The Boston Red Sox had a disappointing week, to say the least. Designated hitter Rafael Devers Saturday walk-off against the Braves was supposed to be a catalyst. However, a bad loss the following day appears to have immediately quieted the momentum.
A few fascinating things happened in the minor league system, though. Luckily, that gives us plenty to discuss in this week's Prospect Update.
Red Sox Prospect Update: Roman Anthony, Blaze Jordan, Justin Gonzales
Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A)
Roman Anthony has a nine-game hitting streak. He went 10-for-23 with three doubles and a triple this week.
The left-handed hitting outfielder has a .322/.446/.503 slash line with eight doubles, two triples, and five home runs. He's driven in 17 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen three bases. Anthony has 35 walks compared to 37 strikeouts. There's nothing else to say at this point.
Marcelo Mayer went just 6-for-25 this week. However, he did hit a home run and drive in five runs. The left-handed hitting shortstop is slashing .264/.335/.459 with five doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. He's driven in 40 runs, scored 27 more, and stolen two bases.
Mayer is one of the top RBI men in all of baseball. Even in a week when he isn't producing well, you can always count on Mayer to collect a big hit. He provided that with a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning in the first game of the series against Triple-A Buffalo.
Nathan Hickey was in a prolonged slump before hitting a grand slam last week. He built heavily on that this week, including hitting homers in three straight games.
The left-handed hitting first baseman/catcher is slashing .250/.331/.461 with six doubles and seven home runs. He's driven in 26 runs, scored 15 more, and stolen one base. Hickey has always been good at drawing walks, but had just seven entering this week. He collected eight free passes in six games against Buffalo.
Phillip Sikes hasn't put up big numbers this year. However, he did do something great this week. The right-handed hitting outfielder entered Friday with zero home runs in 77 Triple-A at-bats. He hit two in his first two ABs of the game.
Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)
Jhostynxon Garcia had just two hits this week, but one was a two-run home run. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .256/.355/.393 with five doubles, one triple, and three home runs. He's driven in 17 runs, scored 19 more, and stolen four bases.
His walk rate is up significantly from last season (from 7.2% last year to 13% this year). Garcia has looked great in Double-A. However, he's done there. On May 18, the Red Sox's No. 5 prospect was promoted to Triple-A.
Blaze Jordan shouldn't be too far behind Garcia in the promotion department. The right-handed hitting first baseman is on a five-game hitting streak.
Jordan's slashing .279/.382/.432 with eight doubles and three home runs. He's driven in 22 runs, scored 21 more, and stolen one base. Most impressive is the fact that he's drawn more walks (17) than strikeouts (14). His 17 walks are just one behind his total number from 2024.
Jordan's trending up, too. He holds a .349/.472/.605 slash line in May.
Ahbram Liendo has cooled off at the plate, but still has productive numbers. The right-handed hitting infielder is slashing .278/.350/.361 with six doubles and one home run. He's driven in eight runs, scored 15 more, and stolen 15 bases.
Liendo's defense was on full display this week. If he's going to make it to the majors, it will be on the back of his speed and his defense. Any offensive production he gives is a bonus.
Connelly Early dominated on May 18. The left-handed pitcher allowed two hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out eight batters while walking two.
Early has a 1.88 ERA, .150 BAA, and 0.96 WHIP in six appearances (three starts). He's struck out 38 batters compared to 11 walks in 24 innings. Triple-A could be in his near future, as well.
Yordanny Monegro didn't have the cleanest start this week, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings. However, he also struck out seven batters while only walking one.
The right-handed pitcher has a 2.53 ERA, .247 BAA, and 1.22 WHIP in six appearances (five starts). He's struck out 37 batters compared to six walks. It's really hard to watch Monegro and not love his game.
Dalton Rogers made his Double-A debut this week. The left-handed pitcher tossed five scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He struck out six batters and only walked one.
Greenville Drive (High-A)
Zach Ehrhard snapped a 13-game hitting streak this week, just to start a new one that's already at four games. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .342/.471/.459 with 10 doubles and one home run. He's driven in 22 runs, scored 24 more, and stolen seven bases (in seven attempts).
Ehrhard has drawn 26 walks compared to 27 strikeouts.
He had a 5-for-5 game on May 14, which included his first career professional home run. Somehow, that wasn't the best part of his week. The Red Sox are clearly impressed, as they promoted Ehrhard to Double-A on May 18.
Antonio Anderson is on a five-game hitting streak. On May 17, he hit his first High-A home run.
The switch-hitting third baseman/first baseman is up to a .220 average in High-A. Anderon's slashing .304/.386/.432 with seven doubles and three home runs between Single-A and High-A. He's driven in 23 runs, scored 23 more, and stolen one base.
Anderson is only 19 and has appeared to find his groove in High-A. He feels like a prospect who could fly up the rankings if the production continues.
Yophery Rodriguez had been in a rough slump heading into the week. However, he went 6-for-18 with seven walks in the series to climb his way out of it.
The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .198/.370/.321 with one double, three triples, and two home runs since joining the organization. He's driven in nine runs, scored 17 more, and stolen five bases. Rodriguez has struggled, but still has more walks (28) than strikeouts (23) with Greenville this season.
Eduardo Rivera had another big start this week. The left-handed pitcher didn't allow a run or even a hit through five innings. He struck out six batters and walked two.
Rivera has a 1.06 ERA, .091 BAA, and 0.71 WHIP in five appearances (three starts). He's fanned 28 batters compared to seven walks in 17 innings.
Salem Red Sox (Single-A)
Justin Gonzales turned a corner at the end of the week. The right-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman had back-to-back three-hit days.
Gonzales is slashing .231/.333/.256 with one double in 10 games. He's driven in three runs and scored six more.
The 18-year-old has had plenty of good swings early in his Single-A career. It was great to see him get some results at the end of the week. Hopefully, that's something he builds on, and we see some glorious home runs soon.
Yoeilin Cespedes has gotten hot. The right-handed hitting infielder is on a five-game hitting streak. He's up to a .254/.302/.421 slash line with nine doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Cespedes has driven in 17 runs, scored 14 more, and stolen two bases. The 19-year-old also has an RBI in each of his last five games, adding a needed boost to his run production.
Freili Encarcacion probably shouldn't be in Single-A much longer, especially considering he spent all last season at the level. The right-handed hitting infielder is slashing .284/.320/.546 with 11 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. The homers and doubles lead the Carolina League. He's driven in 27 runs (second-most in the Carolina League), scored 26 more, and stolen two bases.
Encarnacion needs to work on his eye and whiffs (just four compared to 35 strikeouts). However, he's hitting the ball consistently hard and could use a new challenge.
Shea Sprague had another great outing this week. The left-handed pitcher allowed one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four batters compared to one walk.
Sprague is down to a 4.10 ERA, .276 BAA, and 1.29 WHIP in six appearances (two starts). He's struck out 31 batters compared to five walks in 26 1/3 innings. The numbers are solid, but even better considering how poorly his season started.
Manuel Medina only made one appearance out of the bullpen, but it was fantastic. The left-handed pitcher tossed two perfect innings, striking out two batters.
Medina has tossed seven shutout innings this season. He's struck out 10 batters while allowing just two hits and one walk. The Miami Marlins saw flashes of Medina's potential in the past, and now the Red Sox could be benefiting from it.