Minors Notes: Bennett debuts in Boston, Eyanson makes quick rise to Portland

With the dust settling a week after the coaching changes that took headlines across the sport, the Boston farm system saw plenty of highlights this week, capped off by a pair of promotions within the organization. Jake Bennet (pictured) made his Major League debut last week at Fenway Park and Anthony Eyanson was rewarded for his hot start in Greenville. 

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Jake Bennett Makes Big League Debut

With Boston in desperate need of pitching reinforcements due to injury, the left-hander was promoted to the Red Sox and made his first MLB start on Friday against the Houston Astros. Bennett earned the win in his five innings of work, allowing a lone run from a home run off the bat of Carlos Correa. He also struck out three and walked one. As the Boston rotation remains in flux, it is unsure how long Bennett will stay with the club. 

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Eyanson Promoted to Portland

In his first taste of professional baseball, Anthony Eyanson looked nothing short of dominant in Greenville in April. The right-hander who the Red Sox selected in the third round of last year's draft posted a 0.44 ERA and 0.49 WHIP over 20 1/3 innings with the Drive. He also struck out 34 and walked three hitters, all coming in his fifth start of the year. Just a season after Payton Tolle made a meteoric rise through the farm system on his way to a Boston debut last August, Eyanson hopes to replicate the same trajectory.  

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April Players of the Month

With the first month of the season in the books, now-teammates Franklin Arias and Anthony Eyanson were named the SoxProspects' Players of the Month. 

Through April, very few hitters had as good of a month as Arias. The Portland infielder slashed .375/.432/.764 with eight home runs and 20 runs driven in while sporting a 5:9 walk-to-strikeout ratio over 77 plate appearances. After hitting eight home runs in 116 games last season, Arias has already matched that total in 2026 and seems to have unlocked more power that with without a doubt raise his prospect status as the season progresses. 

As previously mentioned, no pitcher looked as good as Eyanson in the opening month of the year. Not only did the right-hander's increased velocity overwhelm hitters at the High-A level, but his impressive control allowed him to keep hitters off the bases. 

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FCL Season Underway 

On Saturday, the Florida Complex League season kicked off as the Red Sox dropped its opener to the Twins. As the campaign begins down south, there are a handful of prospects that Boston fans should keep their eyes on. In his stateside debut, SoxProspects' ninth-ranked prospect Dorian Soto went 1 for 3 with a walk. Along with Soto, Hector Ramos (17th) and Harold Rivas (18th) are among those making the leap from the DSL. Also on the team, two-way prospect Conrad Cason, who missed most of his first professional season last year with injury, hit a pair of home runs in his season debut. 

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New Podcast Episode 

Ian Cundall and Mike Andrews sit down in Episode 412 of the SoxProspects Podcast to break down all of the Red Sox coaching staff changes including how they think Chad Tracy will fare as the new manager. They also talk about Payton Tolle's start against the Yankees and Franklin Arias' torrid start to 2026. 

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Transaction Updates

Outside of Eyanson's promotion to Portland, it was a quiet week in terms of movement within the system. While the Red Sox were making residual moves to their Major League coaching staff, Portland catcher Drew Ehrhard retired from playing to take a position as a bullpen catcher for Boston. The backstop finishes his professional career with 104 games played across four seasons, slashing .233/.306/.376 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs. 

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Where Are They Now

• After getting off to a strong start in Double-A, Braden Montgomery was promoted to Triple-A within the White Sox organization over the weekend. The outfielder that was selected in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Red Sox has slashed .313/.429/.606 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 27 games to open the season. Montgomery was the top prospect traded to Chicago in the Garrett Crochet deal. 

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Players of the Week April 27-May 3

Vinny Capra, INF, Worcester Red Sox 

5 G, 9-19, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, .474/.524/1.053 

After not playing in Worcester's first game of its series against Rochester and registering an 0-for-2 line in game two, the infielder recorded four consecutive games with multiple hits. His best game of the week came on April 30 when he went 3 for 5 with a solo home run. 

Myles Patton, LHP, Salem RidgeYaks

1 G, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K 0.80 WHIP 

Patton appeared in one game last week but was masterful in it. On April 28, the left-hander held Wilson scoreless over five innings in Salem's 6-0 win, striking out six and scattering two hits and two walks in his outing. He also threw 48 of his 76 pitches for strikes. After a rough performance the start before, Boston's 7th-round pick from last season's draft seemed to get back on track. 

Photo Credit: Jake Bennett and Vinny Capra by Kelly O'Connor

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