Seth Stohs

Justin Gonzales is one of the most exciting Red Sox prospects. He ranks as the fourth-ranked prospect according to Talk Sox rankings. Pushed up the organizational ladder, the 19-year-old has more than held his own in High-A Greeneville. But sometimes we have to remember these are people. In this case, Gonzales is still young, a kid. Mistakes will happen and lesson are hopefully learned. On Wednesday night in Greeneville, the Drive had a 10-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh. With two runners on, Gonzales stepped to the plate and hit his 13th home run of the season. He certainly took his time and admired the blast, especially down the first base line. He was pleased to have turned a four-run lead into a seven-run lead late int he game. When he crossed home plate, it was clear that Hub City catcher Cal Stark commented to Gonzales. The two exchanged some words (pleasantries, I'm sure). Teammates hustled to the batter's circle but just a little too late. Whether you want to say that Gonzales "slapped" Stark or "took a punch at" the Spartansburgers' backstop, he made contact. See for yourself... Certainly, there will be a suspension by the league for this, but the Red Sox also have an opportunity to let a potential future star know that it just isn't alright to be taking swings at opponents. The Sox could add a few games to the suspension. They could go big and suspend him for the rest of the season. Organizations have done that before. With other very young top prospect types on the Drive roster, it feels like the Sox need to make some sort of statement. Of course, it is also 100% need to hear both sides of the story before reacting and finalized a plan. We don't know what was said. It's very possible that something was said that, maybe didn't warrant, but certainly understandable. What do you think? Gonzales is 19. He's in High-A. He isn't an option for a big-league call up, so the remaining six weeks won't alter that timeline either way. What would you do if you ran the Red Sox? (Just regarding this situation. Use the rest of the forum to discuss those other things!)

Saying that Justin Gonzales is a physical specimen is an understatement. Entering spring training this season, Gonzales was measured at 6-foot-6 and 277 pounds. That was after being last measured at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. While the previous weight may have been outdated, it’s still fascinating to see the 19-year-old continue to grow, even stating that his goal is “to be like Aaron Judge." Gonzales was part of the team’s 2024 international free agent class and in his first professional season at the Dominican Summer League, he put on a show offensively by hitting .320/.391/.517 with four doubles, five triples, five home runs and 29 RBIs in 47 games. He would come stateside for 2025, when after just one game in the Florida Complex League, he would be promoted to Low-A Salem and play in 81 games. He went on to hit .298/.381/.423 with 23 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 27 RBIs in that stretch before finishing the season with 11 games in Greenville. Offensively, there is no doubt that Gonzales is one of the organization’s best prospects. He has a quick bat and has solid barrel control for his size. His 90th percentile exit velocity was 107 mph and his highest was 113 mph. Thanks to an advanced approach at the plate, he’s able to let a pitch come in to him deep and send it the other way to right field instead of just trying to pull everything. With a good understanding of the strike zone, he doesn’t strike out too much, though he does struggle to recognize secondary pitches. Despite being just 19 years old, he's already impressing in spring training. On March 2, he was called up to play in a Red Sox spring training game and had a single with an exit velocity of 117.3 mph. It would have been the 12th-hardest exit velocity in Major League Baseball in 2025. His power is really impressive as it’s viewed as being easily above average by scouts. With his size and swing, he generates easy pop as the baseball jumps off his bat and he can drive the ball to all parts of the field. Unfortunately, he doesn’t take full advantage of it due to a 57% groundball rate. If Gonzales can improve his bat path and launch angle, he could really tap into his power and become an offensive beast. Defensively, Gonzales has spent time at first base and all three outfield positions. In 2025, he spent the entire season split between the three outfield positions, though due to his size he will likely play either first base or a corner outfield position as he continues to advance through the minor leagues. He showcased good range in the outfield but struggled when it came to his jumps and routes. Despite that, his arm is considered above average and would play well at either corner outfield position. Gonzales’ speed is also below average, though he moves well for someone his size. While he won’t steal many bags, he won’t clog up the basepaths and should be able to go from first to third or second to home on outfield hits. Gonzales will look to continue his impressive start to his professional career in 2026. He’ll be entering his first full season (having only played 93 games in 2025) and it’ll be a good chance to see how he holds up across a full stateside campaign. Should Gonzales continue to develop at the plate, there’s a chance he could be up with Boston by 2028. Unfortunately, with an All-Star ceiling comes a low floor, making him one of the bigger boom-or-bust prospects in the system. Gonzales will open the season with High-A Greenville after appearing in just 11 games there last season. The Red Sox have been aggressive the past few seasons with promoting their top players, and should Gonzales avoid any prolonged struggles, he should be able to make it to Double-A Portland before the end of 2026.

Rodriguez was one of the key pieces in the Quinn Priester trade back in April of 2025, and at 19-years-old was assigned to Greenville. His season had its ups and downs offensively, as he went through hot streaks and cold streaks as shown by a May that saw him hit .155/.276/.262 with 21 strikeouts in 22 games after hitting .257/.409/.414 in April while split between the Red Sox and Brewers organizations. Offensively, Rodriguez has average bat speed and a short, choppy swing while struggling with velocity up in the zone. Due to his swing, he can get underneath the ball and will make weak contact on fly balls. Despite that, he makes contact on pitches in the zone and will use all fields making his hit tool potentially average down the line. His power is viewed as below-average as he produces below-average exit velocities and lacks loft in his swing to be able to tap into his raw power. He also is viewed as having average speed and is not a premier stolen base threat. He also lacks instincts on the basepaths to make up for his lack of top-end speed. Defensively, he’s likely to end up in a corner outfield position due to inconsistent routes and subpar instincts while in center field. His range is considered average, and he is not a standout defender at any of the outfield positions. Rodriguez currently profiles to be a solid upper-minors depth piece with the ceiling of a emergency major league outfielder due to the lack of a carrying tool. Should his hit tool develop — and with serious improvement defensively as a corner outfielder — he could be a fourth or fifth outfielder for a major-league team. Rodriguez’s starting location for 2026 could be a tossup between Portland or Greenville depending on his spring performance.

Have you wondered where the Red Sox minor league teams play? Who are their coaches? Where to find their schedule and rosters? We have the guide for you. At Talk Sox, we would like to become a top site for Red Sox information but also for Red Sox minor league teams and prospects. As we grow, we will continue to grow our minor league coverage. In 2021, a new minor-league alignment created several changes across baseball. Some minor-league teams were shut down. Others were able to align themselves with new major-league clubs, often for geographical purposes. The Red Sox long-time Short-Season A affiliate in Lowell (the Spinners) was one of the teams eliminated. List Of Red Sox Affiliate Teams (click to jump to section) Worcester Red Sox - AAA Portland Sea Dogs - AA Greenville Drive - High A Salem RidgeYaks - Low A Florida Complex League Red Sox (Fort Myers) Dominican Summer League Red Sox (two teams, Blue and Red) Upon agreements, the Red Sox (and all other clubs) signed 10-year Player Development Agreements. Here are the Red Sox affiliates, where they play, their schedules, and where you can order tickets. Triple A: Worcester Red Sox League: International League (East Division) Stadium: Polar Park (Capacity: 9,508) 100 Madison St. Worcester, MA 01608 Tickets: (508) 500-8888 Website: https://www.woosox.com How long have they been the affiliate? In 2021, the Red Sox moved their Triple-A affiliate about 40 miles northwest on the creatively named Worcester-Providence Turnpike. After playing in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, since the early 1970s, the team moved to Worcester for the 2021 season, playing at the new $159 million stadium. 2026 Coaching Staff Manager: Chad Tracy Hitting Coach: Collin Hetzler Assistant Hitting Coach: Johnny Reina Pitching Coach: Dan DeLucia Bullpen Coach: Noah Junis Defensive Coach: Iggy Suarez Hitting Instructor: Rich Gedman Broadcast Voice: Jim Cain, Michael Smithers 2026 Worcester Red Sox Roster 2026 Worcester Red Sox Schedule Double A: Portland Sea Dogs League: Eastern League (Northeast Division) Stadium: Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field (Capacity: 6,868) 271 Park Ave. Portland, ME 04102 Tickets: (207) 879-9500 Website: https://www.portlandseadogs.com How long have they been affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays? The Fisher Cats have been affiliated with the Blue Jays since 2003. The team itself was founded in 1994 and was originally affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. That affiliation lasted until 1998, and the team was then affiliated with the Seattle Mariners for one season and then the St. Louis Cardinals for the following singular season after that. The Toronto Blue Jays have held the longest continual relationship with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. How long have they been the affiliate? The Portland Sea Dogs came into existence and began play in 1994. Originally, they were an affiliate of the Florida Marlins. The team has been the Red Sox Double-A affiliate since the 2003 season. 2026 Coaching Staff Manager: Chad Epperson Hitting Coach: Trevor Burmeister Assistant Hitting Coach: Elijah Boyer Pitching Coach: Juan Rivera Assistant Pitching Coach: Isaiah Paige Hitting Coach: Chris Hess Coach: Kyle Sasala Broadcast Voice: Emma Tiedemann (Maine’s 2024 Sportscaster of the Year, National Sports Media Association) 2026 Portland Sea Dogs Roster 2026 Portland Sea Dogs Schedule High A: Greenville Drive League: South Atlantic League (South Division) Stadium: Fluor Field (Capacity: 5,300) 935 South Main Street, Suite 202 Greenville, SC, 29601 Tickets: (864) 240-4500 Website: https://www.greenvilledrive.com How long have they been the affiliate? With the minor-league realignment of 2021, Greenville became the Red Sox High-A affiliate. Before that, Greenville was the home of the Red Sox Low-A affiliate going back to 2005. They played that first season as the Greenville Bombers before becoming the Drive in 2006. The organization began in 1977 and has been an affiliate of the Reds and Pirates. In 1981, they were an affiliate of the Mets. They were called the Shelby Mets for two seasons. Then they were called the Columbia Mets for a decade. From 1993 through 2004, they were called the Capital City Bombers. In 2005, the Red Sox were the new big-league team, and the team was allowed to move 100 miles northwest to Greenville. 2026 Coaching Staff Manager: Liam Carroll Pitching Coach: Bob Kipper Assistant Pitching Coach: Andrew Sadoski Hitting Coach: Jarrett Pico Assistant Hitting Coach: Cody Gracco Coach: Tyler Snep Broadcast Voice: Dan Scott 2026 Greenville Drive Roster 2026 Greenville Drive Schedule Low A: Salem RidgeYaks League: Carolina League (North Division) Stadium: Carilion Clinic Field (Capacity: 6,300) 1004 Texas Street Salem, VA 24153 Tickets: (540) 389-3333 Website: https://www.salemridgeyaks.com How long have they been the affiliate? Salem, a suburb of Roanoke, has been an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox since the 2009 season. From 2009 until the 2021 minor-league realignment, they were the organization’s High-A affiliate. Since 2021, they have been the Low-A affiliate of the Red Sox. The team has jumped around quite a bit going back to 1955 when they began as an Appalachian League affiliate of the Pirates. They have had three separate stints with the Pirates (1955-1959, 1964-1980, and 1987-1994). They have been a part of the Carolina League since 1968. Salem was also an affiliate of the Giants, Padres, Rangers, Rockies, and Astros before joining the Red Sox. Obviously, they weren’t called the “Red Sox” until 2009. They have been called the Rebels, Pirates, Redbirds, Buccaneers, and Avalanche over their history. Name Change! In early November of 2025, ownership announced a name change. This affiliate is now called the Salem RidgeYaks. The organization said that "the new name, look, and mascot celebrate the region's outdoor adventure, community pride, and connection to the Blue Ridge Mountains. 2026 Coaching Staff Manager: Ozzie Chavez Pitching Coach: Alex Reynolds Assistant Pitching Coach: Benden Argomaniz Hitting Coach: Nelson Paulino Hitting Coach: Jack Simonetty Assistant Hitting Coach: Ivan Quackenbush Defensive Coach: Kyle Schmidt Broadcast Voice: Braden Schenck 2026 Salem Red Sox Roster 2026 Salem Red Sox Schedule Complex League: Florida Complex League (FCL) Red Sox League: Florida Complex League Stadium: JetBlue Park in the Fenway South Complex 11500 Fenway South Drive Fort Myers, FL 33913 How long have they been the affiliate? The Red Sox have had their rookie/complex league affiliation in Fort Myers all the way back to 1989. The league was the Gulf Coast League from its inception through 2020. With minor-league realignment, it was changed to the Florida Complex League. Before JetBlue Park, the FCL Red Sox games were played at City of Palms Park on the other side of Fort Myers. Before that, the Red Sox team played in Winter Haven, Florida for its first four seasons. 2025 Coaching Staff Manager: Chase Illig Pitching Coaches: Michael McCormick, Andres Rodriguez Hitting Coaches: Jarrett Pico, Junior Zamora Defensive Coach: Pablo Cabrera 2025 FCL Red Sox Roster 2025 FCL Red Sox Schedule Dominican Summer League: Dominican Summer League (DSL) Red Sox League: Dominican Summer League Stadium: El Toro Complex Carr. Mella KM 23.5 El Toro, DR How long have they been the affiliate? The Dominican Summer League began in 1985. In 1996, the Red Sox teamed with the Astros to have a team. Since 1997, the Red Sox have had their own team in the DSL and a few times co-operated with another organization to give more players opportunities. In eight of the past nine seasons, Boston has had two DSL teams 2025 Coaching Staff Managers: Sandy Madera (Red), Amaury Garcia (Blue) Pitching Coaches: Oscar Lira (Blue), Rafael Feliz (Red), Matt Wheeler Hitting Coaches: Eider Torres (Blue), Edwin Rodriguez (Red) Coaches: Juan Hernandez (Red), Carlos Vallejo (Red), Claudio Sanchez (Blue), Leonel Vazquez (Blue) Instructor: Pedro Ciriaco Development Coach: Bryan Delgado 2025 DSL Red Sox Rosters (Blue, Red) 2025 DSL Red Sox Schedule (Blue, Red) Additional Player Development Staff and Coordinators Senior Director, Player Development: Brian Abraham Director, Pitching: Justin Willard Director, Hitting Development & Program Design: Jason Ochart Senior Specialist, Baseball Operations: Patrick McLaughlin Coordinator, Pitching: Ben Buck Coordinator, Baseball Development: Jordan Elkary Assistant, Player Development: Justin Frometa Miles Between Stadiums Fenway Park Polar Park Delta Dental Park Fluor Field Carilion Clinic Field Fenway Park X 45 109 941 677 Polar Park 45 X 137.0 899 642 Delta Dental Park 109 137 X 1038 781 Fluor Field 941 899 1038 X 284 Carilion Clinic Stadium 677 642 781 284 X