Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: New arrivals and help coming soon

The Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch sees some new arrivals

Things have not been going well for the Boston Red Sox lately. That’s putting it aggressively nicely. They’ve been in an absolute spiral for the last month and have dropped all the way down into third place, and suddenly are on the outside looking in.

The good news is, that’s not what the Prospect Watch is all about. We’re hear to talk about the prospects, and there’s plenty to talk about there. Not only do we have some new faces in the system, but we have some debuts. And just as exciting, we have some prospects that might be making their way to the Majors to help the Red Sox before the end of the year.

In Boston, we already see some good contributions. Bobby Dalbec is slashing .228/.281/.431, which is actually pretty decent, as he has picked it up lately. The first baseman has 15 doubles, four triples, and 14 home runs on the season. He has a solid 52 RBI and 34 runs scored, as well as one steal.

Jarren Duran is slashing .224/.239/.376 with three doubles, two triples, and two home runs. In his limited time with the team so far, the outfielder has eight RBI, 12 runs scored, and one steal. Strikeouts have been a bit of an issue, but Duran still has just 85 at-bats in the Majors. Give him time to adjust, he’ll be more than fine.

Garrett Whitlock saw his ERA rise, oh no. It’s all the way up to 1.72 now, whatever will he do? The right-handed pitcher also has a 1.14 WHIP and .237 BAA on the season. He has struck out 63 batters in 57 2/3 innings pitched. Whitlock has a 4-2 record, 11 holds, and one save so far.

Tanner Houck is up to 34 2/3 innings pitched with the Red Sox this year. In that time, the right-handed pitcher has a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and .246 BAA. He has 46 strikeouts compared to just seven walks, and even has a save despite starting in seven of his nine appearances this year.

Red Sox Triple-A (Worcester)

Josh Ockimey is slashing .232/.368/.441 as he continues to build an impressive season following a rocky start. The left-handed hitter has five doubles and 13 home runs so far. Meanwhile, he has 31 RBI and 31 runs scored. Ock has walked 45 times, showing good patience. Not only has he shown growth from 2019, but he’s improved as the year has gone on.

Johan Mieses has struggled a bit since returning from the Olympics. However, he was so good to start the year that his overall numbers are still fantastic. Mieses is slashing .254/.342/.544 between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He has nine doubles, one triple, and 15 home runs in 56 games. The outfielder has driven in 37 runs and scored 35 more, while stealing one base.

Connor Wong has picked it up pretty nicely in Triple-A and is suddenly slashing .216/.258/.352 with eight doubles and three home runs in 33 games. Wong has 14 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three steals. This is great news as he has already proven to be a solid contributor in the Majors. So the catcher getting hot in Worcester only bodes well for when he gets another call to Boston.

Jeter Downs is down to a .178/.266/.315 slash line with five doubles and 11 home runs. The shortstop has driven in 27 runs and scored 32 more, while stealing 13 bases. Downs is 23 and had just 12 games in Double-A prior to this year. With 2020 as an off year, it maybe would have made sense to have Downs start the year in Portland. However, you could see the Red Sox thinking. Needing a long-term second baseman, they probably wanted to try to get Downs to the Majors quickly.

Connor Seabold absolutely dominated in his lone start this week. The right-hander threw seven innings, allowing no runs on just one hit and one walk – while striking out nine. On the year, Seabold now has a 3.73 ERA, .209 BAA, and 1.02 WHIP in Worcester. He has struck out 36 batters in 31 1/3 innings. Seabold could very well get the call this year and help Boston fight for a playoff spot.

Durbin Feltman is really starting to look like that closer of the future that Boston was hoping for when they drafted him. The right-hander was really good in 27 1/3 Double-A innings (3.29 ERA, .228 BAA, 1.21 WHIP, 37 K) but has been even better in Triple-A. In 11 2/3 innings for Worcester, Feltman has a 3.09 ERA, .186 BAA, 0.86 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts. Another potential pitching option soon.

Red Sox High-A (Greenville)

Elih Marrero has been next-level lately. The catcher can’t be stopped. He’s now up to a .300/.400/.423 slash line with 13 doubles and one home run over 130 at-bats. Marrero has driven in 16 runs and scored 25 more. He’s walked almost as many times (21) as he’s struck out (25), and has 12 steals in 14 attempts.

Stephen Scott already feels like he needs a new challenge. That’s wild considering he got called up to High-A just a few weeks ago. Scott has a .370/.452/.685 slash line in 20 games for Greenville. Overall on the year, he’s slashing .288/.399/.512 with 25 doubles and 13 home runs. The outfielder’s driven in 60 runs and scored 65 more, and stealing three bases – even walking an impressive 50 times.

Joe Davis was slumping a bit but he’s picked it back up nicely. The first baseman is now slashing .320/.355/.559 with 20 doubles and 17 home runs between two levels. In 74 games, Davis has 48 runs scored and an absolutely hilariously ridiculous 70 runs scored. He’s been a machine this season and deserves more recognition.

Christian Koss has broken out of his slump as well. The shortstop is now up to a .271/.327/.422 with 12 doubles, five triples, and nine home runs. He’s driven in 38 runs and scored 50 more, while stealing eight bases. Koss can absolutely rake, and he’s starting to get hot again.

Brandon Howlett’s been having a rough time lately. He hit just .203 in July and is hitting an even worse .188 in August. A big game in August could help him right the ship though. Overall, Howlett is still slashing a decent .242/.343/.453 line with 15 doubles and career-highs in triples (3) and home runs (13). He’s also set new marks in RBI (47), runs scored (51), and steals (2).

Jaxx Groshans is slashing .280/.378/.453 with 11 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. The catcher has played extremely well in both Low-A and High-A this year. He’s driven in 33 runs scored and scored 34 more, while stealing one base. Groshans has risen his stock all year long.

Nick Sogard has hit all year long. It doesn’t matter at what level, he’s just hit. The infielder is slashing .280/.344/.452 between Double-A and High-A this year. In that time, he’s hit 11 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs. Meanwhile, he’s driven in 36 runs and scored 44 more – stealing eight bases.

Tyler Esplin is back! After missing a few weeks, the outfielder made his return this week. So far, he’s struggled a bit – but it’s important to remember he needs to get his footing again. Esplin is slashing .226/.327/.313 with 12 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He’s driven in 28 runs and scored 37 more, stealing four bases in four attempts.

Jay Groome is elite. Fight me. The left-handed pitcher has just absolutely nasty stuff. Oh, and he’s been insane since those first few starts of the year. This week, Groome gave up just one run on four hits and two walks over six innings, striking out four. That lowered his numbers even more. He’s now down to a 4.84 ERA, .225 BAA, and 1.25 WHIP. Groome’s also struck out 96 batters over 70 2/3 innings pitched. He’ll be a star for the Red Sox in two years.

Casey Cobb made his High-A debut on Sunday after dominating in Low-A (2.18 ERA, .200 BAA, and 0.95 WHIP). In that debut, Cobb tossed three shutout innings. He allowed three hits and one walk, while striking out three. The right-handed pitcher absolutely deserved the promotion and wasted no time in proving he’ll be just fine at the new level.

Speaking of pitchers that are fine at a new level, Brandon Walter continues to be phenomenal. Walter gave up 12 earned runs in his first three appearances for Greenville (12 innings). Since then he’s allowed just three earned runs in his next five appearances (27 innings). In High-A, the righty now has a 3.46 ERA, .219 BAA, and 1.08 WHIP. He’s also struck out 61 batters in 39 innings. That’s not even counting his ridiculously unfair numbers in Low-A this year.

Dylan Spacke is down to a 2.63 ERA on the year after another solid outing on Sunday. The right-hander has allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings so far in August. Thanks to that, not only has his ERA dropped significantly, but he’s down to a .229 BAA and 1.15 WHIP as well. Spacke has 68 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings this year.

Red Sox Low-A (Salem)

We saw the most anticipated debut in recent memory this week. That’s right, CM Punk is BACK in wrestling baby! He made his debut on AEW Rampage on Friday and I definitely wasn’t sitting in front of my TV screaming like a child. Definitely not, so stop saying I was everyone.

The second most anticipated debut in recent memory happened this week too though. Blaze Jordan is in Salem! The Red Sox drafted him in the third round last season, and the hype is insane. The potential is real too. Jordan promptly hit a home run in his first game in Low-A. Then went and hit a Grand Slam on Sunday. He’s slashing .273/.385/.818 with two home runs, five RBI, and three runs scored in three games. This will be fun.

Nick Yorke needs a new challenge. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. I understand that he’s just 19 and this is his first year in the minors. So you could argue that it’s smart to go slow. Take off the kid gloves though, for the sake of Low-A pitching. Yorke is slashing .323/.413/.500 with 14 doubles, four triples, and 10 home runs. That’s nuts. He’s driven in 47 runs and scored 59 more, stealing 11 bases. Yorke has 47 strikeouts compared to 41 walks. Maturity.

Gilberto Jimenez is slashing .305/.348/.408 with 16 doubles, six triples, and two home runs. He had a good week when it comes to the power, hitting one double and three triples. Meanwhile, Jimenez has 48 RBI and 54 runs scored – as well as 12 steals. Jimenez hasn’t had the power some were expecting him to show but it’s really hard to complain about the numbers, especially that run production.

Ceddanne Rafaela continues to boost his numbers slowly but surely. The super-utility-man is slashing .239/.304/.411 with 13 doubles, seven triples, and eight home runs. He has driven in 34 runs and scored 54 more. Meanwhile he’s a nearly flawless 21-for-22 on stolen base opportunities. Rafaela is superb defensively at every position he plays too.

Nick Decker had a big two homer game on Sunday, and the numbers took a nice jump thanks to it. The outfielder is now slashing .262/.366/.439 with 12 doubles, one triple, and five home runs in 45 games for Salem. He has 22 RBI and 29 runs scored, as well as three steals.

Antoni Flores continues to play very well in Low-A. The 20-year-old only has 27 games with Salem under his belt at the moment, but has a strong .260/.339/.375 in that time. Flores has eight doubles and one home run, as well as 14 RBI and 14 runs scored in that time. The shortstop has even stolen one base.

Nicholas Northcut is slashing .240/.340/.462 at the moment. Outside of the average being “eh” that’s a fantastic line. The 22-year-old has an incredible 27 doubles, two triples, and 11 home runs already. He’s driven in 54 runs and scored 54 more – amazing run production.

Matthew Lugo is slashing .250/.310/.315 with 14 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He’s driven in 35 runs and scored 40 more, stealing 14 bases. Lugo hasn’t shown much power but he’s done a pretty solid job when it comes to run production. It will be interesting to see how the 20-year-old shortstop progresses as there’s a lot to love about his game, but clearly a lot of growth to go.

Wyatt Olds was a seventh-round draft pick of the Red Sox this year. He’s already in Low-A and he’s already looking great. The right-handed pitcher made his debut on Sunday. In that game, he came out of the bullpen and went two shutout innings. Olds gave up one hit and one walk (two HBP) with five strikeouts, picking up the hold.

Chih-Jung Liu had another solid start this week, giving up just two earned runs on five hits over five innings – striking out five. The right-handed pitcher is down to a 5.23 ERA, .268 BAA, and 1.32 WHIP in eight starts for Low-A. Liu has 32 strikeouts compared to 10 walks in 32 2/3 innings pitched with Salem.

Jeremy Wu-Yelland has a 4.06 ERA, .202 BAA, and 1.29 WHIP this year. In 62 innings pitched, the left-hander has 34 walks – which is a little bit of a problem. However, he has also managed 72 strikeouts and has allowed just three home runs so far.

Devon Roedahl has thrown 49 innings this season. In that time, the right-handed pitcher is 5-2 with one hold and nine saves in 10 opportunities. He’s struck out 50 batters compared to just eight walks. The other numbers are somehow much more impressive. Roedahl has a 1.65 ERA, .203 BAA, and 0.92 WHIP.

Shane Drohan has a 4.04 ERA, .237 BAA, and 1.41 WHIP on the season. In 69 innings, he has 64 strikeouts. However, he’s had a serious walk problem, with 37 in that time. Drohan has allowed just three home runs though, and that’s part of the reason he is 5-3. He had a fantastic start this week, throwing five shutout innings, giving up just three hits and more importantly no walks while striking out four.

Bradley Blalock is having a pretty solid year overall. It hasn’t been perfect, but Blalock has been pretty consistently solid all season long. And even looked dominant at points. Rarely looking overmatched. The 20-year-old has a 4.22 ERA, .271 BAA, and 1.50 WHIP. He has 67 strikeouts compared to 26 walks in 64 innings, and has allowed just three home runs.