The trade deadline just got much more interesting for Boston Red Sox fans. The Sox are a wagon, led by Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela. He used to be your favorite prospect's favorite prospect, now he's your favorite superstar's favorite superstar.
Why should you care about the farm system right now? For two reasons. One, some of these prospects could be used to get players who can help Boston make a playoff push.
Two, Rafaela used to be a prospect in this very system. So did most of the key contributors recently. With that in mind, pay attention.
Red Sox Prospect Update: Albert Feliz, Blaze Jordan hitting streaks, Yhoiker Fajardo
Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A)
Blaze Jordan is on a seven-game hitting streak. The right-handed hitter is slashing .304/.373/.490 with 21 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. He's driven in 56 runs, scored 53 more, and stolen three bases. Jordan continues to limit strikeouts, with just 35 compared to 29 walks.
Jhostynxon Garcia went 5-for-12 with two walks this week. He also appeared in the Future's Game. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .292/.373/.532 with six doubles, two triples, and nine home runs in Triple-A. He has 26 RBI and 27 runs scored with Worcester.
Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)
Payton Tolle had another strong start this week. The left-handed pitcher gave up four hits over five one-run innings. He walked one batter and struck out five.
Since being promoted to Double-A, Tolle has 22 strikeouts compared to three walks in 14 innings. The 22-year-old has a 1.93 ERA, .152 BAA, and 0.71 WHIP in three games with Portland.
Connelly Early allowed just one run on three hits over six innings of work on July 12. The left-handed pitcher struck out four batters and walked two.
Early has a 2.59 ERA, .206 BAA, and 1.18 WHIP in 14 appearances (11 starts). He has 90 strikeouts compared to 28 walks in 66 innings.
Eduardo Rivera had his best start since being promoted to Double-A. The left-handed pitcher allowed just one unearned run on four hits in six innings. He struck out three batters and walked three. Rivera has had some struggles with Portland, but this was an encouraging start.
Hayden Mullins allowed one unearned run on three hits in 6 1/3 innings on July 13. The left-handed pitcher struck out three batters and walked two. Mullins has a 2.05 ERA, .153 BAA, and 0.96 WHIP in 13 games (12 starts between High-A and Double-A. He has 70 strikeouts compared to 25 walks in 57 innings.
David Sandlin gave up three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings on Friday. The right-handed pitcher struck out seven batters and walked three. Sandlin has a 3.87 ERA, .229 BAA, and 1.20 WHIP in 15 appearances (12 starts). He has 81 strikeouts compared to 25 walks in 74 1/3 innings.
Dalton Rogers allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits over six innings in his lone start this week. The left-handed pitcher struck out three batters and walked three. Rogers has had some ups and downs with Portland. The good outweighs the bad, though.
Greenville Drive (High-A)
Albert Feliz is riding a five-game hitting streak. The right-handed hitting first baseman hit a ball 121 MPH and threw a pitch 94 MPH in the same series. Feliz is slashing .198/.257/.337 with two doubles and four home runs. He's driven in 15 runs and scored nine more.
Yophery Rodriguez has a nine-game hitting streak (sort of 10, but the game was suspended). The left-handed hitting outfielder is up to a .220/.331/.341 slash line with 13 doubles, five triples, and three home runs this season. He's driven in 28 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen 10 bases.
Nelly Taylor went 3-for-11 with a double, a triple, and a home run this week. The left-handed hitting outfielder drove in six runs and stole two bases. Taylor is slashing .243/.380/.400 with 13 doubles, three triples, and eight home runs. He's driven in 28 runs, scored 46 more, and stolen 26 bases.
Cooper Adams gave up one hit over four shutout innings on Friday. The right-handed pitcher walked two batters and struck out five. Adams has a 3.95 ERA, .256 BAA, and 1.43 WHIP in 21 appearances (one start). He has 55 strikeouts compared to 20 walks in 43 1/3 innings.
Michael Sansone allowed three hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings this week. The left-handed pitcher struck out one batter and walked one.
Sansone has been good all year, but has particularly picked up his game since being promoted to High-A. The 25-year-old has a 1.91 ERA, .216 BAA, and 0.92 WHIP in eight appearances (three starts) with Greenville. He has 21 strikeouts compared to four walks in 28 1/3 innings.
Manuel Medina made two appearances out of the bullpen this week. The right-handed pitcher gave up two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six batters without walking any. Medina has a 3.60 ERA, .222 BAA, and 0.90 WHIP in four appearances in High-A. He has nine strikeouts compared to one walk in 10 innings with Greenville.
Salem Red Sox (Single-A)
Yhoiker Fajardo had his best start in Single-A this week. The right-handed pitcher tossed five scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Fajardo has a 3.00 ERA, .215 BAA, and 1.11 WHIP in 10 appearances (eight starts) between the FCL and Single-A. He has 35 strikeouts compared to 12 walks in 36 innings.
Austin Ehrlicher allowed two hits in four scoreless innings on Friday. The right-handed pitcher struck out seven batters without walking any. Ehrlicher has a 3.22 ERA, .195 BAA, and 1.23 WHIP in 15 appearances (eight starts) this season. He has 53 strikeouts compared to 25 walks in 44 2/3 innings.
Calvin Bickerstaff had a big bounce-back performance this week. The right-handed pitcher allowed one hit over three shutout innings. He struck out five batters while walking one. Bickerstaff has a 3.38 ERA, .237 BAA, and 1.25 WHIP in seven appearances in Single-A. He has 17 strikeouts compared to six walks in 16 innings.
Enddy Azocar has a hit in six of his last seven games. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .202/.254/.345 with five doubles and four home runs in Single-A. He's driven in 18 runs, scored 16 more, and stolen five bases. Azocar is playing better than the numbers show. The 18-year-old is starting to get the results.
Yohander Linarez went 4-for-10 with his first Single-A home run this week. The switch-hitting infielder is slashing .225/.292/.313 with two doubles, one triple, and one home run in Single-A. He's driven in 12 runs and scored 11 more.