2026 SoxProspects.com All-Stars: Pitchers

Awards week continues here at SoxProspects.com with the pitcher portion of our 2026 All-Star selections. We have made a change to our selection process this year. With more minor league pitchers working in longer relief and swingman roles and fewer working in traditional short relief, we flipped from selecting five starters and three relievers to just naming the eight best overall pitchers on the year. That was further altered when there was a tie for the last spot on the team, resulting in nine pitchers being selected. Six of the nine are being recognized for the first time, eight are currently ranked in the organization's top 60, and one has already made his major league debut. The first three pitchers listed were unanimous selections by participating members of the SoxProspects.com staff. 

Pitcher: Dylan Brown

A left-hander selected in the eighth round of the 2025 draft out of Old Dominion, Brown jumped onto the radar late in spring training and quickly rose through the rankings during an impressive rookie campaign. The first man to throw a pitch for the Salem RidgeYaks, Brown fired five scoreless innings on opening day and then needed only five starts to pitch his way out of the Carolina League. He finished the year with a 3.46 ERA in 106 innings across 22 appearances between Salem and Greenville. Brown led the organization with 143 strikeouts, walked 37, and surrendered only four home runs.

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2026 SoxProspects.com All-Stars: Position Players

Welcome to the 2026 SoxProspects.com Awards week! Over the next five days, we will present our annual awards on the news page, recognizing the standout performers from the season. Following the format we've used the last few years, the schedule will be as follows:

Monday: All-Star position players

Tuesday: All-Star pitchers

Wednesday: Graduate of the Year; Homegrown Player of the Year; Ex-Prospect of the Year

Thursday: Rookie of the Year; Breakout Player of the Year; Comeback Player of the Year

Friday: Player of the Year; Pitcher of the Year

We kick things off with the All-Star position players as selected by the SoxProspects.com staff. While we consider factors such as age advancement and opponent quality, these awards recognize the players' in-game performances rather than a commentary on any status as a prospect. This year's All-Star Team is headlined by the top three prospects in the system, a pair of 2025 draftees, and a player who performed so well before being traded at the deadline that his spot on the team could not be denied. 

 

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Catcher: Franklin Primera

Making his stateside debut after spending last year in the Dominican Summer League, Primera's stock rose more than perhaps any other prospect in the Red Sox system this season as he jumped from No. 36 in the preseason SoxProspects.com rankings to No. 3 by the end of the year. Primera started the season in the Florida Complex League and made an immediate impression, hitting .427 with eight home runs through 32 games before earning a promotion to Salem. While he slowed down slightly in Salem, he still put together an excellent performance in Single-A as he hit .329/.466/.494 in 42 games. Primera led the Red Sox system in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage among players with at least 300 plate appearances.  

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Podcast Ep. #432: Taking stock

After an anticlimactic sweep at the hands of the Yankees, there's plenty to discuss about what we learned in the Red Sox short postseason run and what it means for the future, enough so that the guys pushed the season in review back a week. Chris and Ian analyzed what went so wrong in the Wild Card Series and what can be taken away from the disappointing end to a truly bizarre season.

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Minor Notes: The postseason has arrived!

The MLB regular season came to a close over the weekend and the Red Sox shift their attention to the postseason, where they will face the Yankees in the Wild Card Series for the second consecutive season. It was a light week for news on the farm system, as Worcester's season ended a week earlier, but some of Boston's minor league talent saw action with the big league club in the season's final week and the Red Sox announced the winners of their Minor League Awards.

 

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Red Sox announce 2026 Minor League Award winners 

 

Last Thursday, the Red Sox honored the standout performers in their minor league system this season. To nobody's surprise, Franklin Arias was named the Offensive Player of the Year after a monster season that saw him hit .323/.400/.557 with 25 home runs between Portland and Worcester and claim the crown as the No. 1 prospect in the Red Sox system. The Red Sox named Dylan Brown the Pitcher of the Year after the 22-year-old lefty pitched to a 3.46 ERA and struck out 143 batters in 106 2/3 innings for Salem and Greenville. The fifth-round pick out of Old Dominion was one of the breakout stars in the system this year and rose from No. 60 to 20 in the SoxProspects.com rankings.  

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Podcast Ep #431: On to the Bronx, redux

The regular season is in the books, so Chris and Ian hopped on the podcast machine to look back at one of the most unique seasons in the history of a franchise with a lot of weird seasons. Then, with the news of Tyron Guerrero and Mickey Gasper hitting the IL, the guys took one last look at the likely playoff roster before the series with the Yankees starts on Tuesday.

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After "roller coaster" season, Max Carlson showed improvement in Portland

In terms of pitching prospects that flew under the radar in the Red Sox system in 2026, Max Carlson should be towards the top of that list. While the 25-year-old might not be seen on any top prospect lists, Carlson showed intriguing signs on the mound during the second half of the season.

"This season was a bit of a roller coaster for me," Carlson said. "I felt really good coming into spring training. Over the first month in Portland, I was probably the worst pitcher in the Eastern League. Slowly but surely, I started to climb out of it. The biggest thing I did over that big stretch of time was to just be where my feet are. I was trying not to change who I was coming to the field every day and making sure I got my work in. I kept thinking to myself it was going to come around. I strung a couple good outings together and the confidence started coming back. Before you know it, I had put together two good months. During that stretch, my stuff ticked up a little bit and warmed up. I have definitely made a lot of improvements to my arsenal as well, which helped."

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Minor Notes: Red Sox clinch postseason berth; Arias named Eastern League MVP

The 2026 season is officially over for Boston's minor league affiliates, as Worcester's campaign ended via rainout on Sunday after being eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday. The big club, meanwhile, clinched a postseason berth for the second straight year despite dropping Sunday's series finale to Tampa Bay. To make that happen, they received some help from the grandson of a franchise legend.

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Yastrzemski helps Red Sox clinch

With a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning of Sunday's 4-2 win over the Astros, Braves outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, helped the Red Sox clinch a spot in the postseason. Boston now leads Houston, on the outside looking in, by seven games for the second American League Wild Card spot with six games remaining. The White Sox and Blue Jays sit between the two teams in the standings.

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Podcast Ep. #430: On to the Playoffs

Chris and Ian hopped on the podcast machine after the Red Sox officially clinched a playoff spot - on the 23rd anniversary of the launch of SoxProspects.com! - to work through the team's potential playoff roster against the Yankees in the Wild Card round. They then got some final in-person scouting reports for the regular season as Ian caught the WooSox this week, briefly touched on the Red Sox AFL contingent, and had some in-depth discussion of the state of the system in response to some great listener questions. Listen in!

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Cup of Coffee: Season comes to a close

9/21 Cup of Coffee: Unfortunately, there was no minor league baseball to recap on Sunday, as Worcester's scheduled season finale was canceled. With the WooSox being the lone Red Sox affiliate still active, that brings the 2026 minor league season to an end across the organization.

On behalf of everyone at SoxProspects, thank you for reading, commenting, listening, and following along throughout the season. Stay tuned next week for our annual Awards and All-Star selections as we begin putting a bow on the 2026 minor league season.

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Cup of Coffee: Arias homers, but Worcester is eliminated from playoff contention

9/20 Cup of Coffee: An extra-inning loss to Durham has officially eliminated Worcester from playoff contention. Even with a win they would have been eliminated after Rochester beat Buffalo. Top prospect Franklin Arias still had a big day, and Tanner Houck was solid in long relief.

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Durham Bulls (TB) 4, Worcester Red Sox 3 (10 innings)

Worcester's slim playoff hopes ended with an extra-innings loss to Durham. A two-run home run from Franklin Arias in the third inning gave the WooSox a 2-1 lead, and Arias later added an RBI single in the fifth to retake the lead at 3-2. Braiden Ward followed up his five-hit night by going 1 for 4 with a double and a walk, and Tyler McDonough went 1 for 2 with a double and two walks. 

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Cup of Coffee: Ward has five hits, Castro drives in seven in WooSox romp

9/19 Cup of Coffee: Everything went right for Worcester on Friday, as the team needed to take care of business on the field while getting some help around the league. Braiden Ward (pictured) and Allan Castro had huge evenings at the plate in support of a near-perfect Michael Sansone.

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Worcester Red Sox 16, Durham Bulls (TB) 1

Worcester scored early and often, keeping its long-shot playoff hopes alive as the International League schedule winds down to a wild finish. By the end of the third inning, the WooSox sported a 12-0 lead and Allan Castro had already driven in Braiden Ward three times. Ward scored five runs and drove in three as he went 5 for 5. He pulled a solo homer over the right field wall in the sixth inning and added his 61st stolen base of the season. Castro finished with seven RBI, going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly, and a three-run homer in the third. Nathan Hickey also had a three-run homer, going deep in the first. Not to be lost in the shuffle, top prospect Franklin Arias was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs driven in. 

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Cup of Coffee: Oviedo makes rehab start, Holobetz shines in relief as Worcester is shut out

9/18 Cup of Coffee: Worcester's three-game winning streak was snapped at the hands of Durham on Thursday. Johan Oviedo struck out four in his rehab start, while John Holobetz (pictured) fanned eight in his first relief appearance at the Triple-A level, but the bats went cold in a losing effort.

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Durham Bulls (TB) 2, Worcester Red Sox 0

Johan Oviedo got the start for Worcester. Making his first appearance of any kind since late March, the rehabbing right-hander went 2 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches (20 strikes) and generated three whiffs. Fellow righty John Holobetz followed out of the bullpen and fared well in his first relief outing at the Triple-A level, scattering two hits and two walks while striking out eight over 4 1/3 scoreless frames. He threw 66 pitches (43 strikes) and generated 20 whiffs. Tyler Samaniego surrendered an additional run in the eighth, while Noah Song put up a zero in the ninth.

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Cup of Coffee: Castro homers twice as WooSox stay alive

9/17 Cup of Coffee: Worcester won its third straight, as Allan Castro (pictured) twice came up clutch on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the WooSox did not get the help they were looking for elsewhere on the International League schedule, and continue to face an uphill battle for a playoff spot.

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Durham Bulls (TB) 5

Twice Worcester fell into deficits, trailing both 3-0 and 5-3, and both times Allan Castro erased them with a long ball. Castro's two-run blast in the third inning scored Franklin Arias and knotted the score at 3-3. Four innings later, his second two-run homer of the night carried into the right-center field seats and put Worcester up 6-5, a lead it would not relinquish. Arias also singled and drove in a pair. Braiden Ward, who scored on the second Castro long ball, was 3 for 4 with two stolen bases, giving him 60 on the year. 

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Cup of Coffee: Paez deals, Castro hits walkoff single for WooSox

9/16 Cup of Coffee: With the Sea Dogs' season ending on Sunday, the WooSox are the last team standing in the Red Sox system as the Triple-A regular season enters its final week. 

 

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Worcester Red Sox 2, Durham Bulls (TB) 1 (10 innings)

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the WooSox bats were held silent until the eighth inning. The WooSox loaded the bases on a Nathan Hickey walk, a Franklin Arias single, and an Allan Castro walk then scored their first run of the game when Romy Gonzalez drew Worcester's third walk of the inning. That run was enough to push the game into extra innings, where Castro was the hero as he ripped a walkoff single to right field to send the WooSox home with the win. Arias went 1 for 4 with a walk. 

 

WooSox starting pitcher Jedixson Paez allowed a solo shot in his first inning of work but he was in complete control for the rest of his start, throwing six innings of one-run ball. Paez allowed three hits and struck out four batters with no walks. After making two appearances with the Sea Dogs, rehabbing right-hander Tanner Houck had his strikeout stuff working in his first outing of the year in Worcester as he fanned three batters in an inning, walking one. Osvaldo Berrios threw a scoreless inning and Hobie Harris tossed two shutout frames to earn the win out of the bullpen. 

Worcester's win combined with a Rochester loss narrowed their deficit to just two games with five remaining. However, Indianapolis, Scranton, and Syracuse all were victorious ahead of them, tightening an already crowded playoff picture. 

 

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Player of the Day: Allan Castro had the signature moment in a pitchers' duel where the WooSox scored just two runs on six hits, delivering a walkoff single in the bottom of the tenth. Castro went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI, raising his slash line to .247/.322/.370 in 115 games on the season. The 23-year-old Castro is playing in his first season at the Triple-A level and the outfielder is ranked No. 34 in the Red Sox system. 

 

Photo Credit: Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor

  

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Minor Notes: Houck, Contreras rehab as Portland season ends

The minor league season is in its home stretch. Portland finished up its schedule a day early with Saturday's annual Field of Dreams game (pictured), while Worcester heads into the final week of its 2026 campaign. 

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Houck, Contreras rehab; Oviedo to join Worcester

 

A pair of veterans were in action for the final week of festivities at Hadlock Field. Tanner Houck made a big step in his comeback from 2025 Tommy John surgery, making a pair of appearances for the Sea Dogs. The 2024 American League All-Star returned to the mound in the fifth inning of Tuesday's contest. He faced four batters, retiring two, walking two, and allowing one run. He was more effective on Friday, allowing one run on one hit in three innings of relief, striking out four, walking one, and facing just one batter over the minimum. He will pitch for Worcester this week, aiming to return to the major league bullpen for end of the regular season. Willson Contreras, out since August 30th with a hamstring strain, had a tidy two-game visit to Portland. He went 2 for 7 in two contests, as the designated hitter on Friday and then at first base on Saturday. He was activated for Sunday's major league game, going 2 for 3 with a walk in Boston's 4-1 win over Kansas City.

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Podcast Ep. #429: Portland and Greenville Live Looks

Ian and Chris have been out at the fields to close the season and they got on the horn to discuss what they've seen from the Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs in the closing weeks of the season. Listen in on the latest reports from those two squads!

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Cup of Coffee: It's Worcester's show from here

9/14 Cup of Coffee: It was a disappointing end to the 2026 season for Portland, as the rain that pounded the Northeast on Sunday was enough to wash out the season finale, ending the Sea Dogs' season prematurely. However, Worcester was able to get its contest in and finished its penultimate series in style, as Allan Castro (pictured) was 3 for 5 with two home runs, including the go-ahead blast in the top of the ninth. He hit two of Worcester's four home runs, as Tsu-Che Cheng and Vinnie Capra each left the yard, as well. The win kept Worcester on the periphery of the playoff race with six games to go, all of which are at home against Durham.

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7

The WooSox scored a pair each in the second and third, but the hosts retook the lead with a four-run sixth. However, Allan Castro played the hero, knocking a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to snag victory from the jaws of defeat. That capped off a 3-for-5 performance for the 23-year-old, two of which left the yard, as he also hit a big fly in the seventh. The top of the lineup did plenty of damage, as Franklin Arias, hitting in the No. 2 hole, as well as leadoff hitter Vinny Capra, had two hits, including a homer for Capra, joining three-hitter Castro's explosion. Tsu-Che Cheng also went yard, with a two-run shot to get the scoring started in the first. Gage Ziehl gave his team length, pitching 5 2/3 innings, as he allowed four runs on five hits. He did not walk an IronPig, but struck out eight of them. Sam McWilliams was credited with the win and he completed the contest, with two clean innings that featured a pair of strikeouts.

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Cup of Coffee: McSweeney sparkles for Portland as Turner goes yard; Ward knocks 3 hits

9/13 Cup of Coffee: It was the final Saturday of the regular season for Portland, as the Sea Dogs close out their season on Sunday, and they made it count, with a pitchers' duel at Hadlock Field. Will Turner (pictured) put his team in front with a solo home run in the first and it was more than enough for Morgan McSweeney, as the local product shoved through seven shutout innings, retiring the last 11 hitters he faced in 2026. It was a bit of a different flavor for Worcester, as the WooSox had a staff day against Lehigh Valley, with plenty more runs scored. Allan Castro and Braiden Ward, who went 3 for 5, both went yard for Worcester, as it attempted to stay in the playoff hunt and extend its season beyond next weekend.

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7, Worcester Red Sox 5

Worcester also got a solo home run in the first inning, as Allan Castro left the yard with two outs in the frame, but Lehigh Valley scored one in the bottom half and added three more in the following inning, setting a different tone than Portland's pitchers' duel. Worcester got three back in the top of the fourth, but the IronPigs weren't going to go down quietly, responding with two more in the bottom half. The bulk of the home side's runs went on Michael Sansone's tab, as he allowed six runs across 3 2/3 innings of work. He walked four and allowed five hits, two of which were home runs. He also struck out three. Patrick Halligan finished the fourth and didn't allow a run in the fifth, with just a walk on his ledger. However, John Brebbia surrendered a solo homer in the sixth. Hobie Harris finished the game with 1 1/3 clean frames. Braiden Ward also drilled a big fly as part of his three-hit effort, doing so as part of Worcester's three-run fourth. Tsung-Che Cheng was 2 for 3 with a walk.

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Cup of Coffee: Houck, Contreras shine in rehab efforts; Godbout keeps rolling

9/12 Cup of Coffee: White the major league team was losing its third straight, there was encouraging news out of Maine about some coming reinforcements. Willson Contreras had a good night as he kicked off his rehab assignment while Tanner Houck cruised through three innings in his second appearance back with the Sea Dogs. They teamed with Henry Godbout (pictured) to lead Portland's victory. John Holobetz turned in another solid Triple-A start, but the WooSox fell in Lehigh Valley.

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 4, Worcester Red Sox 1

A strong effort by John Holobetz went for naught as the WooSox missed a chance to move up in the International League playoff chase. All four Lehigh Valley runs came via solo homer. Holobetz cruised for five scoreless frames before the IronPigs reached him for a leadoff shot in the sixth. He finished with one run allowed on four hits in 5 1/3, striking out seven against one walk. Seth Martinez surrendered three blasts, one in the sixth and two in the seventh, suffering the loss. Devin Sweet threw a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one. The lone Worcester run came in the fifth, when Nate Baez plated Max Ferguson with a double. It was the first start for Franklin Arias since August 18 that he did not record a hit. 

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Cup of Coffee: McDonough clubs 20th homer of season; White finishes triple shy of cycle

9/11 Cup of Coffee: Boston's affiliates went 2-0 on Thursday. Tyler McDonough hit his 20th home run of the season, while Blake Wehunt struck out four over six quality innings in Worcester's win over Lehigh Valley. Elsewhere, Mason White (pictured) nearly hit for the cycle, while three others also homered in Portland's win over Binghamton.

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Worcester Red Sox 7, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 4

Franklin Arias and Tyler McDonough accounted for half of Worcester's eight hits. Arias went 2 for 4 with two RBI, one run scored, one stolen base, and one walk. McDonough went 2 for 4 with his 20th home run of the season overall, two RBI, and two runs scored. Nathan Hickey also drove in two runs, adding a run and a walk. Braiden Ward drew two walks, scored one run, and stole his 57th base of the year, tying him with David Hamilton for the Red Sox' Triple-A organizational record. 

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Cup of Coffee: Scorching Arias reaches base four times in WooSox win

9/10 Cup of Coffee: It's been a sterling home stretch of the 2026 for shortstops Franklin Arias and Henry Godbout, who both again turned in multiple hit games on Wednesday night. Arias powered Worcester to the win to jump a pair of teams in the playoff hunt. Godbout supported another strong Hayden Mullins outing, but the Sea Dogs' loss officially knocked them from contention. 

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 3

The WooSox pounded out 14 hits as they make their push in the International League playoff race. Franklin Arias was once again the headline, reaching base four times as he went 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, and a run scored. In six September contests, Arias is 14 for 27. Vinny Capra was 3 for 5 with a pair of runs scored, including one on a solo homer in the ninth. Allan Castro also had a three-hit effort, swiping his 20th base of the year. Tyler McDonough and Mikey Romero had two hits apiece. 

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Cup of Coffee: Houck begins rehab assignment, Garcia doubles twice for Sea Dogs

9/9 Cup of Coffee: The minor league season is beginning to wind down, as Greenville and Salem's seasons ended on Sunday and the Sea Dogs enter their last week of the season. With only two Red Sox affiliates still active, the WooSox were walked off in their series opener in Lehigh Valley while the Sea Dogs came away with a win on the night of Tanner Houck's return to the mound. 

 

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Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 5, Worcester Red Sox 4 (10 innings)

Top prospect Franklin Arias drove in the first two runs of the game for the WooSox, hitting a sacrifice fly in the first inning and floating an RBI single to right field in the fifth. Arias was 1 for 3 on the night and is now hitting .328 in 33 games since his promotion to Worcester. Mikey Romero also recorded an RBI single in the fifth inning as part of a 3-for-5 game. Allan Castro walked three times and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the tenth. Braiden Ward went 3 for 5 and scored two runs.   

 

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Minor Notes: Houck set to begin rehab assignment; Godbout's power surge continues

The minor league season continues to wind down as the playoff chances dwindle for the affiliates. Portland fans will be treated to two appearances by Tanner Houck (pictured, right) next week, while  Jedixson Paez had a start to forget in his first action with Boston. 

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Season ends for Greenville and Salem

Despite being in the playoff race for much of the second half, both Greenville and Salem fell short of the postseason. Their last game was on September 6. Leighton Finley was rewarded with a start for Greenville after tossing 96 innings with the RidgeYaks. He struck out seven over 4 2/3 shutout innings in the finale for Greenville. The season-end rosters for both squads are posted to our 2026 Season-End Rosters page. 

Playoff chances in the upper minors

With Portland entering its last week of play, they need to essentially win-out and get some help. They are in fourth place and 4.5 games behind Reading. Worcester has a better shot, as they are just two games back with two weeks to play. 

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Podcast Ep. #428: New month, new rankings

Chris and Mike got together to discuss the newest #SP60, but not after first recapping the last few weeks in the organization, including the reintegration of Roman Anthony and Trevor Story, the change in focus following the Yankees series, Jedixson Paez's MLB debut and the return of Yordanny Monegro. Plus, another crop of listener emails!

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Cup of Coffee: Godbout homers again; season comes to an end for Greenville and Salem

9/7 Cup of Coffee: A heartbreaking loss for Worcester did not help the playoff picture despite strong games from Kristian Campbell and Franklin Arias. Henry Godbout hit his fourth home run of the week, and Leighton Finley had a strong showing in Greenville's season finale. 

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Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 8, Worcester Red Sox 7

Seven runs in the seventh doomed the WooSox as they lost a pivotal game to Buffalo. Starter Gage Ziehl cruised through five innings, needing just 56 pitches as he left in line for the win. But the Bisons got to Angel Bastardo for five runs and then Tyler Samaniego for two runs to take the lead. The heart of Worcester's offense did its part, led by Kristian Campbell who went 3 for 4 with a double, walk, and two RBI. Both Franklin Arias and Romy Gonzalez went 3 for 5, with Arias notching an RBI double while Gonzalez had two run-scoring singles. 

Worcester is now in fourth place and two games out of a playoff spot with two weeks to play. 

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Cup of Coffee: Comebacks abound, Campbell homers

9/6 Cup of Coffee: It was a big day for comebacks across the system, as Worcester and Salem each scored three in the eighth to take the lead, while Portland doubled up the two squads in the penultimate frame, adding six to take the lead. Greenville got it done a bit earlier, as its big inning came in the sixth, with a four-run inning. Kristian Campbell (pictured) had a huge day for Worcester, going 3 for 4 with a two-run homer in the eighth. He was joined in the three-hit club by Tyler McDonough and Ronny Hernandez, the latter of whom was perfect on the day. Barrett Morgan also threw four shutout innings.

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Worcester Red Sox 4, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 2

Worcester had some theatrics on Saturday night, as the WooSox went from down 2-1 to up 4-2 in the top of the eighth with a three-run frame, including a two-run homer by Kristian Campbell, who was 3 for 4. He and Anthony Siegler accounted for five of their team’s eight hits. It was a strong start for Michael Sansone, who struggled with control, walking four over five innings, but got results, as he allowed just one run. Devin Sweet pitched a clean eighth, while Sam McWilliams recorded his first save for Worcester this season, working around a hit with two strikeouts in the ninth.

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Cup of Coffee: Capra, Arias power WooSox sweep; Salazar powers RidgeYaks

9/5 Cup of Coffee: It was a full day of action down on the farm, with all four full-season teams in action and Worcester getting some extra baseball. The WooSox got a de facto sweep, as Vinny Capra homered in the 10th inning of the restart of Thursday's suspended contest before Franklin Arias and John Holobetz slaughtered the Bisons in the regularly scheduled game. Salem was also victorious on Friday, led by another big night from Kleyver Salazar (pictured). Greenville saw its postseason hopes dashed in an extra-inning walk-off loss, while Portland fell in Eastern League action. 

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Worcester Red Sox 6, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 4 (Game 1)

On Thursday night, Buffalo had just staged a comeback to send the contest to extra innings when the skies fully opened. Shortly after the restart on Friday, Vinny Capra blasted a three-run bomb in the 10th to give Worcester the win. It was the third hit of the game for Capra, who was also hit by a pitch and stole a base. Romy Gonzalez was 4 for 5 with an RBI, while Mikey Romero doubled and drove in a run as part of a 3-for-5 effort. Franklin Arias finished with a pair of hits. Blake Wehunt had gone six innings, allowing one run on seven hits, earning a no decision. The Capra homer made a winner of Hobie Harris, who had surrendered the tying run in the ninth on Thursday. Seth Martinez allowed the automatic runner to score on a base hit in the 10th but struck out a pair to secure the save. 

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Cup of Coffee: Godbout homers twice as Portland bests Eyanson, Chesapeake

9/4 Cup of Coffee: Excluding Worcester's suspended contest against Buffalo, Boston's affiliates went 1-2 in three tightly contested games on Thursday. Henry Godbout (pictured) homered twice in Portland's win over Chesapeake. Ronny Hernandez, Nazzan Zanetello, and Givian Sirvania all went deep as Greenville fell to Bowling Green. Cole Tolbert worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings as Salem was shut out by Hill City.

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Worcester Red Sox 3, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 3 (Suspended in 10th inning)

This game was suspended in the top of the 10th inning due to rain. It will resume at 5:05 p.m. ET Friday evening and be followed by Friday's regularly scheduled nine-inning contest.

Before the skies opened, Blake Wehunt put together a solid start for Worcester, allowing only one earned run on seven hits, one walk, and six strikeouts over six quality innings. He threw 84 pitches (62 strikes) and generated eight whiffs. In relief of Wehunt, Angel Bastardo tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh, while John Brebbia and Hobie Harris each gave up a run in their respective innings of work. 

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August Players of the Month: Franklin Primera and Dylan Brown

The fifth full month of the minor league season is complete. With that, it is time to present the SoxProspects.com Players of the Month awards for August to catcher Franklin Primera (pictured, left) and left-hander Dylan Brown (pictured, bottom right). Both prospects are currently ranked within the organization's top 25, having each climbed more than 30 spots since Opening Day.

Primera, the No. 3 prospect in the system behind only Franklin Arias and Justin Gonzales, is a SoxProspects.com Player of the Month honoree for the second time this season. The right-handed hitting 19-year-old batted a stout .382/.535/.592 with five doubles, one triple, three home runs, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored, two stolen bases, 16 walks, and eight strikeouts in 22 August games (101 plate appearances) for Salem. He was recognized as the Carolina League Player of the Week for August 10-16, then drove in a career-high seven runs on August 18.

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Cup of Coffee: Hull, Schaffner lead Greenville; Mullins dominates for Sea Dogs

9/3 Cup of Coffee: Affiliates won two out of three games on Wednesday evening as both Class A affiliates look to close out the season strong. Greenville kept its playoff hopes alive on the continued hot bats of Owen Hull and Jake Schaffner. A late rally made winners of the RidgeYaks, who have won two in a row after suffering a sweep in last week's series. Hayden Mullins (pictured), fanned 10 in six shutout innings for Portland, but a late comeback in Bowie dropped the Sea Dogs in extra innings. Wild weather in Western New York postponed Worcester's contest. 

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Worcester Red Sox @ Buffalo Bisons (TOR), postponed   

With heavy rains and a tornado warning rolling through Buffalo, Wednesday's contest was postponed. They'll try for a doubleheader on Friday. 

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Chesapeake Baysox (BAL) 5, Portland Sea Dogs 4

A late rally culminating in a 10th-inning walkoff spoiled an outstanding effort by Hayden Mullins. The left-hander dominated for six innings, allowing just one hit, walking one, and fanning 10 of the 20 batters he faced. Chesapeake shortstop and 2025 first-round pick Wehiwa Aloy blasted a pair of two-run homers in back-to-back innings off of Tyler Davis to knot the contest at 4-4. Erik Rivera suffered a tough-luck loss, as the only baserunner he allowed in 1 2/3 innings was a two-out ground ball single in the 10th that plated the automatic runner. Max Ferguson led the way at the plate with a 2-for-4 evening with three RBI that included a two-run homer in the sixth. Reigning Eastern League Player of the Week Johanfran Garcia also went deep for the Sea Dogs. Brooks Brannon and Ronald Rosario had two hits apiece, with Rosario ripping a double.

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Cup of Coffee: Schaffner hits first professional homer, Romero records four hits

Cup of Coffee: On the night that Jedixson Paez made his major league debut at Fenway Park, there was plenty of action for prospect watchers down on the farm as well. Mikey Romero and Romy Gonzalez had big games in a blowout win for the WooSox, while Henry Godbout homered in a Sea Dogs loss. The Drive and RidgeYaks both had exciting wins, as Yophery Rodriguez (pictured) blasted a go-ahead home run in the ninth for Greenville and Adonys Guzman sent the Salem fans home happy with a walkoff single in the tenth. 

 

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Worcester Red Sox 9, Buffalo Bisons (TOR) 1 

Mikey Romero led the charge in a huge night for the WooSox lineup, as he drove in a pair of runs with a double in the third inning as part of a 4-for-4 game. Romy Gonzalez homered in his second consecutive game, ripping a two-run homer to center field in the seventh inning. Franklin Arias went 2 for 4 with a walk and scored three runs. In his first game since being optioned to Worcester, Anthony Seigler drove in two runs with a double in the ninth and went 1 for 5 on the night. 

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Minor Notes: Monegro returns from Tommy John; Anthony and Story rejoin Red Sox

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the Red Sox postseason roster is beginning to take shape. Three major league mainstays returned to the Red Sox after stints on the injured list, causing a ripple effect for Boston's depth in the upper minors. Down on the farm, the Red Sox affiliates remain on the outside looking in as they battle for postseason berths. 

 

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Rehabbing major leaguers rejoin Red Sox 

After missing more than three months of action, Roman Anthony and Trevor Story made their triumphant return to the Red Sox lineup in Sunday's loss to the Yankees. Both players had spent most of the last two weeks on rehab assignments following their lengthy absences, with Anthony hitting .280/.367/.600 with two home runs in eight games between Portland and Worcester while Story hit .171/.189/.200 with 11 strikeouts in 10 games with the WooSox. While he did not pitch on a rehab assignment, Garrett Whitlock also returned to the Red Sox bullpen on Saturday after missing a couple of weeks with elbow inflammation. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who has also played eight games on a rehab assignment with Worcester, is likely to follow once rosters expand in September.

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Cup of Coffee: Campbell homers twice; Heyman plays the hero for Greenville

8/31 Cup of Coffee: Two home runs from Kristian Campbell helped the WooSox cling to their playoff chances. Luke Heyman (pictured) was the hero in a thriller for Greenville, while Martin Shelar was on base five times in a doubleheader for Salem. 

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Worcester Red Sox 13, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 10

The WooSox were able to salvage a series split, but they still sit 4.5 games out of a playoff spot entering September. Kristian Campbell capped the month with one of his best games, going 3 for 4 with two home runs and four RBI. Romy Gonzalez also added a home run as he went 3 for 4 with a double, stolen base, three RBI, and four runs scored. Appearing in his last rehab game, Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 1 for 3 with a two-run single. The offense bailed out the pitching staff as the seven Worcester pitchers struggled to set down the RailRiders. John Brebbia threw a scoreless frame as the opener; Max Carlson got the win despite allowing two runs over three innings, while he notched a save with a scoreless ninth. 

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Cup of Coffee: Gonzales goes for 4 hits

8/30 Cup of Coffee: The big club split a doubleheader on Saturday, but the minor league affiliates weren't as fortunate, as just one of the four grabbed a win, and they began to fall further from playoff contention. This wasn't without some solid performances, however, as No. 2 prospect Justin Gonzales (pictured) exploded with a four-hit performance in a big Portland victory, contributing two RBI along the way. Barrett Morgan also had a nice start for Greenville, pitching 3 1/3 no-hit innings, while Andruw Mussett was a bright spot in an otherwise tough close loss for Salem, hitting a two-run homer as part of a three-hit evening.

 

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (NYY) 9, Worcester Red Sox 1

A four-run fifth was the separator for Worcester, as the WooSox just got five hits. However, there was some encouraging news for the big-league club, as Isiah Kiner-Falefa knocked two hits, while Trevor Story knocked a double and Roman Anthony worked a walk, meaning all three rehabbers reached base. Michael Sansone handled the bulk of the work, pitching the first five innings. He allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on two home runs. He walked one and struck out five. Patrick Halligan also contributed three innings, while Nathan Hickey had another pitching appearance in the ninth.

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Cup of Coffee: Monegro returns to Greenville mound as Hull stays hot

8/29 Cup of Coffee: The Red Sox got some strong pitching performances as its affiliates drew a Friday-night split. Yordanny Monegro had his first in-game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer, getting the start for the Drive. He was supported by a solid piggyback effort by Shea Sprague and the continued excellent play of Owen Hull (pictured). Devin Futrell got more than enough support for his quality start in Portland's win as the Sea Dogs ripped 14 hits, seven for extra bases. Leighton Finley was excellent for Salem, but the RidgeYaks suffered a come-from-behind loss, while John Holobetz was on the wrong side of a Polar Park pitchers' duel. 

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (NYY) 2, Worcester Red Sox 0

It was a strange evening at Polar Park, with most of the attention paid to who wasn't in the lineup. A trio of rehabbing major leaguers, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, were not activated on Friday for the Yankees series but were also not in the Worcester starting lineup. Afield was a pitchers' duel, with John Holobetz and a trio of relievers falling to a pair of Railriders who threw a three-hit shutout. Holobetz went the first five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out two and walking one. John Brebbia followed with a scoreless sixth inning, striking out one and surrendering one hit. Angel Bastardo fanned two and walked one in two hitless frames, and Hobie Harris struck out three batters, sandwiching one walk in the ninth. For Harris, it was his sixth straight game and 10th in his last 11 that he was not scored upon. At the plate, Franklin Arias had the only extra-base hit, a ninth-inning double. The knock extended his hitting streak to seven games. Nate Eaton and Romy Gonzalez had a hit apiece. 

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Cup of Coffee: Brown, Jackson lead Greenville past Rome; Anthony picks up two more hits

8/28 Cup of Coffee: Aside from Salem's game in Fayetteville getting rained out, Boston's affiliates went 3-0 on Thursday. Blake Wehunt went five innings while the rehabbing trio of Roman Anthony, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Trevor Story combined for five hits in Worcester's win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Ahbram Liendo and Henry Godbout homered in Portland's blowout win over Richmond. And in Greenville, Isaiah Jackson (pictured) and Dylan Brown stood out as the Drive toppled Rome.

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Worcester Red Sox 7, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 1

Blake Wehunt picked up the win in his start for Worcester after allowing only one earned run on four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts over five solid innings. He threw 75 pitches (47 strikes) and generated five whiffs. Osvaldo Berrios and Seth Martinez combined for nine additional strikeouts over four scoreless, one-hit frames of relief.

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Cup of Coffee: Andujar reaches six times in twinbill; Shelar blasts first homer

8/27 Cup of Coffee: A Portland victory in extra innings saved the system from being swept on Wednesday. The Sea Dogs were locked in a scoreless tie into the 10th and the two exchanged rallies until Yoeilin Cespedes hit a decisive two-run homer in the 13th. Salem was swept in a doubleheader despite a huge day from Louis Andujar (pictured), who reached base six times in seven plate appearances. Greenville fell despite a strong Jason Gilman start while Worcester could not dig out of an early deficit.

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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 7, Worcester Red Sox 1

It was a tough evening at Polar Park for the WooSox, who were outhit 13 to five and failed to register an extra-base hit. Rehabbers Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Roman Anthony, and Trevor Story occupied the top three spots in the lineup and went a combined 0 for 10, though Kiner-Falefa did draw a pair of walks and stole a base. Allan Castro had the only multi-hit effort, going 2 for 4. Franklin Arias singled to bring his hitting streak to six games. Starter Gage Ziehl took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in three innings. He struck out one, walked one, and allowed two homers. Noah Song had a strong effort out of the bullpen, fanning four as he allowed two hits in three shutout innings. Tyler Samaniego and Devin Sweet went a scoreless inning apiece before Scranton picked up an insurance run in the ninth against Sam McWilliams.

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Cup of Coffee: Paez strikes out eight, Anthony homers in WooSox win

8/26 Cup of Coffee: With the help of three rehabbing major leaguers and a great start from Jedixson Paez (pictured), the WooSox rode a late rally to the win on Tuesday night. The Sea Dogs clawed their way back after falling behind early but were unable to emerge victorious despite strong games from Justin Gonzales and Henry Godbout. Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull led the Drive to a walkoff win while the Salem bats were held quiet in a pitching duel. 

 

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (NYY) 5 

After spending a week in Portland, Roman Anthony took the next step in his rehab assignment as he jumped up Worcester on Tuesday night. Anthony was right in the middle of the action, crushing a two-run homer to give the WooSox the lead in a pivotal seventh-inning rally, and going 2 for 4 with a walk on the night. Franklin Arias also ripped an RBI double and Kristian Campbell delivered an RBI single in that five-run rally. Arias was 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored in the game. Also in the WooSox lineup on rehab assignments, Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 1 for 3 with a double and two walks and Trevor Story went 0 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts. 

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Minor Notes: Anthony takes rehab to Worcester; Phillips heads to IL

In the thick of the American League Wild Card race, the Red Sox are looking to end August on a strong note. At the same time, their four full-season affiliates are fighting for playoff spots down the stretch. Salem and Greenville have two weeks of games remaining, while Portland has three and Worcester has four. This week's notes will cover those playoff chases, as well as injury and rehab assignment updates.

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Anthony's rehab shifts to Worcester

Working his way back from a partially torn tendon in his right hand/wrist sustained in early May, Roman Anthony (pictured, left) is joining Worcester from Portland this week to continue his rehab assignment. The 22-year-old outfielder appeared in four games for the Sea Dogs last week, going 3 for 11 (.273) with one double, one home run, three RBI, one run scored, two walks, and four strikeouts. He made two starts in left field and two starts at DH.

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Cup of Coffee: Godbout and Bleis go back-to-back; Burgos stifles the Mets

8/24 Cup of Coffee: The big league squad's magic did not carry down to the affiliates as they went 0 for 4 on Sunday. Raymond Burgos was solid for Worcester, and Henry Godbout (pictured) and Miguel Bleis had back-to-back home runs for Portland. It was a hitless rehab appearance for all of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Trevor Story, and Roman Anthony, while Kleyver Salazar kept his hitting streak alive. 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 2, Worcester Red Sox 0

The WooSox were shut out for the third time this series as they dropped five of six to the Mets. The rehabbing Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Trevor Story combined to go 0 for 8 at the top of the order, while Franklin Arias and Mikey Romero both went 1 for 3 with a walk. Making his first start since being optioned, Raymond Burgos kept the game scoreless as he fired five shutout frames with three walks and four strikeouts. The loss went to Seth Martinez who gave up two runs (one earned) in his two innings. The WooSox are now 3.5 games out of playoff spot after dropping their fourth straight. 

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Cup of Coffee: Sansone goes 6 strong; White, Rodriguez have 3 hits

8/23 Cup of Coffee: It was another tough day on the farm, as there were tough results up and down the minor league ladder, as many games went down to the wire and Salem was the only affiliate able to pull out a victory. In Greenville's completion of a suspended game, the Drive lost by one, while Portland gave up three runs in the ninth and got the tying run aboard, but was unable to complete the comeback, wasting six effective innings by Michael Sansone (pictured). Mason White did his part, knocking three hits, including a double. Worcester was also shut out. All nine batters got in on the action for Salem and seven of them had at least one RBI, including three for Colton Coates.

 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 3, Worcester Red Sox 0

Syracuse scored three runs in the bottom of the second and that was able to hold up, as neither team was able to push an additional run across the plate. The WooSox were shutout and unable to take advantage of two Syracuse errors. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was 0 for 3 with a walk and strikeout in his rehab appearance, while Trevor Story was 1 for 4. Brett Harris was the only member of the multi-hit club, adding a double. John Holobetz was on the mound and gave four innings, with all three runs on his tab, as he gave up seven hits and walked another Met. He struck out four. John Brebbia was the only reliever to not allow a baserunner, doing so with a clean ninth, but Osvaldo Berrios (two innings) and Tyler Samaniego (one inning) scattered a hit each.

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Cup of Coffee: Guzman, Primera roll, but RidgeYaks fall short

8/22 Cup of Coffee: It was a tough day down on the farm, with all three affiliates who completed their games coming up short. Salem could not come all the way back from an early deficit despite the efforts of Adonys Guzman and Franklin Primera. Franklin Arias spoiled the no-hit and shutout bids against Worcester, but the WooSox suffered a walk-off defeat. Devin Futrell turned in a quality start, but Portland never led against the Fightin Phils. Greenville was holding a 2-0 lead in the third inning when its contest was suspended by weather.

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 4, Worcester Red Sox 3

Worcester was held hitless into the eighth inning, but came back to knot the score at 3-3 before Syracuse walked it off in the ninth. The WooSox' first hit scored their first two runs, as Franklin Arias ripped a one-out double that scored Nate Baez and Nate Eaton, who both had walked. In the ninth, Romy Gonzalez doubled and then came on to score on an Allan Castro base hit. Trevor Story continued his rehab assignment, going 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts. Starter Blake Wehunt went 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked four, struck out four, and hit a batter. Hobie Harris continued his run of solid relief work, striking out a pair and allowing one hit in 1 1/3 innings. It was the fourth straight scoreless outing for the veteran righty, and he has allowed just one run in his last nine appearances. Sam McWilliams allowed a run in the ninth to take the loss. 

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Cup of Coffee: Heyman, Martin power Greenville; Song has career night

8/21 Cup of Coffee: Boston's affiliates went 1-3 on Thursday. Noah Song tallied a career-high seven strikeouts out of the bullpen in Worcester's shutout loss to Syracuse. Will Turner doubled and homered, while Roman Anthony continued his rehab assignment in Portland's blowout loss to Reading. Luke Heyman (pictured) and Maximus Martin both went deep in Greenville's come-from-behind win over Winston-Salem. Louis Andujar also left the yard in Salem's high-scoring loss to Wilson. 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 5, Worcester Red Sox 0

Gage Ziehl went four innings and took the loss in his start for Worcester, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits (including one home run), three walks, and two strikeouts. He threw 82 pitches (49 strikes) and generated 10 whiffs. In relief of Ziehl, Noah Song struck out a career-high seven over three frames of one-run ball, while Devin Sweet worked a scoreless eighth inning. Offensively, the WooSox were held to just four hits (all singles) as a team. Brett Harris accounted for two of those knocks. Franklin Arias and Nate Eaton, who each drew a walk, were responsible for the others.

With the loss, Worcester remains 1 1/2 games back of Indianapolis for first place in the International League second-half standings.

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Showing off new arsenal, Gage Ziehl is one call away from majors

Being traded twice in an eight-month span would be tough on anybody. For Gage Ziehl, the timing was all the more difficult. Headed into his second professional season, Ziehl was acquired by the Red Sox in a deal with Chicago on February 1st, a time when most minor leaguers have already reported to training camps around the league. It made for a quite an experience in his welcome to the Boston organization. 

"I have been with three organizations now in just over two years of pro ball," Ziehl said. "It has been tough to pack up your whole life and go find another spot and just have to fit in and keep it moving. The whole trade experience here was a bit crazy. I trained in Florida over the offseason and had already shipped my car to Arizona for White Sox camp. I was about to board my connecting flight to Arizona when I got a call asking if I had already booked a flight out. I had already boarded and on the runway when I got a call from the Assistant General Manager from Chicago saying I had been traded. I couldn’t get off the plane by this point. So, I made my flight and shipped my car to Fort Myers and was there the next day. It has been great here with the Red Sox since I got here. The communication has been great since early on. They have been awesome with collaborating on what I have wanted to get better with. I think it has showed so far this year."

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Cup of Coffee: Shelar debuts in Salem as Foutch, Walker combine for one-hitter

8/20 Cup of Coffee: It was a clean sweep in the system, with all four affiliates boosting their playoff chances with victories on Wednesday. Pitching was a highlight in the low minors. Salem's Christian Foutch (pictured) and Ethan Walker had a combined one-hit shutout victory. A trio of Greenville hurlers fanned 20 batters, highlighted by Brady Tygart striking out 10 in 4 1/3. Justin Gonzales hit his first Portland homer to get things rolling for the Sea Dogs, while Worcester brought in a pair of ringers to help knock off Syracuse in a slugfest. 

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Worcester Red Sox 9, Syracuse Mets (NYM) 7

A pair of rehabbing middle infielders helped Worcester pull even in its series in the Salt City. Isiah Kiner-Falefa began his rehab stint batting leadoff and playing second base, going 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Double play partner Trevor Story slotted into the next spot in the lineup and went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Story could join the major league club as soon as Friday. Fellow veteran Romy Gonzalez blasted a three-run homer as part of Worcester's six-run fifth-inning rally. Franklin Arias did not start but did come on in a key spot in the eighth inning, delivering an insurance run with a pinch hit RBI single. Kristian Campbell reached base three times with a single and a pair of walks. 

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Cup of Coffee: Anthony begins rehab assignment; Gonzales makes Double-A debut

8/19 Cup of Coffee: All eyes were on the Sea Dogs on Tuesday night, as Roman Anthony returned to the baseball field after missing more than three months with a wrist injury and No. 2 prospect Justin Gonzales made his Double-A debut. Both players delivered on the hype, as Anthony homered and Gonzales collected two hits. However, it was Franklin Primera (pictured) and the RidgeYaks who stole the show as Primera drove in seven runs in a 21-run outburst for Salem.  

 

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Syracuse Mets (NYM) 5, Worcester Red Sox 1

Jedixson Paez made his second start at the Triple-A level, taking a step back after an impressive performance in his WooSox debut last Thursday. Paez struck out five Mets hitters while walking just one batter but he was tagged for three runs on four hits in four innings pitched. Patrick Halligan followed him with three strong innings out of the bullpen, surrendering one run on two hits while fanning three batters. John Brebbia struck out the side in one inning of relief but he gave up a run on a hit and a walk. The WooSox bats recorded just two hits in a quiet night at the plate, scoring their only run on an RBI double off the bat of Allan Castro in the seventh inning. Castro's double scored Romy Gonzalez, who was 1 for 3 on the night. 

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