2021 Prospects

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

Andrew Politi gets the Opening Day start for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, an affiliate that will have considerable significance for the shape of the Red Sox' depth over the next couple years. Top prospect Triston Casas starts the year there while the rotation of Politi, Thaddeus Ward, Frank German, and Josh Winckowski features pitchers who could make considerable steps forward and be part of the team's depth (rotation or bullpen) in years to come.

[mvp 78]

Casas is batting 3rd and wearing #3 for those scoring at home.

[mvp 78]

@redsoxstats

20-year old Aldo Ramirez is getting the opening day start for Low-A Salem tonight. He has maybe been the biggest riser in the system during the 600+ day layoff. Mid-90s velocity with a good three pitch mix. Already a top 10 prospect and could climb.

[jacksonianmarch]

Sox really pushing their prospects. Duran and Downs at AAA and Casas at AA

[moonslav59]

Sox really pushing their prospects. Duran and Downs at AAA and Casas at AA

 

Do they not belong there?

[moonslav59]

Duran oh for 4.

 

Houck: 3 IP and 8 hits (3 ERs).

 

Not much good. Munoz 2 for 4 (both dbls).

 

Chavis and Wong with a double each.

 

Weber 3 IP 0 H & ER.

 

At Portland, Casas and Rosario both had 2 doubles. Not much else good.

[mvp 78]

Sox really pushing their prospects. Duran and Downs at AAA and Casas at AA

 

It's where they'd be if there was a season last year.

[moonslav59]

It's where they'd be if there was a season last year.

 

Certainly nothing all that surprising.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's where they'd be if there was a season last year.

 

I don't disagree ultimately. It is interesting since the Yanks are holding their guys back and the sox are progressing them forward. We shall see which approach works the best

[moonslav59]

I don't disagree ultimately. It is interesting since the Yanks are holding their guys back and the sox are progressing them forward. We shall see which approach works the best

 

Duran is 24 and played some winter ball.

 

I'd think keeping him in AA would be unwarranted.

 

Down is 22. I can see how he might be viewed as "borderline," but he did play some AA ball in 2019. Plus, it's not like there's all that much difference between AA and AAA, these days. Many pros go from AA right to the bigs.

 

Casas is 21 and played very little in A+ ball in 2019. I can see thinking he might be "pushed" ahead a bit, but there are some that think he might be one of those types of players that can jump to ML readiness very quickly.

 

Who are the Yankees holding back?

[mvp 78]

Duran is 24 and played some winter ball.

 

I'd think keeping him in AA would be unwarranted.

 

Down is 22. I can see how he might be viewed as "borderline," but he did play some AA ball in 2019. Plus, it's not like there's all that much difference between AA and AAA, these days. Many pros go from AA right to the bigs.

 

Casas is 21 and played very little in A+ ball in 2019. I can see thinking he might be "pushed" ahead a bit, but there are some that think he might be one of those types of players that can jump to ML readiness very quickly.

 

Who are the Yankees holding back?

 

I'm not sure there's a big difference between AA and AAA either.

[moonslav59]

I'm not sure there's a big difference between AA and AAA either.

 

Maybe AAA has more players similar to ML players and AA is where players try to work on new approaches, pitches and positions a little more than AAA.

 

Sometimes, AA has stronger pitchers than AAA but they may be more wild or limited in pitch choices.

 

But, yes, not much difference.

 

Note: Devers played 15 games at AAA and came into MLB with a bang.

[notin]

I'm not sure there's a big difference between AA and AAA either.

 

I think of AA as the most important developmental step, as it’s where all the best players from each organization’s A ball teams filter into one team. Most AAA teams are loaded with players on MiLB contracts, many of whom are aging former major leaguers, or with the bulk of their 40 man roster players not on the parent club.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think of AA as the most important developmental step, as it’s where all the best players from each organization’s A ball teams filter into one team. Most AAA teams are loaded with players on MiLB contracts, many of whom are aging former major leaguers, or with the bulk of their 40 man roster players not on the parent club.

 

Agreed. Clubs stash their "Quadruple" A depth in AAA, in case an emergency call-up is needed. A lot of those are guys you don't mind sitting on the big league bench so much... at least compared to the real prospects who need to be playing every day in AA in order to properly develop.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think of AA as the most important developmental step, as it’s where all the best players from each organization’s A ball teams filter into one team. Most AAA teams are loaded with players on MiLB contracts, many of whom are aging former major leaguers, or with the bulk of their 40 man roster players not on the parent club.

 

For the alternate site BS, I agree with you. You needed a second squad in case your first one came down with covid. With teams now mostly immunized, it's less of a need. Organizations will keep the AAAA fodder around for another month or so assuming no resistant variants arise and then I would expect them to be jettisoned for actual prospects. The Yanks AAA squad looks like the transactions section of the paper from years back. Every AAAA player who has been released at least twice is on the Yanks AAA team

[moonslav59]

The Sox minor league teams did not get off to a good start, but here are some bright spots:

 

Danny Santana (opt out is very soon): .400 with a dbl and HR in 10 ABs (1.164 OPS)

Yairo Munoz: .381 - all singles with no BBs (.762 OPS)

Jeisson Rosario (my sleeper pick): 1.024 OPS

 

Stephen Scott with Salem .462 with 3 HRs in 13 ABs (7 BBs) 1.804 OPS!

Johan Mieses .313 with 4 HRs in 16 ABs 1.513 OPS

 

Ryan Weber 1.42 ERA in 6.1 IP .561 OPS against

Brayan Bello 1.59 in 5.2 IP (.541)

Stephen Gonsalves 1.69 in 5.1 (.551)

Bobby Poyner 0.00 in 4.2 (0.669)

 

[Bellhorn04]

Bobby Poyner! Forgot he existed. He had some decent numbers in 2018.

[mvp 78]

The Sox minor league teams did not get off to a good start, but here are some bright spots:

 

Danny Santana (opt out is very soon): .400 with a dbl and HR in 10 ABs (1.164 OPS)

Yairo Munoz: .381 - all singles with no BBs (.762 OPS)

Jeisson Rosario (my sleeper pick): 1.024 OPS

 

Stephen Scott with Salem .462 with 3 HRs in 13 ABs (7 BBs) 1.804 OPS!

Johan Mieses .313 with 4 HRs in 16 ABs 1.513 OPS

 

Ryan Weber 1.42 ERA in 6.1 IP .561 OPS against

Brayan Bello 1.59 in 5.2 IP (.541)

Stephen Gonsalves 1.69 in 5.1 (.551)

Bobby Poyner 0.00 in 4.2 (0.669)

 

 

Mieses should be in AAA. He came over from STL before 2020. He's played well in AAA before so pushing him down to AA may just be a numbers game thing? IDK.

[moonslav59]

Mieses should be in AAA. He came over from STL before 2020. He's played well in AAA before so pushing him down to AA may just be a numbers game thing? IDK.

 

They do have Duran, Wilson, Puello, Matheny and Gettys at AAA, so maybe that's it.

[mvp 78]

They do have Duran, Wilson, Puello, Matheny and Gettys at AAA, so maybe that's it.

 

They have room on the roster due to roster expansion, but a glut of mediocre OFers.

 

Mieses will probably put up big numbers in AA like Barfield did a few years ago and then go play elsewhere next year.

[moonslav59]

They have room on the roster due to roster expansion, but a glut of mediocre OFers.

 

Mieses will probably put up big numbers in AA like Barfield did a few years ago and then go play elsewhere next year.

 

He'll probably end up in AAA, at some point.

[mvp 78]

@SoxProspects

Its a historic day in Worcester as Polar Park opens its doors at long last. Complete affiliate schedule below.

 

AAA - Worcester (Raynel Espinal) 3:05 pm (on

@NESN

)

AA - Portland (Frank German) 7:05 pm

A+ - Greenville (Jay Groome) 7:05 pm

A - Salem (Jermey Wu-Yellend) 7:05 pm

[moonslav59]

The Big Three's OPS out of the gate:

 

.737 Duran (23 AB)

.569 Downs (23)

.417 Casas (18 at AA)

 

Other notables:

1.513 Mieses (16)

1.164 Santana (10)

1.024 Rosario (16)

.937 Wilson (18)

.762 Munoz (21) .381 BA

.742 Jimenez (26)

.523 Yorke (20)

.161 Ockimey (18)

[moonslav59]

Ole Miss right-hander Gunnar Hoglund, one of the top prospect in this summer’s draft class, will require Tommy John surgery after exiting last night’s start during the first inning, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reports (Twitter link). He’ll be sidelined for the next 12 to 18 months while he recovers.

[jacksonianmarch]

Ole Miss right-hander Gunnar Hoglund, one of the top prospect in this summer’s draft class, will require Tommy John surgery after exiting last night’s start during the first inning, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reports (Twitter link). He’ll be sidelined for the next 12 to 18 months while he recovers.

 

He now squarely falls into the Yankee purview, IMO

[mvp 78]

@IanCundall

Noteworthy hitting performances from Red Sox prospects on 5/12:

 

Triston Casas (AA): 4-6, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI

Jarren Duran (AAA): 1-4, BB

Jeter Downs (AAA): 0-3, BB, K

Gilberto Jimenez (A): 1-4, 2 K

Nick Yorke (A): 1-4, PO

Brandon Howlett (A+): 2-4, 2B, K

 

OPS now up to 891 for Casas after starting off ice cold.

[mvp 78]

Also, Mieses hit another bomb and needs to stop playing in AA now. He's not getting anything out of it.

 

https://www.milb.com/player/johan-mieses-644407

 

Has 5 bombs so far.

[jacksonianmarch]

He also is only hitting .280 and has K'd 9 times in 7 games. Give the kid a chance to settle out.

[mvp 78]

He also is only hitting .280 and has K'd 9 times in 7 games. Give the kid a chance to settle out.

 

He's been in AA since 2017. Time to move on.

[moonslav59]

He's been in AA since 2017. Time to move on.

 

There's not much difference between AA & AAA, but I agree,

 

Move him up.

 

Casas will move up, too, at some point.