Boston Red Sox Prospect Watch: Matthew Lugo, Nick Yorke mash for Worcester
By Hunter Noll
The Boston Red Sox prospect watch has had the same narrative over the last few weeks. A few players get well-earned promotions, but the excitement gets negated by heartbreaking injuries. The terrible luck of the big league team seems to have spread to the farm system.
Matthew Lugo had his first week in Triple-A, and it was going well. The right-handed hitting left fielder went 4-for-11 with two doubles and two home runs. He drove in four runs, scored seven more, and stole a base. Lugo also walked one time compared to one strikeout. However, he was also hit by a pitch THREE times. The last one forced Lugo out of the game on Friday, and he hasn't played since.
Nick Yorke was also promoted and had a big week without the injury. The right-handed hitting second baseman/left fielder went 7-for-19 with a double and two home runs, including a grand slam. He had six RBI, five runs scored, and one steal. Yorke walked more times (four) than he struck out (three).
Nick Sogard is not-so-quietly having a monster season in Triple-A. The switch-hitting utility player is slashing .290/.407/.467 with 10 doubles and nine home runs. He's driven in 33 runs, scored 42 more, and stolen five bases.
Karson Simas is hitting .188 in High-A this year. However, the right-handed hitting utility player is 11-for-29 (.379) with a home run in Triple-A. Simas has made the most of his opportunities at the level and continues to earn playing time.
Monster home runs and big offensive numbers bring life to the Red Sox farm system
Niko Kavadas logged a two-homer game this week. The left-handed hitting first baseman is slashing .258/.423/.553 with 11 doubles and 12 home runs. He's driven in and scored 37 runs, each.
Nathan Hickey launched two more home runs this week. He's hitting just .214, but the power has been shining through in recent weeks. Hickey has eight doubles and eight homers.
Mickey Gasper was promoted to Triple-A and had a good week with limited playing time. The switch-hitting catcher/first baseman went 2-for-6 with two RBI and one run scored. He walked three times compared to just one strikeout.
Zach Penrod allowed three runs on four hits over four innings in his lone start. The lefty pitcher struck out three batters but walked five. Penrod was placed on the IL with left shin inflammation on Sunday.
Boston Red Sox Double-A (Portland)
Kristian Campbell had a phenomenal first week in Portland. The right-handed hitting center fielder/second baseman went 8-for-23 (.348) with four walks compared to just two strikeouts. Campbell hit two doubles and one triple. He drove in three runs, scored four more, and stole one base. Campbell's even been showing off on defense.
Roman Anthony returned from injury and put up some big numbers. The left-handed hitting outfielder went 8-for-19 with four doubles and two home runs. Anthony's slashing .263/.380/.455 with 15 doubles, one triple, and five home runs. He's driven in 17 runs, scored 27, and stolen six bags.
The only knock people seemed to have on Marcelo Mayer this year was his inability to draw walks. He had five free passes in April and eight in May. The left-handed hitting shortstop already has 10 in June. Mayer is hitting .300 with a ridiculous 21 doubles and six home runs. He's driven in 29 runs, scored 45 more, and stolen 12 bases.
Kyle Teel had a slow week but still managed to add three more RBI and a steal. The left-handed hitting catcher is hitting .291 with a .392 OBP. Teel has 12 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBI, 36 runs and four stolen bases.
Eddinson Paulino is on a four-game hitting streak. The left-handed hitting infielder hit two doubles and drove in four runs this week. Paulino has a .247 average with 12 doubles, two triples, and three home runs. He's driven in 25 runs, scored 24, and stolen seven bases.
Phillip Sikes went 6-for-21 with two doubles and a home run this week. The right-handed hitting outfielder is up to a .256 average with eight doubles, three homers, 17 RBI, 24 runs and eight steals.
Tyler McDonough is batting .300 in June. The switch-hitting utility player is up to a .270 average (.352 OBP) with six doubles, one triple, and two home runs in Double-A. He's driven in 11 runs, scored 18 more, and stolen seven bags.
Tyler Miller went 3-for-20 this week but did drive in five runs. The left-handed hitting corner infielder/outfielder is slashing .256/.289/.415 with 11 doubles, one triple, and five home runs between High-A and Double-A. He's driven in 25 runs, scored 23, and stolen a base.
Elih Marrero is back in Double-A and enjoyed a good week. The switch-hitting catcher went 3-for-9 with a double, a run, an RBI, and a stolen base. Marrero had two walks compared to two strikeouts.
Fraymi De Leon was promoted from Single-A up to Double-A. However, he only appeared in one game late as a defensive substitution. The 19-year-old switch-hitting shortstop is likely just there as depth while the organization deals with injuries.
Luis Perales allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three batters and walked one. Sadly, Perales left the game early after showing discomfort following a pitch. Hopefully, he doesn't miss much time.
CJ Liu made his first start over three innings of the year this week. The right-handed pitcher allowed two runs on three hits over six innings. He struck out nine batters and walked three. Liu has 17 innings in Double-A this year as he works back from an injury.
Felix Cepeda picked up two saves in two appearances this week. The righty reliever allowed one hit over three scoreless innings. He fanned two batters and walked two. Cepeda has a 3.13 ERA, .225 BAA, and 24 strikeouts and nine walks in 23 innings. He's 11-for-13 in save opportunities.
Robert Kwiatkowski tossed 4 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run between two appearances. The right-handed reliever has a 2.48 ERA in 15 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He's struck out 30 batters compared to eight walks in 32 2/3 innings.
Boston Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Jedixson Paez made his first start since his promotion to High-A and was lights out. The righty pitcher allowed one run on two hits over five innings. As is tradition, Paez didn't walk anyone but fanned eight batters. In 41 innings between Single-A and High-A, he has 47 strikeouts compared to just four walks.
Connelly Early gave up six runs, four earned, over four innings. He allowed six hits but didn't walk anyone and set a new career-high with nine strikeouts. The lefty has a 4.14 ERA, .213 BAA, and 1.07 WHIP in 45 2/3 innings. He's struck out 60 batters compared to 12 walks.
Hayden Mullins allowed four runs, one of them earned, on seven hits in five innings this week. The left-handed pitcher struck out five batters and walked one. Mullins has a 3.72 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 21 walks in 38 2/3 innings.
Mikey Romero is 6-for-21 with a home run this month. The left-handed hitting shortstop is batting .254 with three doubles, one triple, and two home runs in Single-A. He's driven in eight runs and scored eight more.
Jhostynxon Garcia hit three home runs this week and already has four in High-A. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .256/.367/.536 with six doubles, one triple, and nine home runs between Single-A and High-A. He's driven in 23 runs, scored 26, and stolen 14 bases.
Miguel Ugueto is riding a four-game hitting streak. The right-handed hitting outfielder is batting .285 with six doubles, three triples, one homer, 15 RBI, 16 runs scored and five stolen bags.
Bryan Gonzalez went 2-for-16, but his final hit was a big one — he crushed a three-run home run to give Greenville the lead in the ninth inning on Sunday capped an eight-run comeback win. The right-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman is hitting .225 with five doubles, one triple, and nine home runs. He's driven in 26 runs, scored 24, and stolen six bases.
Cutter Coffey snapped a cold streak by going 3-for-5 with a homer on Sunday. The right-handed hitting infielder is only batting .203 but does have five doubles and five home runs in 123 at-bats. Coffey's logged 18 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases.
Boston Red Sox Single-A (Salem)
Miguel Bleis is rocking a 16-game hitting streak and a 26-game on-base streak. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .257/.349/.398 with 10 doubles, one triple, and four home runs. He's driven in 22 runs, scored 24 more, and stolen 16 bases. His K% is down and the BB% has increased drastically from last season. Bleis shouldn't be in Salem for much longer.
Nazzan Zanetello has been slumping a bit, but he hit a home run on Sunday. The right-handed hitting shortstop is hitting .224 (.348 OBP) with three doubles and three home runs. He's driven in six runs, scored 12 more, and stolen one base.
Brooks Brannon is back and already has a highlight to his name with a 468-foot home run. The right-handed hitting catcher/first baseman went 4-for-17 with five RBI. Brannon's shown his power is real in his limited time, he just needs to stay healthy.
Marvin Alcantara is on a seven-game hitting streak. The right-handed hitting infielder also has six multi-hit performances in his last 10 games. Alcantara's up to a .222 average (from .181 before these 10 games) with five doubles, two triples, a homer, 20 RBI, 25 runs and five stolen bags.
Antonio Anderson broke out of a slump by going 3-for-5 with four walks over his last two games. The 18-year-old switch-hitting third baseman is only hitting .128 but has given us a lot of positives to focus on.
Freili Encarnacion hits the ball incredibly hard. The right-handed hitting utility player is slashing .281/.348/.397 with six doubles, one triple, and two home runs. He's driven in 12 runs, scored 18 more, and stolen three bases. Encarnacion has had some strikeout issues, but the high exit velocities show promise.
Nelly Taylor had a slow week but hit a clutch RBI double that extended Salem's lead and gave him a league-leading 16 doubles on Sunday. The left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .246 (.335 OBP) with two home runs to go with those doubles. He's driven in 26 runs, scored 28, and stolen 11 bases.
Andy Lugo had two more doubles this week and is one behind Taylor for the league lead. The right-handed hitting utility player is hitting .265 (.361 OBP) with 15 doubles and one triple. He's driven in 12 runs, scored 23 more, and stolen 12 bases.
Stanley Tucker's only hitting .167 this season but is hitting .286 in June. He had two big games this week, including a multi-hit game and a game with a grand slam.
Natanael Yuten went 4-for-15 with a home run. The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .244/.330/.417 with eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 24 RBI, 18 runs and three stolen bases.
Ovis Portes made his Single-A debut and gave fans reason to believe the hype around him. The right-handed pitcher allowed one run over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out two batters and walked two.
Noah Dean tossed five no-hit innings for the second time this year. Dean struck out eight batters and only walked one. He has a 4.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an absurd .145 BAA. Dean's struck out 45 batters compared to 19 walks in 33 2/3 innings.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz allowed zero runs on two hits in five innings this week. The righty struck out two batters and walked two. ERC has a 3.35 ERA, .221 BAA, and 1.31 WHIP in 40 1/3 innings. He's struck out 51 batters compared to 19 walks.
Luis Cohen gave up one run on four hits over five innings. He fanned five batters without walking any. The right-handed pitcher has a 4.04 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and .233 BAA in 42 1/3 innings.
Jojo Ingrassia allowed two runs on four hits over three innings this week. The righty struck out seven batters compared to two walks. Ingrassia has a 2.56 ERA, .209 BAA, and 1.14 WHIP in 13 games (four starts). He has 52 strikeouts compared to 12 walks over 31 2/3 innings.