Bobby Dalbec leads the Salem Red Sox in plenty of categories despite his .208 batting average. The third baseman’s 11 doubles and nine home runs both top the team. As do his 30 RBI. He also has 24 runs scored and one steal on the year.
Dalbec has a bit of a strikeout problem (62 in 154 at-bats). The good news though is he went 1-for-2 with two walks and zero Ks last game. That broke an eight-game stretch in which the 22-year-old struck out at least once.
Speaking of leading the team in a few categories – Santiago Espinal holds the team lead in triples (3) and runs scored (32). The shortstop has seven doubles and six home runs as well and has driven in 24 runs while stealing five bases. He holds a .297/.360/.494 on the season. Advanced-A might not get the pleasure of seeing Espinal much longer.
Another candidate for a promotion is C.J. Chatham. After a strong start in Full-A, the shortstop has been even better in Advanced-A. He’s slashing .313/.353/.453 in 16 games. Over 64 at-bats he has three doubles and two home runs while driving in 10 runs and scoring seven more. The 23-year-old could fly up the minor league ladder.
Brett Netzer is slashing .281/.339/.365. The last week has seen his average dip, but he’s still having a very impressive season. Not only did he hit his first career home run this year, but he’s now got his first career triple as well. The second baseman’s driven in 22 runs and scored 15 more.
Tyler Hill leads the team with 10 steals. Meanwhile, he’s hitting .243 and has 28 runs scored as well. His speed could lead to a solid career.
Roldani Baldwin is down to .240 but has five home runs on the year. The catcher could help turn around a position that has very little depth in the minors.
Bryan Mata has a 3.52 ERA on the season, helping the 19-year-old to a 3-2 record. His 27 walks over 30 2/3 innings is a little problematic, but there’s very little else to worry about. Mata has impressive potential.
Roniel Raudes isn’t much older than Mata. The 20-year-old’s also having a strong season. He has a 2-4 record, but a 3.68 ERA. Opponents are hitting .287 against him, but he’s been able to limit the damage. While the average is high, it’s good to see he can work out of tough situations.
Daniel Gonzalez meanwhile is being overlooked due to those two. He holds a 3.22 ERA, leading him to a 5-0 record and 2-for-2 in save opportunities. The 22-year-old has 44 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings, walking just nine.