Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: Hot streaks everywhere in the minors
The Red Sox prospect watch is highlighted by a number of hot streaks
Well, it hasn’t been the best week for the Boston Red Sox. They’ve scuffled mightily and suddenly find themselves desperate for a win. We’ve seen the pithing struggle, and we’ve seen the bats struggle. No one can seem to get it going.
That hasn’t been the same in the minors though. The Red Sox have some of the hottest bats and arms in the world working in their system. That has led to a pretty stacked prospect watch this week. Of course, we start with the Majors though. So it might not be all sunshine and rainbows.
We’ll start on a major positive. Garrett Whitlock is unstoppable. The right-hander is now up to 54 innings pitched on the year. He has a 1.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and .235 BAA. He has a 4-1 record, 10 holds, one save, and 56 strikeouts. Whitlock deserves all the love.
Yes, Tanner Houck is in Triple-A again but his last two appearances have been for Boston. So we’re talking about him here. The right-hander has thrown 25 2/3 innings in the Majors this year. In that time he has a 2.45 ERA, .227 BAA, and 1.13 WHIP. Houck has 36 strikeouts and even has a save this year.
Jarren Duran missed some time this week due to a COVID scare. However, he came back and immediately contributed. The outfielder is up to a .196/.220/.357 slash line. He has had some strikeout problems (23 in 56 at-bats) but that’s understandable when getting used to the Majors. Duran has one double, one triple, and two homers so far. He’s driven in five runs, scored eight more, and stolen one base.
Bobby Dalbec holds a .218/.264/.391 slash line currently. Strikeouts have been a serious issue (119 in 294 at-bats), as have major cold streaks. But the first baseman has had his moments. He has 12 doubles, three triples, and 11 home runs. Meanwhile, he’s driven in 41 runs and scored 27 more. The Red Sox might be making some moves soon, and it wouldn’t hurt Dalbec to show some life at the plate.
Red Sox Triple-A (Worcester)
Ryan Fitzgerald had a fantastic week to boost his numbers nicely in Triple-A. The left-handed hitter is now up to a .267/.353/.500 slash line in Worcester. He has two doubles, one triple, and one homer – as well as four RBI and six runs scored. In total, Fitz now has a career-high 26 doubles, three triple, and another career-best with 11 home runs. He’s driven in 38 runs, scored 41 more, and stolen three bases.
Josh Ockimey was hitting .170 entering July 13. He’s been phenomenal since then though. The first baseman now holds a solid .235/.368/.448 slash line with three doubles and 12 home runs. He has 28 RBI and 28 runs scored as well. The numbers overall aren’t crazy, but he’s been so good since mid-July. It’s impossible not to be impressed.
Jeter Downs is just struggling right now. A .186 average and 89 strikeouts in 242 at-bats. Just not much to say. He has five doubles and nine homers, as well as 24 RBI, 29 runs scored, and 13 steals. Downs is just 23 and prior to this season had 12 career games (48 at-bats) in Double-A, none in Triple-A. So keep that in mind.
Kutter Crawford has looked really strong since debuting in Triple-A. He has a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings so far, as well as 21 strikeouts. Overall on the year, the right-handed pitcher has has a 3.32 ERA, .226 BAA, and 0.96 WHIP. He also has 85 strikeouts compared to just nine walks in 62 1/3 innings pitched.
Conor Seabold had his best game of his short season so far this week. The right-hander struggled in his first two Triple-A starts, but was phenomenal in his last. Seabold threw six innings, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk – while striking out 10. This is a major positive for someone that could contribute in the Majors this year.
Jose Adames just keeps doing his thing. The reliever now has 9 2/3 innings pitched in Triple-A. In that time he has a 0.00 ERA, .176 BAA, and 1.24 WHIP with nine strikeouts. Overall on the year he has a 1.55 ERA, .172 BAA, and 1.07 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Red Sox Double-A (Portland)
Kole Cottam took no time at all to get used to Double-A pitching apparently. The catcher is slashing .375/.444/.500 with three doubles, one RBI, and one run scored in eight games. Overall Cottam has a .289/.391/.489 slash line with 16 doubles, one triple, and six home runs. He’s driven in 25 runs and scored 23 more.
Devlin Granberg holds a .303 average in Double-A and a .312/.363/.552 slash line overall on the year. The outfielder has 17 doubles and two triples, as well as a career-high 13 home runs. He also has a new career-high with 57 RBI to go along with 46 runs scored and five steals.
Pedro Castellanos is slashing .284/.353/.465. That alone should tell you that he’s having a solid year. So far, Castellanos has 12 doubles and two triples. He also has a career-best in homers with 11. Meanwhile, he’s driven in 38 runs and scored 50 more (closing in on his career-high of 61) – as well as two steals.
Nick Sogard is hitting .280 in Double-A so far, and overall has a solid .268/.337/.433 slash line. The infielder has 10 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs on the year. He has 39 runs scored and 26 more driven in, to go along with six steals. The power is a nice surprise and he’s adjusted nicely to the new challenge of Double-A.
Ronaldo Hernandez has been hot-and-cold this year. Overall the numbers are pretty solid though. He has a .241/.285/.435 slash line. Yes, the OBP needs to rise, but the rest is solid. The catcher has 12 doubles and 11 home runs so far. He’s also driven in 25 runs and scored 25 more.
Chris Murphy is in Double-A. As you could probably guess, I’m very happy. And hey, Murph had a fantastic debut at the new level, so that’s awesome. The left-hander went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk – while striking out eight. Great mix of pitches makes him very dangerous and someone you should want to watch on the mound.
Brayan Bello has had his issues in Double-A (5.08 ERA) but he’s also been oddly dominant. He has a .257 BAA which isn’t great, but could be worse a lot worse. Meanwhile, the strikeouts are racking up. He has 58 in 39 innings so far, and had 11 in his last start. Overall Bello has a 3.82 ERA, .240 BAA, 1.22 WHIP and 103 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings pitched.
Rio Gomez continues his dominant streak. He has a 5.04 ERA in Double-A. Doesn’t sound great, but the lefty didn’t allow a run in nine innings in July. He’s thrown another 1 2/3 scoreless innings in August so far. His numbers have dropped drastically thanks to that. Gomez has a 1.40 WHIP and .280 BAA in Double-A as well.
Joan Martinez has 18 walks in 25 2/3 innings pitched so far. That’s his big problem, other than that he’s been fantastic. The right-handed pitcher has a 1.48 WHIP (due to the walks) but a 3.51 ERA. That’s thanks to his .211 BAA and 36 strikeouts, keeping him from taking too much damage due to the walks.
Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Joe Davis is kind of good at hitting a baseball. The first baseman is slashing .357/.361/.671 with six homers and 16 RBI in 17 games in High-A. Overall, he’s slashing .340/.378/.602 with 20 doubles and 16 homers. Davis has 45 runs scored and 65 RBI in 65 games. That’s just wild.
Cameron Cannon is slashing .302/.351/.457 on the year. He has 24 doubles and eight homers, as well as 39 RBI, 46 runs scored, and nine steals. Cannon has looked great offensively all year and tends to flash the leather on defense. It should be fun to watch him hit his way through the minors.
Stephen Scott was having a really strong year in Low-A. In High-A he’s been on a completely different level though. Through eight games, Scott is slashing .375/.412/.844. Yes, you heard that correctly, a slugging percentage of .844. He’s hit three doubles and four home runs, while driving in 10 runs and scoring seven more. Overall Scott has a .275/.385/.504 slash line with 20 doubles, 12 homers, 52 RBI, and 56 runs.
Christian Koss is slashing .271/.331/.436 on the season. The main talking point is the massive game he had this week though. The shortstop has nine home runs on the year, three of them came from one game this week. Koss now has 11 doubles, four triples, and those nine homers. He’s driven in 36 RBI, 43 runs scored, and six steals. Let’s see if that big game can get Koss hot and take a great season into an absolutely incredible one.
Elih Marrero is having a sneakily fantastic season. The catcher is slashing .278/.371/.400 with 11 doubles and one home run. He has just 12 RBI and 19 runs scored so far, which doesn’t sound too great. However, the slash line is solid and the run production isn’t bad considering he’s only appeared in 38 games (115 at-bats). Most impressively, Marrero has 10 steals.
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Tyler Dearden is rocking with a .263/.392/.517 slash line with career-highs in doubles (17) and homers (14). The outfielder also has 52 RBI and 50 runs scored. Both of those numbers are drastically higher than any of their previous seasons, setting new career-highs.
Jaxx Groshans continues to improve his numbers in High-A. The catcher is up to a .255 average in 14 games so far. Overall, Groshans is slashing .286/.389/.432 with eight doubles, one triple, and six home runs. He’s driven in 27 runs and scored another 31, while stealing one base.
Jay Groome had his worst start in months last week. So naturally the lefty went out this week and utterly dominated. Groome went five innings, allowing no runs on just one hit and no walks while striking out six. He now has a 5.01 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and .227 BAA. I say it all the time but it’s incredible what he’s done after such a bad start. That BAA is good no matter what, now take out his first three games and it’s just stupid elite.
Welp, streaks need to end at some point. For Brian Van Belle his scoreless innings streak ended at 25 2/3. The transformation for his season is still incredible though. The right-hander has a 3.88 ERA, .276 BAA, and 1.26 WHIP. He has 73 strikeouts compared to just 12 walks in 69 2/3 innings pitched.
Brandon Walter has figured out High-A and wow has he been incredible. The left-hander gave up nine earned runs over seven combined innings in his first two starts. In his next start, Walter allowed three earned runs in five innings. Then he went elite mode. Since then, Walter has 17 innings pitched in three games combined. He has allowed just one earned run in that time. Overall, Walter has a 4.03 ERA, .228 BAA, 1.10 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched.
Zach Bryant had a 6.98 ERA entering July. He didn’t allow a single earned run in 11 innings though. And so far in August, he’s added four more scoreless innings. Not only that, but Bryant just two hits and two walks in those 15 innings. This has lowered the right-handers numbers to a 3.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and .168 BAA. He also has 47 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings pitched.
Dylan Spacke has allowed just two hits and no walks in five scoreless innings in August. The right-hander is down to a 2.87 ERA to this point. Spacke also has a .231 BAA and 1.15 WHIP. He has 59 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched.
Low-A (Salem)
Nick Yorke is 19. To be honest, he probably shouldn’t be in Low-A anymore. Somehow a 19-year-old (who has been younger than every single pitcher he’s face so far) looks far too mature for this level. Yorke is currently riding an 18-game hitting-streak. He just had a multi-homer game, and he’s hitting .312 on the year. Yorke’s full slash line is .312/.405/.456 with 12 doubles, three triples, and six home runs. He’s driven in 34 runs and scored 44 more, stealing 11 bases. Yorke’s only struck out 43 times compared to 34 walks and he needs to get a look in High-A before the end of the year.
Gilberto Jimenez is slashing .309/.347/.399 with 14 doubles, three triples, and two home runs. The outfielder has driven in 42 runs and scored 47 more, while stealing 11 bases. Jimenez enjoyed another strong week and looks like someone that could benefit highly from a jump in levels before the end of the year as well.
Ceddanne Rafaela continues to do it all. He’s incredible defensively no matter where you put him in the field. Meanwhile, he does it all on offense. Rafaela is slashing .233/.302/.411 at the moment. Not spectacular but it gets better. He has 11 doubles, seven triples, and seven home runs on the year. His run production has been great too, with 28 RBI and 50 runs scored. Oh, and he’s now 21-for-21 on stolen base attempts.
Antoni Flores continues to impress in Low-A. The infielder is slashing .271/.313/.407 with five doubles and one home run in 16 games. Flores has nine RBI and four runs scored, as well as one steal. The 20-year-old has a lot of potential on both sides of the ball and it’s good to see he is handling a new level well.
Nick Decker is up to a .270/.378/.452 slash line with 12 doubles, one triple, and three home runs in Low-A. The outfielder has driven in 15 runs and scored 23 more, while stealing three bases. So far, he has only appeared in 34 games in Low-A in 2021, but he has certainly made the most of that time.
Nicholas Northcut holds a solid .239/.349/.467 slash line this season. The right-handed hitter has 21 doubles, two triples, and 11 home runs so far. He has driven in 49 runs and scored 51 more, being one of the better run producers on the team. Impressive season to this point.
Matthew Lugo is hitting .248 at the moment. The shortstop has 12 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. Meanwhile, he has driven in 30 runs and scored 37 more, while stealing 13 bases. Lugo has suffered some serious cold-streaks this season but has managed to keep his numbers up decently thanks to some long stretches of good hitting as well. There are clear areas that need improvement but the 20-year-old has shown he will make strides.
Jeremy Wu-Yelland set a new career-milestone this week. In his lone start, the left-hander went five innings, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three. It was the first time he managed to get through five innings. Wu-Yelland has all the potential in the world and currently holds a 3.78 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and .199 BAA on the season. He has 60 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched this year.
Chih-Jung Liu had a major implosion start a few weeks ago. That really inflated his numbers, especially considering Liu has not pitched much this year. However, he now has two back-to-back fantastic starts to help right the ship. After giving up just one run on three hits and one walk (four strikeouts) in four innings last week, Liu went a step higher. This week, the righty threw five shutout innings. He allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out five in that time.
Bradley Blalock’s hot-streak continues. The 20-year-old made two starts this week. In those two games combined, Blalock allowed just one earned run over 10 innings pitched. He gave up nine hits and two walks, while striking out 12. Now on the season, the righty has a 4.15 ERA, .264 BAA, 1.42 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings pitched.
Shane Drohan has been unstoppable in his last few starts. Over his last three outings, Drohan has thrown 15 innings pitched. In that time, he has allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 14. This season, Drohan has a 3.69 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and .231 BAA. The left-hander has 58 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings and it looks like we might be getting the best of him in the future.
Devon Roedahl has now thrown 40 2/3 innings in 2021. In that time, the righty has a 1.77 ERA, .200 BAA, and 0.91 WHIP. Those numbers are pretty ridiculous, especially this late into the season. Roedahl has a 2-2 record, one hold, seven saves, and 39 strikeouts compared to just seven walks.
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Casey Cobb is not far behind in the “ridiculous numbers” category. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA, .205 BAA, and 0.98 WHIP. In 48 innings pitched Cobb has 52 strikeouts compared to 12 walks. Meanwhile, he has a 2-0 record to go along with three holds and three saves in three opportunities.