Boston Red Sox prospect watch: 'How do you pronounce Jhostynxon'?
Boston Red Sox prospect Jhostynxon (pronounced Yos-TIN-son) Garcia is giving me headaches on Twitter after a good week for the prospect watch leads to constant questions about his pronunciation.
This week's Boston Red Sox prospect watch features a name no one can figure out.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Boston Red Sox finds themselves firmly in the wild card hunt. However, they aren't officially in the playoffs right now. With that in mind, the minor league system is in limbo.
Will the Red Sox be dumping off some veterans and adding prospects? Or will they be trading away prospects to try and improve their playoff odds?
We'll work with what we have right now. And what we have is a prospect in Single-A whose name fans can't pronounce.
Triston Casas has arrived, hasn't he? The left-handed hitting first baseman is slashing .253/.357/.483 with 15 doubles, two triples, and 16 home runs. Casas has driven in 40 runs and scored 46 more.
Jarren Duran is slashing .315/.365/.507 with 31 doubles, two triples, and six home runs. The left-handed hitting outfielder has driven in 35 runs, scored 40 more, and stolen 21 bases. Duran has turned into the all-star that people saw when he was a prospect. He's special to watch.
Connor Wong is slashing .250/.306/.402 with 19 doubles and six home runs. The right-handed hitting catcher has driven in 23 runs, scored 38 more, and stolen four bases. I'll keep saying it, anything he adds on offense is just a bonus to his phenomenal defense.
Masataka Yoshida is slashing .308/.371/.487 with 22 doubles, three triples, and 12 home runs. The left-handed hitting outfielder has driven in 53 runs, scored 54 more, and stolen eight bases (in eight attempts).
Brayan Bello had a strong bounce-back start. The right-handed pitcher allowed three runs over six innings against a deadly Atlanta Braves lineup. Bello has a 3.66 ERA, .245 BAA, and 1.21 WHIP in 96 innings. He's struck out 82 batters compared to 26 walks.
Chris Murphy is becoming a monstrous weapon out of the bullpen for the Red Sox. The lefty has a 1.59 ERA, .208 BAA, and 1.16 WHIP in 28 1/3 innings. He's struck out 27 batters compared to 11 walks. Murph's only surrendered one home run in the Majors.
Red Sox Triple-A (Worcester)
Ceddanne Rafaela is giving Triple-A pitchers nightmares. The right-handed hitting centerfielder is slashing .317/.360/.606 with eight doubles, two triples, and six home runs with Worcester. Rafaela has driven in 20 runs, scored 17 more, and stolen two bases in 25 games. There's no point in bringing up the low walks because he's dominating everywhere else.
Stephen Scott is slashing .284/.384/.531 with five doubles and five home runs in Triple-A. The left-handed hitting catcher has driven in 23 runs, scored 16 more, and stolen two bases in 27 games. He's drawn 15 walks compared to only 13 strikeouts.
Nick Sogard is slashing .291/.391/.408 with 15 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. The switch-hitting utility has driven in 39 runs, scored 57 more, and stolen 14 more. It's a mark of his consistency that I feel like his numbers are eerily similar every week.
Ronaldo Hernandez continues to put together a fantastic season and hit another home run this week. The right-handed hitting catcher is slashing .257/.356/.472 with 10 doubles and 12 home runs. He's driven in 47 runs, scored 32 more, and stolen one base.
Brian Van Belle made his best start in Triple-A this week. The right-handed pitcher allowed one run on six hits over five innings of work. He didn't walk anyone and struck out six batters. BVB has a 3.67 ERA, .257 BAA, and 1.24 WHIP between Double-A and Triple-A. He's struck out 89 batters compared to 28 walks in 100 2/3 innings.
Brandon Walter is back in Triple-A after a successful stint in the Majors. The left-handed pitcher seems to be embracing his new role as a reliever. Walter allowed one run on three hits over two innings. He struck out three batters and walked two. It wasn't perfect, but it was fine. Walter gave the Red Sox some good bullpen innings and could factor into the plans later in the year.
Red Sox Double-A (Portland)
Corey Rosier had a cup of coffee in Triple-A earlier this year, and maybe it's time to make that jump officially. The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .303/.359/.478 with 16 doubles, five triples, and six home runs in Double-A. He's driven in 31 runs, scored 43 more, and stolen 37 bases.
Nick Yorke broke out of a long homerless streak on Sunday. The right-handed hitting second baseman is slashing .269/.347/.442 with 14 doubles, five triples, and 10 home runs. He's driven in 43 runs, scored 51 more, and stolen six bases.
Blaze Jordan hasn't looked bad in Double-A. The right-handed hitting corner infielder is slashing .220/.259/.320 with two doubles and one home run. He's driven in six runs and scored three more. In 54 plate appearances, he has just six strikeouts.
Marcelo Mayer is slashing .200/.267/.375 with eight doubles, one triple, and six home runs in Double-A. The left-handed hitting shortstop has 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and four steals. He's slumping a bit at the moment, and the strikeouts are racking up. However, he is already tied for career-highs in triples (2 between High-A and Double-A) and home runs (13). Mayer has also set a career-high with 54 RBI.
Nathan Hickey is slashing .280/.368/.528 with 15 doubles, one triple, and 15 home runs. The left-handed hitting catcher has driven in 42 runs, scored 41 more, and stolen three bases. Hickey continues to be one of the best bats in any lineup he's in.
Phillip Sikes is slashing .235/.315/.362 with 15 doubles, three triples, and six home runs. The left-handed hitting outfielder has driven in 32 runs, scored 52 more, and stolen 35 bases. Sikes is 8-for-17 over his last five games.
Alex Binelas has overcome a slow start to put together a strong season in Double-A. The left-handed hitting corner infielder is slashing .228/.283/.474 with 15 doubles, one triple, and 12 home runs. Binelas has driven in 37 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen six bases.
Chase Meidroth isn't replicating his success from High-A, but he's still having a strong showing in Double-A. Between the two levels, Meidroth is slashing .280/.413/.402 with 13 doubles, one triple, and six home runs. The right-handed hitting second baseman/third baseman has driven in 39 runs, scored 53 more, and stolen 11 bases.
Tyler Esplin only played in one game this week, but it was a monster performance. The left-handed hitting outfielder went 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI. Esplin is 3-for-8 in Double-A this season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get some playing time.
Tyler Dearden went 6-for-16 with seven walks this week. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .245/.341/.346 with five doubles, one triple, and three home runs this season. Dearden has driven in 16 runs and scored 19 more.
Wikelam Gonzalez had another strong start this week. The right-handed pitcher went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He walked four batters and struck out four as well. Gonzalez has surrendered just three runs on six hits over 17 innings in Double-A. He's struck out 23 batters and walked nine.
Grant Gambrell twirled a gem this week. The righty tossed seven shutout innings, allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters. Gambrell has a 3.12 ERA, .223 BAA, and 1.15 WHIP in Double-A. He's struck out 72 batters compared to 23 walks in 69 1/3 innings.
Robert Kwiatkowski has tossed three shutout innings in each of his last two outings. The right-handed reliever has a 3.78 ERA, .179 BAA, and 0.90 WHIP in Double-A. He's struck out 12 batters and walked five in 16 2/3 innings.
Dylan Spacke recorded 3 1/3 shutout and hitless innings across two outings this week. The right-handed reliever has a 2.84 ERA, .226 BAA, and 1.33 WHIP in 44 1/3 innings. He's struck out 33 batters compared to 24 walks.
Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Allan Castro continues to take his promotion to High-A well. The switch-hitting outfielder clubbed his first home run at the level this week. Castro is slashing .300/.397/.460 with three doubles, one triple, and one home run with Greenville. He's driven in four runs and scored eight more.
Roman Anthony has dipped a bit, but the overall production is still fantastic. The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .288/.435/.635 with seven doubles, one triple, and nine home runs in High-A. He's driven in 21 runs, scored 24 more, and stolen two bases.
Brainer Bonaci is slashing .305/.358/.489 with 14 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs. The switch-hitting shortstop has driven in 36 runs, scored 30 more, and stolen six bases. Bonaci could be a prospect that doesn't fly under the radar for much longer.
Bryan Gonzalez hit another home run this week, and his strong campaign continues. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .258/.313/.427 with 14 doubles, six triples, and eight home runs. He's driven in 42 runs, scored 50 more, and stolen five bases.
Eduardo Lopez is having far too good of a season for a barely-21-year-old in High-A to not be getting any love. The switch-hitting outfielder is slashing .276/.367/.406 with 14 doubles, one triple, and four home runs. He's driven in 38 runs, scored 43 more, and stolen 12 bases.
Tyler Miller is slashing .264/.324/.411 with 13 doubles and seven home runs. The left-handed hitting corner infielder/outfielder has driven in 33 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen 13 bases.
Eddinson Paulino's up-and-down season continues. The left-handed hitting utility did hit another home run this week, though. Paulino's slashing .238/.320/.397 with 19 doubles, four triples, and eight home runs. He's driven in 40 runs, scored 52 more, and stolen 21 bases.
Ronald Rosario only appeared in three games this week but had two monster performances. The right-handed hitting catcher hit three doubles, one homer, and drove in eight runs this week. Rosario's slashing .263/.357/.404 with 16 doubles, one triple, and four home runs between Single-A and High-A. He's driven in 37 runs and scored 37 more.
Bradley Blalock made two starts this week and looked great in both. The right-handed pitcher allowed one earned run over 10 1/3 innings combined. Blalock has a 2.19 ERA, .212 BAA, and 1.01 WHIP between Single-A and High-A. He's struck out 58 batters compared to 13 walks in 53 1/3 innings.
Dalton Rogers had another solid outing this week. The lefty starter has allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings to lower his ERA for the fourth straight start. Rogers has a 4.31 ERA, .185 BAA, and 1.28 WHIP between Single-A and High-A. He's struck out 107 batters compared to 43 walks in 71 innings.
Felix Cepeda has been phenomenal since being promoted to High-A. The right-handed reliever worked three more scoreless innings between two relief appearances this week. Cepeda has yet to allow a run over 5 2/3 innings with Greenville. He's only surrendered three hits and two walks compared to six strikeouts.
Brock Bell tossed three scoreless innings over two outings this week and hasn't allowed a run over his last four appearances (five innings). The righty reliever has a 2.91 ERA, .226 BAA, and 1.02 WHIP in High-A. He's struck out 19 batters while only walking three in 21 2/3 innings.
Red Sox Single-A (Salem)
Jhostynxon Garcia is the star of the week. The right-handed hitting outfielder was struggling in Single-A but is now riding a five-game hitting streak. That streak includes three multi-hit games, three doubles, two home runs, and a fantastic catch. The great week led to a lot of highlights. Those highlights led to way too many tweets asking me how his name is pronounced (Yos-TIN-son). Garcia is slashing .227/.333/.360 with nine doubles, one triple, and three home runs in Single-A. He's driven in 18 runs, scored 29 more, and stolen four bases.
Cutter Coffey is slashing .230/.348/.356 with 13 doubles, two triples, and six home runs. The right-handed hitting shortstop has driven in 28 runs, scored 50 more, and stolen 18 bases. Coffey has recovered nicely from a rough start to the season.
Mikey Romero holds a .226/.263/.321 slash line with three doubles and one triple in Single-A. The left-handed hitting shortstop has driven in five runs, scored seven more, and stolen one base. He has just 13 games under his belt this season, so give him time.
Yorberto Mejicano hit another home run this week. The right-handed hitting catcher/first baseman is slashing .279/.359/.434 with five doubles, two triples, and four home runs. He's driven in 16 runs, scored 23 more, and stolen four bases.
Albert Feliz had a big week that included three doubles and a home run. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .235/.313/.355 with 13 doubles, one triple, and three home runs. He's driven in 26 runs and scored 22 more.
Jedixson Paez continued his run of fantastic outings with his best start yet. The right-handed pitcher went six shutout innings (career-high), allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out five batters. Paez has a 3.70 ERA, .216 BAA, and 0.96 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings. He's struck out 50 batters compared to only eight walks.
Elvis Soto made his Single-A debut this week. The 19-year-old right-handed pitcher tossed four shutout innings. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three batters.
Noah Dean made a promising start this week. The lefty gave up one run on one hit over four innings. He walked two batters and struck out seven. Dean has had major control issues this season, and it's led to some rough numbers. Things have looked better recently, though.
Jonathan Brand tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings over two appearances this week. The right-handed reliever has a 1.11 ERA, .152 BAA, and 0.82 WHIP over 24 1/3 innings. He's struck out 30 batters and walked eight. Brand has seven saves as well, and it feels like a promotion is needed.
Gabriel Jackson made his first start of the season last week after spending all year in the bullpen. He didn't allow an earned run in four innings of work. This week, Jackson allowed one run in five innings. The right-handed pitcher has a 2.68 ERA, .265 BAA, and 1.27 WHIP in 53 2/3 innings. He's struck out 32 batters compared to 15 walks.