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.