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Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: No-hitters and home run streaks

By Hunter Noll

DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 11: Brayan Bello #17 of the American League team throws against the National League team during the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field on July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 11: Brayan Bello #17 of the American League team throws against the National League team during the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field on July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox Triston Casas
USA’s Triston Casas (R) gestures in celebration to his three run home run as Japan’s first baseman Hideto Asamura (L) looks on during the fifth inning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games baseball round 2 game between USA and Japan at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA/AFP via Getty Images) /

Red Sox Triple-A (Worcester)

Triston Casas has all sorts of buzz around him right now. Okay, as one of the top prospects in Boston’s organization for a few years, he always has buzz around him. But this is a little different. The Red Sox have an absolute albatross at first base right now. They can’t figure it out and no matter who is playing there, they don’t seem to be getting production.

Casas is knocking on the door – violently. The left-handed hitter has a .260 average (which some have used to say he needs more time) in Triple-A this year. However, he also has a fantastic .373 OBP and a strong .500 slugging percentage. The 22-year-old has seven doubles, six home runs, 20 RBI, and 20 runs scored. He’s also looked great with the glove at first base. It’s time for choke-up season to come to Boston.

Ryan Fitzgerald isn’t on the 40-man roster. But they need to get him on there somehow because he could help immediately too. The left-handed hitter is slashing .295/.364/.653 with six doubles, two triples, and eight home runs. He’s driven in 23 runs and scored 15 more. Oh, and he’s done all that in just 95 at-bats.

Jeter Downs was phenomenal last week. He dipped the average but did manage to boost some other numbers this time around. The right-handed hitter now holds a .229/.357/.469 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and six home runs. He’s driven in 10 runs and scored 22 more, stealing four bases. Strikeouts have been an issue (38) but he’s drawn a decent amount of walks (17) and is showing more pop this year compared to last season.

Connor Seabold is having fun in Triple-A. Maybe too much fun. As in, maybe he should get called up. This week, the right-handed pitcher made one start. In that start he went seven innings, giving up just one run on two hits and one walk – striking out eight. He now holds a 1.63 ERA, .173 BAA, and 0.83 WHIP in five starts. Over 27 2/3 innings, Seabold has 23 strikeouts compared to six walks.

Zack Kelly could be bullpen help soon. After a career-year in 2021, the 27-year-old is lighting up Triple-A in 2022. The righty has a 1.86 ERA, .097 BAA, 1.03 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings. He just needs to limit the walks (7) a little more and there would be nothing to pick at when it came to Kelly.

Josh Winckowski is good. He had a strong showing in 2021 but has been even better this season. The right-handed pitcher has a 3.06 ERA, .185 BAA, and 0.91 WHIP in four starts. Over 17 2/3 innings he’s racked up 17 strikeouts compared to just four walks.

Eduard Bazardo struggled in April, but he’s been untouchable in May. The right-handed reliever has tossed four shutout innings over three appearances, surrendering just two hits while striking out five. He’s down to a 3.60 ERA, .297 BAA, 1.50 WHIP, and has 12 strikeouts in 10 innings on the year.

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