Podcast Ep. #225: Interview with Paul Toboni, Director of Amateur Scouting

Chris and Ian sat down recently with Paul Toboni, Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting, to discuss his career, how the Red Sox scout and approach the draft, and of course, the two drafts for which he's had the helm. Lots of great information ahead regarding the scouting of Nick Yorke and Marcelo Mayer, how the Red Sox set a draft board, what exactly "building process" is, and more!

Read full post ...

Q&A with Bryant product Kevin McAvoy

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When Kevin McAvoy was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Red Sox, it came as a bit of a surprise. That, in large part, might have been due to the fact that draft followers were not used to seeing players from Bryant University selected that high. In fact, he was the highest MLB draft pick in the Rhode Island school’s history, a distinction he takes great pride in, but that he would not mind losing in the near future, as he discusses below.

Last season, McAvoy jumped straight from a short stint in Lowell after being drafted up to Salem, foregoing Greenville entirely. While some of the numbers generally used to assess pitching prospects were not great (5.2 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9), his greatest asset is his ground ball-inducing sinkerball and, in that realm, he succeeded. Of pitchers with more than 60 innings in the Red Sox minor league system last season, he had the highest groundout-to-flyout ratio and also induced the most double plays by a wide margin with 25. The next highest in the system were two tied at 18. Coming off of college and short-season ball where the routines are quite different, it’s also extremely impressive that he was third in the system with 141 innings pitched, just a few innings less than the overall leader. Overall, he made 26 starts in Salem, finishing with a 3.89 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. This year, the 22-year-old looks likely to begin the season in the Portland rotation. McAvoy took some time to answer a few questions earlier in spring training.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Boston native Jack McGeary

Jack McGeary is a born-and-bred Bostonian who played his high school ball at Roxbury Latin. Prior to the 2007 draft, he was scouted heavily by the Red Sox but was eventually selected in the sixth round by the Washington Nationals. Signed by the Nationals at the 2007 deadline for $1.8 million, he had the unique opportunity to attend Stanford University full-time while playing professional baseball on the side. This offseason his hometown Red Sox selected him in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

He recently pitched one inning on March 23 in a GCL game against the Twins organization. He featured a 90-93 fastball along with a 74 mph curve on which he got two strikeouts. While the fastball command could have been better, the velocity is there for the left-hander along with a solid breaking ball that he uses as his out pitch. I recently sat down with McGeary to discuss his transition to the Red Sox organization, his unique path through professional ball, and the multiple injuries that have caused setbacks in his development.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Evan Lepler

Evan Lepler has a unique opportunity to observe many Red Sox prospects before they enter the upper minors as the play-by-play voice of the Salem Red Sox. Originally from Sharon, Mass., Evan is a lifelong Red Sox fan. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 2007 and then spent a year as the radio voice for the Delmarva Shorebirds, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, where he covered players such as current Orioles starting pitcher, Zach Britton.

In 2009, when Evan had the chance to join the extended Red Sox family, he jumped at the opportunity. During his time covering Salem he has seen many highly publicized prospects develop, including SoxProspects.com's current top-ranked prospect, Will Middlebrooks, who played in Salem for the 2010 season.

The off-season is a good time to reflect back on the previous season and also look ahead to next. Evan was nice enough to answer a few questions on current prospects in the Red Sox system that he has seen or will see while covering the High-A affiliate.

Will Woodward: Who is the player that impressed you most over the 2011 season?
Evan Lepler: It’s very hard to narrow it down to one player, but Bryce Brentz certainly stands out because of his unreal power ability. Watching Bryce take batting practice every day was must-see-BP. We had a bunch of good power hitters, but it was clear very early on that Bryce was a different breed. He has a long way to go before he becomes a complete major league player. Both his approach at the plate and his defense in right field need significant improvement, and I think he would acknowledge his deficiencies in those areas. With that said, I think he has the work ethic to get where he wants to go, and his gift of raw power is a tool that is so rare and special. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has some struggles in Double-A next year, but I bet he figures it out and continues to rise up the system and up the prospect rankings.

WW: Which player are you looking forward to seeing most in 2012?
EL: In this case, I know I can’t narrow it down to one. I follow Greenville as closely as I can and was very fortunate to be able to catch one Drive game this summer when they had a morning contest in Hagerstown, Md. (WAS) while we were in Frederick, Md. (BAL). Obviously, Brandon Jacobs had a phenomenal year and I’m excited to watch him. I was blown away by how small Sean Coyle was when I saw him in person, and then you see his power numbers and you’re blown away even more. Everyone has raved about Xander Bogaerts and I’m eager to watch him progress. Felix Sanchez may be the fastest player I’ve ever seen, so he’s right up there to. I haven’t even mentioned any of the recent 2011 draft picks like Matt Barnes, Noe Ramirez, Blake Swihart, or Jackie Bradley, Jr, all of whom will likely start 2012 in Greenville but could make an appearance in Salem by July or August. Trust me, I realize how fortunate I am to be able to watch so many of these guys develop every day during the summer. April can’t come soon enough!

WW: In 2010, SoxProspects.com's current top prospect, Will Middlebrooks, played the full year in Salem. What improvements have you seen him make since and what type of major league player do you project him to become?
EL: I’m proud to say that Will’s ascendance to the top of the SoxProspects.com charts did not surprise me at all. I understand he had his struggles at Lowell and Greenville, but the player I saw for all of 2010 in Salem was probably the most complete prospect that I’ve seen in the Red Sox system during my time with the organization. Quite simply, Will is a sensational athlete who probably could have been a really good college football quarterback like his pal, Ryan Mallett. He also averaged over 20 points per game in hoops as a high school junior before focusing on football and baseball as a senior. He has meticulously honed all facets of his defense at third base. His incomprehensibly strong arm stands out the most, but when you watch him every day, you notice his explosive first step and ability to move so well laterally to make plays that others just don’t make. Offensively, his power really started to emerge midway through 2010, and I think he’s probably just scratched the surface of his power potential. I doubt he’d ever hit .320 in the big leagues, but I really believe that he could hit .270-.280 with 25-30 homers and very good defense at third base. I hope he gets a full year in Pawtucket to continue to develop. He probably could help Boston some this year, but the best case scenario for his development would be to have a great season in Pawtucket and then perhaps a September call-up or competing for a spot in the spring of 2013.

WW: Fans often get caught up in stats and on field performance, but is there a player who you really have come to respect off the field?
EL: One of the great things about Red Sox Nation is how much everybody cares. The fact that people follow the Salem Sox from all around the country and are genuinely interested in the ups and downs of so many minor leaguers makes my job so much fun. But even still, there remains a small group of players who fall through the cracks in terms of hype and recognition. “Organizational players,” as they are called, are almost always okay with this anonymity, and that is why I really respect these guys as a group. Guys like Jon Hee, Will Vazquez, Drew Dominguez, Drew Hedman, and a bunch of others are invaluable to the player development process. None of these guys received huge bonuses and none are considered prospects in terms of major-league potential. But they all are vital clubhouse contributors who add character to a team. Kyle Fernandes and Blake Maxwell are two other good examples, and Fern and Max could probably leave baseball to begin a two-man comedy tour and be very successful. Every team needs these guys who understand their roles, but are also ready to go at the spur of a moment. So while I cannot narrow it down to one, I’d say that I have great respect for all these guys who receive so little credit, but still carry themselves like true pros every single day.

WW: Drake Britton struggled in Salem in 2011 after a breakout 2010 season. What is one area you think he needs to improve in order to regain that success?
EL: You hope that Drake Britton is the next Daniel Bard, a guy who experienced some similar A-ball nightmares before harnessing his velocity to become a big-time power-arm at the highest level. As the numbers suggest, Britton did not do anything consistently well in 2011. With that said, many scouts and opposing broadcasters were continuously puzzled at how his stuff could look so dominant at one minute and then he’d either get crushed or couldn’t throw a strike a few minutes later. I really think the early struggles zapped him of his confidence to the point that even when things started to turn around, doubt would inevitably creep in and derail an otherwise solid performance. One time in late April, with a 10 run lead in the fourth inning, he walked four straight with two outs and the bases empty. There were a number of situations like that, when one walk or one tough break would spiral into a disaster of an inning and mar the progress that otherwise would have been made. In terms of rediscovering success, obviously reestablishing his consistent fastball command is paramount. But more generally, he needs to taste a little success and build on it again. His last couple starts at the end of 2011 certainly were steps in the right direction. April and May of 2012 are gonna be a couple huge months for Drake, in my opinion, because he truly does have great stuff. He’s also still very young, so there’s still time.

WW: Anthony Ranaudo was hyped as the best pitcher in the system, but did not dominate in 2011. Were there nights you saw him dominate, and can you see him developing into a front-line starter?
EL: I really enjoyed watching Ranaudo pitch sixteen times last year. He has a great demeanor on the mound and you can tell that being good is really important to him. Early on, I felt like his stuff matched his demeanor and he had a few dominant performances and a couple other outings that were better than the final stat-line indicated. As the season progressed, his stuff lost some bite and he got knocked around a little bit. Considering that he was 21 and in his first professional season, the struggles shouldn’t be all that shocking. Yet, it was always a little surprising because he arrived into the organization with such a lofty reputation. I definitely think he can be a very solid starting pitcher in the big leagues. To be successful, he needs to keep his fastball down in the zone consistently and hopefully develop his changeup a little bit more. But Ranaudo is a legit 6’7”, in excellent shape, and without a doubt one of the top pitching prospects in the organization, if not number one. Like many fans, I’m very curious if he’ll begin 2012 in Salem or if the Sox will propel him to Portland to start the year. I honestly think he’ll compete and be pretty successful either way.

WW: Ben Cherington has been named the new General Manager of the Red Sox. If you have met him, what impression did you get, and if not, what is his reputation within the organization?
EL: Ben visited our team once or twice a season each of the past few years and I had a couple very brief interactions with him, usually just saying hello during batting practice. So unfortunately, I don’t have any super secret info or great story to pass along. But Cherington always has struck me as a very smart guy, one of Theo’s top, most-trusted lieutenants. I thought he did a great job at the first press conference in deftly handling all of the tough questions. And clearly he has a great knowledge of the Red Sox organization from top to bottom. The fact that he also has New England roots and truly understands the phenomena of “Red Sox Nation” fanaticism is a plus as well. I wish Ryan Lavarnway had blasted a couple more homers to help send the Sox to playoffs and, consequently, keep Tito and Theo at their perches. But Cherington was a natural choice to be the successor. Who fills Tito’s shoes? That remains to be seen.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Jackie Bradley Jr.

Embarking on a professional career after compiling some of the most memorable college moments of any baseball player in history, Jackie Bradley, Jr. remains the same highly skilled and charismatic prospect he has been his entire life. A potential five-tool outfielder, Bradley, Jr. burst on to the national radar in 2009 as a freshman at South Carolina, hitting .349/.431/.537 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI. After spending the summer of 2009 in the Cape Cod League with the Hyannis Mets, Bradley, Jr. continued to take his game to the next level in 2010, hitting .368/.473/.587 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI for the World Series champion Gamecocks. He showed his ability to come through in the clutch with a key two-out, game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the twelfth inning against Oklahoma in the second round of the College World Series. His heroic efforts and superior performance led to Bradley, Jr. being named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Entering 2011, Bradley, Jr. was seen as one of the top prospects in the country, and a sure-fire bet to be a first round selection in the amateur draft this summer. However, a wrist injury forced Bradley, Jr. to miss 26 games and he hit just .259/.361/.468 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI in 37 games. The injury dampened Bradley, Jr.’s prospects in the draft, allowing him to fall to the Red Sox in the supplemental first round at pick 40. Known for his strong defensive prowess and throwing arm, Bradley, Jr. led South Carolina to a second straight World Series title before signing with Boston and beginning his professional career in Lowell on August 23. Before one of the Spinners last home games of the season, Bradley, Jr. took some time to speak to me about his career, love for the game, and passion for giving to others.

John Gray: You were a member of the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod League in 2009 after your freshman season at South Carolina. What was the difference between playing in the Cape League versus college?
Jackie Bradley, Jr.: It was a lot of fun, my host family really made the experience great for me. My host parents actually came up to see me play and get my first hit here in Lowell. They are really special to me and it was great to play in such a competitive league and see how passionate baseball was in New England.

JG: You were drafted 40th overall by the Red Sox in this year’s draft, what were your expectations heading into the draft and how did you feel when it was Boston who ended up selecting you?
JB: Yeah, I knew Boston was looking at me very closely. There were a number of teams who showed a lot of interest, but I always felt the Red Sox were the ones who really wanted me the most. I didn’t have expectations going into the draft, just letting the chips fall where they may and see how things worked out. I wanted to be prepared for whatever situation I found myself in, but I am very happy to be a member of such a great organization here in Boston.

JG: Was there ever any doubt in your mind that you would sign? Did you think there was a possibility you would head back to South Carolina for your senior year?
JB: I had two very good options on the table for me and I actually did think about heading back to college. The honest truth is that I loved being a part of such a great program at South Carolina, but I was also ready to begin my professional career. I was able to strike a deal with the Red Sox right before the deadline and everything worked out for the best.

JG: In 2010, you led your team to the National Championship, being named Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. What was it about your team that made them champions and what are your lasting memories of the entire season?
JB: The thing that sticks out about our team was that we weren’t a bunch of highly touted prospects or individuals; we really just played as a team. We were really close in the clubhouse; we would hang out together and really pull for each other. A lot of teams we faced were all business-like and very serious. We were different because we went out and just had fun, we loved playing baseball and having fun with each other.

One of the coolest things about winning the CWS was going to the White House and meeting the president. He told me that he was watching the games on TV and shook my hand, it was really an unforgettable experience.

JG: 2011 had a tough beginning for you as you sustained a wrist injury. How devastating was the injury to you and how much of an effect do you feel it had on your junior season?
JB: The worst thing about the injury was that it didn’t give me a chance to play. I didn’t have a chance to get into a groove and get locked in. I was struggling early on in the season and then I got injured. I was out seven weeks and sat on the bench hoping my team would be able to replicate what we did in 2010. I wanted to be able to get back out on the field and help the guys out and win another title. The fact we were able to win back-to-back championships just speaks to how amazing the program at South Carolina really is.

JG: Once you returned to play after the injury, did you try to make up for lost time?
JB: Of course! The game is hard enough already, try going out there and playing the game hurt. It’s very difficult having to battle through injuries. I would strongly advise anyone not to try and play when you are badly hurt; it’s no walk in the park.

JG: I have seen that you admire Torii Hunter. What is it about Torii you admire and how do you think you compare to him in the field?
JB: Torii is a true leader. He’s a very vocal guy and lets his voice be known in the clubhouse. I am not a very vocal guy myself, but I admire how Torii can pull his team together. He really goes to get it in the outfield. Climbing walls, making diving plays, he can just do it all and make it look easy. I’ve always been proud of my defensive ability, making a great throw or taking away extra bases with a diving catch. I feel like the highlight for me of any game is a great defensive play. Defense just comes easy for me, and it’s what I feel is my best asset.

JG: What led you to choose retail management as a major during college?
JB: Virginia doesn’t offer retail management as a major and South Carolina did. It was also one of the majors that helped me out financially as well. If baseball doesn’t work out for me, I always thought I could be a pretty good entrepreneur.

JG: You’re a prolific user of Twitter, what is it about Twitter that you enjoy most?
JB: It gives people a chance to get to know me. I like to let people live vicariously through me. I want them to know the type of person I am. Hopefully one day I get to meet all my followers. I also just really like having fun with it and being able to provide good solid messages to everyone. Being able to spread good faith and positive messages hopefully helps everyone who reads my tweets. My quote on Twitter is from Jackie Robinson, my favorite baseball player of all time. Without Jackie doing what he did, I am not here playing baseball. I try to give baseball as well as life my all each and every day because you can’t take anything for granted. When I see someone who needs a little boost or help, I want to be that person to lend them a hand to bring them to a better place in their lives. (Follow Jackie on Twitter @JackieBradleyJr)

JG: Having just arrived in Lowell, what has it been like to acclimate to pro ball, what are the major differences from college?
JB: At the professional level, baseball is an everyday thing. Since I’ve gotten here, we have had a game every single day. There’s very little down time and you are constantly working. I really like that constant aspect of it because it keeps me going and keeps me motivated. We always like to say that we enjoy the games more than practice, so having a game all the time is a welcome change over practice.

JG: I’ve seen that you like to give back to the community as much as you can. What types of things do you do in terms of community service and why?
JB: I’ve been around a couple of different baseball fields and surprised a couple of different teams and kids by handing out trophies and awards. I remember during college I went to a middle school and talked to a lot of kids about staying strong and determined. I know that I was focused and mature at such a young age because I knew what I wanted to do in life. A lot of kids these days don’t know what they want to do and I want to let them know that they can do whatever they want, but they have to give it their all. If you do everything you can to get to where you want to be, you won’t have to have any doubts about yourself. Something as simple as signing an autograph for a kid can be one of the most cherished memories in their lives. While it may be something I do all the time, that one child that you signed an autograph for will never forget it. Being able to lift someone up and brighten their day is something I have always strived to do.

JG: You collected your first professional hit last evening (August 26). Can you walk us through how that moment felt and did you get the ball back?
JB: It was a surreal feeling. I got the hit and then they stopped the game and threw the ball in to the dugout, so I got the ball back. The coaches wrote my name and put “first professional hit” as well as the team and pitcher I faced on the ball for me. Getting that first hit out of the way was a relief and hopefully now I can get on a roll. I am just really trying to see the ball deep and get used to the pitching at this level.

JG: You, Noe Ramirez and Matt Barnes all arrived in Lowell at around the same time. Have you guys developed a bond since you were all members of the 2011 draft class going through a new experience for the first time?
JB: Yeah we actually do. We travel together; we always ride together (Barnes drives us) and hang out. We also have our lockers next to each other so it was really helpful to walk in to a new situation and clubhouse and see familiar faces. Having played with Noe and Matt before, it has helped the transition for me go more smoothly knowing that I am not in it alone and with guys that have been there with me before.

JG: What is your walk up music and why did you select it?
JB: I use two different songs, "Yeah Ya Know" by TI because I like the beat on it and "Power" by Kayne West. It has a great beat to it and it really gets me pumped up for my at-bats.

JG: You’ve stated before that you have a lot of fun playing baseball and don’t worry about the business side of the game. Has that changed a bit now that you are a professional?
JB: I still am going to have all the fun in the world playing this game. I am a little different because I don’t go out a whole lot, I am a homebody. I like to hang out at the house, watch a lot of movies and just enjoy my time. I do realize that I’m a professional now, but I am ready to get out there and show what I can do. Just as an FYI, my favorite movie is Man on Fire with Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Amiel Sawdaye

In his second season behind the reins of the club’s efforts in the amateur draft, Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye and the Boston front office handed out a new team-record in total bonus money. The $10,978,700 the Red Sox spent this year was up from the previous team-record of $10.66 million set last year, and landed them at tenth in total draft bonus expenditures in Major League Baseball. With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on the horizon this off-season, many analysts saw this draft as a last chance for teams to take advantage of the present draft system by spending big on over-slot bonuses. The Red Sox may have taken this into consideration, as they spent a million dollars or more on four players for the first time ever and reportedly offered such a bonus to a fifth who did not sign, eighth-round pick Senquez Golson.

One thing that stands out about the team’s draft class is the balance between high school and college players signed, with the team especially going after high school pitchers in earlier rounds than in past years. Draft experts have generally graded Boston’s draft haul well this year, including Jim Callis of Baseball America, who rated it third overall in the Majors while pointing out that Boston signed six players on BA’s Top 100 Draft Prospects list.

Following the signing deadline, Sawdaye was kind enough to answer my questions via email about some of the newly signed Red Sox prospects, some who slipped through their hands, and his view on the current signing system.

Matt Huegel: It’s well-known that Matt Barnes’ fastball can hit the mid-to-upper 90s, but what did you see in terms of his secondary pitches that will enable him to be a starter in the long-run?
Amiel Sawdaye: Matt threw four pitches (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup) and really started to develop his secondary stuff as the year progressed. The curveball and slider did not have a ton of separation to distinguish one from the other, but he did have the ability to utilize either of them at any time in the count and land them for strikes. The changeup had improved by the end of the year and he seemed to implement it a lot more in his game plan. With a wide array of pitches, including his athleticism, command, and ability to maintain his velocity, we feel that he should be able to start for a very long time.

MH: Do you project that Blake Swihart can stick at the catcher position long-term? Can you also talk about his potential on the offensive side of the ball?
AS: We feel Blake is a long-term catcher who shows athleticism, aptitude, and leadership on the diamond. We are committed to continue his development at that position and have not even thought about moving him off the position. He is very advanced for a player who has only been catching for a few years. Offensively, Blake has a line drive swing with an uncanny ability to manipulate the barrel of the bat from both sides of the plate coupled with an excellent feel for the strike zone. Being a switch hitter will help his learning curve at the lower levels of pro ball. After spending a lot of time as one of the top high school hitters last summer, he has proven that he can compete at the highest level versus the top competition.

MH: What about Henry Owens made you comfortable giving him the second-highest bonus among this year’s draftees? How do you compare him to the other high-ceiling lefty the Red Sox signed in Cody Kukuk?
AS: Henry and Cody are both big and projectable left-handed pitchers. Henry shows an advanced feel for pitching, showing the ability to change speeds on his fastballs and curveballs, mix in a changeup to both right-handed and left-handed hitters, and throw consistent strikes to both sides of the plate. Cody has shown a little more consistent power to his fastball and also has a projectable three-pitch mix. Both pitchers are very good athletes who compete very well on the mound and are going to be very exciting to watch as they develop in our system.

MH: Regarding Jackie Bradley, Jr., did you view his underwhelming junior season, along with his related injuries, as a chance to buy low on him, almost in the vein of Anthony Ranaudo last year? Do you see him as someone who could move through the system quickly?
AS: We never try and move somebody too quickly through our system. Jackie is somebody we have targeted for quite some time, as we have been able to watch him develop at South Carolina and play summer ball (Team USA and Cape Cod Baseball League) in the last few years. Even throughout his injury plagued season, the one constant was his work ethic and defense. He strives for perfection and success and that is very evident with his success at the collegiate level. We were very fortunate to be able to select Jackie in the compensation round and hope that he progresses the way we believe he will.

MH: Do you think Noe Ramirez has the best shot to begin the 2012 season with Salem of the draftees the team signed this year?
AS: I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We have not seen Noe throw a baseball since the end of May and likely won’t until Instructional League. There are a lot of factors that can contribute to the placement of a player at the conclusion of Spring Training. Our Player Development staff will get a chance to spend some time with Noe and assess what the best development path would be in order to maximize his potential.

MH: There seemed to be some last-minute drama in regards to whether the high-upside outfielder Senquez Golson would sign or keep his commitment to Ole Miss. Would you categorize his decision not to accept your final offer, which was rumored to be in the seven figures, as a case of his heart not being in professional baseball at this time?
AS: No, I believe Senquez wants to play professional baseball and strives to be a major league player. He had two unbelievable options – 1) Stay at Ole Miss, play baseball/football for an exceptional group of coaches, and get a college education or 2) Play pro baseball for the Boston Red Sox and forego his college baseball (and potentially football) playing career. Obviously, he chose to stay at Ole Miss and I have the utmost respect for Senquez and his decision to pass up baseball and bonus money. Hopefully Senquez will be drafted in the future and will have another tough decision to make.

MH: It was reported elsewhere that the decision to up your offer to Mookie Betts happened at the last minute after Golson turned the team down. Can you shed any light on that? And what did you see out of Betts that made him worth the fairly sizable bonus?
AS: Mookie was a player that we spent a considerable amount of time scouting this spring and summer. His bonus and Golson’s offer were independent of each other. We really liked Mookie and were hoping that he wanted to play pro baseball. He is a very athletic shortstop with the ability to become a plus defender. By showcasing his advanced approach, spray hitter, and plus speed, it’s easy to see why many scouts considered him a top of the order hitter. Mookie was recruited for baseball and basketball, and his true athleticism is very evident on the diamond.

MH: Williams Jerez signed relatively quickly and has gotten some solid playing time in the Gulf Coast League already this season. What have you seen out of him so far and what is he working to improve upon?
AS: Williams has greatly benefited from getting out early and playing in the GCL. Since Williams did not have the same playing opportunity as many of the other kids who were drafted, it really behooves him to be able to face good competition and play every day. He is a very exciting player who flashes five tools but will need to continue to improve on consistency on a daily basis.

MH: As a follow-up, how much of an advantage does Jerez have over someone of similar skill set and age because he signed well-before the deadline and got playing time this season? Would you change the rule in regards to the timing of the signing deadline and/or over-slot bonus announcements if it were up to you? How?
AS: I do believe the first season is the most important one – not only from a physical/mechanical standpoint, but also from a mental/preparation standpoint. Your first summer allows you to learn how to work, how to make adjustments, what to expect, etc. I think there are a lot of people who would love to see the signing deadline pushed up and hopefully that will be one of the items discussed in the new CBA. It benefits all of the players because they will be guaranteed more at-bats or innings pitched, therefore allowing them to spend more time playing for their introductory season.

MH: In regards to the negotiating deadline of August 15, we’ve heard with some of the top draftees, including Ranaudo and Chris Hernandez last year and Swihart this year, that the team actually waits until minutes before the deadline to make an offer. Swihart, for instance, said that he didn’t hear from you until 11:58 PM. How do you manage to get the agreement worked out and to the Commissioner’s Office before midnight in that case?
AS: Believe me, if it were up to the club, we would rather get the player out the day after the draft. Unfortunately, in a world where we are dealing with a handful of different advisors, many of them do not become serious regarding their asking price until we get closer to the deadline. We make many significant and fair offers to the players throughout the summer and try and, in turn, set the expectations so they won’t be surprised when it gets close to the deadline. Many of the advisors do not like to negotiate until they see how the market develops, which, for the past few years, has not been until 11:58 PM.

MH: Lastly, can you name a less-heralded player or two in this draft class that you are excited about getting into the system?
AS: There are so many players that we are excited about in this draft and I don’t want to single out one player. I believe we were able to bring in a strong mix of athleticism, tools, and makeup. Given our strong relationship with Player Development and their success at developing these players, we are very excited for what the future may bring with this class.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Justin Erasmus

One of the more intriguing players Boston has plucked from overseas in recent years, Greenville reliever Justin Erasmus has been quietly successful since his 2009 Gulf Coast League debut. After posting a 2.05 ERA in 2009 and a 2.12 ERA last season in his second campaign in Ft. Myers, Erasmus finally earned himself a trip out of the GCL in June, getting the call to Low-A Greenville on the sixth. Since making his Drive debut, Erasmus, who was born in South Africa and grew up in Australia, has allowed just a pair of earned runs in 24.2 innings and posted a 0.00 ERA in July. He is striking out more than a batter per inning and has issued just 6 walks on the season. Erasmus took some time last week in Hagerstown to talk to me about his background, playing career, and the state of baseball Down Under.

Jon Meoli: You have one of the more interesting backgrounds in the organization. How does someone like you get into baseball in the first place?
Justin Erasmus: I was born in South Africa, and my dad, my grandpa—my whole family was pretty much involved. So when I was four, I started playing. My dad used to play international baseball for South Africa. It just kind of ran through the family. Then we moved to Australia when I was nine and it kept going. I found a local baseball team and went from there.

JM: What was it like being a baseball player in Australia? How different is it from someone that age playing baseball in America?
JE: We play lots of club teams, not like here where you go play high school and college. You play for a club team, and then there’s a state team that gets picked. You go to a national championship, and at the national championship, there’s lots of scouts. If you’re lucky enough to go to the Australian Academy, there are lots of scouts there as well. I was lucky enough to be seen by the Red Sox when I was 17 at the under-18 national championships.
So I finished my schooling and went to the Australian Academy, and the next year I was lucky enough to make the Australian Under-19 world championship team. I went over to Canada and played there, then came to spring training a year later in 2009.

JM: What’s life like at the Australian Academy? Is it pretty much like extended spring training is here?
JE: It’s pretty much like spring training. When I was there, we got really, really lucky: We stayed in a five-star resort. If you were still in school, you’d have to go in after every game and spend two hours on a subject, so they kept you doing schoolwork, but it was pretty much the same as spring training otherwise. It’s an eight-week process, six days on with every Sunday off. You play every day, work on team fundamentals every day. There’s about 70 kids there, so they split it up into two teams and just play baseball.

JM: Were you familiar with any of the other guys, like Boss [Moanaroa]?
JE: Boss and I played with each other for a while. He was in Syndey, so we played against each other at National Championships. We went to the Australian Academy together, and we also made the Under-19 team together. I played against Moko at national championships, but never with him.

JM: When it eventually became time for you to come over here, how helpful was it to have a familiar face in Boss?
JE: There were a couple of Australians who came here before. One of them, who I’m lucky enough to be very, very good friends with was James Albury. We roomed together in the Australian Baseball League. Mitch Dening, I played against him and heard a lot about him, but it’s just good to see familiar faces around and have someone else to talk to. It helps out a lot.

JM: You came over full time in 2009 and spent a couple of summers in Ft. Myers. Was there a big culture shock for you?
JE: I guess the biggest culture shock was playing every day. Back home, besides the academy, you play two or three games a week, and that’s if you play junior and senior baseball. Mainly, it’s just one game a week. I’d get to pitch one outing a week, go to training once a week, and the rest of the time, it was up to me to do what I had to do. Coming here, the biggest culture shock was playing every day, especially waking up at 6:30 in the morning in that heat, playing every day, throwing every day. That’s the biggest culture shock. Yes, it was hot every day, but we’re playing baseball every day. You can’t really complain.

JM: You had a couple of successful campaigns in the Gulf Coast League, prompting a “Free Justin Erasmus” campaign on our site dedicated to getting you out of there. Was that ever frustrating for you to be stuck down there?
JE: I mean, it wasn’t really frustrating. I just went out there, and I knew what my job was. It was to go and try to get guys out. Everything else is out of my control, so if I go out there and do my job, everything else will probably work out for me. But I wasn’t getting angry at the fact that things weren’t happening. It’s not my decision. Obviously, I was down there for a reason. Plus, we had a chance to win a ring, so I was happy enough just to keep pitching every day. That’s all I want to do. I just want to pitch, no matter what league I’m in or what team I’m on.

JM: Where did you think you were headed this season? Were you surprised when you were sent to Greenville?
JE: I had a good off-season, got stronger and everything, and when I came into Spring Training, I was throwing pretty well. Everything was good. They were pretty happy with my pitching, throughout both years, and they said I was fighting for a spot in Greenville, and if I didn’t make Greenville, to just keep working hard and I’d probably go to Lowell. I was happy with that. But I didn’t make the Greenville team and extended came around, I was throwing very well down there, and the next thing you know I got a phone call and I was heading up to Greenville.

JM: Your fastball was touching 90 yesterday. Is that added velocity a symptom of the off-season work?
JE: Yea, it was pretty surprising. Like I said, I had a good off-season. I did a lot of long-tossing with my good friend back home, came back and was kind of the same in spring training. Once extended started, my velocity started to pick up a little bit. I hit 92 for the first time, and after that, things started clicking. My mechanics were working fine, my arm was pretty strong from long-tossing a lot. My velocity is up between 90 and 92 now, and I’m happy with it. But I’m happier with throwing strikes and getting guys out. Velocity is going to come and go, so that’s what I’m worried about right now.

JM: What about your off-speed stuff? How has that come along this season?
JE: It’s been the same as the last two years, curveball and changeup. My curveball has been my go-to pitch, but my changeup has come a long way. I’ve got a lot of confidence in it and I’m throwing it a lot more. I’m starting to work on a slider/cutter right now, but I’m mainly focusing on just throwing strikes, getting guys out with the fastball, curve and change.

JM: Have there been any major adjustments mechanically for you? Have they tried to tinker with you at all?
JE: No, the Red Sox have been really good. There have been times when I’ve been flying open a little bit, and they make sure that I stay closed, but they haven’t really done much. I do whatever is working for me, whatever I’m comfortable with. If I open up too early or am rushing, they’ll sit me down and tell me to calm down, but they haven’t changed much, which is sweet.

JM: To bring it back to the home front for you, how did you follow baseball when you were in South Africa and Australia?
JE: When I was in Australia, when the baseball was on TV on Fox Sports or ESPN, it would be at 6 in the morning or 11 in the morning. So I was at school all the time, and I got lucky because I had school holidays around World Series time. But by the time Game 5 or 6 came around, I was back in school. There were replays on at 11 o’clock every night, so I’d watch those. But I loved it so much, I always tried to keep up with it. It’s so much easier over here. It’s everywhere.

JM: Do you think the Australian Baseball League is going to have a big impact on the game over there?
JE: It’s picked up a lot. This last offseason the Australian Baseball League started up and we had a lot of guys from Japan and America, all over the world pretty much. The competition was very good. It was very, very tough, and I think it’s going to pick up in a couple years. We had lots of fan support with us, so hopefully it can get really, really big like it used to be in 1998.

JM: What was different about 1998?
JE: That was the old Australian baseball league. All the games were televised, but I think there was a money issue, so ten years later, they started it up again and we’re trying to build back up. I just hope it goes well, because I got a lot of help from it. I know a couple hitters did as well.

JM: And there’s also events like the World Baseball Classic that can help that as well.
JE: Yea, in 2009 before I came over to spring training, I was lucky enough to play in the World Baseball Classic. That was just an experience of a lifetime. I pitched for South Africa and I got to start against Mexico. There were 30,000 people there, and the lineup, batters 1-8 were all major-league hitters. Jorge Cantu, Adrian Gonzalez, there were a lot of big-leaguers in there, and I was 19 years old. I just went in there and said “Alright, let’s see how it goes.” It was a great experience. [Ed’s Note: Erasmus went 3.0 innings that day, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits. Gonzalez hit a first-inning double and a two-out, two-run home run off Erasmus in the third inning.]

JM: Lastly, has your family had a chance to come out and see you yet?
JE: I came back from the WBC in Mexico and flew straight to Ft. Myers. There, I got to pitch the first game of spring training, and my dad got to see it. He was here for two weeks and got to see some of what we do in spring training. Unfortunately, they haven’t been out yet, but next year if I’m still with the Red Sox, they’re going to come out and see what I do every day.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Michael Bowden

Michael Bowden entered this season knowing that he would be coming out of the bullpen full-time for the first time in his career. As a supplemental first-round draft pick out of Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill. in 2005, Bowden enjoyed success as a starter at an early age at nearly every stop along the way in minors, reaching the major leagues for a spot start at the age of 21. Following that first start in 2008, however, he made only one other major league start before the decision was made to transition him into a full-time bullpen role midway through the 2010 season. This season, despite frequently shuttling back-and-forth between the majors and Triple-A, Bowden has consistently pitched well out of the bullpen with Pawtucket. All told, he has pitched 42.0 innings over 30 appearances for the PawSox this season, putting up an ERA of 2.79 to go along with 12 saves, 53 strikeouts, and a 1.24 WHIP. With Boston, he has managed a nifty 1.29 ERA in 2011, but has only pitched 7.0 innings in 6 appearances, striking out 2. When I recently got a chance to sit down with Bowden before a PawSox game, he talked about dealing with riding the “I-95 shuttle” between Pawtucket and Boston, gaining consistency at the major league level, his transition to the bullpen, and the reinvention of his repertoire over the past couple seasons.

Matt Huegel: How have you been able to adapt to being called up and sent down? Is that tough mentally and pitching-wise?
Michael Bowden: Pitching, not so much. It’s still a matter of when I go up (to Boston), I’m up there for short periods of time, so it’s tough to get really comfortable up there. But I feel like the more I go up there, the more comfortable that I become, so I’ll be able to actually pitch my game and go up there with the same approach that I have here and eventually get the same results that I’m getting here. It’s just a matter of when I’ll get that opportunity and when I can be up there on a more consistent basis to show them that.
.
But as far as going up and down, it’s just part of it. It’s right down the road, so it’s not a very tough transition. I’ve got friends up there, very good guys in the bullpen, in the clubhouse, so it’s a very easy transition. It’s fun here, it’s fun there, and I’m happy every time I get to go up there.

MH: What have you noticed are the biggest differences between getting hitters out at the Triple-A level and at the major league level?
MB: A well-executed pitch here is a well-executed pitch there. I think it’s more (a matter) of me just executing my pitches more consistently up there. And I think, like I said earlier, that’s just a matter of me feeling more and more comfortable up there where I can do it on a more consistent basis.
.
But also, hitters, they’ll just put together a little bit better at bats up there; they’re smarter; they’ll work the counts a little more. But if you’re throwing your game, throwing good strikes, good pitches, you’ll get the same results as here.

MH: Now that you’ve been in the relieving role for this whole season, how would you say that fits you as a pitcher?
MB: I like it a lot. Like you said this is the first year I’ve actually started in the bullpen, but after the last All Star break when I was converted to the bullpen I was still learning a lot. I learned a lot from the guys here at Triple-A that we had last year and I learned a lot from the (big league) guys when I got called up in September. So everything that I’ve learned from them has helped mold me to how I go about my business now. Also getting the opportunity to play in winter ball this offseason, and seeing different types of roles, closing, eighth inning, stuff like that, I believe really helped me out. This season I just feel very comfortable in the bullpen, every time I go out there I kind of know my job. I think I have the mindset for the bullpen role, and I think it suits me very well.

MH: What would you say is your favorite aspect of the relieving versus starting?
MB: I like them both in their own rights. But as far as being in the bullpen, I think it’s awesome to come to the park every day and you’ve got to be ready to go. There’s a chance that you might get in the game and play.

MH: In terms of your arsenal, it seems like in the past couple seasons you’ve really reinvented yourself. Has the slider been your main breaking pitch since moving to the bullpen?
MB: Yeah. Fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup. Right now, I feel like I have control over all of them. All of them have been very effective for me getting outs. And they’ve been consistent so it’s fun going out there. Finally, the slider’s to where I want it to be and I’m throwing it for strikes, I’m throwing it for an out-pitch, so I have very good command over it.

MH: So do you throw the curveball at all anymore or just strictly slider?
MB: No, I haven’t thrown a curveball in two years.

MH: What went into that decision to switch to the slider?
MB: I had a 12-6 curveball, and it was just hard for me to consistently throw that for strikes. By the time it went over the plate, there wasn’t a big margin of space for that to drop in for a strike, and I couldn’t do it consistently. So I just wanted something that I could throw more consistently for strikes, and also a little sharper and harder.

MH: You added the cutter even more recently. How has that been going and how do you use that pitch?
MB: It’s been going real well. I started this offseason, but right now it’s getting to the point where I’m using it fairly consistently. I’m throwing it to righties to just get mis-hits. I’m also throwing it to lefties – in to them, getting in on their hands. It looks like my fastball, and it’s just a mis-hit pitch. I’m throwing it for strikes and it’s gotten very good results.

MH: One of your trademarks is your unique pitching motion. We’ve heard at different times that you’ve tried to clean that up or do different things with it in the offseason. Have coaches ever tried to completely change it to a more traditional motion? And do you think that sort of funky motion works to your advantage especially out of the bullpen?
MB: This is probably the first year I’ve actually gone into the season knowing exactly what I’m going to do with my mechanics. Every year, I’ve been working on something, trying to clean it up, trying to simplify it, just trying to see what works for me. And yeah, there’s been coaches with a lot of different suggestions, but now I’m to the point in my career where I know what I have to do, I know what feels good, and that’s what I’m going to do. So I feel very comfortable right now with my mechanics.

MH: Having been in the organization now since 2005, have you been able to take more of a leadership role on this team this year?
MB: Yeah. I’m not a very vocal guy, but I feel like I’m very professional. I go about my business the right way, and I just try to lead by example, whether it’s in the bullpen or in the clubhouse. I mean, I’m still not nearly the oldest guy here, so there’s other guys that have that role, but I’ve been actually on the PawSox a lot more than anybody here. I know my way around, so I’m a guy that people ask for questions around here, how to do stuff around here sometimes. So I just try to go about my business the right way.

MH: Over those years, your name has cropped up in countless trade rumors. How have you been able to deal with that? How do you keep that from affecting your pitching?
MB: It’s very simple to deal with. Nothing’s happened yet, so it’s out of my control. I mean, I don’t pay attention to it, I don’t care about it. It’s been since 2005 and nothing’s happened so it’s nothing that bothers me or worries me or has me thinking.

MH: What is your best memory as a professional thus far?
MB: It’s still probably my [major league] debut, just that feeling. It was very special. You know, just going up there and getting the start, just making it to the major leagues, all the hard work and everything that I’ve ever dreamed of finally came true. So I’d say it’s that, but I’m hoping to replace that in the near future with some more memories.

MH: Lastly, during your time in the organization is there one player that has stood out to you, either by the way they lead or their abilities?
MB: This organization does a real good job at not only drafting players, but signing players with very solid personalities, good character, whether it’s in the minors or in the big leagues. So everywhere you go, you’re going to run into guys who are just good guys, good people to be around, and they know the game and they’re fun to play with. I think that’s really important, because you spend 10 hours a day together for however many months in a row. So there’s not really one person who stands out to me.
.
I mean, one of the players I really respect is Jason Varitek. He’s so easy to talk to, even with the younger guys, you can ask him anything. He doesn’t have an ego, and he’s very respectful to you. He’s just a good guy, and I really look up to him as a player.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Travis Shaw

Flying under the radar despite great success this season is Spinners first baseman/third baseman Travis Shaw. The Red Sox’ ninth-round selection in this year’s amateur draft, Shaw immediately signed with the same team that drafted him in the 32nd round out of Washington Court House High School in Ohio back in 2008. He is the son of former major league reliever Jeff Shaw, who compiled a 3.54 ERA with 203 saves over 12 major league seasons pitching for the Indians, Expos, White Sox, Reds and Dodgers. Travis begins his professional career after a stellar three seasons as a member of the Kent State Golden Flashes. Shaw hit over .300 and had an on base percentage over .400 each of his three seasons at Kent State. A left-handed hitter, Shaw started his professional career strong, hitting .287/.424/.535 with 6 home runs, 7 doubles and 17 RBI through July 20. Prior to a recent game, Shaw took some time to talk with me about his upbringing around the game, his approach at the plate and his stellar college career.

John Gray: You led Kent State in walks your last two seasons. Is being able to take a walk a major part of your game and how does it affect your approach at the plate?
Travis Shaw: I definitely feel like walks are a huge part of my game. My discipline at the plate is one of my strengths to my approach. I feel like I have always had a good eye and I have been able to recognize off-speed pitches from a young age. When you see pitches and can recognize them, it allows you to hold off and avoid chasing out of the strike zone. Having a solid eye has certainly helped me this far in Lowell. I’ve been able to put up some very solid numbers and having good pitch recognition has helped allow me to see pitches deeper into the zone and be selective.
I don’t go up to the plate looking for a certain pitch, I go up there looking for a certain part of the plate I want to eliminate. If the pitcher throws it to that side of the plate, I will hopefully be able to make him pay for it.

JG: You played alongside Andrew Chafin, who was selected by the Diamondbacks 43rd overall in this year’s draft. Can you tell us what it was like to play alongside one of the top pitchers in the country?
TS: It was special playing with Chafin, a power left-handed arm coming off Tommy John. We didn’t have him the prior two years, but he came back this year and showed how dominant he could be. He really pitched well against Texas in the regionals. Being a part of that experience was probably my favorite collegiate moment, knocking off Texas as the number one seed in that regional.

JG: Before your junior season, you were a member of the Cape Cod League’s Bourne Braves, helping the team capture the league’s Western Division title. What was your experience on the Cape like and how did it help you grow as a player?
TS: It was pretty fun and a definite eye-opener. It was the first time I had ever played against that level of talent night in and night out. It was a good test to see where I was at as a player. When you grow up in a small town and play high school ball, you really don’t get to play top talent. Having the opportunity to play in the Cape League and square off against the best amateurs in the country allowed me to make a name for myself. I had a decent summer and I think it really helped me grow as a hitter and know what to expect as a professional.

JG: You were originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 2008 draft out of high school. How did it feel to be drafted the first time around and what led to your decision not to sign?
TS: It was one of my goals to get drafted out of high school, so it was very special to be selected. I wasn’t looking to sign back in 2008. I really felt like I wasn’t ready to handle the mental grind that you have to undertake to play in the minors at that point in time. Being able to go to Fenway for the scout day after being drafted was an experience I will never forget. However, I was dead set on going to Kent State before I even got drafted.

JG: How did it feel to be drafted by the Red Sox again this year? Did you have any indications Boston would be the team selecting you prior to the draft?
TS: I had a pretty good idea Boston would take me. There were about four or five teams that showed a lot of interest in me late, Boston being one of them. Out of those teams, Boston was really where I wanted to end up. The Red Sox are a classy organization rooted in tradition and have a great player development program; it’s everything a player wants to be a part of. Draft day was a bit different for me than what most people would expect. I had just come off playing in the regionals, so I was driving home on the highway by myself when I got the phone call. I think finding out that way really helped, it wasn’t like I was sitting by the computer waiting and tensing up. I knew I was going to sign right after I was drafted and I was totally prepared to go out and begin playing professionally.

JG: You father is former major league All-Star Jeff Shaw. How was it to grow up around the game and how does your father’s experience help you in your own career?
TS: Without a doubt it has helped me immensely. He has been through the whole process I went through in being drafted and he knows what it is like to play in the minors. He experienced everything as a player, so he is able to tell me what to expect and what the daily grind will be like. He lets me know the hard work it will take and the adjustments you have to make in order to get better and put up solid numbers. I am lucky in that he was a pitcher; I get a different perspective on the game from him. We have a great staff of coaches here but when I go home, my dad and I talk every night about my at-bats. We go pitch-by-pitch on every at-bat and he will tell me why a pitcher threw me a certain pitch in a certain count. He will tell me what to look for and what the pitcher is thinking. It’s a great asset to have when you go up to the plate and can understand what is going through a pitcher’s mind.

JG: You have gotten off to a great start in Lowell this season, what has the adjustment from the college ranks to the pros been like? What has contributed to your early success at the plate?
TS: I came here with a clear head and that has really been the biggest thing that has helped me. I started off slow this season at Kent State and I thought it would hurt me come draft time. Luckily, it didn’t. When I arrived here, it was a clean start so I wanted to just relax and go out there and play. I have been able to avoid putting too much pressure on myself with the early success I have had. It’s always rewarding when you can contribute to a team and knock in runs.

JG: What have been your favorite moments on the baseball diamond as a son of a major league player?
TS: I went to the field with my dad every day and shagged balls during batting practice. I was a bat boy out in Los Angeles as well. My greatest memory was probably from 2001 when I got to be out on the field during the Home Run Derby. That whole week leading up to the All-Star game I got to be in the clubhouse and meet all the players. I got plenty of autographs and everlasting memories; it certainly was amazing beyond words.

JG: You have mostly played third base during your career, but find yourself playing a lot of first base this season. How do you feel about the position change?
TS: I don’t have any problems making the switch from third to first. This is the first time in my career that I have ever played first for more than a game or two at a time. It’s new to me, so I am still getting used to playing across the diamond. I still feel like third is my natural position; I think I can certainly play there, but I am willing to play wherever I am asked.

JG: I saw that you were an assistant coach for youth basketball teams. Did you play basketball growing up, and how is it coaching youngsters?
TS: In High School and also during the offseason, I have helped coach youth basketball teams back home. The teams primarily consist of fourth, fifth and sixth graders and I have helped out with that for quite a while now. I love basketball, it was my favorite sport in high school and I loved playing it. Being able to coach young kids and still have the connection to the game is a great way to give back to my community.

Read full post ...

Q&A With Matt Gedman

Matt Gedman's connection to the Red Sox goes beyond being their 45th round pick in the 2011 draft. His father, Rich, was a catcher for the Red Sox for ten years, and is now the hitting coach for the Lowell Spinners. Being drafted is certainly an honor, but being selected by an organization that his father has had ties to since before Gedman was born was certainly the icing on the cake.

Gedman attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where his statistics improved each year. He had a particularly impressive senior year, in which he led the Atlantic-10 in hitting with an average of .402. Since being drafted by the Red Sox, Gedman, who is playing with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, has had to make some adjustments to professional ball. I recently had the chance to speak with Gedman about the possibility of playing for his father, how he matured as a player in college, and how he has been adjusting to the challenges of being a professional baseball player thus far.

Elizabeth Dreeson: How was it for you to get drafted by your father's former team?
Matt Gedman: I was definitely excited. I was happy to go to anybody, really. I was just looking for a chance to play. Of course for the Red Sox [to draft me] made it special, so that was definitely a plus, but I was just looking forward to playing somewhere.

ED: It's likely that you'll end up in Lowell at some point, so how do you think it will be for you to play for your dad?
MG: No different than playing for anybody else. All the coaches here are really good, so anywhere I go I'm just looking to do my best, and it doesn't really matter if my dad is the coach or anything like that.

ED: How are you a different player now than you were in high school? How did you mature over at the University of Massachusetts?
MG: [I was just] looking for a new approach, getting new experiences through failures, and learning [how to deal with them like] putting extra work in. As you get older obviously it doesn't get easier--it never gets easier--but just learning the right approach at the plate--no swinging early--and just going about business the right way.

ED: You mentioned a new approach. Is that what you're talking about like not swinging early or is there something else?
MG: Yeah, like when you're slumping and you kind of know yourself more. You get all the information from coaches at different levels--summer coaches, regular coaches--and you put it into your own persona. It helps you out; everyday you learn something.

ED: Did you play in summer leagues?
MG: Yeah I played in the NECBL for two summers, which is a New England college baseball league, and everyday you have to learn to deal with failure because the pitching is good there. You can’t get frustrated or else it's only going to get worse.

ED: What was your biggest challenge last year as a player?
MG: I had a few fielding problems and struggled a little defensively, [so it was] just to overcome that. [Baseball is] such a mental game that the biggest critic is going to be yourself, and you have to battle sometimes, and once you get through that it just makes you stronger.

ED: Speaking of defensive problems, I know you played a lot of different positions at UMass. Where are you most comfortable in the infield?
MG: I feel comfortable at third, second, first, [and the corner outfield positions]. In the field, I feel alright at all the positions.

ED: I know you haven't been here too long, but has the organization conveyed to you their long-term intentions for your position?
MG: Not really. I'm just doing what they're telling me right now, and I'm just trying to get better while I'm doing it. It's very early on, and I'm just trying to improve everyday.

ED: Has the organization changed your mechanics at all?
MG: Not really. They said they have a policy: there's something we have done to get us here that has made us successful so early on. They don't really say much unless we approach them about it.

ED: What would you say your greatest strength is?
MG: [In] school this year it was my hitting. I had a good average and definitely learned a lot as a hitter and [I'm just trying] to carry that over to the new pitching, and the wooden bats.

ED: What about your biggest weakness?
MG: I have to improve my speed a lot.

ED: What have the biggest changes for you been between college ball and pro ball so far?
MG: Probably getting up at 6:30 am every morning. But baseball is baseball: there's not really too much that changes, but if you make it change too much that’s when you get in trouble. If you keep it simple, that’s when it's easiest.

ED: Have you had to make a big adjustment to wooden bats?
MG: That's not too different. Division I switched to the [new aluminum bats that mimic wood], so that's pretty similar, but I played a couple of summers with wood, so I'm kind of used to it. I'm sure I'll get used to it more as it goes on, but it's pretty similar.

ED: Were the new bats in college a big adjustment for you?
MG: Oh, that was a big adjustment. We used some in the fall, but they were a lot different. A lot of fly balls weren't home runs anymore, and you have to get all of it to really do damage.

ED: What have you noticed so far about the pitchers at this level, and how are they more sophisticated than the ones at the college level?
MG: Consistently you see guys that throw the ball well. Everyone’s got good stuff [here], so even in the first couple of days you start to get used to the speed a little more. At school you see maybe 86-88, occasionally a 90, but it seems like everyone here has 90 in their back pocket, so you just have to get used to it. Everyone is here for a reason, they all have good stuff.

Read full post ...

Q&A with Bryce Brentz

As disappointing as his debut in the Red Sox organization last season was, Salem outfielder Bryce Brentz' first full-season has been just as impressive. In 63 games between Greenville and Salem, Brentz has torched A-ball pitching, hitting .338 with 20 home runs, 57 RBI, and a 1.051 OPS, all near the top of the system. Though he stumbled to a .198 average for Lowell in 2010, Brentz is no stranger to success. He led the NCAA in batting average (.465), home runs (28), slugging percentage (.930), and total bases (214) in his sophomore season at Middle Tennessee State, and in 2011 is looking every bit the player who slugged his way onto the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that season. After a recent game in Wilmington, Del., Brentz took some time to chat with me about his background in baseball, his successes and failures on the field, and much more.

Jon Meoli: Let’s start from the beginning with you. You were a Preseason High School All-American your senior year of high school and were drafted by the Indians pretty late. What was the difference between then and three years later?
Bryce Brentz: I was drafted as a pitcher out of high school. It was the last year of draft and follow in the 30th round. After my senior year, it was like, “Have I reached my full potential as a hitter yet?” If that was it, then I thought I should sign and go be a pitcher, but I felt I had more to work on as a hitter. At Middle Tennessee, they offered me the chance to do both. With the scholarship they offered me, I didn’t want to turn it down, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The coaching staff was great, the environment was great and I had a chance to play right away as a freshman. To get in and get three years of experience really helped out.

JM: Was that a situation where you wanted a chance to hit and not a lot of schools were offering you that chance?
BB: More schools offered for the pitching. Tennessee came in late, they wanted me to go there and be their closer. That’s all I did in high school. I just closed. I started junior year, but I was just a closer mostly. A couple places, smaller schools, did the same thing and offered [me the chance to play] two-ways, but Middle Tennessee was D1 and they offered both ways. I couldn’t pass that up.

JM: What was your repertoire on the mound? And how long did you pitch in college?
BB: I pitched freshman year, got hurt, then I started all the Friday nights my sophomore year. Junior year, I just pitched one inning of relief because the coaches didn’t want to mess my arm up. They just wanted me to play outfield. The hardest I ever got up to was 97, but I sat low-to-mid 90s. I’d throw 95 a couple times a game, but I was just a fastball-slider guy. Not really spotting up, I just went out there and threw the ball as hard as I could for as long as I could until the coach came and got me. That was about it.

JM: At what point did you see your hitting progress to a point where you knew that was what you wanted to focus on?
BB: I had a really good freshman year at Middle Tennessee, and I thought, “Man, this is what I want to do.” Pitching is every fifth day, once a week in college if you’re a starter. I don’t like sitting watching baseball games. I like to play in games. I really liked working on my hitting and I had great hitting instruction there. Sophomore year I had a great year and junior year, I lost some protection in the lineups to graduation and I was out for three weeks with a foot injury.

JM: There were reports that that injury lingered in Lowell last year. Was that true?
BB: That didn’t linger on, but that first year in Lowell, the biggest thing I learned was how many fastballs they throw. In college baseball, they throw a lot of off-speed stuff. I saw a lot of it in college, so I used to sit more on off-speed stuff. Instead of getting a curveball, it was an 0-2 fastball right by me. I learned from that year, took it to [the Fall Instructional League] and spring training and I’ve been trying to learn from it every season.

JM: Jumping back for a second, you had such a great sophomore season. Did you put any added pressure on yourself to replicate it during your draft year?
BB: Not really, but let’s be honest. I wish I’d had that year my junior year, that would have been nice. Everybody has a career year. Barry Bonds only hit 80 [ed's note: actually 73 homers in 2001], same thing with Mark McGwire, he only hit 70 once, so I guess that was my career year. But it helped me out, put me on the map and I got to play with Team USA, which was awesome. Then moving towards the draft, I was a little hard on myself but as we started progressing and I was getting into a groove, I got hurt.

JM: That USA team was loaded last year, with first-rounders Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, and Sonny Gray on the staff. If you had to pick, which was the toughest to face?
BB: Man, they all were pretty tough. I would probably say Cole, because he knows how to pitch too. So does Bauer. Bauer has a lot more pitches and arm slots, but Cole, it’s hard to face someone who throws 103. He was tough. Bauer was more finesse but had great stuff, and Sonny was a power pitcher with great stuff. Every one of them was hard to step in there against.

JM: Coming into this year, you said you tried to bring a lot of what you learned in Lowell with you to camp. At the same time, did you try to forget the struggles of the season and just move on? How do you deal with things like that?
BB: Coming back off the DL, everything I hit seemed to find a glove, whether it was hard, soft, or in between. Last year in Lowell, I was putting way too much pressure on myself and trying to do way too much. That just snowballed. When I started struggling after I came off the DL, I told myself to just keep playing and it’ll come back. It’s starting to come back now, hopefully, but it’s a long season. Like I said, I’m going to try my best not to miss a fastball, and if it’s anything else, I’m going to adjust to it, go from there, and learn from at bats. That, and staying calm. That’s my biggest problem; I get too anxious at the plate and try to hit the ball 900 feet. I just need to take a smooth swing.

JM: Now you said that you try to leave the bad stuff in the last at-bats, but what about the good stuff? You had that long hitting streak this year. I’m sure it helps your confidence, but what does something like that do for your approach when you’re in jeopardy of losing the streak?
BB: It never really changed my approach, but a lot of those last at-bat hits on the hitting streak that were a home run or a double were on fastballs. I still hadn’t seen a fastball and knew they were going to throw one; I just had to try not to miss it. A couple were 0-2 fastballs. I had a couple of home runs on 0-2 fastballs to keep the streak alive. The streak just kept going and going. When it got to 26, I could kind of feel. It kind of mounts up, man. I’ve got a lot of respect for anyone who gets a hitting streak going, because it takes a lot.

JM: I’d heard that the crowd down there in Greenville got pretty excited about the streak. What was that like, having it mean so much to them?
BB: There was one game against Charleston and I was 0 for 4 or something and we were down 9-0. I hit a two-run bomb in my last at-bat, and the place went nuts. The place lit up like I’d just hit a walk-off. My buddy Eric [Jarinko, Greenville’s senior director of marketing & media services] sent me a text and said he had never seen a press box so happy.

JM: Just wrapping up, what type of guy are you off the field? Any interests during the off-season?
BB: When I’m not working out and hitting, I go hunting. I just started this season, because hunting is expensive. I could never afford it, but that kind of changed now, so whenever I had a chance I’d go out there. This year I’ll try to do the same thing.

JM: Any best baseball memory that stands out for you?
BB: There’s a lot, man. One of my favorites was for Team USA. We were playing in the championship game, and Yasmani Grandal and I went back-to-back in our last two at-bats. We were up and he hit one, I hit one, and coach took us out and let the other guys play. In college, winning our Sun Belt championship. In pro ball, there are too many to count.

Read full post ...