May 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: Dobbins promoted to Boston, FCL season begins
Dobbins joins Red Sox rotation
The Red Sox placed Walker Buehler on the 15-day injured list with bursitis in his right shoulder on Friday and recalled Hunter Dobbins from Worcester. Dobbins, the 12th-ranked prospect in the system, performed well in a pair of spot starts with Boston earlier this season and will now receive a more extended look in the Red Sox rotation. Dobbins started against the Twins on Saturday and took his first major league loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Dobbins now holds a 3.78 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 4 walks in 16 2/3 major league innings. Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Buehler is expected to resume playing catch this week and is hopeful to miss only two or three turns through the rotation.
Casas out with season-ending knee injury
The Red Sox were dealt a major blow on Friday night, as first baseman Triston Casas ruptured his patellar tendon running out an infield single in the second inning. Casas is expected to have surgery and miss the rest of the 2025 season. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow stated that “all options are on the table” at first base and did not announce how the Red Sox plan to proceed. However, he did note that top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer are unlikely to receive playing time at first base. The Red Sox placed Casas on the injured list on Saturday and selected Abraham Toro from Worcester. Toro has gotten off to a strong start to the season with the WooSox, slashing .310/.403/.480 through 28 games.
Clarke, Mullins dominate at new levels
Left-handers Brandon Clarke (Salem to Greenville) and Hayden Mullins (Greenville to Portland) were part of the Red Sox system's first wave of promotions on April 29. Both pitchers debuted at their new levels last week and turned in excellent performances. Clarke, the 19th-ranked prospect in the system, made his High-A debut against Asheville on Wednesday and allowed just one unearned run on one hit and two walks while punching out seven batters in 4 2/3 innings. Mullins, who is ranked 29th, whiffed 10 batters and allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings against New Hampshire on Thursday.
FCL season begins
The Florida Complex League season began on Saturday, as the Red Sox dropped their season opener 4-3 to the Twins. The season opener was headlined by the system debut of two-way player Conrad Cason, who was selected in the eighth round of the 2024 draft and ranks as the 23rd prospect in the system, and the stateside debut of 20th-ranked prospect Justin Gonzales. Cason started the game on the mound and struck out five batters in two shutout innings
Anthony, Clarke named Players of the Month
One full month of minor league baseball is officially in the books, and Roman Anthony and Brandon Clarke have been named as the SoxProspects.com Players of the Month in April. Anthony, the top prospect in the Red Sox system, is off to a phenomenal start with Worcester. Through 29 games, he is slashing .305/.419/.514 with five home runs as he continues to show off his prodigious power and advanced plate approach at the highest level of the minor leagues. Clarke, who was drafted in the fifth round last year, has caught attention around the game with an excellent start to his professional career. In four starts and 14 1/3 innings between Salem and Greenville, Clarke has been dominant, allowing only five baserunners while striking out 24.
New podcast episode
In the newest episode of the SoxProspects.com podcast, Chris and Ian discussed early-season looks at a number of Red Sox prospects.
Additional transactions
- Catcher Connor Wong returned from the IL following his recovery from a broken pinky finger. In a corresponding move, Blake Sabol was optioned to Worcester. In eight games at the major league level, Sabol was 2 for 18 with a double.
- Left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino returned from the bereavement list, and the Red Sox optioned Luis Guerrero to Worcester. Guerrero is ranked as the 24th prospect in the system and has thrown four scoreless innings in the majors this season.
- Right-hander John Holobetz was traded to the Red Sox as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Quinn Priester to Milwaukee earlier this season. Holobetz was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft by the Brewers and has pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 5 walks in 24 innings with the Low-A Carolina Mudcats.
- A pair of promising Greenville pitchers, 16th-ranked Jedixson Paez and 36th-ranked Jojo Ingrassia, were placed on the 7-day injured list.
Where are they now?
The White Sox promoted outfielder Braden Montgomery from Low-A Kannapolis to High-A Winston-Salem. In 24 games between the two levels, Montgomery is off to a .311/.409/.500 start with three home runs and seven stolen bases. Montgomery, who was selected by the Red Sox with the 12th overall pick of last year's draft, never appeared in a game in the Red Sox system as he recovered from a fractured ankle that he suffered during the College World Series. He was traded to Chicago as part of the package for Garrett Crochet last offseason.
Players of the Week for April 28-May 4
Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B, Portland Sea Dogs
7 G, 23 AB, 10 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 1 SB, 3 BB, 4 K, .435/.519/.739
Jordan turned in an excellent week for the Sea Dogs, collecting his first two home runs of the season and bumping his overall slash line to .250/.340/.393. Jordan, who has split time between first and third base this season, is ranked as the 32nd prospect in the system and opened the season in Portland for the second straight year.
Payton Tolle, LHP, Greenville Drive
1 G, 1-0, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
For the second consecutive week, Payton Tolle (pictured) takes home Pitcher of the Week honors. Tolle was phenomenal against Asheville on Sunday. He struck out 12 batters, generating 20 whiffs overall, and his fastball touched 98 mph. Tolle was drafted in the second round last year out of Texas Christian University, and the left-hander has been impressive in the early going, striking out 29 batters while pitching to a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.
Photo Credit: Hunter Dobbins and Payton Tolle by Kelly O'Connor