Minor league thread 2022

BringBackMo

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He looks a lot like Mookie! Obviously both are small but also hold their hands high, have a hitch in their swing, and plenty of emotion on the bath paths. Just sayin'
And at least on the homer, he's got a similar whip-like action with the bat. Didn't see it as much on the other three hits...but a board can dream!
 

BigSoxFan

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Wonder if there’s a Portland promotion in his future? Would be curious to see how he does against AA talent.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Wonder if there’s a Portland promotion in his future? Would be curious to see how he does against AA talent.
Yeah, but it will probably only be a handful of at bats at the end of the year. Assuming he doesn't force a promotion, anyway.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Whoa. The ball he hit for the triple did not look like it sjould have gone that far. That's some sneaky power.
I wonder if he's switched to less of a line drive approach to take advantage of his "sneaky raw power" as you and Sox prospects put it.

Since July 24, 2021: 359 PA, .296/.337/.542, 22 doubles, 6 triples, 16 HRs, 16bb/71k, 17sb/5cs.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Bello's 1st AAA inning

K looking (5 pitches)
GO to 3rd (3)
LD single to RF (3)
PO to 3rd (1)

12 pitches, 10 strikes.

2nd
K swinging
K swinging
K swinging

25 pitches, 19 strikes.

Fun.
 
Last edited:

bosox188

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So this is the closest I've followed a Bello start, I only saw a few snippets of him in AA. He doesn't seem to be elevating his fastball a whole lot, he's getting a bunch of swinging Ks on low ones. Looks like maybe there's a little arm side run on it, is his fastball more of a sinker than a 4-seamer? Not sure if he'd get a lot of ride on it elevated.
 

Cesar Crespo

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So this is the closest I've followed a Bello start, I only saw a few snippets of him in AA. He doesn't seem to be elevating his fastball a whole lot, he's getting a bunch of swinging Ks on low ones. Looks like maybe there's a little arm side run on it, is his fastball more of a sinker than a 4-seamer? Not sure if he'd get a lot of ride on it elevated.
I'm not watching this game but it shows ride when he's up in the zone.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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After hitting for the cycle in order last night, Rafaela is on pace to hit for the cycle in reverse tonight, kicking things off with a HR and triple in his first two at bats.

Get this man to Portland.
 

BringBackMo

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After hitting for the cycle in order last night, Rafaela is on pace to hit for the cycle in reverse tonight, kicking things off with a HR and triple in his first two at bats.

Get this man to Portland.
This is getting kind of ridiculous. Wow.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Jimenez just hit HR #5. He has 108 AB this year.

Going into the season, he had 6 career HRs in 861 AB. This is promising.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Yorke went 0/5
Rafaela was 2/4 with the aforementioned double and triple. .317/.357/.600!!! to date.
Lugo was 2/4 with a double and a triple. Slashing .306/.370/.532.
Jimenez went 1/4 with a HR. .275/.319/.486 for the year. I'd mostly written him off but if he's added some power, he becomes interesting again.


Paulino was 1/4 with 2k
Bonaci was 1/4 with a double.
Jordan went 2/4 with a double and has been on a nice streak of late.
Lopez went 1/4 with a double


Greenville is fun to track this year.
 

AlNipper49

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Can I tell you how much this place loves Big Joe Davis? Every single kid goes nuts anytime he comes to the plate.

For those who don’t follow probably the 69th prospect in our system, he looks like a beer league softball player and gets announced as ‘Sir Big Joe Davis’.

He had a towering fly out to CF earlier that this place went nuts for.
 

Apisith

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Seabold, Walter, Bello, Groome and Winckowski are all having really good years and they’re all close to the majors. I wonder how many we shift into the bullpen and when that happens. Mata is also back, we are really having a wave of pitchers graduating.
 

Cesar Crespo

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AAA
Fitzgerald has been playing all over the field in AAA. The only positions he hasn't played are 1b and C. While not a typical prospect at age 27, he's been a different hitter the last 2 years. This year he is currently slashing .303/.365/.621 in 149 PA. His 11bb/40k isn't the best, he does have 20 xbh (9 HR) in 132 AB. It's also not Worcester.
Home: .313/.371/.588 in 90 PA
Road: .289/.356/.673 in 59 PA

Duran is slashing .327/.402/.539 in 117 PA. He has 12bb/27k, 14 xbh and 10sb/1cs. As discussed, most of Duran's power has been at Worcester. Hard to make anything of his road stats this year, so far.
Home: .284/.361/.527 in 83 PA
Road: .412/.487/.588 in 39 PA

Triston Casas is slashing .248/.359/.457 in 156 PA. 23bb/35k, 15 xbh. He's missed the last few games. He's been hitting lefties better of late but still not great.
vs R: .258/.368/.516 in 114 PA
vs L: .222/.333/.306 in 42 PA

Jeter Downs is slashing .214/.322/.420 in 152 PA. He has 19bb/51k. 12 xbh, 7sb, 2cs. While he's been hitting for power of late, he still struggles to make contact and is striking out in over 1/3 of his PA at the AAA level. That's not going to get it done.

Andrew Politi has made 2 appearances at the level. 2.0, 3k. Combined across AA/AAA, 14 games, 1.76 era, 15.1 ip, 7 hits, 4r/3er, 2 HRA, 3bb/23k, 0.652 WHIP. His performance this year makes him either the best or 2nd best bullpen prospect (some of the SPs will be converted and probably be better MR prospects but that hasn't happened yet).

Josh Winckowski sits at a 2.10 era in 25.0 ip, 15 hits, 9r/6er, 1 HRA, 6bb/28k. 0.818 WHIP. He's had 2 stellar starts in his last 3 and has been striking out guys out. Hopefully it's a trend.

Connor Seabold sits at a 2.45 era in 36.2 ip, 24 hits, 11r/10er, 1 HRA. 10bb/37k. 0.927 WHIP. His last start was a lights out 6.0 ip, 1 hit, 1bb/11k performance. Sox really do have a lot of SP on the cusps.

Brayan Bello had a masterpiece his first game in AAA. 6.0 ip, 6 hits, 2r/2er, 1bb/11k. 1 HRA. His combined AA/AAA performance for the year: 1.82 era, 39.2 ip, 22 hits, 9r/8er, 4 HRA, 13bb/52k, 0.882 WHIP. I mean, my biases are incredibly obvious when it comes to Bello but I think his scouting reports vastly undersell him by projecting him as a back end starter. I guess it's due to the questions of whether he holds up as a starter and how long he can go in games rather than a question about stuff. The Sox have been letting him pitch, too.
PC last 5 games: 85, 92, 96, 89, 95.

Portland
David Hamilton is currently in an 0/17 slump his last 4 games. .250/.338/.419 for the year in 143 PA. 15bb/32k, 10xbh. 17sb/3cs.

Chis Murphy: 1.95 era, 37.0 ip, 20 hits, 13r/8er, 2 HRA, 15bb/47k. 0.946 WHIP. As I noted before, he had big questions going into the year vs R. He's answered those in the early going.
vs R: 103 PA, .143/.243/.220, 11bb/33k
vs L: 44 PA, .180/.273/.333, 4bb/14k

Brandon Walter: 3.14 era, 43.0 ip, 35 hits, 19r/15er, 5 HRA. 3bb/60k 0.884 WHIP. 3bb in 43 IP is ridiculous enough, 20/1 K/bb ratio is lol. He's had 2 dud starts this year but in the other 6 games he's combined for a 1.00era, 36.0 ip, 21 hits, 4r/4er, 1 HRA, 1bb/50k. 34.7% K rate, 1.7% BB rate. I'd guess he gets promoted before Murphy but Murphy is at a combined 70.0 ip in AA. The team promoted Bello at 97.1 AA innings.

Jay Groome: 3.45 era, 31.1 ip, 27 hits, 13r/12er, 3 HRA, 12bb/29k. 1.245 WHIP. It's weird. I liked his stuff more at the end of last year than I do now. Like Walter, he's had 2 duds and 6 solid starts.

Frank German: 3.27 era, 11.0 ip, 6 hits, 7r/4er, 0 HRA, 3bb/17k, 0.818 WHIP. If Politi isn't the Sox #1 MR prospect, it's German.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Greenville:
Nicholas Northcut: I don't think he's really a prospect but it's hard to ignore a guy with 14 HR in 119 AB. He's slashing .252/.305/.647 for the year with 6bb/47k in 128 PA. Huge K numbers, 1b profile, old for the league etc.

Ceddanne Rafaela: Probably the biggest story of the Sox system atm, at least as far as surprises. He's been talked about a lot, but he projects as a plus defender at 2b/3b/SS/LF/CF/RF, has a plus arm and plus speed. He's currently slashing .314/.356/.582 in 163 PA. 8bb/38k, 21 xbh (9 HR), 11sb/2cs. He started hitting for power at the end of July last year. His eye could improve some but it's hard to find any complaints about the start he's having this year. He's also more than age appropriate for the level and if he does get promoted to AA, will be young for a prospect at that level.

Alex Binelas: .254/.408/.518 in 147 PA with 12 xbh (9 HR) and 30bb/42k. Great BB numbers and good power. He's going to have to hit but he's off to a good start.

Matthew Lugo: Most underrated story of the year so far. He's being overshadowed by Rafaela but he's off the an amazing year himself and has all the tools to succeed. He's another player who started to make some adjustments last year and they have carried over in the early going. .305/.366/.547 in 142 PA. 9bb/27k. 18 xbh (5 HR), 6sb/2cs. Just turned 21 less than 2 weeks ago. Surprised he isn't getting more love. I had him ranked 10+ spots higher than most (I go for ceiling) and I'm sure he'll rise in some publications, but I wonder if he'll crack any Sox top 10 lists.

Gilberto Jimenez: I mostly wrote him off but he's still just 21 years old and projects to be at least an average CF. In 125 PA, he's slashing .265/.307/.470 with 7bb/37k. 13 xbh (5 HR), 7sb/2cs. Coming into the year, his career high ISO was .111. He had some room for improvement in the power category, and maybe we are seeing that. Or it's just noise. If it's the former, he becomes a legit prospect again.

Nick Yorke: Hasn't had the best season but has been better in May (.274/.329/.466). He's at .256/.333/.380 for the year in 144 PA with 8 xbh (4 HR), 5sb/2cs, 15bb/28k. He also has 0 PA vs younger pitchers.

Pitchers below AA aren't my jam unless they really stick out. No one in Greenville does atm.

Salem:
Marcelo Mayer: He missed quite a few games but has been good in the time he's played. .333/.386/.507 in 83 PA with 7bb/23k. 11 xbh (1 HR), 4sb/0cs. Hopefully some of the doubles convert to HRs down the line as he ages and adds more strength.

Nathan Hickey: .262/.417/.472 in 84 PA, 17bb/17k, 7 xbh. Still unclear if he can stick at catcher and his offense will have to carry him.

Niko Kavadas: .250/.433/.420 in 134 PA with 29bb/40k. old for the league and bat first profile. Strikes out a bit given his age and level.

Eddinson Paulino: .259/.338/.446 in 160 PA. 15bb/33k, 17xbh. He's only 19 and holding his own. Looks like he should hit for plus power in the future if he develops right and projects to an average defender at 3b.

Brainer Bonaci: .273/.403/.343 in 124 PA with 5xbh, 23bb/25k. He has good on base skills and plays above his talent levels. He'll need to start showing some signs of power though. An .070 ISO in A ball isn't going to get it done..

Blaze Jordan: .261/.310/.403 for the year in 145 PA. 8bb/28k. 13 xbh, 3 HR. He got off to a miserable start but has been considerably better in May (.364/.391/.561 in 77 PA, 4bb/10k, 7 xbh, 2 HR).

Wikelman Gonzalez: 3.16 era, 25.2 ip, 19 hits, 10r/9er, 1 HRA, 16bb/31k. 1.364 WHIP. Might have the best arm on the farm.
 

billy ashley

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excellent summary, a few supplemental notes on the guys listed above:

Downs: His K rate has actually improved a lot over the course of the season. I'd say there is reason for optimism, with him. He also is reportedly good enough at SS that he could stick there.

Rafaela & Lugo: Totally encouraging but expectations should be tempered a bit by the fact that they feasted on one bad team early in the season (there is a lot of repetition in minor league baseball) and it's inflated their overall numbers. Both are absolutely exciting though.

Binales: Same not as above. Reports are that his so far more advanced than his competition that he probably needs to be promoted.

Paulino: Was absolutely brutal in April. Has completely cut his K rates in May. Would argue he's not far behind Rafaela and Lugo. Top 15 guy, probably.

Crespo's post is much more comprehensive than mine, just added some details to a few storylines :)
 

Cesar Crespo

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They have some big home/road splits too, though I can't find home/road splits for the total team. Other players like Yorke, Gilberto and Northcut are unaffected by it.
Lugo 1.157/.669
Rafaela 1.011/.867
Binelas 1.177/.670
 

Cesar Crespo

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After today's game, Ryan Fitzgerald has played everywhere but C.

Rafaela walked in his 1st AB, Lugo drove him in with a triple.

Salem game currently delayed in the 4th. Wikelman was dealing his first 2 but had a rough go of it in the 3rd. His teammates didn't help him, making 2 errors. I'm guessing he's done due to the delay. 3.0 ip. 3h, 3r/3er, 0bb/6k.
Paulino is 1/2 with a double. Kavadas hit his 3rd HR of the year. He's 1/2. Jordan is 1/2.
 

GB5

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it is mentioned that Binelas must hit.. is his glove completely unplayable?
 

BringBackMo

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Excellent review. A few thoughts:
love. I had him ranked 10+ spots higher than most (I go for ceiling) and I'm sure he'll rise in some publications, but I wonder if he'll crack any Sox top 10 lists.
Keith Law agreed with you on Lugo. He had him ranked ninth in the system heading into the season. It seemed a head scratcher at the time but it’s shaping up as pretty insightful.
He missed quite a few games but has been good in the time he's played. .333/.386/.507 in 83 PA with 7bb/23k
From what I’ve read, a fair amount of the games Mayer has missed have been related to load management. Not all, of course, as he reportedly had a sore wrist. But the Sox seem like they just want to be cautious with him. Also, he’s been fantastic so far.
Eddinson Paulino: .259/.338/.446 in 160 PA. 15bb/33k, 17xbh.
I think these numbers don’t really capture how much potential he has. He had an absolutely brutal start to the season but he’s been killing it lately, and on the Sox Prospects podcast they called him the second best hitter on the team after Mayer.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Worcestor loses 6-2.
Winckowski went 6+, giving up 5 R (all earned) on 6 hits with no walks, 1 HBP, and 6 Ks. His outing looked a lot better than that through 6 innings. At that point he had given up just one run (on his first HR allowed on the season) and three hits, and had thrown just 77 pitches. He went back out for the 7th inning -- his first 7th inning of the season -- and gave up a single, HBP, single, and bases clearing double. Andrew Politi came in and couldn't stop the bleeding, giving up JW's 5th run and one of his own.
Duran was 1-4 with a lead-off HR in the first.
Fitzy played 1B and went 1-4 with 2 Ks.
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Sea Dogs beat the Harrisburg Senators 4-2.
Chris Murphy went 5.1 IP, giving up 1 R (earned) on 4 H (all singles) and 2 BBs with 4 Ks. His season ERA is at 1.91 over 42 IP.
Granny Granberg was 2-4 with 2 doubles
Pedro Castellanos also 2-4, with 1 double
Christian Koss 1-4 with a triple
Kole Cottam 1-3
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Greenville lost to Hickory 8-5.
Yorke was 1-5
Rafaela 2-5 with a double and 2 Ks
Binelas 2-4 with a HR (10)
Lugo 2-4 with a K and a CS (3rd of the season, vs 6 steals)
Northcut 1-3 with a BB and a K
 

Heating up in the bullpen

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Salem wins 9-8 on a walk-off HR by Tyler Miller to lead off the bottom of the 9th.
Paulino 2-4 with a 2B, BB, K and CS (1st, against 3 SB)
Bonaci 1-5
Jordan 2-4 with a 2B and BB
Hickey 0-4 with a BB and 2 Ks
Kavadas 1-3 with a BB
Yorberto Mejicano 2-3 with a 2B, BB and K. He's a 21 year-old catcher (turns 22 in November) out of Venezuela carrying a .741 OPS (.242/.271/.470) in 70 PA with 3 doubles, 4 HRs and a super-fugly 3/21 BB/K. Anybody know anything about him?
 

Ganthem

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I have to imagine the Sox have one the best medical staff available in the game. The fact that they couldn't figure out what is wrong and it is still bothering him is really ominous.