An ugly week for the Boston Red Sox has fans wondering if they'll be sellers at the trade deadline. If they do indeed sell, they'll likely get an influx of talent in the farm system.
What's going on in the minor leagues right now, though? Let's get to prospect watching.
Red Sox Prospect Update:
Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A)
Blaze Jordan struggled this week, going 4-for-23. However, he did hit his third home run in Triple-A.
The right-handed hitting first/third baseman is slashing .309/.385/.506 with 19 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He's driven in 50 runs, scored 46 more, and stolen three bases. Jordan has nearly as many walks (28) as he does strikeouts (30).
Jhostynxon Garcia went just 5-for-24 but hit a triple and a home run. The right-handed hitting outfielder holds a .292/.363/.569 slash line with five doubles, two triples, and nine home runs since being promoted to Triple-A. He's driven in 23 runs and scored 23 more for Worcester.
Nathan Hickey went 5-for-23 with two doubles and a home run. The left-handed hitting catcher/first baseman is slashing .236/.317/.421 with 11 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs this season. He's driven in 40 runs, scored 26 more, and stolen two bases.
Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)
Payton Tolle made his Double-A debut on June 29, and boy, was it special. The left-handed pitcher allowed one run on one hit over five innings. He walked two batters and struck out nine. The 22-year-old topped out at 98.9 MPH. Tolle is perhaps the most dominant and overpowering pitching prospect I've ever seen in Boston's system.
Eduardo Rivera also made his Double-A debut this week. The left-handed pitcher allowed two runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings. He had issues with walks, surrendering five free passes, but did strike out six batters.
David Sandlin has been terrifyingly dominant for the last month (outside of one appearance). The right-handed pitcher gave up one hit in four scoreless innings of relief in his lone outing this week. He walked two batters and struck out seven.
Sandlin has a 3.66 ERA, .223 BAA, and 1.16 WHIP in 13 appearances (11 starts). The 24-year-old has 69 strikeouts compared to 21 walks in 64 innings.
Connelly Early was unhittable on June 29. The left-handed pitcher didn't allow a run or a hit in six innings. He walked three batters and struck out seven.
Early has a 1.94 ERA, .189 BAA, and 1.10 WHIP in 12 appearances (nine starts). He has 81 strikeouts compared to 24 walks in 55 2/3 innings.
Mikey Romero went 8-for-22 with a steal this week. The left-handed hitting shortstop is slashing .274/.347/.488 with 11 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs. He's driven in 26 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen four bases.
Max Ferguson is 6-for-15 over his last four games. The left-handed hitting utility player holds a .191/.310/.279 slash line with three doubles and five home runs. He's driven in 15 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen 19 bases in 21 attempts.
Greenville Drive (High-A)
Noah Dean allowed three hits over five one-run innings. The left-handed pitcher struck out seven batters compared to one walk.
Dean has a 4.30 ERA, .209 BAA, and 1.45 WHIP in 12 starts. He has 58 strikeouts compared to 31 walks in 44 innings. The 24-year-old is having issues with control at times, but he generates plenty of whiffs.
Brandon Clarke appeared in his first game in over a month. The left-handed pitcher gave up one run on no hits over two innings. He walked two batters (and hit one) while striking out three.
Clarke has a 2.08 ERA, .080 BAA, and 0.69 WHIP in eight starts. He has 41 strikeouts compared to 11 walks in 26 innings.
Michael Sansone tossed five shutout innings, allowing just one hit. The left-handed pitcher struck out three batters without walking any.
Sansone has a 2.19 ERA, .211 BAA, and 0.89 WHIP in seven appearances (two starts). He's struck out 20 batters and walked three in 24 2/3 innings.
Shea Sprague made his second High-A appearance this week. The left-handed pitcher didn't allow any hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out four batters and walked three.
Sprague hasn't allowed a run in 7 2/3 innings with Greenville. He's only surrendered one hit and three walks compared to nine strikeouts.
Blake Aita had another fantastic High-A outing. The right-handed pitcher gave up one hit over six shutout innings. He struck out eight batters and walked two.
In three starts in High-A, Aita has a 1.42 ERA, .156 BAA, and 0.79 WHIP. He's racked up 17 strikeouts compared to five walks in 19 innings.
Salem Red Sox (Single-A)
Justin Gonzales went 5-for-18 with a double and two walks (three strikeouts) this week. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .255/.366/.331 with six doubles, one triple, and one home run in Single-A. He's driven in 11 runs, scored 21 more, and stolen seven bases. The 18-year-old has 21 walks compared to 27 strikeouts.
Austin Ehrlicher didn't give up any runs on two hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-handed pitcher struck out three batters and walked two.
Ehrlicher has a 3.13 ERA, .209 BAA, and 1.34 WHIP in 13 appearances (seven starts). He has 41 strikeouts compared to 23 walks in 37 1/3 innings.
Devin Futrell tossed four scoreless innings this week, allowing three hits. He struck out three batters and walked just one.
The left-handed pitcher has a 3.12 ERA, .266 BAA, and 1.15 WHIP in seven starts. He has 13 strikeouts compared to three walks in 17 1/3 innings.