Red Sox Prospect Watch: Trevor Kelley finally gets call to Majors
The Boston Red Sox have needed bullpen help all year and Trevor Kelley‘s dominated in Triple-A all year. Now he’s going to get his chance in the Majors.
Boston Red Sox infielder Michael Chavis had a monster game in London, ripping two home runs for six RBI. He’s hitting .261 and has 14 home runs and 44 RBI on the year. The 91 strikeouts in 245 at-bats are definitely concerning. However, the power has proven to be no fluke and that strikeout rate could drop once he learns to handle a few pitches (like the high heat).
The bottom line is, although he’s had his struggles the rookie is definitely proving his worth.
The Red Sox may have finally gotten some legitimate bullpen help. Trevor Kelley is finally being called up from Triple-A after posting a 0.96 ERA in 37 2/3 innings there.
I’m not going to go into a major rant about the talented pitcher here – because I wrote an entire article doing just that. However, I will say this – give him a chance. Kelley has done nothing but deliver and prove himself his entire MiLB career. It’s not fair that fans are trying to discredit his accomplishments before he’s even thrown a pitch for the team.
The Red Sox have tried so many different remedies for their bullpen this season. Very few of those remedies have worked. Give Kelley a chance and you might just be pleased with the results. If things don’t work out perfectly it’s not the end of the world. 13 pitchers the Red Sox have used this season have ERAs over 5.00. Let’s not pretend that giving a new guy a chance is a bad idea.
Triple-A (Pawtucket Red Sox)
Chad De La Guerra is on absolute fire. The infielder is now up to a .324 average on the year in Triple-A. He’s hit 14 doubles and one triple, as well as eight home runs. DLG’s also driven in 26 runs and scored 26 more. As mentioned before, DLG’s in a tough spot. He plays shortstop, third base and second base. Those are three positions that have quite a few names ahead of him on the roster. With that being said, De La Guerra definitely deserves a look in the Majors this season.
Josh Ockimey is hitting .210 on the year but already has 52 walks. The left-handed hitting first baseman also has 11 doubles and two triples on the year. Meanwhile, he’s already closing in on a career-high in homers. Before the year, his previous mark was 20 – but he’s already bashed 16 dingers this season. Mix that in with 38 RBI and 41 runs scored and you’ll forgive the average.
Sam Travis was in London with the Boston Red Sox this weekend, but he’s back in Triple-A now. The first baseman’s up to a .270 average and has five home runs and 13 doubles on the season. Still just 25, there’s no reason to believe he can’t find his footing in Pawtucket.
Kyle Hart is down to a 3.44 ERA after another strong outing this week. The left-hander went four innings, allowing just one run on three hits and one walk – striking out three. Hart is having a great season between Double-A and Triple-A and has shown clear improvements from last season.
Teddy Stankiewicz gave up five earned runs in five innings in his last start. However, his ERA is still under 4.00 at 3.90. The right-hander didn’t walk anyone – which was a major positive but he did allow nine hits. Stankiewicz has really limited his implosion starts this year. So that bodes well for his future outings.
Bobby Poyner and Travis Lakins continue bouncing back from weak starts to the season. They’ll earn themselves more chances in the Majors if they keep it up.
Darwinzon Hernandez allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. That’s easily his best outing in Triple-A when it comes to the walks – and the eight strikeouts were a high for the level too. There’s still a lot to work on but Hernandez might be coming around.
Double-A (Portland Sea Dogs)
It didn’t take long for C.J. Chatham to hit his second Double-A homer. After the Red Sox prospect hit his first last week, he hit another this week. The shortstop is hitting .317 with 15 doubles and those two home runs now. He’s driven in 25 runs and scored 21 more, stealing four bases in the process. Chatham’s bat continues to impress – there’s really nothing else to say.
Jhon Nunez really isn’t getting the love he deserves for the year he’s having. The catcher is hitting .310 with 13 RBI and 18 runs scored. He’s tied a career-high in doubles with nine and set a new mark in homers with four. He’s always shown a lot of promise but this year it’s been kicked into overdrive.
More from Red Sox Prospects
- Predicting top Red Sox outfield prospect Ceddanne Rafaela’s timeline to the majors
- Predicting Red Sox top prospect Marcelo Mayer’s timeline to the majors
- Red Sox risk repeating rookie mistake with Eric Hosmer release
- Red Sox invited group of players you’ve probably never heard of to Spring Training
- Jeter Downs’ official departure will continue to haunt Red Sox
Bobby Dalbec broke out of his slump the way only Bobby Dalbec can. The third baseman hit a home run on Sunday, then two more on Monday. He’s still hitting just .235 on the year but has 11 doubles and 17 home runs as well. Dalbec’s been walked 50 times, as teams pitch around him often. He’s also driven in 43 runs and scored 39 more.
Jarren Duran‘s starting to pick things up in Double-A. Sure it took a little bit to get going but the signs of life are absolutely there. The outfielder racked up three multi-hit games this week and three steals. He’s now up to .222 with Portland – adding five steals and 12 runs scored.
Dedgar Jimenez bounced back with a very strong start this week. The lefty went six innings, giving up two earned runs on just three hits – while striking out seven. Jimenez has a 3.90 ERA on the season in Double-A and really has been incredible outside of a few implosion starts.
Tanner Houck‘s string of fantastic starts continued. The righty went seven innings without allowing an earned run – striking out four in the process. Houck’s now down to a 3.65 ERA on the year. Although the walks have crept back up a little in recent weeks, he’s allowing free passes less frequently than he did last year. Gotta love growth from the prospects baby!
Matthew Kent has a 2.62 ERA in Double-A this year after allowing just three earned runs combined over his last three starts (22 innings). The lefty has really limited his walks in that time.
Eduard Bazardo has a 3.60 ERA in five innings so far in Double-A. After allowing just nine walks in 41 Advanced-A innings this year, he’s already allowed five in five innings in Double-A. However, this could simply be him getting adjusted to the new level of hitters. Give Bazardo time to get comfortable, because once he does he’ll put on a show.
Advanced-A (Salem Red Sox)
Bryan Mata is hilariously good. Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff in a game, he limits the offense. The 20-year-old allowed eight hits and three walks over six innings in his lone start this week. He still gave up just one earned run and struck out seven. Mata has a 1.75 ERA in 51 1/3 innings in Advanced-A. I really hope the Red Sox view him as untouchable.
Thad Ward had a much more “Thad Ward” type start in his second outing in Advanced-A. The righty went six innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks – striking out seven. This was a major improvement from his last turn when he walked seven in 4 1/3 innings. Ward now has a 1.74 ERA in 10 1/3 innings for Salem.
Enmanuel De Jesus is coming off two strong starts to lower his ERA and raise his K-rate. The left-handed pitcher threw seven innings without giving up an earned run two starts ago – striking out 10. Then he went out and allowed one earned run in 5 1/3 innings his next time around – striking out eight. De Jesus now has a 3.81 ERA on the year.
Marcus Wilson has a .345 average in Salem at the moment. The outfielder has been better than advertised really. He’s hitting for power (seven homers in 110 Advanced-A ABs) to go along with that contact. Meanwhile, he’s producing runs – driving in 28 and scoring 19 more in 34 games for Salem.
Victor Acosta is on a five-game hitting streak and it lowered his average – that’s how good he’s been. The outfielder has a .316 average on the season, hitting 14 doubles and one home run. He’s driven in 30 runs and scored 26 more – as the right-handed hitter is in striking distance of setting career-bests in both of those categories.
Ryan Fitzgerald is hitting .312 with a team-high 48 RBI on the year. The shortstop is no longer homerless as he blasted his first of the year this week. Not exactly a home run guy, he still hit eight last season – so we’ll see if he can add to the total in the coming weeks.
Pedro Castellanos has gotten his swing back. He’s on a 10-game hitting streak that’s risen his average from a .259 mark to .271. The first baseman has 43 RBI and 35 runs scored, as well as a surprising eight steals. So far he’s hit just one home run but has 17 doubles.
Full-A (Greenville Drive)
A strong week has risen the batting average of Triston Casas up from .263 to .271. The 19-year-old has 17 doubles, three triples, and 14 home runs to add to that on the year. He’s driven in an organization-high 58 RBI and has scored 42 more. Casas is doing everything to prove he’s a top prospect this year – not just for the Red Sox – but for the entire MLB.
Brandon Howlett‘s been fun to watch as well. The 19-year-old third baseman has a .262 average with 14 doubles and five homers so far. He’s driven in 25 runs and scored 30 more. Those 25 runs driven in are two off a career-best and the 30 runs scored have already set a mark.
Tyler Esplin is up to .245 and has 17 doubles, two triples, and two home runs this season. The 19-year-old (turns 20 on July 6) has 21 RBI and 32 runs scored as a strong third-year continues.
Logan Browning had an utterly dominant month of June. In 10 innings, he allowed zero earned runs. For all you mathematicians out there, that’s a 0.00 ERA. On the year, the lefty has a 1.85 ERA – pairing nicely with his .182 BAA and 0.80 WHIP. Browning also has 57 punchouts in 43 2/3 innings and is 6-for-6 on save opportunities.
Yoan Aybar once again showed why you shouldn’t give up on him. The lefty entered his last outing with a 7.33 ERA – but threw two scoreless innings. All six outs came via the K – as he now has 39 strikeouts in 29 innings. The 21-year-old (turns 22 on July 3) has a BAA of .178 but his 30 walks are causing problems. I still 100% believe he’ll be a major player for the Red Sox at some point in his career.
Oddanier Mosqueda has a 2.43 ERA on the season, striking out 51 batters in 37 innings – walking only 10. Those are impressive numbers for anyone – let alone a 20-year-old. The left-handed pitcher’s definitely been a major positive on the team this year.
Chase Shugart now has a 2.04 ERA in seven starts. The right-handed pitcher has 34 strikeouts and seven walks in 39 2/3 innings so far. He’s holding opponents to a .220 batting average and has a clean 1.01 WHIP.
Short-A (Lowell Spinners)
Yes, 18-year-old Gilberto Jimenez is killing it in Short-A. The outfielder is hitting .391 in 12 games so far. He’s got two doubles and a triple to compliment his three steals. It’s very early in the year but this will be a fun guy to watch in 2019.
Jonathan Diaz isn’t far behind. The 19-year-old catcher is hitting .387 this year. Although he has no steals, he has the upper hand in doubles, with six. Diaz has hit safely in seven of the eight games he’s played so far.
Yusniel Padron-Artilles has 22 strikeouts in 18 innings for the Lowell Spinners so far. In that time, he also has a 2.00 ERA. The right-handed pitcher has a .161 BAA and 0.78 WHIP.
Hilderamo Requena now has a 1.00 ERA – giving up one earned run in nine innings. The right-handed pitcher is already 2-0 and gave up just one hit over four innings in his last appearance.
Kris Jackson is currently lighting it up in Short-A. The right-handed pitcher has yet to allow an earned run in 7 1/3 innings. In fact, he’s allowed just three hits – posting a .136 BAA and 0.68 WHIP. The 23-year-old looked strong in Full-A this year but struggled slightly in Advanced-A. However, he didn’t really get a long look in any of the three levels he’s been at this year – maybe that will change soon.
dark. Next. Red Sox Prospect Watch: Marcus Wilson catching fire in Salem
Bryan Lucas has now given up one earned run in 14 1/3 innings pitched for the Boston Red Sox Short-A team. The right-hander also has 15 strikeouts in that time, as he’s held opponents to almost no runs. It should come as no surprise that he’s yet to give up a home run this year either. In fact, in 32 career innings in the minors, Lucas hasn’t given up a homer.