The playoffs still within the Boston Red Sox's reach, but they aren't making things easy on themselves. Luckily, we still have a few more weeks of minor league baseball to distract us during these frustrating times.
Roman Anthony is going to be one of the top five prospects in baseball this offseason. The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .319/.392/.536 with four doubles, one triple, and three home runs since being promoted to Triple-A. He's driven in 10 runs and scored 16 more in 17 games. Anthony has nine walks compared to 12 strikeouts.
Kristian Campbell cooled off a bit but is still putting up great numbers through 10 games in Triple-A. The right-handed hitting utility is slashing .300/.417/.575 with two doubles and three home runs. He's driven in 12 runs, scored 12, and stolen two bags. Campbell has seven walks compared to eight strikeouts.
Kyle Teel has struggled since being promoted to Triple-A, but had a big game on Sept. 1, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk. The left-handed hitting catcher has a .145 average in 14 games, but he's looked much better than the surface numbers.
Chase Meidroth has multiple people on the roster stealing the spotlight from him, but he's still cooking. The right-handed hitting infielder has a .302 average (.450 OBP) with 19 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs. He's driven in 49 runs, scored 82 more, and stolen 12 bases. Meidroth has 96 walks compared to 58 strikeouts.
Hunter Dobbins made his Triple-A debut this week. The right-handed pitcher surrendered two runs on six hits over five innings. He walked four batters and struck out seven. There's obvious room for improvement, but Dobbins looked fantastic in his first Triple-A game.
Richard Fitts allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. The righty didn't walk anyone and struck out six. Fitts doesn't have the best overall numbers, but he was phenomenal in August (2.89 ERA). He has a 4.39 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings.
Luis Guerrero didn't allow a run, or even a hit, in two innings over two appearances. He walked one batter and struck out four while picking up a save. The right-handed reliever hasn't allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings over his last nine appearances. He has a 3.21 ERA, .193 BAA, and 1.29 WHIP with 78 strikeouts (compared to 32 walks) in 53 1/3 innings.
The Triple-A and High-A debuts of Hunter Dobbins and Nelly Taylor headline this week's Red Sox Prospect Update
Boston Red Sox Double-A (Portland)
Mikey Romero had a ridiculous first week in Double-A. The left-handed hitting shortstop went 9-for-25 (.360) with a double and three home runs. He drove in six runs and scored six more. Romero is healthy and proving that he's one of the top prospects in the system.
Jhostynxon Garcia is 9-for-22 during his five-game hitting streak. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .292/.360/.559 with 22 doubles, four triples, and 23 home runs between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A this season. He's driven in 66 runs, scored 76, and stolen 16 bases.
Phillip Sikes is having a fantastic season. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .254/.339/.440 with 22 doubles, one triple, and 13 home runs (career-high). He's driven in 47 runs, scored 61 more, and stolen 20 bags.
Elih Marrero also has a career-high in home runs with five (one of those coming in Triple-A). The switch-hitting catcher has a .278 average (.340 OBP with 10 doubles and four home runs in 40 games for Portland. He's driven in 18 runs, scored 21, and stolen 11 bases. Marrero has a chance to set career marks in doubles, RBI, and runs scored before the end of the year.
Tyler McDonough went 10-for-24 with two doubles. The switch-hitting utility has a .253 average with 18 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in Double-A. He's driven in 36 runs, scored 39 more, and stolen 15 bases.
Alex Binelas had a big week that included a home run, and he's having a big year. The left-handed hitting corner infielder is slashing .259/.363/.420 with 10 doubles, five triples, and seven home runs. He's driven in 51 runs, scored 39, and stolen 10 bases.
Wikelman Gonzalez only surrendered one hit over five shutout innings. The right-handed pitcher walked one batter and struck out five. Gonzalez has been phenomenal since the end of June. He holds a 4.82 ERA, .196 BAA, and 1.26 WHIP in 22 appearances (17 starts). Gonzalez has 80 strikeouts compared to 42 walks in 74 2/3 innings.
Isaac Coffey allowed two runs on three hits over five innings. The righty struck out six batters and walked three. Coffey has a 3.35 ERA, .218 BAA, and 1.25 WHIP in 22 appearances (19 starts). He has 129 strikeouts compared to 47 walks in 102 innings.
Brendan Cellucci gave up just one hit in five scoreless innings over two appearances this week. The left-handed reliever has a 2.97 ERA, .199 BAA, and 1.38 WHIP between Double-A and Triple-A. He's struck out 85 batters compared to 41 walks in 60 2/3 innings.
Boston Red Sox High-A (Greenville)
Nelly Taylor had a massive High-A debut week. The left-handed hitting outfielder went 5-for-19 with two doubles and a home run. He drove in four runs and scored two more. Taylor is an elite defender with great speed. If he can add a bit more to the bat, he'll be a great prospect.
Miguel Bleis had a big week that included two home runs and three steals. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .195/.269/.330 with six doubles and seven home runs since being promoted to High-A. He's driven in 24 runs, scored 30, and stolen 21 bags. Bleis has 11 home runs and 37 steals between Single-A and High-A.
Bryan Gonzalez continued his big season. The right-handed hitting first baseman is slashing .261/.330/.490 with 13 doubles, two triples, and 18 home runs. He's driven in 55 runs, scored 55 more, and stolen 15 bases.
Yordanny Monegro gave up one unearned run on two hits over five innings. The right-handed pitcher struck out five batters compared to two walks. He hasn't allowed an earned run in 41 1/3 innings. Mongero has a 2.66 ERA, .181 BAA, and 1.03 WHIP in 14 appearances (13 starts). He's struck out 75 batters compared to 23 walks in 61 innings in High-A.
Elmer Rodriguez gave up one run on one hit in five innings. The righty struck out seven batters and walked two. Rodriguez has a 2.92 ERA, .176 BAA, and 1.18 WHIP since being promoted to High-A. He's struck out 94 batters compared to 39 walks in 85 2/3 innings between Single-A and High-A.
Blake Wehunt allowed one hit in five one-run innings. The right-handed pitcher struck out seven batters and walked two. Wehunt has a 4.33 ERA, .212 BAA, and 1.06 WHIP since being promoted to High-A. He's struck out 60 batters compared to 15 walks in 54 innings.
Tyler Uberstine had another scoreless outing this week. The righty has 3 1/3 scoreless innings since returning from an injury that has kept him out of action since 2022. Uberstine has given up three hits and walked no one while striking out four batters.
Isaac Stebens didn't allow a run on one hit in 1 2/3 innings over two appearances. The right-handed reliever hasn't allowed a run since July 10 (14 2/3 innings). Stebens has a 3.10 ERA, .217 BAA, and 1.34 WHIP between Single-A and High-A. He's struck out 84 batters compared to 32 walks in 61 innings.
Zach Fogell gave up one hit in two scoreless innings over two appearances this week. The lefty reliever didn't walk anyone and struck out one batter. Fogell has a 3.20 ERA, .210 BAA, and 1.32 WHIP between Single-A and High-A. He's struck out 70 batters compared to 32 walks in 59 innings.
Boston Red Sox Single-A (Salem)
Franklin Arias is on a six-game hitting streak and is 23-for-74 (.311) with five doubles and a home run since August 11. The right-handed hitting shortstop is slashing .238/.314/.357 with six doubles and three home runs in Single-A. He's driven in 21 runs, scored 30 more, and stolen five bases in 31 games.
Brooks Brannon went 3-for-4 with a home run on Sept. 1. The right-handed hitting catcher/first baseman is slashing .250/.326/.398 with seven doubles, two triples, and six home runs in Single-A. He's driven in 24 runs, scored 20 more, and stolen four bases in 51 games.
Marvin Alcantara snapped a four-game hitting streak on Sept. 1. The right-handed hitting infielder has a .246 average with 10 doubles, three triples, and two home runs. He's driven in 43 runs, scored 55, and stolen 13 bases.
Andy Lugo had a double, a home run, four walks, four RBI, and a steal. The right-handed hitting utility is slashing .269/.340/.393 with 25 doubles, one triple, and three home runs in Single-A. He's driven in 36 runs, scored 41 more, and stolen 24 bags.
Juan Valera was ridiculous this week. The right-handed pitcher tossed four scoreless and hitless innings. He walked one batter and struck out a career-high eight. Valera has a 1.33 ERA, .079 BAA, and 0.89 WHIP since being promoted to Single-A. He has 23 strikeouts compared to 13 walks in 20 1/3 innings.
Eduardo Rivera was right behind Valera in the absurd week. The lefty gave up one hit over four scoreless innings. He didn't walk anyone and struck out eight batters. Rivera has a 1.00 ERA, .159 BAA, and 0.89 WHIP with Salem. He's struck out 22 batters compared to six walks in 18 innings.
Luis Cohen allowed three hits over five shutout innings this week. The right-handed pitcher struck out five batters and walked two. Cohen has a 3.27 ERA, .209 BAA, and 1.10 WHIP in 22 games (21 starts). He's struck out 73 batters compared to 32 walks in 93 2/3 innings.
Matt Duffy didn't allow a run on two hits over 4 1/3 innings. The righty struck out four batters and walked one. Duffy has a 2.98 ERA, .223 BAA, and 1.11 WHIP in 21 appearances (20 starts). He's struck out 90 batters compared to 27 walks in 93 2/3 innings.
Jojo Ingrassa tossed two more shutout innings. The left-handed pitcher has a 1.92 ERA, .180 BAA, and 1.01 WHIP in 20 games (11 starts). He's struck out 90 batters compared to 20 walks in 56 1/3 innings.
Calvin Bickerstaff had another perfect inning this week. The righty reliever has yet to allow a base runner over four shutout innings. He has five strikeouts and a hold.
Nicholas Judice has yet to allow a hit or a walk in three scoreless innings (although he has hit one batter). The right-handed pitcher has struck out four batters.
Griffin Kilander has yet to allow a hit over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. The righty reliever has walked one batter and struck out four.