Red Sox farm update: June 29th
Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; A general view of Boston Red Sox hat and glove laying in the dugout at a spring training baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Yesterday was a pretty remarkable day in the Red Sox farm system as, due to a number of rainouts in the previous week, Boston’s affiliates played 12 games yesterday. As a result, there’s plenty of minor league performances to break down in the next installment of the Red Sox farm update.
Mar 24, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brian Johnson (78) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Game One
- This game, which was a makeup of a previous game from weeks ago, came before the promotions of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Deven Marrero, leaving Garin Cecchini and Travis Shaw as the most exciting prospects playing. However, in a 6-0 loss to the Rochester Redwings, there wasn’t a whole lot to talk about in Pawtucket.
Garin Cecchini (0-3)
Allen Craig (0-4)
Travis Shaw (1-4)
Game Two
Garin Cecchini (0-3)
- After an encouraging outburst in Sunday’s game, Cecchini is back to square one after an 0-6 day and is slashing just .196/.273/.298 in a miserable season. Given the signings of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, it’s clear that the Red Sox don’t value Cecchini as a major part of the team’s future.
Allen Craig (2-3, 2B)
- Craig has inspired a bit of confidence from Red Sox fans due to his solid performance with the PawSox. He certainly hasn’t been the Craig of old, but he’s slashing .281/.406/.388 and, though he hasn’t shown much power, he has improved with regular playing time. Craig will likely get a shot at regular playing time in Boston later this season to see if his recent success is a mirage.
Sean Coyle (0-1, 2 BB)
Edwin Escobar (2 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 K)
Dalier Hinojosa (4 IP, 4 H, R, ER, K)
Brian Johnson (0 IP, R, ER, BB)
- Johnson was the story in Pawtucket yesterday as he left the game after throwing just 5 pitches, all of them balls. Despite meeting with the trainer before leaving the game, it has been reported that his issue was not an injury, but rather an illness. This is good news as it means Johnson should return to his prior success (2.68 ERA in 15 starts) as soon as he has recovered and it shouldn’t have any lasting effects.
Apr 21, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan (10) scores a run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Game One
- The Sea Dogs also played two games as a result of a postponed game on Sunday, but they had a bit more success than the PawSox (who failed to score a run in two games). In fact, a few of Boston’s big prospects in Portland actually put together strong performances yesterday.
Carlos Asuaje (1-4, 3B, K)
Ryan Hanigan (0-3, BB)
Williams Jerez (1.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 2 K)
- Jerez is an interesting case as a converted outfielder who has taken well to the mound. In fact, the former second round pick has flown through the Red Sox organization since being converted and finds himself in Double-A after just a year and a half of pitching. However, he struggled yesterday in just his second game in Portland.
Manuel Margot (3-4, 2 2B, 2 BB, RBI)
- Margot posts a huge game here, recording three hits including two doubles. It’s tough to see where Margot fits into the Red Sox’ future, but he’s an incredibly talented player with the potential to be an elite leadoff hitter and center fielder. If he continues to perform, he’ll find his way into Boston’s plans whether as an outfielder or a trade chip for a key player.
Sam Travis (0-4, R)
Game Two
Carlos Asuaje (1-2, BB)
Ryan Hanigan (2-3, 2B)
- Hanigan, who can return from his DL trip on July 1st, begins his rehab assignment with a strong day at the plate. The Red Sox catching situation is a bit up the air after Hanigan returns, but it seems reasonable to expect that the Red Sox will go forward with the tandem of Hanigan and prospect Blake Swihart in a lost season, designating Sandy Leon for assignment.
Manuel Margot (1-2, SB)
Simon Mercedes (3.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 K)
- Mercedes has gone through some rough patches in his first season serving fully out of the bullpen, but he is sporting a 3.95 ERA in 19 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a power fastball and if he can harness his command, he has the potential to be a solid late-inning piece.
Sam Travis (1-3, K)
Jun 3, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Practice balls in a bin prior to game one of a doubleheader between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
High-A Salem Red Sox
Mauricio Dubon (0-3)
Tzu-Wei Lin (1-4, R, 2B)
Kevin McAvoy (6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)
- McAvoy was Boston’s fourth round pick in the 2014 draft as a local boy out of Bryant College in Rhode Island. He hasn’t been perfect in his first year in the Red Sox organization, but he did skip Low-A Greenville entirely and has managed a 4.06 ERA with a huge groundball rate in 14 starts with Salem.
Jun 24, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park as the Boston Red Sox take batting practice prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Low-A Greenville Drive
Game One
Michael Chavis (1-4, K)
Rafael Devers (1-3, 2B, RBI, K)
Javier Guerra (0-3, 3 K)
- This is a concerning performance from Guerra, who has shown huge talent this season but also had major problems with strikeouts, punching out nearly 30% of the time. He is also mired in a tough stretch which has seen his hit only .194 with 12 strikeouts in 36 at bats. Still, Guerra has shown more offensively this season than anyone expected, sporting a solid .271/.328/.471 and displaying great power for a defense-first shortstop.
Nick Longhi (1-2)
Yoan Moncada (2-4, R, SB)
Game Two
Jamie Callahan (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K)
- Callahan has been a major disappointment since Cherington and Co. made him a second-round pick in 2012. Three years after being drafted, he is posting a meager 6.48 ERA in 15 games in Low-A. He still won’t even turn 21 for almost two more months, but he hasn’t had much success yet in his minor league career.
Michael Chavis (1-3, 2B, R)
- Chavis, last year’s first-rounder is another Greenville hitter who has struggled with strikeouts this season. He is striking out exactly a third of the time this season and that has limited his slash line to only .207/.267/.356 in his first full season. Still, it was clear that he was raw when he was drafted and, at 19 years old, there’s still plenty of time for Chavis.
Javier Guerra (1-3, RBI, K)
Nick Longhi (1-3, K)
Yoan Moncada (0-4, R, 3 K)
May 25, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; General view of third base during the ninth inning of the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. The Twins win 7-2 over the Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
Short Season-A Lowell Spinners
Game One
Victor Acosta (1-3, R, 3B, RBI, K)
Josh Ockimey (2-2, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB)
- Ockimey was selected in the fifth round last year as a raw high school first baseman with huge power potential. He showed a bit of that raw power last night with a home run in an excellent day at the plate, showcasing his discipline and hit tool as well.
Tucker Tubbs (0-3)
Game Two
Victor Acosta (1-3, K)
Mitchell Gunsolus (0-2, K)
Josh Ockimey (0-3, 2 K)
Tucker Tubbs (0-2)
Sep 7, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; General view of the field box seats prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
GCL Red Sox
Yoan Aybar (1-4, K)
Devon Fisher (2-3, R, K)
- Fisher is an intriguing prospect as a high school catcher expected to go in the first few rounds who the Red Sox selected in the 20th round and signed away from the University of Virginia. He has the ability to stay behind the plate defensively and, if he keeps hitting like this, he could become a legitimate prospect.
Henry Ramos (1-3, RBI)
- Ramos, a strong all-around outfielder who has recently spent time in Portland, begins a rehab assignment with in the GCL. He didn’t have a spectacular game yesterday but there’s nothing wrong with a 1-3 day and he should be back to the upper minors before long.
Jagger Rusconi (1-3, R, K)