Minor league thread 2023

LogansDad

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Nov 15, 2006
30,062
Alamogordo
Honest question: When's the last time we could be this excited about the farm system? There's always been the one to three guys we could dream on, but right now it feels like if it even breaks 75% well they have almost an entire serviceable team coming through in the next 3 years or so, and they have the high end prospects to make it better than that.

Is it when Mookie/Beni/JBJ were coming through? I don't even feel like the system had this kind of depth back then, to be honest.

Add to that the guys already on the MLB roster and the money coming available over the next couple seasons, and I just can't see how people refuse to be excited about the future of this organization.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
51,663
Honest question: When's the last time we could be this excited about the farm system? There's always been the one to three guys we could dream on, but right now it feels like if it even breaks 75% well they have almost an entire serviceable team coming through in the next 3 years or so, and they have the high end prospects to make it better than that.

Is it when Mookie/Beni/JBJ were coming through? I don't even feel like the system had this kind of depth back then, to be honest.

Add to that the guys already on the MLB roster and the money coming available over the next couple seasons, and I just can't see how people refuse to be excited about the future of this organization.
The lack of patience for building the strong foundation of a potential multi-year contender is kind of confounding given the several titles most SoSHers have seen and enjoyed.

Maybe it is just the average SoSHer is older and closer to death, which makes the prospect of waiting even a year for youth development more daunting.

I don’t love everything Chaim has done but no GM is perfect and at least in this regard he’s done well. And the MLB team is pretty good! With some luck this will be a great bridge year type of season.
 

TimScribble

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Jul 16, 2005
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Be interesting to see what the Red Sox do with their pick in the draft. They’re high enough that they could land a potential high end college arm. Not those tier 1 guys like Skenes and Dollander but maybe a Lowder or Waldrep (my hope for the pick).

But my money is still on a HS short stop again.
 

JM3

often quoted
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Dec 14, 2019
15,686
Be interesting to see what the Red Sox do with their pick in the draft. They’re high enough that they could land a potential high end college arm. Not those tier 1 guys like Skenes and Dollander but maybe a Lowder or Waldrep (my hope for the pick).

But my money is still on a HS short stop again.
They definitely seem to have a type. It seems to be working out pretty well the last couple years.

I'm guessing they go HS bats early & projectable college pitchers later, but who knows? I'm kind of just going to trust whatever they decide at this point.
 

AlNipper49

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Dope
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Apr 3, 2001
44,967
Mtigawi
Honest question: When's the last time we could be this excited about the farm system? There's always been the one to three guys we could dream on, but right now it feels like if it even breaks 75% well they have almost an entire serviceable team coming through in the next 3 years or so, and they have the high end prospects to make it better than that.

Is it when Mookie/Beni/JBJ were coming through? I don't even feel like the system had this kind of depth back then, to be honest.

Add to that the guys already on the MLB roster and the money coming available over the next couple seasons, and I just can't see how people refuse to be excited about the future of this organization.
The Kopech, Moncada, Anderson Espinoza, Devers, Benintendi, Dalbec, Chavis years were pretty decent. I'm probably missing a few too.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
38,037
Hingham, MA
To me the last time was circa 2005, when the Sea Dogs were must-follow on a nightly basis.

Delcarmen
Gabbard
Hansen
Lester
Edgar Martinez
Cla Meredith
Brandon Moss
David Murphy
Papelbon
Pauley
Pedroia
Hanley
Anibal Sanchez
Charlie Zink

edit: Buzzkill still one of my all time favorite SoSH nicknames
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
15,686
The JOHANFRAN coming out party. Hit 67% of the org's homers yesterday.

View: https://twitter.com/SoxProspects/status/1670983147859718144


View: https://twitter.com/SoxProspects/status/1670965176416305153


Signed for $850k as an IFA in January '22. #33 on SoxProspects list. He's an 18 y/o catcher.

His older brother, Jhostynxon Garcia, is a 20 y/o OF with Salem with a .557 OPS. DD clearly playing 8D chess by signing this guy for $350k in July '19 to pave the path for the JOHANFRANSAINCE.

JOHANFRAN was #34 in his IFA class per MLB Pipeline.

View: https://twitter.com/WhitlockSzn/status/1482367681298931712
 

simplicio

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Apr 11, 2012
5,519
Law updated his mock draft, thinks we're in on a college bat in the first round:

14. Boston Red Sox – Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
Shaw is one of the best hitters in the college class, with hard contact and power, but needs to play somewhere other than shortstop. He’s one of many college bats I’ve heard linked to Boston, along with Troy and Taylor, all of whom are good batted-ball data guys as well as hitters scouts believe will continue to hit in pro ball.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Aug 1, 2001
16,939
The Woo Sox added former major league journeyman Kyle Barraclough out of an independent league to add some pitching depth:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/red-sox-to-sign-kyle-barraclough-to-minor-league-deal.html

Barraclough, 33, has plenty of big league experience on his résumé, often pairing excellent strikeout stuff with control issues. From 2015 to 2017, he made 166 appearances for the Marlins, walking 14.5% of batters faced but punching out 31.7%. Despite the free passes, he was able to register an ERA of 2.87 in that stretch while recording one save and 57 holds.
From there, his results took a bad turn when home run troubles were added into the mix. From 2018 through 2022, his strikeout rate dipped to 25.1%, still above league average but below his own previous results. His 13.2% walk rate was a slight improvement for him but still very high. Meanwhile, 21 home runs in 111 1/3 innings pushed his ERA to 4.69 in that stretch. That pushed him into journeyman mode as he bounced from the Marlins to the Nationals, Giants, Twins and Angels.
This year, Barraclough has been pitching for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League.
Obvious nickname: Bear Claw.
I really hope they have vetted his social media posts. Surely this time...
 

chrisfont9

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LogansDad

Member
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Nov 15, 2006
30,062
Alamogordo
Marcelo fully on board the struggle bus in Portland, down to .152 average with a .549 OPS after an 0-4 tonight.

Yorke, however, went 4-4 with his 11th double and 9th home run, and is up to an .876 OPS.

Our newest favorite bodybuilding catcher (Brannon) went 2-5, and is sporting a measly 1.026 OPS on the year so far.
 

Jason Bae

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Jul 23, 2021
640
NJ
One thing that doesn't worry me too much about Mayer's struggles in AA is that his K% isn't any worse than it was at previous levels (in fact, it's lower).
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
15,686
Oops, thought I posted this hours ago & it's pretty pointless now, but might as well send it...

Some interesting starters today...

View: https://twitter.com/SoxProspects/status/1671549118823448578


AAA - The newly acquired Bear Claw.

AA - Isaac Coffey in his 1st start after being promoted from A+

Today is his 23rd birthday. 10th rounder last year.

View: https://twitter.com/npgsports/status/1671504416250159106


A+ - Dalton Roger's in his 1st start since pitching 6 no hit innings. Today is not his birthday. 22 y/o, 3rd rounder last year.

View: https://twitter.com/RedSoxPlayerDev/status/1669160847967387649


A - Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz has been quite good this season. Turns 20 in August. 2021 4th rounder.

View: https://twitter.com/redsoxstats/status/1669155623596969984
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
15,686
Corey Rosier promoted to AAA.

View: https://twitter.com/Hunter_Noll/status/1671954651837595658?cxt=HHwWlIC89bf5_LMuAAAA


I was seeing speculation that it might be Rafaela because they only had like 11 active hitters at Worcester & 2 are hurt (Valdez/Sogard), but looks like they chose Rosier instead.

Rosier is 23 & was acquired along with Eric Hosmer & Max Ferguson in the Jay Groome trade.

Groome has a 9.80 ERA & 2.263 ERA in AAA this year in the Padres organization.

Ferguson is 23 & in A+ ball doing not much other than stealing bases (23 of 27). He was 61 of 66 last year, though