Minor Notes: Yoshida set to begin rehab assignment; changes for Harrison and Tibbs

Worcester fans will see a familiar face when the WooSox return to Polar Park on Tuesday. All three pieces of the Rafael Devers trade had changes over the past week, and Kristian Campbell (pictured, left) officially made his debut at first base. 

Yoshida to begin rehab assignment

Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced that Masataka Yoshida is set to begin a rehab assignment with Worcester on Tuesday. Yoshida has been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The 31-year-old hopes to be back around the All-Star break, which begins on July 14. Yoshida figures to get the bulk of his at-bats as a designated hitter when he makes it back to Boston.

Campbell and Tibbs debut at first base

As the organization plans for both short-term and potentially long-term solutions at first base given the significant injury to Triston Casas, two players made their professional debuts at first base last week. Kristian Campbell played three games at first base and two at second base in Worcester's last series, and James Tibbs III made his first start at first base on Sunday for the Sea Dogs. Tibbs had played exclusively right field prior to last week's series finale.

Kyle Harrison's new arsenal

In his latest Minor Details article, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe notes some of the changes the Red Sox are making to Kyle Harrison's pitches. Harrison has a great four-seam fastball, but has struggled to find a consistent second pitch at the big league level. At different points has thrown a changeup, curveball, sinker, slider, and slurve. The Red Sox have Harrison adding a new cutter while focusing more on his sinker which he had not thrown yet in 2025. 

Hicks makes debut in Boston

Jordan Hicks, who was acquired with Harrison and Tibbs in the Rafael Devers trade, made his first appearance out of the big league bullpen on Monday night. He tossed a scoreless eighth and hit 100 mph with his sinker. The Red Sox optioned Zack Kelly to Worcester to make room for Hicks. 

Pitcher movement and injuries

Chris Murphy returned to the big leagues for the first time since having Tommy John Surgery on April 10, 2024. He got activated from the 60-day injured list and threw two scoreless innings on Saturday. He took Luis Guerrero's spot in the big league bullpen. Guerrero went on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain. To make room for Murphy on the 40-man roster, Justin Slaten was transferred to the 60-day injured list. 

While there is no official word on these injuries, it is ominous that Nicholas Judice got transferred to the full-season injured list with an elbow injury and Abis Prado got placed on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury. Judice was first placed on the injured list on May 29 with a right forearm strain, and Prado last pitched on June 3 when he walked all five batters he faced. 

Additional transactions

• With Marcelo Mayer on the bereavement list, Nick Sogard (pictured, right) got recalled from Worcester. Sogard went 3 for 10 with two doubles over the weekend against the Blue Jays. Mayer has since been activated, and Sogard is back with Worcester. 
• There were a handful of moves in the lower minors last week. Greenville added Jacob Webb from Worcester and activated him from the injured list, and the Drive also added Juan Montero from Portland and Shea Sprague, Manuel Medina, and Kelvin Diaz from Salem. Salem added PJ Labriola from the FCL.
• Worcester activated Jovani Moran from the 60-day injured list, and Portland placed Gabriel Jackson on the seven-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. 

Where are they now? 

• Earlier this season, the Red Sox designated Michael Fulmer for assignment after one appearance in the majors. Fulmer opted for free agency and signed with the Cubs. After two appearances in Chicago last week, Fulmer was again designated for assignment. 
• After struggling to a .725 OPS with the Mets last season, J.D. Martinez has been without a home so far in 2025. He received a non-guaranteed contract offer from the Texas Rangers as they look to bolster their lineup for a playoff push. 

Key links

• Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs released an updated Top 45 prospect list for the Red Sox. The list still includes the likes of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer, and Longenhagen notes that is what makes it the best farm system in baseball. He is higher on Brandon Clarke and Dorian Soto then out site, while we are higher on Luis Perales. Full writeups for each prospect, and some additional prospects to note, are included in the article.

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Players of the Week for June 23-29

Hector Ramos, 2B/SS, DSL Red Sox Blue

5 G, 18 AB, 10 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, 1 K, .556/.636/1.000

It is rare for a DSL player to win this award, but Ramos was head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field this week. The 17-year-old raised his overall line to .308/.430/.508 over 19 games. Signed for $500,000 out of the Dominican Republic in January, Ramos is a switch-hitter who has shown feel for hit from both sides of the plate already. He is ranked 34th in the system, but putting up a 1.000 slugging percentage in a week certainly gives him the potential to move higher. He played exclusively shortstop coming into the week, but he did appear at second base for the first time on June 24. The temporary position change did not affect him at the plate, as he went 2 for 4 with a home run in that game. 

Connelly Early, LHP, Portland Sea Dogs

1 G, 1-0, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K

It is the second straight week that a Portland pitcher wins this award with six no-hit innings. Early followed up David Sandlin who had a very similar line last week. While the bullpen finished off the no-hitter for Sandlin, they could not do the same for Early. Early threw 56 of his 82 pitches for strikes and generated 12 whiffs. The 23-year-old left-hander has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter, and he has produced consistently excellent strikeout rates since being drafted in the fifth round out of the University of Virginia in 2023. This is Early's second Pitcher of the Week award after previously winning for the week of April 14-20, 2025. 

Photo Credit: Kristian Campbell and Nick Sogard by Kelly O'Connor

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