Red Sox Prospect Watch: C.J. Chatham promoted to Triple-A

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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 23: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Boston Red Sox and Triston Casas #20 of the Boston Red Sox talk after batting practice before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park on June 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Full-A (Greenville Drive)

Could Triston Casas be getting hot again? The 19-year-old is on a three-game hitting streak at the moment. Although that might not seem like much, Casas has proven he can get nuclear-hot. This could be the start of something big. Casas is hitting .246 and hasn’t hit a home run since July 18. However, he still has 17 on the year in his first season in the minors. He also has a fantastic 73 RBI.

Tyler Esplin is back up to .255, having enjoyed some big games recently. He’s collected at least one hit in 9-of-10 and has multi-hit games in six of those. The 20-year-old has 26 doubles, three triples and four home runs on the year. He also has 39 RBI and 49 runs scored, stealing six bases. Esplin isn’t as highly regarded as he once was and that makes no sense to me.

Brandon Howlett is hitting .234 but had a very encouraging game on Saturday. The 19-year-old went 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run, driving in two runs and scoring two more. He now has seven home runs to go along with one triple and 23 doubles on the year. The third baseman also has 32 RBI and 43 runs scored.

Chase Shugart has a 2.58 ERA on the season after allowing three earned runs over five innings in his last start. The 22-year-old righty has been great all year long and is solidifying himself as a top pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization.

Yoan Aybar has had an odd stretch. He’s given up four earned runs in three appearances (six innings). What’s crazy is he isn’t having walk issues. The lefty has only walked two batters in that time but has given up seven hits. He still has a fantastic .180 BAA though and although his 4.88 ERA isn’t great his 67 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings is.

Brayan Bello had a superb game this week. The 20-year-old right-hander allowed just one run over seven innings. He gave up just four hits and no walks, striking out eight. This has helped dip his ERA to 5.79 – continuing to improve in that area. Bello’s numbers aren’t great (.295 BAA and 1.53 WHIP) but his 112 strikeouts in 102 2/3 innings is a major positive.

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