May 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Minor Notes: New rankings as Tolle, Clarke, others rise up
New podcast episode
With the Red Sox' first base situation being a sizzling topic in the last week, Chris and Ian took some time to lay out their thoughts on the 362nd edition of the SoxProspects.com podcast. In addition to digging into the team's options at first, they also talk about recent promotions, the FCL, and answer some questions.
Updated rankings
The latest update of the SoxProspects.com rankings has been released, with a trio of left-handed pitchers rising up the ranks, while others make their debut on the list. Payton Tolle, the Sox second round draft pick last summer, jumps into the top 10 at number eight. He has been terrific for the Drive this year, with 34 strikeouts and just six walks in 19 2/3 frames. Another lefty drafted in 2024, Brandon Clarke (pictured, left), moves up to the 12th spot after a hot start to the season. He has a 1.62 ERA with 30 strikeouts and three walks with Salem and Greenville this year. Shane Drohan also makes a sizable leap, going from 45th to 29th. John Holobetz, a right-handed pitcher just acquired from Milwaukee to complete the Quinn Priester trade, debuts at 54th. Another trade acquisition from January of this year, Matt McShane, gets onto the list at 59th. He is a right-handed pitcher who was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 13th round last year and was dealt to Boston for Chase Shugart. Check out the rest of the rankings on the SoxProspects.com homepage.
Speaking of rankings, Baseball America just released their newest Top 100 prospect list, and the Red Sox are well-represented. Roman Anthony is their number one prospects in baseball, while Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer come in at third and ninth, respectively. Franklin Arias, Payton Tolle, and Brandon Clarke also crack the top 100.
MLB Pipeline has also updated their top 100 list, and Anthony occupies the top spot for them as well, with Mayer at eighth. Arias is also inside their top 60.
Sogard recalled
The first base situation has grown even thinner for the time being, as Romy Gonzalez was placed on the IL with a left quad contusion. To replace him, Boston recalled Nick Sogard from Worcester. The 27-year old was hitting .188/.314/.248 in 28 games for the WooSox. He had appeared in just three games at first base, while also seeing time at second base, shortstop, third base, and right field. He got a cup of coffee last year in the big leagues and hit .273/.326/.325 in 86 plate appearances.
Links
Baseball America's latest article taking a look at top prospects at each level, they highlight Mikey Romero, who has increased his bat speed and exit velocity in 2025. Romero, 21, was Boston's first round pick in 2022 and is off to a hot start for Portland in 2025 with an .898 OPS in 26 games. He currently ranks sixth here at SoxProspects.
Where are they now?
The Kansas City Royals have signed right-handed pitcher Stephen Nogosek to a minor league contract. Now 30 years old, Nogosek will join his fifth organization after spending time in the Red Sox, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Nationals organizations. He was selected by Boston in the sixth round of the 2016 draft out of the University of Oregon. He was part of a package that was traded to the Mets in the summer of 2017 in a deadline deal for reliever Addison Reed. He has thrown 57 1/3 big league innings in his career, all with the Mets, and has a 5.02 ERA with 57 strikeouts.
Former Red Sox farmhand Matthew Lugo has been called up to the show by the Los Angeles Angels and has made his major league debut. After subbing in late in a game Friday, Lugo made his first career start on Saturday and went 1 for 4, with his first big league hit being an RBI triple. Lugo was drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2019 draft out of high school. He was dealt to Los Angeles last summer as part of a package for reliever Luis Garcia.
After a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox, Bobby Dalbec has signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Dalbec was swinging a good bat in Triple-A for Chicago, slashing .326/.354/.696 with three doubles, a triple, and four home runs in 12 games. In seven games for the White Sox, he went 4 for 18 with a double. Dalbec was taken in the fourth round by the Red Sox back in 2016 and spent nine years in the organization.
Trot Nixon's son, Luke, is having a stellar season as a sophomore at NC State. The second baseman has started all 48 games for the Wolfpack this year and is hitting .316/.405/.487 with 14 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 38 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.
Players of the Week for May 5-May11
6 G, 22 AB, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB, 1 BB, 7 K, .318/.375/.818
Encarnacion (pictured, right) had three games this past week with at least five total bases, as he homered in three consecutive starts at one point. The 20-year old infielder is in his fourth season in the Sox organization after being signed as an international free agent in January of 2022. Overall on the season, he is hitting .284/.323/.560 with nine doubles, a triple, and seven home runs. He has played 14 games at first base, seven at third base, five at second base, and two at designated hitter.
JoshWinckowski, RHP, Worcester Red Sox
2 G, 0-0, 9 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Winckowski has started his May off with back-to-back outings with no earned runs allowed. Batters are hitting just .129 off of him during the month to go along with a sparkling 0.43 WHIP. The 26-year old was acquired by the Sox in the Andrew Benintendi trade back in 2021. He has logged 242 1/3 innings at the big league level and has a 4.20 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP.
Photo Credit: Brandon Clarke by Kelly O'Connor