Our next stop on the storyline train lands us in Double-A. The Portland Sea Dogs are the affiliates in that league for the Boston Red Sox. And it's in Portland that saw all kinds of craziness happen in 2023.
We saw nearly all of the team's top prospects play for the team at some point last season. I got to watch Marcelo Mayer's Double-A debut live, as well as the Double-A debuts of Roman Anthony and Kyle Teel.
There were also two no-hitters for Portland. CJ Liu tossed a seven-inning no-no in May. Then, there was a combined no-hitter in July. Wikelman Gonzalez, Brendan Cellucci, and Luis Guerrero worked together for the effort.
If you want to go back to 2022, we can add some more fun. Brayan Bello tossed a seven-inning no-hitter. Oh, and there was that massive brawl between the team and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. It's hard to forget Tyreque Reed throwing absolute haymakers.
Needless to say, there has been plenty of high drama surrounding the Portland Sea Dogs over the last few seasons.
What will we see in 2024? Once again, nearly all the top prospects will spend some time in Double-A. Will there be another no-hitter? Who is going to break out? Could we see more punches thrown (probably not, but who knows)?
We don't know what the Boston Red Sox will be doing in 2024. But we do know that the minor leagues will be full of intrigue and exhilarating storylines. What will we see from their Double-A affiliates, the Portland Sea Dogs, this season?