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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Oct 30, 2023 16:54:41 GMT -5
October 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: Strong start for Penrod, McDonough keeps hitting
The Arizona Fall League is reaching its end, particularly for the Glendale Desert Dogs, which is at the bottom of the standings, but baseball in the Dominican Republic completed its first full week. Venezuela is also in its first full week of competition, but no SoxProspects are in the league. Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League will also get underway on Friday. This recap covers games from October 23-29.
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Arizona Fall League
Glendale is just 9-14 in the Arizona Fall League, which puts the Desert Dogs in a tie for last place with Mesa. Their elimination number is three. There haven't been many bright spots among Red Sox farmhands, but Tyler McDonough (pictured) has been hitting well, as he has an OPS of .940 over 33 at-bats. He was 4 for 9 on the week over two games. One was at shortstop and one was at second base. Even after coming late to the Arizona Fall League, he's adjusted well in a part-time role.
He's one of three position players on the roster, along with Nathan Hickey and Corey Rosier. Over four games, Rosier was 4 for 16, hitting mostly at the top of the lineup, and played all three outfield spots once. He occupied the designated hitter spot in his fourth game. This week pushed his batting average down to .313 and his OPS to a respectable .790, as all four hits were singles. Hickey was behind the plate twice this week and was 3 for 7, including a two-hit day with a double on Saturday.
On the mound, Zach Penrod has been pitching well in a big test after being signed from independent ball in August. He had the start on Saturday and pitched three shutout innings, with two hits, a walk and three strikeouts. His batting average against is down to .184 in 14 innings and has been quite a revelation.
He leads the organization in innings, but Wyatt Olds is second, at eight frames. He only got in one game this week and pitched one inning. A solo home run was the only blemish on the day and has eight strikeouts in eight innings. He's one of four pitchers operating primarily in relief. Bryan Mata has been working to get more reps after injury and only pitched on Saturday, but had a disastrous outing. He only got two outs but allowed four runs to score. In six innings, his ERA is up to 10.29. Christopher Troye did not pitch, but Felix Cepeda also had a tough outing. Three runs, two of which were earned, went on his ledger over one inning of work. He allowed four hits, but struck out two batters.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Enmanuel Valdez, who is playing for Toros, is the only position player in the system playing in LIDOM, which had its first full week of competition this week. He got into four games and was 3 for 16, scoring a pair of runs. He registered one walk and one stolen base, but had a trio of strikeouts.
The only Red Sox farmhand in the league, Rio Gomez, made a pair of appearances. He threw 3 1/3 shutout innings on Tuesday, with four hits against four strikeouts, but coughed up four runs, three of which were earned, over three innings of work on Sunday. He had three strikeouts, but surrendered seven hits and walked a batter.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Nov 7, 2023 13:43:39 GMT -5
November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM Fall/Winter Roundup: Rosier and Penrod help AL win Fall Stars Game
The Arizona Fall League enters its final week with the last games set for Saturday, November 11. However, the Dominican Republic is just starting to ramp up. Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League also started on Friday, but the three Red Sox listed on rosters have yet to play in a game. Similarly, the leagues in Venezuela and Mexico have both started but no Red Sox prospects are in the league. This recap covers games from October 30-November 5.
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Arizona Fall League The Desert Dogs had one of their best weeks as a team this fall, going 3-1 in the short week. Despite the team's strong record, the hitters struggled a bit with Nathan Hickey, Tyler McDonough, and Corey Rosier (pictured, right) going 5 for 34 (.147) with 6 runs, 1 RBI, 8 walks, and 12 strikeouts over the four games. Despite the tough week, McDonough has had a strong fall season, hitting .271/.379/.417 over 48 at-bats.
Another player that has had a good year despite a slow week is Rosier. He has spent much of the year leading off for the Desert Dogs, hitting .300/.391/.400 over 80 at-bats. That performance had the outfielder secure an invite to the Fall Stars Game, and there he started and hit ninth, going 1 for 2 with a run and a strikeout for the victorious AL Team. Joining him in the Fall Stars game was lefty Zack Penrod who pitched the 2nd inning for the AL, allowing no runs with a hit and a strikeout. That outing continues a strong fall for the 26-year-old. -----
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Enmanuel Valdez, who is playing for Toros, had a rough first week last week, going only 3 for 13. Things did not get much better this week as he now has only 4 hits in 30 at-bats overall on the young winter season. He was joined this week by fellow Red Sox prospect, infielder Pablo Reyes. Reyes saw much more success in his first week, hitting .313/.353/.813 with two home runs over the week.
The only Red Sox pitcher in the league is now Victor Santos, who is pitching for Leones del Escogido. Thus far, he has thrown five shutout innings, allowing two walks and two hits while striking out six.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Nov 13, 2023 14:15:48 GMT -5
November 13, 2023 at 2:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: AFL comes to close, McDonough goes deep
The Glendale Desert Dogs' season has ended, with their final three games being played this past week. The Dominican Professional League is also still in full swing. The Roberto Clemente Professional League, Venezuelan League, and Mexican Leagues are also in action, but no Red Sox players have played in those three.
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Arizona Fall League Glendale dropped their final three games to end their season with a 12-18 record, which landed them in last place on the year. Corey Rosier ended the year on a tough note, going 0 for 13 with four strikeouts over the final three games. He did take two walks and steal his third bag of the season. In 89 AFL at-bats, Rosier ends with a .258/.355/.344 slash line. Nathan Hickey caught one of Glendale's final three games, and he went 1 for 5 with a single and four strikeouts. He ends the fall with a .182 batting average and a .557 OPS in 55 at-bats. Shortstop Tyler McDonough (pictured) was a bright spot at the plate. Although he went just 2 for 11, he smoked a three-run home run and drove in four runs. He also drew a pair of walks. He finishes the fall with a solid .254/.366/.424 line and two home runs over 59 at-bats.
The pitching was tremendous in the final week, as four Sox arms each got one inning on the mound, all in the same game. Christopher Troye allowed a pair of hits in his inning, but did not walk anybody and punched out three batters. He had 11 strikeouts in 8 2/3 frames this fall. Felix Cepeda also did not allow a run in his inning. He allowed a hit and struck out two with no walks. Wyatt Olds' inning went well too, giving up just a hit with three strikeouts and no walks. The right-hander struck out 12 with just three walks in 11 innings this fall. Bryan Mata ended on a good note as well with a shutout frame that included one strikeout. Although his ERA was 8.00 this fall, he had an impressive 11 strikeouts and just two walks in nine innings.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Enmanuel Valdez only got four at-bats last week, but was held without a hit. He has struggled so far this fall, hitting just .111 in 36 at-bats with four singles. He has drawn some walks, leading to a respectable .319 OBP. Pablo Reyes kept going, as the infielder belted yet another home run. He has been on fire this fall, hitting .296/.406/.815 with four home runs in just 27 at-bats. On the bump, Victor Santos saw action and pitched 3 2/3 innings. He allowed just one run and had one strikeout. For the year, he has an impressive 1.04 ER and 0.92 WHIP over 8 2/3 frames.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Nov 20, 2023 12:43:24 GMT -5
November 20, 2023 at 12:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: Santos throws five scoreless innings
A tropical storm hit the Dominican Republic, which disrupted games on Friday and Saturday. With parts of the island suffering significant power outages and flooding, it would not be surprising if games were affected into this week. Two players saw action in the Dominican earlier in the week, while the other leagues remained quiet from a Boston perspective. Full rosters are available on our Fall and Winter Leagues page.
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Victor Santos picked up the win for Escogido in his only appearance of the week. He threw five shutout innings, striking out two without walking a batter. His ERA now sits at 0.66 after 13 2/3 innings. Enmanuel Valdez did not make an appearance, while Pablo Reyes went 0 for 4 in his lone start. His line dropped to .257/.350/.657 over 35 at-bats.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Nov 27, 2023 12:39:51 GMT -5
November 27, 2023 at 12:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: Fitzgerald debuts for Licey; Santos continues to impress
This week's roundup features a familiar face in Ryan Fitzgerald (pictured) spreading his wings in the Dominican Republic and a newcomer to the organization in Jorge Benitez pitching well down in Puerto Rico. Speaking of encouraging performances on the mound, Victor Santos remains a steady presence for the Leones del Escogido.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Victor Santos was solid yet again in his third start of the winter for Escogido last Wednesday. Going up against Estrellas on the road, the 23-year-old righty picked up the winning decision while allowing just one earned run on three hits and one walk to go along with a season-high of seven strikeouts over five strong innings of work. In five appearances for the Leones this season, Santos is now 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA and 0.96 WHIP across 18 2/3 total frames.
On the position player side, neither Enmanuel Valdez nor Pablo Reyes have seen much action for Toros as of late. Valdez last appeared in a game on November 11 while Reyes left last Wednesday's game against Aguilas in the seventh inning due to apparent discomfort, per the team's X/Twitter account.
Ryan Fitzgerald, meanwhile, signed with Licey a week ago Monday and has appeared in four games for the Tigres thus far. In those four contests, the left-handed hitting 29-year-old has gone 4 for 13 (.308) with one home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, one walk, and four strikeouts while seeing playing time at shortstop and third base.
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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) Jorge Benitez officially joined the Red Sox organization on a minor-league contract last Wednesday. A former 2017 ninth-round draft selection of the Mariners out of Leadership Christian Academy in Puerto Rico, Benitez has been pitching for the Criollos de Caguas this winter. The 24-year-old lefty notched his fourth hold on Saturday and has yet to allow a run through his first seven relief appearances (9 2/3 innings) of the season. Additionally, he has struck out 11 and walked only three of the 37 batters he has faced.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Nov 29, 2023 11:20:46 GMT -5
Still Evolving as a Hitter, Boston’s Blaze Jordan Is Bashing Baseballs by David Laurila November 29, 2023 Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Blaze Jordan quietly put together one of the best seasons in the Red Sox minor league system this year. Overshadowed by higher profile prospects such as Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Ceddanne Rafaela, the 20-year-old corner infielder slashed .296/.351/.481 with a 124 wRC+ and 18 home runs between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. Moreover, his 141 hits and 32 doubles were both tops among Boston farmhands. That he fanned in just 14.3% of his 525 plate appearances is also notable, although that does come with a caveat: His 7.6% walk rate was less than ideal.
Jordan’s profile coming into pro ball was that of a slugger. As our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen wrote after the Red Sox selected him in the third round of the 2020 draft out of Southaven, Mississippi’s DeSoto Central High School, “Jordan had some of the best power in the class.” That would be an understatement. The now 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitter won the High School Home Run Derby in Cleveland at the 2019 All-Star Game, and he was reportedly called “a young Bob Horner” by a scout who had seen him punish baseballs in a prep tournament.
That Jordan’s power output in pro ball — 36 dingers in 1,160 PAs — has been comparatively modest is at once concerning and a sign of age-appropriate developmental goals. Just shy of the legal drinking age, he doesn’t aspire to be an all-or-nothing basher.
“I like to classify myself as just a good overall hitter,” Jordan said following his mid-summer promotion to Portland. “I don’t really want to put myself in a category like ‘power hitter,’ or whatever it might be. Something I’ve really worked on, especially this season, is making a lot of contact. I do get out of my zone at times, but that comes with experience. It’s all about the process, and while I’m not where I want to be, I’m heading in the right direction.”
The youngster also feels like he’s heading in the right direction in terms of his physicality. Jordan told me that he’s gotten his body “in better shape than it was last year,” with one of the goals being to continue playing at both infield corners. Projected by many as a future first baseman, Jordan was stationed at that position 65 times this season, but he also manned third on 51 occasions.
Regardless of where he ends up defensively — ditto how he chooses to identify as a hitter — plus raw power will always be a calling card. Asked how far he has hit a baseball with a wood bat, he owned up to some moonshot distances.
“Pretty far,” admitted Jordan. “In rookie ball, I hit one about 460 feet. Last year, I hit one about 450. So yeah, I guess you could consider me a power hitter. But again, I don’t like looking at myself that way.”
Which brings us to his walk rate and the pitch selection issues that come with it. As Eric wrote in June when assigning him a 40 FV, Jordan’s plate discipline “dilutes his production in a meaningful way.” In order to take full advantage of plus pop, a hitter needs to attack what he can drive, and, until he gets to two strikes, spit on what he can’t.
Portland hitting coach Doug Clark highlighted that point when I told him toward the season’s end that Jordan’s strikeout rate was lower than I would have guessed.
“I didn’t know where it was going to be when he got here [in mid-July], but when I did see it, it was interesting,” said Clark. “You can usually connect the dots, right? When it’s not as high, a hitter is usually swinging pretty early in the count, and at times at pitches he can’t do damage on. You want to have the ability to work deep in counts and take your walks. Blaze is showing glimpses of doing that, but it’s not an easy task to ask a player to hold back his aggressiveness when that’s something he’s been doing for the majority of his career.
“What you want is a patient aggressiveness,” continued Clark, whose own professional career saw him get cups of coffee with the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics from 2005-06. “It’s almost like you’re a sniper at the plate, as opposed to being an M16. There are times when you can do that, and there are times you can’t, especially when you’re in what I’d call the filet mignon part of a lineup.”
The meat of Portland’s lineup included the majority of Boston’s top prospects over the course of the season, one of whom ranks no. 1 in the system. With that in mind, I asked Clark about any similarities Jordan might share with Mayer, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft who is seven days older than his Sea Dogs teammate.
“They’re similar in that they’re going to put pressure on the pitcher,” said the hitting coach. “That pitcher is going to understand that if he makes a mistake the ball could be put in places where it’s going to hurt his ERA right off the bat. It’s not, ‘If I miss here, he’s going to hit a single,’ because both guys can impact a baseball. It’s a matter of how disciplined they can be, that any hitter can be, because you can’t just go up there and swing. You have to make the pitcher earn your swing.”
There are reasons to believe that Jordan will go on to do just that as he continues to mature. He already possesses the ability to handle high velocity and recognize spin — attributes he cited when we spoke this summer — and just as importantly, he knows that he needs to continue to get better in all aspects of the game. Count Clark among those standing firmly in his corner.
“He’s fearless,” said Clark. “It’s exciting to see him get to this level this early. It’s something the Red Sox have to take a lot of credit for — everybody who has worked with him at the lower levels — and the same goes for his support system. The grit and determination he has shown to get to this point is impressive.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Dec 4, 2023 14:23:11 GMT -5
December 4, 2023 at 12:30 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: Three minor leaguers play in U23 World Cup Qualifier; Benitez continues hot start in Puerto Rico
The calendar has flipped to December and for the remaining winter leagues, the regular season is now in its final month as teams jockey for playoff position. Aside from the usual goings-on in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, a trio of Dominican farm hands participated in the WBSC U23 World Cup Qualifier that took place in Nicaragua.
WBSC U23 World Cup Qualifier Eleven nations spent the final week of November in Masaya, Nicaragua competing for one of four places in the U23 World Cup, which will take place in 2024 in China. The Red Sox organization had three representatives, all of which competed for the Dominican Republic, which finished in eighth place with a 1-3 record.
Albertson Asigen appeared in three of the games and went 1 for 8 with a triple. He added a run and an RBI, playing both center and right field. He was joined in the field by Claudio Alcantara, who played three games at third base and spent one contest as a designated hitter. He was 0 for 11 with six strikeouts, but did score a pair of runs and stole two bases. Railin Perez was the only pitcher that made the journey and he was able to get into two games. Argentina touched him for two runs in just 2/3 of an inning on a hit and three walks. However, both outs were strikeouts. He pitched better against Nicaragua, with 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball, even if he did allow four hits and another free pass. -----
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) It's been a strong winter for Victor Santos, who last pitched on Tuesday against Licey and had his worst outing of the season, but it certainly wasn't poor. Santos contributed 5 1/3 innings and surrendered three runs on seven hits. He walked one hitter and struck out four. It was his longest outing of the year and the first in which he allowed multiple runs.
Neither Pablo Reyes or Enmanuel Valdez appeared this week. Reyes last played on November 22, while Valdez hasn't gotten into a game since November 11. However, Ryan Fitzgerald was a late addition to Licey and has gotten into two games this week. He was 0 for 7 with a run. He walked once and struck out four times. -----
Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) The Red Sox signed Jorge Benitez to a minor league deal November 22 and he's been pitching in Puerto Rico for Caguas. His scoreless streak has continued to 10 1/3 innings and added a strikeout across his 2/3 innings of work this week.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Dec 11, 2023 12:47:18 GMT -5
December 11, 2023 at 12:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup:
The winter leagues continued on this week with two leagues having participants from the Red Sox system in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. This pattern will continue until the 2024 Rookie Development Program gets going in January and likely the 2024 Caribbean Series from February 1-9. This post covers games between December 4-10. Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Looking at the weekly rosters, Emmanuel Valdez for Este is not listed on their team roster. However, infielder Pablo Reyes is still listed on the Toros del Este roster and appeared twice this past week. On Thursday against Ciabo, he went 1 for 4 and on Friday against Auguilas he went 2 for 4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. The 30-year-old who is on the 40-man roster now has a slash line of .233/.333/.483 over 60 at-bats over the winter.
Victor Santos for Licey has had a strong winter thus far and was coming off his worst outing of the season last week. Unfortunately, his first start this week went even worse, lasting only 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits, two walks, and four earned runs while striking out three. Fortunately, he got a second start this week and was able to turn the ship around with five excellent innings, giving up only one run on four hits and a walk while striking out two. Even despite the two recent rough outings, the 23-year-old has a 2.51 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 32 1/3 innings.
Infielder Ryan Fitzgerald (pictured, above right) was a late add to the roster of Licey and he continued to see action this week for the team appearing in three games. On Monday, he went 1 for 3 with a home run, run, RBI, and strikeout; on Tuesday he went 2 for 4 with two strikeouts; and on Wednesday he appeared but did not get an at-bat. He is now hitting .259/.310/.481 over his first nine games for Licey. ----- Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) Newly signed Jorge Benitez just keeps cranking out scoreless appearances for Caguas. His scoreless streak has continued to 11 1/3 innings and added a strikeout and allowed two hits while closing out Sunday's 7-2 win for Caguas. His season statistics now have him with 13 strikeouts, three walks, and seven hits over his 11 1/3 innings.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Dec 18, 2023 11:37:53 GMT -5
December 18, 2023 at 11:00 AM Fall/Winter Roundup: Reyes picks up three hits
The Dominican Professional League and Roberto Clemente Professional League, the only two leagues with Red Sox players in action, each continued this past week. The 2024 Rookie Development Program will get going in January. This post covers games from December 11-17.
Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Pablo Reyes only got five at-bats this past week, but he made them count. The infielder went 3 for 5 with a trio of singles. He is now slashing .262/.377/.492 in 65 at-bats this winter with four home runs. Enmanuel Valdez did not play.
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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) Jorge Benitez stayed hot, keeping his scoreless streak going. The left-hander only pitched one inning this past week, but it was a clean one. He did not allow a run and struck out one without issuing a free pass. He has now thrown 12 1/3 innings with 14 strikeouts and just three walks without allowing an earned run.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Dec 20, 2023 6:07:45 GMT -5
Red Sox have Triston Casas type of hitter making people ‘jealous’ in minors
Updated: Dec. 20, 2023, 5:42 a.m.|Published: Dec. 20, 2023, 5:37 a.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
As a rookie in 2023, Triston Casas finished in the 93rd percentile among qualified major league hitters in walk percentage (13.9%), 86th percentile in chase percentage (22.1%) and 92nd percentile in expected weighted on-base percentage (.370).
He takes such pride in commanding the strike zone that he even screamed and flipped his bat after drawing a 14-pitch walk against the Rays at Tropicana Field in April.
Do the Red Sox have another Casas type of hitter nearing the big leagues? Roman Anthony, a 19-year-old center fielder, had an excellent 17.5% walk percentage (86 walks, 491 plate appearances) between Low-A Salem, High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland in his first full professional season in ‘23.
Anthony’s .403 on-base percentage was second among Red Sox minor leaguers (minimum 395 at-bats, min. 100 games) behind only Chase Meidroth (.408).
“Not to say he’s a patient, passive hitter,” Greenville manager Iggy Suarez said about Anthony. “I think he just has a really good knowledge of the strike zone. And if you come into the strike zone, he’s going to get his A swing off.”
Anthony certainly has shown advanced pitch recognition skills like Casas who posted the highest on-base percentage (.367) among rookies with at least 400 at-bats.
“You see that approach and then you see how old he is and it’s crazy because it’s a veteran-like approach,” Suarez said. “And this kid’s barely 19 years old. I look at him and I’m like, ‘I’m so jealous, man. Man, you’re so lucky.’ Then I’m like, ‘I’m so happy you’re on our side.’”
Anthony is selectively aggressive. He does a good job of swinging at pitches he knows he can drive and laying off the pitches he can’t. He might get his pitch early in the count. He has the ability to wait for it and take his walks if it doesn’t come.
“It’s something I’ve taken pride in my whole life,” Anthony said in September. “Swinging at good pitches, getting good pitches to hit. Being aggressive but having controlled aggression at the plate has always been a huge thing for me. I feel like I’ve always done a good job since I was younger at getting the pitch that I’m looking for. Selecting a zone in the box that I’m looking for and really honing in on that until maybe two strikes. But doing a good job at being aggressive with that early. If I get that pitch, trying not to miss it early.”
With two strikes, he’s doing whatever he can to put the ball in play.
“But early in the count just knowing where I’m good at in the zone and knowing what I can do damage with and what I do damage with very well,” he said. “And going up there with an approach. Every pitcher is different. You get different heat zones on different guys for different pitches. But for the most part, just trying to simplify it and do what I know how to do best. Just picking a spot early and sticking to that. Sometimes you’re not always going to get that spot you’re looking for. But just living and dying by that approach. And then when it’s two strikes, it just kind of game on.”
Suarez also mentioned that Anthony is a leader. The Red Sox already have talked so much about top prospect Marcelo Mayer’s leadership skills. Perhaps their top two prospects both have that ability.
“To be able to see that kind of approach and patience, and knowing there’s a way he goes about his business, it’s very veteran-like,” Suarez said. “It’s that leadership quality. He’s not a rah-rah type of guy. He’s going to get down to business and get his work in. Again, you see how young he is and you’re like, ‘Man, he’s just getting started.’ He’s putting himself on the map big-time now with that (approach).”
SoxProspects.com recently moved Anthony into Boston’s No. 1 prospect spot ahead of Mayer. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline still rank Mayer No. 1 and Anthony No. 2. Baseball America ranks Anthony No. 19 overall on its Top 100 list.
Anthony also hits for power like Casas who ranked in the 89th percentile in expected slugging percentage (.500) last season. Anthony ranked fourth among Red Sox minor leaguers in extra-base hits with 45 (14 homers, 27 doubles, four triples).
He batted .294 with a .412 on-base percentage, .569 slugging percentage, .981 OPS, 12 homers, 14 doubles, three triples, 38 RBIs and 41 runs in 54 games against competition on average more than three years older than him. He finished with 10 games in Portland where he went 12-for-35 (.343) with five extra-base hits.
“I don’t think it’s patient. He’s aggressive,” Suarez said. “But he just knows where the strike zone is. And it’s only going to get better. As you go up in levels, the pitching is going to get a little bit better, the stuff is going to get better. He’s going to learn a lot more and he’s only going to get better.”
He kept his walk rate high all season but he also had 75 strikeouts (30.6% strikeout percentage) at Greenville. His strikeout rate increased significantly over his final 34 games there, especially vs. left-handers.
“There’s always stuff you can improve on, like that, for example,” he said in September when asked about the rising strikeout rate at Greenville. “It (strikeout percentage) was low during the beginning of the year and then I got to Greenville and it was still pretty low. Then I went through a little patch there where it kind of spiked up a little bit. I think it was the first time I started to get pitched backwards and pitched a little bit differently, too. So it just took a little bit of adjusting and a little bit of knowingness of ‘Hey, take your walks. If they’re not going to give you anything, don’t expand.’
“For me, it took a little bit of time and getting back to that approach of just going up there and living and dying by the approach,” he added. “Being selective with pitches early and trying to get a pitch early I can do damage with and if not, just kind of shut it down until two strikes. Going into next year, obviously there’s a bunch of takeaways I’ve learned that I’ll take into next year. You can always try to work on things like that and get better at things like that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jan 2, 2024 14:11:17 GMT -5
January 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: Grissom acquired from Braves in stunning trade
The first winter roundup of 2024 is highlighted by none other than Vaughn Grissom (pictured, left), who the Red Sox stunningly acquired from the Braves this past Saturday in exchange for left-hander Chris Sale and cash considerations.
Grissom, who turns 23 later this week, was originally selected by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2019 amateur draft. The right-handed-hitting infielder broke in with Atlanta in August of 2022, most notably recording his first career hit (and first career home run) against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. He has appeared in a total of 64 big-league contests over the last two seasons and has batted .287/.339/.407 with nine doubles, one triple, five homers, 27 RBIs, 29 runs scored, five stolen bases, 13 walks, and 49 strikeouts while seeing playing time at both middle infield positions.
A Florida native with Puerto Rican roots, Grissom has spent part of his winter playing in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente by joining the Cangrejeros de Santurce last month for the final weeks of the regular season. With that, we will now get into how Grissom, and a few other members of the Red Sox organization, have fared with their respective winter ball clubs.
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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) Grissom debuted for Santurce on December 9 and appeared in 13 regular season games, going 11 for 43 (.256) with one double, three RBIs, three runs scored, one stolen base, four walks, and eight strikeouts. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder put up those numbers at the plate while making six starts at third base and seven starts in left field. That is notable since Atlanta reportedly wanted Grissom to gain some experience in the outfield before ultimately electing to deal him to Boston.
Sticking with position players, catcher Juan Montero got into five games for Leones de Ponce this winter. The 21-year-old backstop went 2 for 9 (.222) with a double, a walk, and three strikeouts. From behind the plate, he committed just one error in 20 chances over 18 defensive innings.
Elsewhere, Jorge Benitez put the finishing touches on a strong winter with Caguas. Altogether, the 24-year-old lefty posted a 0.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 20 strikeouts to seven walks over 14 relief appearances spanning 15 innings of work for the Criollos.
Christian Koss, meanwhile, was a late addition to Caguas' roster after signing with the club on Christmas. The versatile 25-year-old got into five games before season's end and went 3 for 11 (.273) with a double, three RBIs, one run scored, one stolen base, and two strikeouts. He made two starts in right field and one start in left field.
Three of the four teams mentioned here have made it to the semifinals in the LBPRC playoffs. Beginning on Tuesday night, Santurce will host Caguas and the Gigantes de Carolina will host Ponce in a pair of best-of-seven series. The winners will face one another in the league finals, which are set to begin on Friday, January 12.
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Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) Toros del Este, the only LIDOM club with any Red Sox representation this winter, failed to qualify for the postseason as a result of a last-place finish. Enmanuel Valdez, who did not play after November 11, went 4 for 36 (.111) with two RBIs, four runs scored, one stolen base, seven walks, and nine strikeouts over 11 games (47 plate appearances). In addition to drawing seven walks, the 25-year-old second baseman was hit by a pitch on four separate occasions.
Pablo Reyes, on the other hand, got into 20 games for Toros. The right-handed hitting 30-year-old slashed .262/.377/.492 with three doubles, four home runs, 11 RBIs, 10 runs scored, one stolen base, 11 walks, and nine strikeouts across 78 trips to the plate. After making starts at five different defensive positions in that stretch, Reyes -- by instruction of the Red Sox -- was taken off Toros' roster on December 18.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jan 8, 2024 14:06:36 GMT -5
January 8, 2024 at 12:00 PM Fall/Winter Roundup: Caguas moves to LBPRC final, Jorge Benitez shines
The calendar has flipped to 2024 and with that, the winter league seasons are beginning to come to a close. Red Sox minor leaguers are only still playing in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League and one team has already punched its ticket to the championship series, while Game 6 in the other best-of-seven semifinal series is on Monday night.
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Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) Caguas took down Santurce in five games to advance to the championship series. Two farmhands are playing for Caguas in Jorge Benitez and Christian Koss (pictured). Benitez pitched in three games and contributed 4 1/3 no-hit innings over Games 2, 3 and 5. He pitched two frames in the deciding contest and struck out four Santurce hitters against one walk, his only of the playoffs. He had a punchout each in his other two appearances. Koss appeared in each of the series' first three contests, with a 1-6 line, including four strikeouts.
They are the only two to appear in the postseason to date, as Vaughn Grissom suited up for now-eliminated Santurce, while Juan Montero did not factor into any of the first five games in the series between Ponce and Gigantes de Carolina. Gigantes leads the series, 3-2. If Ponce wins Game 6, Game 7 is scheduled for Wednesday. The championship series, for the right to represent Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series, begins Friday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jan 16, 2024 6:35:24 GMT -5
Red Sox to land well-regarded Dominican outfield prospect January 15th, 2024 Jesse Borek
Jesse Borek @jesseaborek Jesús Cano
Jesús Cano @jesus_cano88
The Red Sox are in the process of adding one of the best all-around hitters on this year’s international market to their organization.
Boston agreed to terms with outfielder Vladimir Asencio, MLB.com’s No. 33 international prospect, for around $1 million as the 2024 signing period opened on Monday. The Red Sox, who have a $5.284 million signing pool, have not yet confirmed the agreement.
Asencio is the latest top-tier international prospect to have trained with Mejia Top 10 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which recently produced Cristian Hernandez (Cubs) and Miguel Bleis (Red Sox). Many clubs have shown interest in inking Asencio, who boasts loads of physical projection at just 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, and now the Red Sox will reap the benefits of his talent.
Armed with a sound bat path and slight uppercut stroke, Asencio has a knack for utilizing the opposite field. The 17-year-old has made consistent hard contact during games, and evaluators believe he will grow into more power as he matures. He remains very much hit-over-power at this stage of his development, but he does sport some sneaky pop.
Athleticism is the first thing that jumps off the page with Asencio. Although he has just average arm strength from center field with fair footwork and range, his speed should enable him to maximize his tools defensively. That same quickness figures to play to his advantage on the basepaths with his medium-sized frame.
An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.
That means players born between Sept. 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2007, will be eligible to sign in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jan 16, 2024 6:39:12 GMT -5
Dominican OF Vladimir Asencio headlines Red Sox new international class
By Mac Cerullo | mcerullo@bostonherald.com PUBLISHED: January 15, 2024 at 12:53 p.m. | UPDATED: January 15, 2024 at 7:59 p.m.
Xander Bogaerts. Rafael Devers. Brayan Bello. All three eventually became impact players for the Red Sox, but long before they reached the majors each signed with the club as teenagers hoping to chase their big league dream.
This week that journey officially begins for a new class of international free agents.
Monday marked the first day of MLB’s new international signing period, a big day on the baseball calendar that allows players and clubs to formalize deals that have often been agreed to years in advance. The Red Sox are expected to spread their $5.284 million in international signing funds across several talented youngsters rather than invest heavily on one highly ranked teen, continuing an approach that helped net current top prospects like Miguel Bleis and Yoenis Cespedes.
Here are a handful of the notable players who are set to join the Red Sox, according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Vladimir Asencio, OF, Dominican Republic
The jewel of the Red Sox’ latest crop of international standouts, Asencio is widely viewed as one of the best all-around hitters in his class. Ranked No. 33 by MLB Pipeline, the outfielder is regarded as one of the most difficult teenage hitters to strike out and boasts excellent hand-eye coordination and bat control along with the ability to spray the ball to all fields.
“The 17-year-old has made consistent hard contact during games, and evaluators believe he will grow into more power as he matures,” writes MLB.com. “He remains very much hit-over-power at this stage of his development, but he does sport some sneaky pop.”
At 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Asencio isn’t all that big but boasts enough quickness to allow him a chance to stick in center field. He also reportedly trained with the same club that produced Bleis, who was Boston’s top international signing in 2021 and currently ranks as the organization’s No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
According to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, Asencio has signed for $1 million, which ranks No. 37 on Baseball America’s Top 100 bonus board. Asencio is the only Red Sox signee who is expected to rank inside the top 50, though four others are projected to land between No. 50-100.
Carlos Carrasquel, 3B, Venezuela
Carrasquel has been identified by Baseball America as a prospect to watch and as someone who could be a potential breakout star upon his arrival in the Dominican Summer League. The third baseman stands at 6-foot-4 and reportedly boasts a promising foundation of size, power and all-around hitting ability.
“(He) generates easy power from the right side of the plate and doesn’t have to sell out with an all-or-nothing swing to produce that power, with the strength projection for bigger exit velocity numbers in the future,” Baseball America writes. “A shortstop earlier in the scouting process, Carrasquel has gotten faster and improved defensively, but his size and range fit better at third base, with the arm strength to stay on the left side of the infield.” Edwin Brito, OF, Dominican Republic
Baseball America describes Brito as a big right-handed outfielder who has great raw power and bat speed along with the ability to drive the ball with damage. Brito isn’t expected to be as great a contact hitter and projects as a corner outfielder. Dalvinson Reyes, RHP, Dominican Republic
The highest-paid pitcher in this year’s Red Sox class at $450,000, Baseball America describes Reyes as a tall and lanky right-hander who stands at at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds and who already boasts a fastball touching 92 mph. He’ll have plenty of room to grow physically while also improving his curveball and changeup. Anderson Fermin, SS/CF, Dominican Republic
According to Baseball America, Fermin is a switch-hitting standout with gap power from both sides of the plate, along with high-end athleticism and plus speed that could allow him to star at either shortstop or center field. Fermin has reportedly signed for $400,000. Rounding things out
The Red Sox are also expected to sign the following international free agents, according to Baseball America: Justin Gonzalez, OF, Dominican Republic; Tavano Baker, OF, Bahamas; Juan Medina, RHP, Venezuela; Edwin Darvile, SS, Bahamas; Avinson Pinto, SS, Venezuela; Tejahari Wilson, RHP, Bahamas; Justim Sojo, SS, Venezuela; Christopher Alvarado, SS, Venezuela; Cesar Muzziotti, RHP, Venezuela; Rafy Montesinos, SS, Dominican Republic; Yahir Peña, C, Venezuela; Madison Frias, RHP, Dominican Republic.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jan 18, 2024 6:25:33 GMT -5
Red Sox land 4 prospects in Baseball America’s Top 100, including 2 in top 25
Published: Jan. 17, 2024, 10:33 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
The Red Sox believe they have a series of prospects who are capable of forming the core of their next championship team. According to one top publication, those players are among the very best prospects in all of baseball.
Boston has four players ranked on Baseball America’s list of the top 100 prospects in baseball, including two in the top 25. Shortstop Marcelo Mayer was ranked No. 14, outfielder Roman Anthony came in at No. 21, catcher Kyle Teel was ranked No. 62 and outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela came in at No. 94.
The Red Sox had five prospects in the top 100 a year ago with Mayer (No. 10) and Rafaela (No. 71) being joined by Triston Casas (No. 29), Masataka Yoshida (No. 87) and Miguel Bleis (No. 88). Casas and Yoshida, of course, are no longer eligible after spending the entire 2023 season in the majors. Bleis fell off the list after a shoulder injury ended his season in June.
Mayer dropped a few of spots after a shoulder injury somewhat derailed his season after a promotion to Double-A. On Thursday, appearing during Boston’s rookie development program, the former fourth overall pick said he’s fully healed heading into spring training.
Anthony was not on the top 100 list before last season but sprung up ranking lists after hitting .272 with 14 homers, 64 RBIs and an .869 OPS across three levels and reaching Double-A at age 19. Teel was Boston’s first round pick in July, being taken out of the University of Virginia with the 14th overall pick in the draft. Rafaela reached the majors in September and will either begin the year at Triple-A or in the majors.
The trio of Mayer, Anthony and Teel represents the highest-upside group of Red Sox prospects in some time. Recently, The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported that the club basically considers the group untouchable in trade talks. All three players are expected to start the year at Double-A; all three are expected in the majors by 2025 at the latest.
The Red Sox actually had fewer top 100 prospects than three of their division rivals as the Orioles, Yankees and Rays all had six on the list. Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday is the top overall prospect in baseball while Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero is ranked third. Other AL East prospects in the top 30 include Baltimore’s Samuel Basallo (No. 10), New York’s Jasson Dominguez (No. 16), Toronto’s Ricky Tiedemann (No. 23) and Baltimore’s Coby Mayo (No. 25)
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