The Boston Red Sox took the finale over the weekend against the Chicago Cubs to stave off a sweep, which certainly helps keep the vibes from getting too bad. Boston still feels like it's in a prime position to buy at the trade deadline.
The good news is that quite a few prospects are playing up to a level where they could help the Red Sox get major league help in return. Who had a good series coming out of the All-Star break? Are they in a position to help the Red Sox in the future in a Boston uniform? Or will they help out by bringing someone in as a return for a trade?
We'll look at some of the biggest names in the system in this week's prospect update.
Boston Red Sox prospect watch: Yophery Rodriguez, David Sandlin, Yoeilin Cespedes
Worcester Red Sox (Triple-A)
Blaze Jordan had a big series. The right-handed hitting first/third baseman went 3-for-11 with two walks (only one strikeout) and a home run.
Jordan is slashing .303/.373/.492 with 21 doubles, one triple, and 11 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He has 58 RBI, 56 runs scored, and three steals. Jordan has 21 walks compared to 36 strikeouts. If he's still here after the trade deadline, the Red Sox should give him a shot at first base in the big leagues this season.
Jhostynxon Garcia went 3-for-12 with one walk and only one strikeout this week. The right-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .289/.386/.512 with six doubles, two triples, and nine home runs since being promoted to Triple-A. He's driven in 27 runs and scored 28 more in 43 games at the level.
Alex Hoppe tossed one scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one batter. The right-handed pitcher had given up six runs over 3 1/3 innings in his previous three outings combined. He needed a strong showing, and he produced one.
Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A)
Payton Tolle allowed three runs (just one earned) on three hits in four innings. He struck out five batters and only walked one. The left-handed pitcher performed better than the numbers indicate. His defense let him down a few times.
Tolle has a 3.19 ERA, .217 BAA, and 1.06 WHIP in 15 games (13 starts) between High-A and Double-A this season. He has 106 strikeouts compared to 18 walks in 67 2/3 innings.
David Sandlin piggybacked for Tolle and had a strange outing. He didn't give up much in terms of offense, allowing just one two hits and one walk over four scoreless innings. He wasn't his usual dominant self either, striking out only one batter.
Sandlin has a 3.68 ERA, .225 BAA, and 1.17 WHIP in 16 games (12 starts). The 24-year-old has 82 strikeouts and 26 walks in 78 1/3 innings.
Connelly Early twirled another gem on July 20. The left-handed pitcher allowed one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters without walking any.
Early has a 2.51 ERA, .202 BAA, and 1.13 WHIP in 15 appearances (12 starts) in Double-A this season. He has 96 strikeouts compared to 29 walks in 71 2/3 innings.
Ronald Rosario has gotten hot. He has a hit in 11 of his last 12 games. The right-handed hitting catcher went 4-for-8 with two walks and a home run in the series this week.
Rosario is slashing .212/.280/.290 with six doubles and four home runs. He's driven in 33 runs, scored 18 more, and stolen four bases. His full-season numbers don't look great, but Rosario's slashing .400/.432/.514 in July.
Marvin Alcantara went 3-for-7 this week. The right-handed hitting infielder is slashing .242/.319/.292 with eight doubles, one triple, and one home run between High-A and Double-A. He's driven in 29 runs, scored 31 more, and stolen seven bases between the two levels.
Alcantara is a good fielder with solid speed and good contact, but he doesn't possess much power. Only 20 and already in Double-A, the Red Sox have been surprisingly aggressive with him despite not being a "big name" prospect.
Greenville Drive (High-A)
Yophery Rodriguez is on a 12-game hitting streak (13 counting a suspended game where he's 1-for-1 with an RBI that hasn't counted yet).
The left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .229/.338/.360 with 14 doubles, five triples, and four home runs this season. He's driven in 29 runs, scored 34 more, and stolen 10 bases. That's not counting that suspended game, either.
Rodriguez is starting to get into a groove. It's important to remember that he's only 19 in his first season in High-A. Growing pains should be expected.
Johanfran Garcia hit his first High-A home run on July 20. The right-handed hitting catcher is starting to look very comfortable at the plate after missing a year due to a knee injury.
Garcia is slashing .247/.349/.315 with two doubles and a home run in High-A. He's driven in seven runs and scored 10 more in 20 games at the level.
Freili Encarnacion went 3-for-10 with a double and an RBI this week. The right-handed hitting infielder has struggled to find his footing in High-A, but this was a positive week.
Encarnacion is slashing .263/.323/.478 with 19 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs between Single-A and High-A this season. He's driven in 43 runs, scored 46 more, and stolen eight bases.
Brandon Clarke struggled with control again. The left-handed pitcher allowed two runs on one hit over 2 2/3 innings. He struck out five batters but also walked four.
Clarke has a 2.65 ERA, .095 BAA, and 0.88 WHIP in 11 starts between Single-A and High-A. He has 53 strikeouts compared to 19 walks in 34 innings. Clarke has yet to surrender a home run. He's only allowed three extra-base hits (two doubles and one triple) this year.
Salem Red Sox (Single-A)
Yoeilin Cespedes went 5-for-10 with two walks and a home run. The right-handed hitting infielder is slashing .223/.276/.366 with 15 doubles, four triples, and six home runs this season. He's driven in 35 runs, scored 33 more, and stolen six bases.
Cespedes was in a prolonged slump, but is 7-for-15 with two doubles and a home run over his last four games. The 19-year-old might be waking up again.
Natanael Yuten continued to be the most clutch player since David Ortiz. In Game One of a Sunday doubleheader, he had a pinch-hit walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning. The left-handed hitting outfielder went 4-for-7 with three RBI and two stolen bases in the series.
Yuten is on a five-game hitting streak and now holds a .260/.310/.406 slash line with 13 doubles, five triples, and three home runs. He's driven in 29 runs, scored 32 more, and stolen six bases.
Justin Gonzales is on a four-game hitting streak. The right-handed hitting outfielder has a double and a triple in those four games.
Gonzales is slashing .269/.370/.376 with 11 doubles, two triples, and two home runs in Single-A. He's driven in 17 runs, scored 28 more, and stolen 10 bases. The 18-year-old has an advanced eye, which sometimes, especially in the lower levels, leads to strikeouts that shouldn't be strikeouts.
Yhoiker Fajardo pitched a good game on Sunday. The right-handed pitcher surrendered one run on four hits over four innings. He struck out three batters and walked one.
Fajardo has a 2.93 ERA, .221 BAA, and 1.13 WHIP in 11 games (nine starts) between the FCL and Single-A. The 18-year-old has 38 strikeouts compared to 13 walks in 40 innings.