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Boston Red Sox prospect watch 8/22/22: Milestones being reached

By Hunter Noll

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Bryan Mata #90 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning of a Grapefruit spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Bryan Mata #90 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning of a Grapefruit spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox Niko Kavadas
CHAPEL HILL, NC – MARCH 08: Niko Kavadas #12 of the University of Notre Dame waits for a pitch during a game between Notre Dame and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on March 08, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

Red Sox Double-A (Portland)

Niko Kavadas has made the jump to Double-A. I can’t stress how wild that is. He’s started the year in Low-A, and was doing so good he was promoted to High-A. Then crushed it there so quickly that they promoted him to Double-A. In one season, two promotions. The left-handed hitting first baseman is slashing .294/.462/.594 with 23 doubles, one triple, and 24 home runs between the three levels. Kavadas has driven in 77 runs, scored 62 more, stolen one base, and drawn a ridiculous 89 walks.

Ceddanne Rafaela is closing in on a milestone. The right-handed hitting centerfielder (utility-man) is slashing .303/.350/.550 with 31 doubles, seven triples, and 19 home runs between High-A and Double-A. He’s driven in 66 runs, scored 72 more, and stolen 25 bases. That puts Rafaela just one home run away from a 20/20 season. In just his second full season in the minors, he could already have a 20/20 under his belt. Insanity.

There are going to be some promotions very soon with the FCL (Florida Complex League) ending. When that happens, Christian Koss needs to get a look in Triple-A. The right-handed hitting infielder (who has also spent some time in the outfield) is slashing .273/.317/.429 with 19 doubles, four triples, and 12 home runs. He’s driven in 67 runs, scored 55 more, and stolen 12 bases.

David Hamilton continues to be one of the fastest prospects I’ve seen in a while. The left-handed hitting second baseman is slashing .224/.303/.366 with 12 doubles, eight triples, and nine home runs. He’s driven in 31 runs and scored 59 more. Hamilton’s stolen 54 bases in just 48 attempts and continues to create runs with his legs.

Nick Northcut has looked pretty good since moving up to Double-A. The average still isn’t great, but he’s striking out at a lower rate than he was in High-A. The right-handed corner infielder is slashing .223/.281/.501 with 16 doubles and a career-high 28 home runs. He’s driven in 68 runs and scored 47 more, stealing one base.

Alex Binelas is slashing just .201/.312/.435 with 12 doubles, two triples, and 23 home runs. The left-handed hitting corner infielder has driven in 71 runs and scored 59 more, stealing eight bases in eight attempts. Binelas may not have a great average, but the power is there and he’s had great run production.

Bryan Mata continues his dominant run. The right-handed pitcher gave up no earned runs over six innings, striking out seven while giving up four hits and three walks. This lowers his numbers on the year from great, to great. Mata has a 2.35 ERA, .188 BAA, and 1.21 WHIP while rehabbing between three levels. He has 66 strikeouts over 53 2/3 innings.

Michael Gettys becoming a bullpen ace in Double-A was not on my bingo card for the 2022 season. The righty reliever has tossed 10 1/3 innings at the level so far. In that time he has a 0.00 ERA, .206 BAA, 1.06 WHIP, and five strikeouts.

Shane Drohan made his Double-A debut this week. The left-handed starter gave up four runs on five hits in five innings, striking out four batters. He only really had one bad inning though. And is up to an impressive 140 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A this season.

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