State of the System '20: Noteworthy extras

We’ve highlighted a number of key and noteworthy players at each position throughout the State of the System series. However, some write-ups wound up on the cutting room floor, while other players who we did not discuss probably merit mention, in hindsight. In that spirit, we present our Extra Notes edition, highlighting other Players of Note at each position. Be sure to check out all entries in the series!

Low-Minors Pitchers 

• The Red Sox drafted Chase Shugart in the 12th round of the 2018 draft and signed him for $125,000 following a late run through the College World Series with Texas. After a truncated pro debut, Shugart was impressive in the Fall Instructional League, but his 2019 season started late due to a 50-game suspension for a second failed test for a drug of abuse. Returning from his suspension, Shugart reeled off a string of excellent starts with Greenville before coming back down to earth a bit, finishing with a 2.81 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 73 strikeouts in 89.2 innings. When on, Shugart will show a four-pitch mix featuring a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup, although he is still learning how to sequence them. A starter for now, he likely will end up in the bullpen because of his height (5-foot-10) and delivery. Out of the bullpen, he could focus on his best two pitches, his fastball and slider, which both show at least above-average potential. It will be interesting to see if the Red Sox get more aggressive with Shugart this year starting him in Salem with the eye towards a promotion to Portland if he excels. 

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State of the System '20: Outfielders

Part seven of our State of the System series focuses on outfielders going back to the 2014 draft, as well as international free agents from July 2013 onwards. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries in the series. While this wraps up our position-by-position focus, the series will continue with other prospects of note who we were unable to cover due to space, as well as some overarching thoughts on what we learned in this exercise, so stay tuned.

The Lineup

Notable Draftees, 2014-2019

Danny Mars – 2014, 7th rd., $211,900 bonus; Released, March 2019

Cole Sturgeon – 2014, 10th rd., $10,000 bonus; 2019: AAA

Trenton Kemp – 2014, 15th rd., $250,000 bonus; 2019: Injured/GCL (Rehab)

Andrew Benintendi – 2015, 1st rd., $3,590,400 bonus; 2019: MLB

Tate Matheny – 2015, 4th rd., $512,700 bonus; 2019: AA/AAA

Jagger Rusconi – 2015, 5th rd., $384,000 bonus; 2019: A+/AA

Nick Hamilton – 2015, 11th rd., $100,000 bonus; Released, July 2018

Kyri Washington – 2015, 21st rd., $100,000 bonus; Retired, Aug. 2019

Juan Carlos Abreu – 2016, 23rd rd., $100,000 bonus; Released, March 2018

Cole Brannen – 2017, 2nd rd., $1,300,000 bonus; 2019: A

Tyler Esplin – 2017, 7th rd., $250,000 bonus; 2019: A/A+

David Durden – 2017, 20th rd., $125,000 bonus; Retired, Jan. 2018

Tyler Dearden – 2017, 29th rd., $140,000 bonus; 2019: A

Nick Decker – 2018, 2nd rd., $1,250,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Jarren Duran – 2018, 7th rd., $189,800 bonus; 2019: A/AA

Dylan Hardy – 2018, 13th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: A-/A/A+/AA/AAA

Caleb Ramsey – 2018, 25th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: GCL

Wil Dalton – 2019, 8th rd., $135,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Leon Paulino – 2019, 8th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: GCL

Notable International Signees, July 2, 2013-present

Yoan Aybar – July 3, 2013, $450,000 bonus; 2019: A-/A (Converted to pitcher)

Marino Campana – July 2 , 2014, $100,000 bonus; 2019: SS-A/A-/A

Angel Hernandez – May 15, 2015, $200,000 bonus; Released, March 2017

Albert Guaimaro – July 2, 2015, $300,000 bonus; Contract voided, July 2016

Simon Muzziotti – July 2, 2015, $300,000 bonus; Contract voided, July 2016

Kervin Suarez – July 2, 2015, $100,000 bonus; 2019: SS-A/A-/A

Rafael Rincones – Aug. 9, 2015, $300,000 bonus; Traded to OAK for Rajai Davis, Aug. 2017

Nelfy Abreu – July 2, 2017, $450,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Gilberto Jimenez – Aug. 1, 2017, $10,000 bonus; 2019: SS-A

Angel Maita – Sept. 23, 2017, $17,500 bonus; 2019: GCL

Eduardo Lopez – July 2, 2018, $1,150,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Eduardo Vaughan – July 2, 2018, $550,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Bryan Gonzalez – July 2, 2018, $500,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Giancarlos Santana – July 2, 2018, $460,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Elio Prado - July 2, 2018, $85,000 bonus; Traded to BAL for Andrew Cashner, July 2019

Darel Belen – Feb. 4, 2019, $35,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Juan Chacon – July 2, 2019, $900,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Jhostynxon Garcia – July 2, 2019, $350,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Kelvin Diaz – July 17, 2019, $300,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Trade Acquisitions

Marcus Wilson – Acquired from ARI for Blake Swihart and international bonus pool money, April 2019

Position Status: The Red Sox’s investment in the outfield has varied greatly in both the draft and internationally in the time period covered. There have been stretches in which the organization only spent limited resources (i.e. high picks or large bonuses) on the outfield, but in others, organizational investment was significant.

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State of the System '20: Middle Infielders

Part six of our State of the System series will focus on middle infielders drafted from 2014 onward or signed on the international market in July 2013 and later. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries in the series.

The Lineup

Notable Draftees, 2014-2019

Jeremy Rivera – 2014 17th rd., <$100,000 bonus; 2019: AA

Chad De La Guerra – 2015 17th rd., $5,000 bonus; 2019: AA/AAA

Yomar Valentin – 2015 20th rd., $130,000 bonus; Released, Jan. 2018

CJ Chatham – 2016 2nd rd., $1,100,000 bonus; 2019: AA/AAA

Santiago Espinal – 2016 10th rd., $50,000 bonus; Traded to TOR for Steve Pearce, June 2018

Brett Netzer – 2017 3rd rd., $475,000 bonus; 2019: AA

Andre Colon – 2017 11th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: Rk

Cameron Cannon – 2019 2nd rd., $1,300,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Matthew Lugo – 2019 2nd rd., $1,100,000 bonus; 2019: Rk/A-

Alex Erro – 2019 17th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Karson Simas – 2019 25th rd., $175,000 bonus; 2019: Rk

Daniel Bakst – 2019 28th rd., $75,000 bonus; Retired, Jan. 2020

Notable International Signees, July 2, 2013 to present

Yoan Moncada – March 12, 2015, $31,500,000 bonus; Traded to CWS for Chris Sale, Dec. 2016

Antonio Pineiro – July 2, 2015, $300,000 bonus; Contract voided, July 2016

Eduardo Torrealba – July 2, 2015, $300,000 bonus; Contract voided, July 2016

Everlouis Lozada – July 2, 2015, $250,000 bonus; 2019: A

Yeison Coca – July 2, 2015, $220,000 bonus; Traded to MIL for Tyler Thornburg, Dec. 2016

Kervin Suarez – July 2, 2015, $100,000 bonus; 2019: A/A+

Antoni Flores – July 2, 2017, $1,400,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Denny Daza – July 2, 2017, $250,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Ceddanne Rafaela – July 2, 2017, $10,000 bonus; 2019: Rk/A-

Esteban Quiroz – November 21, 2017; Traded to SD for Colten Brewer, Nov. 2018

Eddinson Paulino – July 2, 2018, $205,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Axel James – July 2, 2018, $60,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Brainer Bonaci – July 9, 2018, $290,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Jose Mendez – July 2, 2019, $200,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Allan Castro – July 2, 2019, $100,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Johnfrank Salazar – August 5, 2019, $400,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Trade Acquisitions

Marco Hernandez – Acquired from CHC for Felix Doubront, Dec. 2014; 2019: Rehab/AAA/MLB

Jeter Downs – Acquired from LAD  for Mookie Betts and David Price, Feb. 2020; 2019: A+/AA

Independent League Signings

Ryan Fitzgerald - Contract purchased from Gary of the American Association, May 2018; 2019: A+

Rule 5 Draft

Jonathan Arauz – Selected from HOU, Dec. 2019; 2019: A+/AA

Position Status: For a time, with Xander Bogaerts (pictured, left) entrenched as the everyday shortstop and Dustin Pedroia locked up until 2021, the Red Sox had their middle infield set for the foreseeable future. Perhaps as a result, from 2014 through 2018, the organization rarely used high picks or large bonuses on middle infielders... with one enormous exception. In March 2015, the club gave the largest international free agent signing bonus ever, $31.5 million (not even counting the tax the club paid on the bonus), to second baseman Yoan Moncada. The Red Sox later leveraged his prospect status as a significant chip in acquiring Chris Sale in 2016, and with him, the 2018 World Series Championship. But now, a full season removed from that championship season, Sale will likely miss the first two seasons of his five-year, $145-million extension after Tommy John surgery and it is the White Sox now reaping the benefits. Meanwhile, Moncada broke out last year, hitting .315/.367/.548 and putting himself on a trajectory to become a star with a 4.8 bWAR/5.7 fWAR season. Flags fly forever and both teams will rightfully call the trade a win, but much as some fans, even after Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell were crucial in securing the 2007 World Series championship, couldn’t help but wonder “What if?” after trading future MVP Hanley Ramirez, so too may some dream about how a Devers-Bogaerts-Moncada infield might have looked in Boston for years, not to mention whether opting not to extend Sale would have kept Mookie Betts in Boston.

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State of the System '20: Corner Infielders

Part five of our State of the System series focuses on corner infielders going back to the 2014 draft, as well as international free agents from July 2013 onwards. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries in the series.

The Lineup

Notable Draftees, 2014-2019

Michael Chavis – 2014, 1st rd., $1,870,500 bonus; 2019: AAA/MLB

Sam Travis – 2014, 2nd rd., $846,800 bonus; Traded to TEX for Jeffrey Springs, Jan. 2020

Josh Ockimey – 2014, 5th rd., $450,000 bonus; 2019: AAA

Jerry Downs – 2015, 15th rd., $100,000 bonus; 2019: A+/AA

Bobby Dalbec – 2016, 4th rd., $650,000 bonus; 2019: AA, AAA

Garrett Benge – 2017, 13th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: A+

Triston Casas -  2018, 1st rd., $2,552,800 bonus; 2019: A, A+

Devlin Granberg – 2018, 6th rd., $40,000 bonus; 2019: A, A+

Nick Northcut – 2018, 11th rd., $565,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Brandon Howlett – 2018, 21st rd., $185,000 bonus; 2019: A

Stephen Scott – 2019, 10th rd., $50,000 bonus; 2019: A-

Notable International Signees, July 2, 2013 to present

Rafael Devers – July 2, 2013, $1,500,000 bonus; 2019: MLB

Elwin Tejada – July 2 , 2014, $300,000 bonus; Released, March 2017

Hemerson Serven – July 2, 2014, $100,000 bonus; Released, July 2016

Pedro Castellanos – July 2, 2015, $5,000 bonus; 2019: A+

Danny Diaz – July 2, 2017, $1,600,000 bonus; 2019: Rk/DSL

Wilker Vargas – July 2, 2017, $175,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Albert Feliz – July 2, 2018, $400,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Noelberth Romero – July 2, 2018, $275,000 bonus; Traded to BAL for Andrew Cashner, July 2019

Lyonell James – July 2, 2019, $440,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky League

Position Status: In the time period covered here, the Red Sox have gone with a quality-over-volume approach towards corner infielders, inconsistently acquiring players for the corners in given years, but being unafraid to use high draft picks and/or over-slot bonuses in the draft and large international bonuses when they do. One reason for that, at least with international amateurs and, to some degree, high school draftees, very few players sign as true first base or third base types given that the best players typically play up the middle. In the draft, however, especially (but not always) with college players, you will see more true corner infield prospects.

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State of the System '20: Catchers

Part four of our State of the System series focuses on catchers acquired going back to the 2014 draft, as well as international free agents from 2013 onwards. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries in the series.

The Lineup

Notable Draftees, 2014-2019

Ben Moore – 2014 draft, 8th rd., $152,700 bonus; Released April 2017

Devon Fisher – 2014 draft, 20th rd., $300,000 bonus; Converted to pitching in 2016, Released Nov. 2019

Austin Rei – 2015 draft, 3rd rd., $742,400 bonus; 2019: AA

Andrew Noviello – 2015 draft, 25th rd., $100,000 bonus; Released March 2017

Alan Marrero – 2016 draft, 8th rd., $160,000 bonus; 2019: A

Alberto Schmidt – 2016 draft, 16th rd., $100,000 bonus; Released Nov. 2019

Nick Sciortino – 2016 draft, 17th rd., $80,000 bonus; 2019: A+

Beau Hanna – 2017 draft, 12th rd., $125,000 bonus; Retired, 2018 (playing Division II baseball)

Kole Cottam – 2018 draft, 4th rd., $375,000 bonus; 2019: A, A+

Elih Marrero – 2018 draft, 8th rd., $157,700 bonus; 2019: SS-A; A+

Jaxx Groshans – 2019 draft, 5th rd., $304,200 bonus; 2019: SS-A

Jacob Herbert – 2019 draft, 18th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: Rk

Notable International Signees, July 2, 2013 to present

Roldani Baldwin – November 8, 2013, $45,000 bonus; 2019: Injured, Rehab in Rk/A-

Carlos Pulido – March 6, 2015, $200,000 bonus; Released in March 2019

Keibert Petit – March 9, 2015, $200,000 bonus; Released Feb. 2020

Daniel Flores – July 2, 2017, $3,100,000 bonus; deceased

Jonathan Diaz – July 2, 2017, $7,500 bonus; 2019: SS-A

Naysbel Marcano – July 2, 2018, $350,000 bonus; 2019: DSL

Rivaldo Avila – July 2, 2019, $405,000 bonus; 2019: Tricky Lg

Trade Acquisitions 

Connor Wong - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on February 10, 2020

Jhonny Pereda - Acquired from the Chicago Cubs on March 23, 2020

Position Status: Over the last few years, the Red Sox have spent a fair but not overwhelming amount of draft capital on catchers with little success. In the current SoxProspects top 60, there are only three catchers ranked, the top two of whom were acquired via trade in the past couple of months. Only Connor Wong, acquired in the Mookie Betts deal, is inside the top 50, at number 12.

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State of the System '20: High-Minors Pitchers

Part three of our State of the System series will focus on pitchers signed in the 2014 and 2015 drafts, as well as international free agents signed between July 2, 2013 and July 1, 2016. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries in the series.

The Lineup

Notable Draftees, 2014 and 2015

Michael Kopech – 2014 draft, 1st rd. (supp.), $1,500,000 bonus; Dec. 2016: Traded to CWS for Chris Sale

Jake Cosart – 2014 draft, 3rd rd., $450,000 bonus; Nov. 2019: Released

Kevin McAvoy – 2014 draft, 4th rd., $300,000 bonus; March 2019: Released

Kevin Steen – 2014 draft, 9th rd., $255,000 bonus; 2019: Injured

Jalen Beeks – 2014 draft, 12th rd., $150,000 bonus; July 2018: Traded to TB for Nathan Eovaldi

Chandler Shepherd – 2014 draft, 13th rd., $90,000 bonus; May 2019: Designated for assignment

Travis Lakins – 2015 draft, 6th rd., $320,000 bonus; Jan. 2020: Traded to CHC for Jhonny Pereda

Ben Taylor – 2015 draft, 7th rd., $10,000 bonus; Feb. 2017: Designated for assignment

Logan Allen – 2015 draft, 8th rd., $725,000 bonus; Nov. 2015: Traded to SD for Craig Kimbrel

Matt Kent – 2015 draft, 13th rd., $75,000 bonus; 2019: AA, AAA

Bobby Poyner – 2015 draft, 14th rd., $10,000 bonus; 2019: AAA, MLB

Marc Brakeman – 2015 draft, 16th rd., $225,000 bonus; March 2018: Released

Notable International Signees, 2013-16

Enmanuel De Jesus – July 2, 2013, $787,500 bonus; 2019: A+

Jhonathan Diaz – July 2, 2013, $600,000 bonus; 2019: A+

Yoan Aybar – July 3, 2013, $450,000 bonus (Signed as an OF); 2019: A, A+

Darwinzon Hernandez – Aug. 26, 2013, $7,500 bonus; 2019: AA, AAA, MLB

Dalier Hinojosa – Oct. 18, 2013, $4,000,000 bonus; July 2015: Claimed off waivers by PHI

Anderson Espinoza – July 2, 2014, $1,800,000 bonus; July 2016: Traded to SD for Drew Pomeranz

Christopher Acosta – July 2, 2014, $1,500,000 bonus; 2019: Restricted list

Junior Espinoza – July 2, 2014, $400,000 bonus; Nov. 2018: Released

Roniel Raudes – July 2, 2014, $250,000 bonus; 2019: Injured

Eduard Bazardo – July 2, 2014, $8,000 bonus; 2019: A+, AA

Denyi Reyes – July 2, 2014, bonus unknown; 2019: AA

Victor Diaz – Dec. 9, 2014, bonus unknown; Dec. 2016: Traded to CWS for Chris Sale

Cesar Gonzalez – July 2, 2015, $300,000 bonus; July 2016: Contract voided

Ronald Gutierrez – July 2, 2015, $200,000 bonus; July 2018: Released

Oddainier Mosqueda – July 9, 2015, bonus unknown; 2019: A

Junior Figueroa – Aug. 17, 2015; $300,000 bonus; July 2017: Released

Gregory Santos – Aug. 28, 2015; $275,000 bonus; July 2017: Traded to SF for Eduardo Nunez

Joan Martinez – Jan. 23. 2016, $5,000 bonus; 2019: A+

Bryan Mata – Jan. 27, 2016, $25,000 bonus; 2019: A+, AA

Position Status: During the least recent time period we will cover, the Red Sox deployed some early picks and large bonuses on pitching prospects. Domestically, the organization hit on three picks who turned out to be potential MLB starters in two drafts. However, all three were later traded—from the 2014 draft, first-round pick Michael Kopech (pictured, above) and 12th-round pick Jalen Beeks were traded for key contributors to the 2018 World Series win in Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi, and from the 2015 draft, over-slot 8th-round pick Logan Allen was traded as part of the Craig Kimbrel deal. While only Beeks pitched for Boston—and only 6 1/3 innings at that—that they were all used to acquire players who directly impacted the 2018 World Series Champion team can be judged a scouting and player development win. But because that positive outcome involved trading those players, those moves and other attrition have left only a pair of organizational depth left-handers, neither on the 40-man roster, still in the system from these two drafts.

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State of the System '20: Mid-Minors Pitchers

Part two of our State of the System series will focus on pitchers signed in the 2016 and 2017 drafts, as well as international free agents from that same time period. Be sure to check out the rest of the entries in the series.

The Lineup:

Notable Draftees, 2016 and 2017

Jay Groome – 2016 draft, 1st rd., $3,650,000 bonus; 2019: Injured, Rk, SS-A

Shaun Anderson – 2016 draft, 3rd rd., $700,000 bonus; July 2017: Traded to SF for Eduardo Nunez

Mike Shawaryn – 2016 draft, 5th rd., $637,500 bonus; 2019: AAA, MLB

Stephen Nogosek – 2016 draft, 6th rd., $250,000 bonus; July 2017: Traded to NYM for Addison Reed

Matthew Gorst – 2016 draft, 12th rd., $115,000 bonus; 2019: AA, AAA

Kyle Hart – 2016 draft, 19th rd., $5,000 bonus; 2019: AA, AAA

Tanner Houck – 2017 draft, 1st rd., $2,614,500 bonus; 2019: AA, AAA

Jake Thompson – 2017 draft, 4th rd., $350,000 bonus; 2019: Injured

Alex Scherff – 2017 draft, 5th rd., $700,000 bonus; 2019: A, A+

Zach Schellenger– 2017 draft, 6th rd., $175,000 bonus; 2019: AA, A+

Aaron Perry – 2017 draft, 14th rd., $172,500 bonus; 2019: Rehab, Rk

Kutter Crawford – 2017 draft, 16th rd., $125,000 bonus; 2019: A+, AA, Injured

Notable International Signees (2016-18)

Hector Velazquez – February 18, 2017, $30,000 bonus; 2019: AAA, MLB; Claimed off waivers by Baltimore

Brayan Bello – July 2, 2017, $28,000 bonus; 2019: A

Yasel Santana – July 2, 2017, $10,000 bonus; 2019: SS-A, A

Alexander Montero – July 2, 2017, $10,000 bonus; 2019: Rk

Felix Cepeda – July 11, 2017, $40,000 bonus; 2019: Rk

Jorge Rodriguez – November 19, 2017, $37,500 bonus; 2019: Rk

Yoelvis Guedez – November 20, 2017, $10,000 bonus; 2019: Rk

Osvaldo De La Rosa – March 26, 2018, $1,000 bonus; 2019: SS-A

Aldo Ramirez – April 18, 2018, Purchased from Mexican League for $550,000; 2019: SS-A

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State of the System '20: Low-Minors Pitchers

As we continue past a baseball-less MLB Opening Day and approach what would have been minor league opening day on April 9, many of us—including those of us here at SoxProspects!—have mourned the absence of the game from our lives. But while there will be no games for some time, that does not mean that there is a lack of meaningful opportunity to take stock of the Boston Red Sox farm system in a meaningful way.

So, welcome to the first installment of State of the System. Over the next few weeks, this series will take a position-by-position look at the Red Sox system, evaluating the areas of strength and weakness as well as providing the context for why those strengths and weaknesses exist. This edition will be the first part of our look at the pitchers in the system, which will be split into three parts. Today, we will focus on the most recent additions to the organization from the last two draft and international free agent classes.

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