer and strong outing by Robert Stock (pictured) were not enough to make winners of the WooSox in the Triple-A debut of Marcelo Mayer. 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 4, Worcester Red Sox 3

Worcester kicked off its season with a Friday matinee at Polar Park. With Kristian Campbell in the majors, the other two members of the triumvirate of phemons were the attractions. Roman Anthony led off and played left field, going 0 for 3 with a pair of walks. Anthony drove in Worcester's first run of the season, plating Nathan Hickey on a ground out in the third inning. Marcelo Mayer made his long-awaited debt for the WooSox, hitting in the third hole. Mayer was promoted to Worcester in early August 2024 but missed the final two months of the season with a lumbar strain. The shortstop was 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts. Abraham Toro drove in Worcester's other two runs, with one coming on a solo homer in the ninth. Nate Eaton was 2 for 4 in the squad's only multi-hit effort.

Veteran righty Robert Stock was tabbed for the first turn in Worcester's rotation. Stock, who appeared for the major league club in 10 appearances during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, was solid in his outing. The 35-year-old breezed through four scoreless innings, surrendering two hits while walking one and striking out six. Josh Winckowski surrendered two runs on six hits in three innings, striking out five without issuing a walk. Isaiah Campbell took the loss, surrendering a pair of runs in the eighth. Nick Burdi struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief. 

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Player of the Day: It has been quite the journey through professional baseball for Worcester starter Robert Stock. After spending parts of four seasons in the majors from 2018 through 2021 with the Padres, Cubs, and Mets along with the Red Sox, Stock has bounced from the Doosan Bears to the Long Island Ducks to the Brewers organization to the Mexican League. He won that circuit's pitching triple crown in 2024 for the Laredo Tecolotes with a 9-4 record, 3.38 ERA, and 104 strikeouts in 98 innings. He made an impressive return to organized ball on Friday, striking out six across four scoreless innings. 

Photo Credit: Robert Stock by Kelly O'Connor

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