Red Sox farm update: July 16th

Mar 31, 2015; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder

(29) singles during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox

Final Score: Durham Bulls 9, PawSox 7

Notable Pitchers:

Jonathan Aro (1.2 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 3 K)

Matt Barnes (IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K)

Keith Couch (5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K)

Heath Hembree (0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB)

Notable Position Players:

Jackie Bradley Jr. (1-5, K)

Rusney Castillo (1-4, BB, 2 K)

Garin Cecchini (0-2, BB)

Allen Craig (1-5, K)

Marco Hernandez (1-4, K)

• After being named the MVP of the Eastern League All-Star game, Hernandez receives a deserved promotion to Triple-A. He’s not considered one of the best prospects in the Red Sox system, but he raked in Portland, slashing .326/.349/.482, and is only 22 years old so perhaps he has some potential.

Daniel Nava (2-4, HR, BB, 2 K)

• Nava put up a huge game last night for the PawSox, driving in four runs and scoring twice, but it wasn’t enough to reclaim the lead. Nava has been awful in the majors this season, but he’s hitting well on his rehab assignment, with a .321/.424/.464 line, and he should be back in Boston before long.

Jun 25, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher

(23) hits an RBI single during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Double-A Portland Sea Dogs

Final Score: New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7, Sea Dogs 2

Notable Pitchers:

Justin Haley (2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K)

Williams Jerez (1.1 IP, H, 0 R, 2 K)

• Despite the lack of any reliable secondary pitches, Jerez continues to roll through the minors and is now having success in Double-A. In 7 games and 12.1 innings with the Sea Dogs, the hard-throwing southpaw has a 2.92 ERA and could find himself in Boston as soon as next season.

Simon Mercedes (3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K)

Notable Position Players:

Carlos Asuaje (1-4, 2B, 2 K)

Tzu-Wei Lin (1-3, BB, K)

Manuel Margot (1-5, K)

Blake Swihart (2-3, 2B)

• Swihart returns to Portland for his rehab assignment, putting up a solid two-hit performance, but the Red Sox will soon need to decide whether they’ll use Swihart as their starting catcher in Boston or option him to Pawtucket before long.

Sam Travis (1-4)

May 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the third inning of the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

High-A Salem Red Sox

Final Score: Red Sox 5, Lynchburg Hillcats 3

Notable Pitchers:

Kevin McAvoy (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K)

Chandler Shepherd (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K)

• Shepherd is an intriguing arm as a potential third or fourth round pick out of Kentucky who slipped to the Red Sox in the 14th round after a forearm injury. Now 22 years old, he’s thriving in the lower minors and now has a respectable 4.09 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and a stingy 1.4 BB/9 in 33 innings up in Salem.

Notable Position Players:

Mauricio Dubon (2-5, 2B, K)

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

Short Season A Lowell Spinners

Final Score: Spinners 1, Connecticut Tigers 0

Notable Position Players:

Victor Acosta (1-4, K)

Luis Alexander Basabe (0-4, K)

Tate Matheny (1-4)

Austin Rei (0-4, K)

• Rei hasn’t gotten off to a great start in the Red Sox organization, going 2-18 with a triple thus far. Still, it’s far too early to make lasting judgements about the 2015 draftees and Rei isn’t expected to be a huge bat going forward anyway.