We're officially through one month of the minor league season, which means it's time for us to give out some awards.
Which Boston Red Sox prospects were the best in April? We'll go through a few categories named after some legends of the minor league system that never got a chance in the majors. We'll give awards for the best starting pitcher, reliever, offensive player, defensive player, and baserunner of the month. Runner-ups will get a quick shoutout, but the focus will be on the winners.
To be eligible for the starting pitcher award, players need more starts than appearances out of the bullpen. The opposite is the case for the relief pitcher award. For the other categories, there aren't any real rules. It's just anarchy. As long as they played, they're eligible.
They need to be my version of prospect-eligible. That means no one who has spent time in the major leagues can win the awards. They also need to be in Single-A or higher. Finally, players can win multiple awards in a single month.
Without further ado, let's hand out some awards.
Dedgar Jimenez Award (starting pitcher of the month)
Winner: Brandon Clarke
Runner-ups: Hayden Mullins, Yordanny Monegro
There would be a legitimate case for Hayden Mullins (1.06 ERA, .186 BAA, 0.82 WHIP, 27 K, three walks in 17 innings) most months, but Brandon Clarke 100% sealed the win with his performance on the last day of April in his High-A debut.
The Red Sox selected Clarke in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Not only does he already look like a steal, but he could become a top-100 prospect if he keeps this up.
Clarke made four starts (three in Single-A and one in High-A) in April. The left-handed pitcher posted a 0.63 ERA, 0.35 WHIP, and .063 BAA. He struck out 24 batters compared to just two walks in 14 1/3 innings. Clarke was promoted to High-A after just three appearances in Single-A. In his debut for Greenville, he struck out seven batters without walking anyone in 4 2/3 innings.
Joan Martinez Award (relief pitcher of the month)
Winner: Yovanny Cruz
Runner-ups: Matt McShane, Isaac Stebens, Brian Van Belle
Matt McShane has looked like a phenomenal return for Chase Shugart. The righty has a 0.63 ERA, .185 BAA, and 0.98 WHIP in seven appearances out of the bullpen. He's struck out 20 batters compared to just four walks in 14 1/3 innings. Usually, McShane would win the award with those numbers, but Yovanny Cruz just barely sneaks by him.
Cruz has a 0.00 ERA, .103 BAA, and 1.00 WHIP in five appearances. He's struck out 12 batters compared to six walks in nine innings. Cruz was a minor league signing this offseason, and he looks like an absolute find from Boston's front office. Even though he's struggled with his command, he's limited hits and hasn't even allowed an unearned run.
Chih-Hsien Chiang Award (offensive player of the month)
Winner: Marcelo Mayer
Runner-ups: Roman Anthony, Ahbram Liendo, Jhostynxon Garcia, Antonio Anderson, Franklin Arias, Marvin Alcantara
There were a lot of great options for this. However, it came down to a two-man race. Roman Anthony slashed .292/.423/.539 and has nearly as many walks (21) as strikeouts (23). Anthony lost out to his buddy and fellow top prospect Marcelo Mayer, though.
Mayer slashed .270/.324/.520 with four doubles and seven home runs. He scored 17 runs and stole one base. As you can tell, the slash line isn't as good as Anthony's. However, there's a very clear reason why Mayer wins.
The left-handed hitting shortstop drove in 34 runs. That's three more than anyone in baseball through April. We're counting minor league and MLB. That type of run production needs to be rewarded.
Deiner Lopez Award (defensive player of the month)
Winner: Ahbram Liendo
Runner-ups: Nelly Taylor, Franklin Arias, Yosander Asencio, Miguel Bleis, Yophery Rodriguez
Boston's minor league system has seen some good defense. Special shoutout to the ridiculous outfield of Nelly Taylor, Miguel Bleis, and Yophery Rodriguez in High-A Greenville. All three were runner-ups and all three will likely win the award at some point (Taylor was my defensive player of the year in the minors last season).
Ahbram Liendo is doing it all over the infield, though. We're seeing him making sliding stops, impressive plays, and phenomenal throws, no matter if he's playing second base, third base, or shortstop.
Liendo has always been a fantastic defensive player. It's helped carry him to Double-A (along with his speed). Liendo's offense has found a new gear in 2025, but his defense is still his calling card.
Danny Mars Award (baserunner of the month)
Winner: Ahbram Liendo
Runner-ups: Max Ferguson, Zach Ehrhard, Yophery Rodriguez, Kelvin Diaz
Not many fans would've guessed that Liendo would be the first prospect to win multiple awards, but he does it in the very first month. The right-handed hitting infielder has been a star in all aspects of the game. His baserunning is no exception.
Liendo stole eight bases in April. The only person in the system (including the majors) with more steals is Jarren Duran (10). Liendo did so without getting caught.
Being a good baserunner isn't just about steals, though. Liendo makes good decisions and is able to get extra bases, thanks to his aggressiveness and speed. April likely won't be the only month he wins the award.
Special shoutout to Yophery Rodriguez, who had the coolest swim move to avoid a tag I've seen in a long time.