Minor league thread 2022

Cesar Crespo

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Eduardo Lopez went 3/6 with a double and a HR in yesterday's DH.

It's only 55 PA, but he's now at .306/.364/.531 for the year. 2 doubles, 3 HR, 5bb/19k. He bares watching since he was the Sox #1 international signing in 2018. After signing, he played 2019 in the DSL. 2020 was cancelled and he only played 11 games last year. Hard to tell where he is, honestly. He just turned 20 yesterday, so he's an appropriate age for a prospect at A.

Niko went 2/5 with a double and a walk in the DH. Up to .301/.490/.521 for the year in 100 PA with 25bb/29k. That's a lot of strike outs for a 23 year old in A ball, but I'm not sure what he's still doing at the level. He's fun to follow but I guess he struggles mightily in AA if not A+.

Fitzgerald hit HR #8. .295/.365/.653 for the year.
Home: .302/.375/.628 in 48 PA 2 HR.
Road: .289/.356/.673 in 59 PA. 6 HR.

No Worcester effect, here.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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WooSox lose to the Rochester Red Wings 8-2.
Jet Downs with a 2-run HR (7) accounts for all the offense. Jet is now at .230/.353/.490/ .843 OPS. Huge improvement over last year's .605 OPS. Last year 38 BB, 131 K (1:3.45). This year 17 BB, 39 K (1:2.29). Still a lot of Ks for 119 PA (32.7%, a bit too similar to last year's 32.3%). But the BB rate has increased from 9.4% to 14.2%. And he's showing much more patience at the plate, seeing 4.41 pitches per plate appearance as opposed to 3.97 last year.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Sea Dogs smoked by the Yard Goats in Hartford, 11-4.
Hamilton goes 3-5 with a triple (3). He's got an .847 OPS and 15 steals in 18 tries.
Brandon Walter (Sox Prospects #6) got roughed up. He went 1.1 innings, gave up 9 runs (7 earned - the defense committed 5 errors for the game) on 8 hits with one walk and 3 strikeouts. I believe I've read in this thread or another that he had one or two blow-up outings last year.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Drive lose to the Tourists in Asheville, 6-3.
Lugo belted his 4th Hr and Nick Northcut his 13th. Binelas was all about two true outcomes, striking out twice and walking thrice.
Binelas, Northcut and Lugo are all sporting OPSes above .900 -- .991, .981 and .961 respectively.
Sneaking into that group is a 4th .900 OPS man, Tyler Esplin, at .962.
Yorke was 1-4 with a walk and two Ks. Rafaela was 1-5 with two Ks. Jimenez was 0-3 with a walk and two outfield assists (cut down a runner trying to score from 2nd on a single and doubled-up a runner at first on a line drive to right).
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Salem Red Sox beat the Delmarva Shorebirds 1-0 on the strength of an Eddinson Paulino 3rd inning HR and two-hit pitching by four hurlers.
As noted above, Marcelo Mayer got back into game action after missing a couple weeks with a wrist injury. He went 1-4 with two Ks and a SB (4).
Blaze Jordan was 2-4 with two doubles.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Sea Dogs smoked by the Yard Goats in Hartford, 11-4.
Hamilton goes 3-5 with a triple (3). He's got an .847 OPS and 15 steals in 18 tries.
Brandon Walter (Sox Prospects #6) got roughed up. He went 1.1 innings, gave up 9 runs (7 earned - the defense committed 5 errors for the game) on 8 hits with one walk and 3 strikeouts. I believe I've read in this thread or another that he had one or two blow-up outings last year.
Yeah, he had 2 brutal starts last year.
 

GeorgeThomas

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Salem defeats the Shorebirds 5-4. Delmarva was held to a single hit in the game. Sox pitchers gave up 9 walks. Bastardo with the win giving up one run on no hits and 4 walks in 5 innings.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Pretty rough night for the prospects but here are some of the good performances
Yorke was 1/4 with HR #3, 1bb, 1k. Showing some life of late.
Rafaela was 2/4 with a BB
Paulino was 3/4 with a BB
Jordan finished 2/3 with a HR and 2bb
Eduardo Lopez went 1/5 with HR #4. He's a full on binky of mine now, and could very well be a legit prospect. I've covered it already but he has "pedigree." He has been striking out too much but there's no real sample size. I've read varying reports on whether he can stick at CF or not. .281/.344/.526 in 64 PA, 6xbh/4HR, 6bb/21k for the year.
Hamilton was 1/3 with 2bb and SB #16. .294/.384/.469, 13bb/23k, 8 xbh, 16sb/3cs in 112 PA.
Bello was one of the few top prospects with a good night. 6.0 ip, 3 hits, 0r, 1bb/5k. last 2 games: 13.0 ip, 3 hits, 1r/0er, 4k/10bb.
Politi continues to impress. 1.0 ip, 1 hit, 0r, 1bb/3k. As far as MR prospects go, I think he's right there with German. For the year: 1.50 era, 12.0 ip, 6 hits, 3r/2er, 1 HRA, 3bb/18k. 38.3% K rate, 6.4% BB% rate.


This is a fun year so far. This is especially true if Rafaela, Lugo and Lopez keep it up all year. Especially Rafaela, given his defensive profile.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Yorke with #4 in his first AB today.

3 HR in his last 4, all 4 in his last 8. This happened last year too re power. Didn't really start hitting for any until a month or so into the season.
 

moondog80

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Out for basically three weeks (save for the one game where played DH) but it's minor? Hope so, but growing skeptical.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Another rough outing for Walter. 5.2 ip, 6 hits, 6r/4er, 1bb/7k, 3 HRA

Seabold is currently dealing. 3.0 ip, 1 hit, 6k.

Mayer is currently 2/2 with 2 doubles.

edit: Seabold is now at 4.0 ip, 1 hit, 8k. 56 pitches, 42 strikes.
 
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Cesar Crespo

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Probably done.
1st batter reaches on error
Fly out to RF
Fly out to RF
GB out to 2b

6.0 ip, 1 hit, 1bb/11k. 92 pitches, 66 strikes.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Wikelman Gonzalez pitched a career high 6.0 ip. Gave up 6 hits, 4r/4er, 1bb/5k, 1 HRA. 79 pitches, 51 strikes. Probably done. Been on an 80 pitch limit.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Yorke went 1/5 with a k
Rafaela was 2/4
Gilberto was 3/5
Northcut is 1/4 with a double. He had HR #14 yesterday. He's only at 111 AB for the year. He's at bat now with the bases loaded in the 9th with 2 outs. Team is down 10-4 though. Strikes out swinging. 1/5.


Bonaci is 1/2 with 2bb so far today. Yesterday he was 3/5 with a BB. The day before that he was 2/3 with 2bb. On a tear.
Mayer is currently up with 2 guys on base. 2/3 atm. Grounded out.
 

moondog80

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Anyone who remembers Mikel Scicluna’s wrist injury that required a cast for years is right there with you. Of course he still made the Hall of Fame, so there is still hope for Mayer.
Are you thinking of Bob Orton? Or Iron Mike Sharpe? I don't remember BMS doing the cast bit but he was pure jobber by the time I became aware of him.
 

Kliq

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Are you thinking of Bob Orton? Or Iron Mike Sharpe? I don't remember BMS doing the cast bit but he was pure jobber by the time I became aware of him.
Orton was probably the most famous person to do the perpetually-broken-wrist gimmick, but I doubt he was the first. Not really sure if Scicluna ever did the gimmick previous to him, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did. Scicluna was a top star in the 60s and into the 70s, and was a frequent challenger for Bruno Sammartino during his run during that time period. As he got older he tended to morph into a job guy, which was not uncommon in those days.
 

moondog80

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Orton was probably the most famous person to do the perpetually-broken-wrist gimmick, but I doubt he was the first. Not really sure if Scicluna ever did the gimmick previous to him, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did. Scicluna was a top star in the 60s and into the 70s, and was a frequent challenger for Bruno Sammartino during his run during that time period. As he got older he tended to morph into a job guy, which was not uncommon in those days.
I think Scicluna's deal was using foreign objects and doing the bit where all the fans can see that he was hiding them in this trunks but somehow the ref can never catch him in the act. It's possible he did the injury gimmick as well at some point but I'm not sure how often guys worked two gimmicks in those days.
 

Kliq

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I think Scicluna's deal was using foreign objects and doing the bit where all the fans can see that he was hiding them in this trunks but somehow the ref can never catch him in the act. It's possible he did the injury gimmick as well at some point but I'm not sure how often guys worked two gimmicks in those days.
I imagine the injured gimmick would stem from some sort of storyline, like he "really" got his arm injured but then had the cast on for years, like Orton did. You are right that Scicluna's big schtick in his hey day was hidden foreign objects. He used to do the old trick of putting a roll of change in his fist, punching the guy, and the change would go everywhere. Then he'd quickly wipe the change away from the ring while a woozy referee came back to life.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Ceddanne Rafaela hit for the cycle and Greenville whomped Hickory, 11-6. (It could have been worse; they went 4-16 with runners in scoring position.)
Imagine a starting line-up whose worst hitter with a .735 OPS is Nick Yorke, and only he and the #9 hitter (Stephen Scott, at .755 after an 0-4) have an OPS below .800. That was the Drive's line-up tonight.
Yorke 2-5 and was caught stealing
Tyler McDonough 2-4 with a HR and a BB (.843 OPS)
Rafaela 4-5 with a 1B, 2B, 3B, HR (8) and a K (.920)
Alex Binelas 1-4 with a HR (8) and a BB (.920)
Matthew Lugo 2-4 with a 2B, a HBP, a SB, and a throwing error (.874)
Nick Northcut 1-3 with a 2B and a BB and a fielding error (.967)
Folk Hero Joe Davis 1-4 with a HR (5) and a K (.800)
Tyler Esplin 1-4 with a K (.818)

I may be going to the Sea Dogs game on June 12. Would love if some of these guys are promoted by then.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Salem fell at home to Lynchburg, 11-4.
Mayer was back in the lineup and played all 9 innings at shortstop. He went 1-3 with a 2B (10), a BB, a SF, and 2 Ks.
Blaze Jordan, Carolina League Player of the Week last week, went 0-4 with a K.
Paulino 1-3 with 2 BBs and a SB
Bonaci 0-5
Kavadas 1-3 with a BB and a K
Eduardo Lopez 1-3 with a 2B, BB, and K
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Portland wins 6-2 over Harrisburg behind a strong start from Chris Murphy (as noted above by Cesar Crespo). Three top 60 prospects finished it off. Jacob Wallace went 2 IP, striking out two and walking two. Chase Shugart picked up one K in his one inning. Frank German cleaned it up, allowing a walk and an unearned run in the 9th.
David Hamilton had a rough night at the plate, going 0-5 with 4 Ks.
Devlin "Granny" Granberg continues to mash, going 1-4 with a 3B and two Ks. His season line is now .329/.462/.506/.968. He has walked 17 times and struck out 12.
Erstwhile prospect Hudson "Potsy" Potts did most of the damage with a 3-run HR in the 3rd.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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The WooSox slipped past the Scranton Stranglers 4-3 despite outhitting them 14-6.
As noted by Crispy Crespo, Josh Winkowski was outstanding, giving up just two hits and a walk over 6 innings pitched while striking out nine. AJ Politi, just up from Portland, picked up the W, throwing a hitless, walkless, scoreless 8th with 2 Ks. Caleb Ort got the save with a clean 9th inning.
Duran was 2-4 with a 2B and a BB, and used his legs to score the winning run on a passed ball
Jet Downs was 3-5 with a 2B, 2 SBs, and a fielding error
Casas was 1-2 with a BB before leaving the game in the 7th with an ankle injury. In the Worcester Telegram's report, Casas is sending mixed signals, saying, "I feel good now. We’re going to see how I come in tomorrow, and we’ll take it slow. I feel good.”
Fitzy was 2-3 with a SAC and a GIDP.
 

Chainsaw318

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Thanks for the summaries, as always.

If anyone was nervous about Yorke’s slowish start, he now in May has played as many games and has as many PAs as all of April, and is .283/.338/.517/.855 for the month, with 2 doubles and 4 Home Runs.

The last report I think I heard was positive on the defense being passable, which if that bat continues to be legit is all that’s needed.
 

moondog80

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Long way to go but it will be a lot of fun to watch Rafaella play at 5' 8", 145. Worth a trip to Worcester if/when he gets there.
 

BringBackMo

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Regarding Rafaela, the Sox Prospects guys say that he's got a super high floor based upon his positional flexibility. He's apparently a plus defender at every position he plays, including SS. He also has plus speed. On a recent podcast, Ian Cundall said Rafaela won't have to hit much at all to make it to the majors as a bench player. So if he can become even a slightly below average hitter in the big leagues (far from a lock even with his excellent start to this season!) he could be a pretty valuable player.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I just wish he could switch hit, which would make him a true super utility unicorn prospect a la Ben Zobrist and, ehh, less successfully, Blake Swihart.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Regarding Rafaela, the Sox Prospects guys say that he's got a super high floor based upon his positional flexibility. He's apparently a plus defender at every position he plays, including SS. He also has plus speed. On a recent podcast, Ian Cundall said Rafaela won't have to hit much at all to make it to the majors as a bench player. So if he can become even a slightly below average hitter in the big leagues (far from a lock even with his excellent start to this season!) he could be a pretty valuable player.
Plus arm too. If he can hit at all, he's going to be the OOTP utility man. The guy who backs up every position and gets 500 AB.

edit: OOTP is a video game for those who don't know. It's pretty popular on the board though.
 

RoDaddy

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Regarding Rafaela, the Sox Prospects guys say that he's got a super high floor based upon his positional flexibility. He's apparently a plus defender at every position he plays, including SS. He also has plus speed. On a recent podcast, Ian Cundall said Rafaela won't have to hit much at all to make it to the majors as a bench player. So if he can become even a slightly below average hitter in the big leagues (far from a lock even with his excellent start to this season!) he could be a pretty valuable player.
SP also see him as a utility guy, which is logical, but if the newfound hitting is real and sustainable, he gets real interesting as a potential big league starter with 4 tools. I worry about the low walks though - he's gonna need a higher OBP to succeed. Also, given his speed and projected lack of power despite the recent home runs, I'd like to see him hit more doubles.

Anyway, the WooSox rotation is shaping up as a fertile ground for pitching prospects this year. Already, Seabold, Winckowski and Bello with any or all of Walter, Groome and Mata on the way
 

Cesar Crespo

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SP also see him as a utility guy, which is logical, but if the newfound hitting is real and sustainable, he gets real interesting as a potential big league starter with 4 tools. I worry about the low walks though - he's gonna need a higher OBP to succeed. Also, given his speed and projected lack of power despite the recent home runs, I'd like to see him hit more doubles.

Anyway, the WooSox rotation is shaping up as a fertile ground for pitching prospects this year. Already, Seabold, Winckowski and Bello with any or all of Walter, Groome and Mata on the way this year
I think even if he can hit, he's still going to be a utility type player. Just one who plays a lot more than a normal utility player. Tony Phillips comes to mind.