Red Sox Prospect Watch: Moncada, Dubon promoted

Adding the Short Season Lowell Spinners to the Red Sox Prospect Watch, let’s jump right in with what is happening in Pawtucket

Justin Haley was promoted from Portland, where he compiled a 2.20 ERA in 61.1 innings, to Pawtucket on June 17.  In his first start he excelled with one run allowed over eight innings.  His second start this week wasn’t so good.  He was touched for six runs on just four hits and three walks and one home run allowed.

William Cuevas has continued his string of solid starts.  He allowed two earned runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts this week.  Perhaps he should have  been considered for the start that Roenis Elias recently made in which he was knocked around.  Cuevas has a 3.30 ERA over 73.2 innings  this season.

Pat Light continues to put up zeroes at Pawtucket.  Over his last five appearances, Light has allowed just one hit over five innings, walking one batter and striking out eight.  In 24.1 innings, he has allowed just 14 hits (.163 batting average against) with 12 walks and 29 strikeouts on the season.  He has to be on the team’s radar for another big league call-up if the need arises.

Next: Double-A Portland

Double-A Portland

Yoan Moncada is moving up the minor league ladder as the Red Sox anticipated he would when they showered him with a $31.5 million signing bonus.  On Tuesday, he was promoted to Double-A Portland where he has started fast in his first four games there.  Moncada is six for 19 with a double and a homer and four RBI (.316/.316/.526) but he has yet to steal a base.  At High-A, he slashed .307/.427/.496 in 228 at-bats with 36 steals.  What took so long to get him to Portland?

Andrew Benintendi is overcoming a tough start at Portland, .531 OPS over his first two weeks, to post an .825 OPS in June thus far.  He has laced eight doubles and three homers while knocking in 13 runs in 21 June games.   He is five for 20 over his last five contests.

Shortstop Mauricio Dubon was in a slump when the Red Sox promoted him to Portland on Thursday.  He was just two for his last 18 when he was sent up.  He only has had one game in Portland so far, notching a triple and a walk in four plate appearances on his first day.  Dubon struck out just 25 times in 235 High-A at-bats this season to go along with 24 steals and an encouraging 33 walks, so he has an advanced knowledge of the strike zone at an early time in his development.

Next: High-A Salem

High-A Salem

Salem has not played since last Sunday due to wet grounds over their last three scheduled games after their All-Star game earlier in the week.  This is what the guys were up to before that.

Bobby Poyner had his worst game as a professional on the 12th of June, walking two batters and allowing five hits and four runs over two innings.  He struggled through 55 pitches in that terrible outing.  He bounced back with two hitless innings, including a save, over his last two appearances, walking one and striking out one.  Poyner has a 1.34 ERA in 33.2 innings this season, fanning 37 batters

Nick Longhi is slumping at the moment, going just four for his last 24, drawing just one walk and striking out seven times.  The Springfield, Massachusetts native turns 21 in August.  He has posted a .280/.357/.384 line, driving in 42 runs in 232 at-bats this year.

Rafael Devers continues to work his way back from his early season struggles.  In June, he has streaked to a .339/.379/.403 slash line after .502 and .653 OPS numbers in the first two months of the season.  As you get into the season and the at-bats pile up the averages don’t go up as fast but the improvement is encouraging over time.  Devers is six for his last 21 with three RBI over his last five games

Next: Low-A Greenville

Low-A Greenville

Roniel Raudes is struggling with consistency which is to be expected from a player just 18 years of age.  In his last four starts he has allowed these run totals:  four, one, eight, one.  For the season, this translates to a 4.04 ERA over 55.2 innings pitched, striking out 50 batters.  Perhaps his innings could be limited going forward if he continues to struggle.  He has allowed 20 hits in just 13.2 innings and a 6.59 ERA in June.

Josh Ockimey is learning to push through the peaks and valleys of the season.  After his early season success, he went through a two for 29 slide.  The last two weeks he has regained his form, going 12 for his last 26 with eight walks with four doubles, a homer and four RBI over that span.  For the season, Ockimey’s OPS is .960.  He could be the next in line for a promotion to Portland

2014 first rounder Michael Chavis came back earlier this month from a thumb injury that sidelined him for six weeks.  He had been crushing the ball to the tune of a .992 OPS in April.  He was no longer able to continue that song when he came back, posting just a .713 OPS in June.  Chavis is just three for his last 20.  Overall his line .320/.377/.495 is more than adequate and hopefully he can regain his early season prowess with more reps on the field.

Next: Short Season Lowell