In 2023, the FCL Sox finished 28-25, missing the playoffs. In 2024, Tom Kotchman, 69, returns for his 11th season as manager, taking over when they were called the Gulf Coast Red Sox.
The FCL Red Sox play their home games at JetBlue Park at Fenway South which opened in 2012 & boasts a capacity of 10,823. I did not find FCL attendance data, but based on information & belief, the #s were low.
For the Florida Complex League Red Sox, I'll just take the history from Wiki:
Here are the way too early roster projections from SP (https://www.soxprospects.com/2024.htm):
Rotation
RHP Eybersson Polanco
RHP Gilberto Batista
RHP Wuilliams Rodriguez
RHP Obed Balderas
RHP Juan Henriquez
RHP Chansol Lee
Polanco is the only repeat from last year. He was ~ok. I'm excited to see how some of the DSL guys, including my favorites like WUILLIAMS do at the next level, & it will be interesting to see how Chansol Lee does in his 1st year in the org after signing for $300k. Wouldn't mind Van Der Schaaf & Colmenares starting, either in the FCL or in A-Ball. I think Obed will probably repeat DSL because he's so young (doesn't turn 18 until July), but if he does get assigned to the FCL that would be a really good sign.
Bullpen
Yonfi Rodriguez
Denis Reguillo
Stijn Van Der Schaaf
Cristian Nunez
Darlyn De La Cruz
Willian Colmenares
Austin Ehrlicher
Ruben De La Cruz
Alisson Del Orbe
Luis Jerez
Jose Martinez
Adam Bates
A little confused about the placement of Nunez. He wasn't good last year, but he did spend time in Salem last year, so I wouldn't really expect him to go backwards. Interested to see how Ehrlicher & Bates do in their 1st action in the system, too. & I'm also interested in what Alisson Del Orbe does as he is already an older prospect (22) after switching from being a hitter & having a dominant DSL season last year. Would hope he's in A-Ball before too long if things go well.
Inactive
RHP Alvaro Mejias
Mejias is interesting. Had a dominant age 18 season in the DSL (1.23 ERA, 2.91 xFIP, 12 k/9, 2.1 bb/9 in 8 starts, 29.1 innings), but missed all of last season except for the last game of the FCL season (which he pitched badly in). Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the rotation either. Should have a full, normal off season I would assume after making it back for the very last day.
Lineup
C Kleyver Salazar
1B Frederik Jimenez
2B Franklin Arias
3B Freili Encarnacion
SS Yoeilin Cespedes
LF Andy Lugo
CF Nelly Taylor
RF Yosander Asencio
DH Fraymi De Leon
Bench
C Andruw Musett
C Gerardo Rodriguez
IF Starlyn Nunez
IF Bryant Zayas
OF Deundre Jones
OF Kelvin Diaz
OF Cristofher Paniagua
Inactive
C Diego Viloria
C Enmanuel Martinez
C/1B - Musett, Salazar & Rodriguez were all pretty impressive in the DSL last year. They are all better prospects than Jimenez, who is also a catcher by trade. I would expect those 3 to get a lot of reps at C, 1B & DH this season, with Jimenez getting some at 1B & DH.
2B - Arias & Starlyn with a side of Yoely sounds fun, backed up by Zayas & Fraymi. I'm definitely an Arias stan & I'm not sure I've heard anyone else even talk about STARLYN. Wouldn't be shocked to see Nixson Cueche here either (or in the 1B mix).
SS - It would be excellent if Cespedes speeds right through FCL & keeps the momentum going. Will be disappointing if he doesn't get some time in Salem this year. Arias should also get plenty of time here (he's probably the guy more likely to stick at SS defensively, but it makes sense to give YOELY the run). Zayas & Fraymi also fit in here.
3B - Freili has always struck me as a tad overrated by SP. He wasn't particularly good in his DSL season (94 wRC+) & was injured & bad in his FCL season (55 wRC+ in 39 PAs), but hopefully those 2 things are connected and there are still bigger things to come. I would expect Starlyn & Fraymi to be a big part of the 3B mix, too, & Cueche if he's around.
OF - Lugo, Taylor & Asencio are all somewhat interesting, & all in different points of the development cycle (Lugo missed last year after a pretty good DSL season, Taylor was playing for Polk State, & Asencio was having a 2nd very good 2nd DSL season - 142 wRC+ followed by 154). Asencio is the one I'm most irrationally excited about, but Taylor is supposed to be a really good defender. Diaz was decent last year & could spend time in Salem this year. Not too excited about Jones or Paniagua.
Last season was my 1st really following the DSL, so far more excited than I should be to see how some of those guys progress in the FCL this season, & hopefully on to Salem in the case of some of them.
The FCL Red Sox play their home games at JetBlue Park at Fenway South which opened in 2012 & boasts a capacity of 10,823. I did not find FCL attendance data, but based on information & belief, the #s were low.
For the Florida Complex League Red Sox, I'll just take the history from Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Complex_League_Red_Sox
Here are the way too early roster projections from SP (https://www.soxprospects.com/2024.htm):
Rotation
RHP Eybersson Polanco
RHP Gilberto Batista
RHP Wuilliams Rodriguez
RHP Obed Balderas
RHP Juan Henriquez
RHP Chansol Lee
Polanco is the only repeat from last year. He was ~ok. I'm excited to see how some of the DSL guys, including my favorites like WUILLIAMS do at the next level, & it will be interesting to see how Chansol Lee does in his 1st year in the org after signing for $300k. Wouldn't mind Van Der Schaaf & Colmenares starting, either in the FCL or in A-Ball. I think Obed will probably repeat DSL because he's so young (doesn't turn 18 until July), but if he does get assigned to the FCL that would be a really good sign.
Bullpen
Yonfi Rodriguez
Denis Reguillo
Stijn Van Der Schaaf
Cristian Nunez
Darlyn De La Cruz
Willian Colmenares
Austin Ehrlicher
Ruben De La Cruz
Alisson Del Orbe
Luis Jerez
Jose Martinez
Adam Bates
A little confused about the placement of Nunez. He wasn't good last year, but he did spend time in Salem last year, so I wouldn't really expect him to go backwards. Interested to see how Ehrlicher & Bates do in their 1st action in the system, too. & I'm also interested in what Alisson Del Orbe does as he is already an older prospect (22) after switching from being a hitter & having a dominant DSL season last year. Would hope he's in A-Ball before too long if things go well.
Inactive
RHP Alvaro Mejias
Mejias is interesting. Had a dominant age 18 season in the DSL (1.23 ERA, 2.91 xFIP, 12 k/9, 2.1 bb/9 in 8 starts, 29.1 innings), but missed all of last season except for the last game of the FCL season (which he pitched badly in). Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the rotation either. Should have a full, normal off season I would assume after making it back for the very last day.
Lineup
C Kleyver Salazar
1B Frederik Jimenez
2B Franklin Arias
3B Freili Encarnacion
SS Yoeilin Cespedes
LF Andy Lugo
CF Nelly Taylor
RF Yosander Asencio
DH Fraymi De Leon
Bench
C Andruw Musett
C Gerardo Rodriguez
IF Starlyn Nunez
IF Bryant Zayas
OF Deundre Jones
OF Kelvin Diaz
OF Cristofher Paniagua
Inactive
C Diego Viloria
C Enmanuel Martinez
C/1B - Musett, Salazar & Rodriguez were all pretty impressive in the DSL last year. They are all better prospects than Jimenez, who is also a catcher by trade. I would expect those 3 to get a lot of reps at C, 1B & DH this season, with Jimenez getting some at 1B & DH.
2B - Arias & Starlyn with a side of Yoely sounds fun, backed up by Zayas & Fraymi. I'm definitely an Arias stan & I'm not sure I've heard anyone else even talk about STARLYN. Wouldn't be shocked to see Nixson Cueche here either (or in the 1B mix).
SS - It would be excellent if Cespedes speeds right through FCL & keeps the momentum going. Will be disappointing if he doesn't get some time in Salem this year. Arias should also get plenty of time here (he's probably the guy more likely to stick at SS defensively, but it makes sense to give YOELY the run). Zayas & Fraymi also fit in here.
3B - Freili has always struck me as a tad overrated by SP. He wasn't particularly good in his DSL season (94 wRC+) & was injured & bad in his FCL season (55 wRC+ in 39 PAs), but hopefully those 2 things are connected and there are still bigger things to come. I would expect Starlyn & Fraymi to be a big part of the 3B mix, too, & Cueche if he's around.
OF - Lugo, Taylor & Asencio are all somewhat interesting, & all in different points of the development cycle (Lugo missed last year after a pretty good DSL season, Taylor was playing for Polk State, & Asencio was having a 2nd very good 2nd DSL season - 142 wRC+ followed by 154). Asencio is the one I'm most irrationally excited about, but Taylor is supposed to be a really good defender. Diaz was decent last year & could spend time in Salem this year. Not too excited about Jones or Paniagua.
Last season was my 1st really following the DSL, so far more excited than I should be to see how some of those guys progress in the FCL this season, & hopefully on to Salem in the case of some of them.
