Bryce Whitlow

Ten years ago, the Red Sox had a stacked farm system. Now that they're in the same position, who panned out, and what can we learn from that promising time? As we turn the page to the 2025 season, Red Sox fans have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about the future. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcello Mayer, and Kyle Teel have propelled themselves to the top of nearly every MLB prospect list. With this feeling of excitement in the air, I thought it would be fun to travel down memory lane to a similarly hopeful time and look back on the Red Sox’s top-20 prospects from 2014. The list below reflects MLB's rankings of the Boston farm system, but for more detail, you can also read lists from FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, and Minor League Ball. So dust off your iPhone 6, and let's get nostalgic for a few minutes. 20. Jamie Callahan, RHP: The Red Sox selected Jamie Callahan in the second round of the 2012 draft at 87th overall. He originally committed to play at the University of South Carolina but chose to forgo his commitment and sign for $565,000. Callahan put up decent numbers in the minors but never cracked the big-league roster with the Red Sox. In 2017, he was packaged with Gerson Bautista and Stephen Nogosek and sent to the Mets in exchange for reliever Addison Reed. Callahan would get a cup of coffee with the Mets in 2017, appearing in nine games and running a 4.05 ERA over 6.2 innings of work. Callahan pitched in the independent Atlantic League as recently as 2022, but barring a comeback attempt, those nine appearances would represent the only major league action of his career. 19. Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP: The Mets originally drafted Stankiewicz in the second round in 2012, but he didn't sign with the team. The Red Sox scooped Stankiewicz up in the second round of the 2013 draft at 45th overall, and would agree to terms with him on a deal. Stankiewicz pitched in the Boston system until 2019, when he went 6-7 with a 3.85 ERA in Triple-A Pawtucket. Following the 2019 season, he’d elect free agency, making stops in Mexico and China before landing in the Reds organizatoin. In August of 2024, Stankiewicz returned to China, signing a deal with the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. 18. Cody Kukuk, LHP: The Red Sox selected Cody Kukuk in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Kukuk profiled as a pitcher with above-average stuff, but is command caused major concerns. His $800,000 signing bonus showed that the Red Sox had a decent level of faith in him, but unfortunately, a series of bad choices effectively ruined his potential. In 2012, Kukuk was arrested for driving under the influence. While the charges were dropped, they caused him to miss most of the season, and his legal troubles were far from over. In 2014, Kukuk was once again arrested, this time for aggravated robbery. Kukuk wound up being sentenced to 42 months behind bars as well as 36 months of post-release supervision. The Red Sox released him after his prison sentence. 17. Bryce Brentz, OF: Bryce Brentz is notable for being the first player on this list to play for the Red Sox at the big-league level. Brentz would see limited action in Boston during the 2014 and 2016 season, getting into 34 games and hitting .287 with a home run. In 2018, the Pirates would purchase his contract, but he’d never play in the majors again. He briefly reunited with the Red Sox on a minor league deal in late 2019 but nothing came of it. 16. Wendell Rijo, 2B: The Red Sox signed Wendell Rijo as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2012. He'd never make it past Double A in the Boston system, but would eventually spend time in the systems of the Brewers, Yankees, Braves, and Phillies. Rijo spent the winter playing for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, and 2024 was the first season in which Rijo didn't play at all in a big-league system, instead splitting time between Campeche and Veracruz in the Mexican League and batting .234 with a .592 OPS. Rijo just turned 29, so you never know what could happen. 15. Deven Marrero, SS: The Red Sox selected Deven Marrero in the first round of the 2012 draft. Marrero was a highly-touted prospect and considered a potential first overall pick before having a rough junior season at Arizona State. He fell to the Sox at 24th, and they promptly signed him for $2.05 million. Marrero would play in 109 games for the Red Sox, hitting .208 while playing decent defense. He’d see big-league action with the Diamondbacks, Marlins, and Mets as well. In 2024, you could find him providing analysis for NESN. 14. Brian Johnson, LHP: Brian Johnson was selected seven picks after Marrero, at 31st overall in 2012. Johnson would throw 171.0 innings for the Red Sox and even contributed to the 2018 World Series team. In 2018, he pitched in 38 games with an ERA of 4.17. Johnson’s final MLB season came with the Red Sox in 2019, after he struggled to the tune of a 6.02 ERA. 13. Rafael Devers, 3B: A player who needs no introduction, you can currently find Devers putting up perennial All-Star level numbers for the Sox. In 2024, Devers was just a 17-year-old playing in the rookie league and didn't even appear on most prospect lists, though Jason Parks of Baseball Prospectus said he possessed, "One of the sweetest swings I've ever seen from a 16-year-old." Devers was around for the fantastic 2018 World Series run and, seeing as he's just 27 and signed through the 2033 season, will most likely be around for the next great Red Sox team, Thus far, he’s made three All-Star teams and has hit 200 career homers, 12. Christian Vázquez, C: Christian Vázquez helped solidify Boston's catching position for parts of eight seasons. He had a memorable 2019 where he hit 23 homers and drove in 72 runs while providing solid defense behind the dish He was traded at the deadline to the Astros in 2022, but his impact can still be felt. In exchange for the catcher, the Red Sox received Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez. Even in his absence, Vázquez is still helping the team. He currently plays for the Minnesota Twins, where he’s under contract through the 2025 season, though he looks like a possible offseason trade-candidate due to the inflexibility of the team's budget. 11. Manuel Margot, OF: Manuel Margot never played a game for the Red Sox, but he still managed to help the team. After he signed as an international free agent in 2011, he remained within the organization until November 2015, when he was included in the trade package that netted the Craig Kimbrel from San Diego. While he’s never been a player of note, Margot has still had a decent MLB career. Over nine seasons, he’s been worth 11.5 bWAR while hitting .254. Like Vázquez, he spent the 2024 season in Minnesota. 10. Anthony Ranaudo, RHP: After a standout collegiate career for LSU, the Red Sox thought highly of Anthony Ranaudo when they selected him 39th overall in 2010 and gave him $2.55 million as a signing bonus. With some scouts pegging him as a future No. 3 starter, Ranaudo got his chance with the Red Sox in 2014. He got seven starts and was hit around a bit, managing a 4.81 ERA and a 6.89 FIP. In January of 2015, the Red Sox traded Ranaudo to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Robbie Ross. Ranaudo would have unremarkable stints with the Rangers and White Sox before being out of the MLB at the age of 26. Anthony Ranaudo never reached his potential as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, but I’ll always remember his first career strikeout against Derek Jeter. 9. Trey Ball, LHP: Hopes were high for Trey Ball when the Red Sox selected him seventh overall in 2013. A high-school prospect from Indiana, Ball received a lot of attention for his potential to be a two-way player. As he was focusing solely on pitching for the first time, Ball's development was expected to be slow, but his athleticism and potential had people very excited. He never found his footing. In 543.2 career innings across multiple levels of the Boston system, Ball had a career 5.02 ERA and a 1.628 WHIP. In 2019, Ball attempted to become a two-way player, but it didn’t pan out. He became a free agent after the 2019 season and wasn’t picked up by another team. Many fans, including myself, will remember Ball’s potential and always wonder what could’ve been if he put it all together. 8. Matt Barnes, RHP: I feel like many Red Sox fans have a love-hate relationship with Matt Barnes. At times, Barnes looked like one of the best relievers in the American League. Unfortunately, inconsistent performance would often get in his way and hamper him throughout the season. Don’t get it twisted, though. Matt Barnes was a good pitcher for the Red Sox. Across nine seasons, Barnes threw 466.1 innings and posted a 108 ERA+. He made the All-Star team in 2021 and was a consistent presence on the 2018 championship team. Barnes pitched 11.1 postseason innings for the Red Sox and only gave up one earned run. He showed up when it mattered most. 7. Mookie Betts, 2B/OF: After the Red Sox selected Mookie Betts in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, he quickly rose through the minors and turned into one of the best Red Sox in recent memory. When the 2014 rankings came out, Betts was coming off his age-20 season, in which he'd absolutely destroyed Single-A and High-A pitching, running a combined .923 OPS. He kept mashing at Double A and Triple A in 2014, and made his big-league debut that summer. In six seasons in Boston, Mookie made four All-Star teams while capturing the MVP award and winning the World Series in 2018. Looking back, his time in Boston was brief, and he will likely be remembered more as a Dodger when it’s all said and done, which hurts. While Alex Verdugo had his moments and Connor Wong has turned into a good catcher, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Red Sox fan who thinks getting rid of Mookie was the right choice. 6. Garin Cecchini, OF/3B: As I write this, I look to my left, see a Garin Cecchini Salem Red Sox bobblehead on my shelf, and ponder what could’ve been. The Red Sox selected Cecchini in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. Cecchini had it going on at first, running an OPS above .820 in each of his first four minor league stops. In 2014 and 2015, his value plummeted as his once-amazing plate discipline and ability to hit dwindled at the higher levels of the minor leagues. He played in 13 career MLB games, hitting .229 with one home run. He’d eventually be DFA’d to make room for David Price, and then traded to the Brewers. 5. Blake Swihart, C: This one hurts. The Red Sox drafted Blake Swihart 26th overall in 2011, and the switch-hitting catcher was regarded as one of the top prospects in the system for several years. Swihart would see his first taste of MLB action in 2015, after Ryan Hanigan landed on the injured list. He hit well enough, batting .274, but didn’t provide a lot in the OPS department. After struggling to find his footing in the following seasons, Swihart attempted to become a utility player, but various injuries and inconsistent play eventually left him without a role in Boston. In the first month of the 2019 season, the Red Sox sent Swihart to the Diamondbacks. He'd play 31 games for Arizona at the big-league level, then play in the Washington system in 2021. He played indie ball in 2022 and 2024, but appeared in just four games for Atlantic-League Charleston this season. Over 203 games with the Sox, Swihart managed a .679 OPS. 4. Allen Webster, RHP: Allen Webster was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 18th round in 2008, but came to the Red Sox in the mega-deal that sent Josh Beckett, Adrian González, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto to Los Angeles. Webster ran a solid 3.60 ERA in Triple A during the 2013 season, but the prospect lists noted his lack of command, and he never put it together in Boston despite numerous chances. Over 18 starts and one relief appearance with the Red Sox, Webster ran a 6.25 ERA while giving out too many free passes and not striking out nearly enough hitters. The Red Sox traded Webster to Arizona after the 2014 season, but he would appear in just nine games for the Diamondbacks in 2015. After the season, he was traded to Pittsburgh, then released a month later. He spent the 2016 season pitching in the KBO for Samsung, pitched in the Rangers system in 2017, then signed with the Cubs in 2018, getting into 15 big-league games over the next two seasons. The results were largely the same. 3. Jackie Bradley Jr., OF: The amazing catches, the 29-game hit streak, the ALCS MVP! As inconsistent as JBJ was with the bat, he was a premier defender in center who made plenty of impact moments and played a big part in some good Red Sox teams. Bradley ran a career .838 OPS in the minors and a career .684 OPS in the majors, but made up for his deficiencies at the plate with his glove. Over the course of nine seasons with the Sox, Bradley slugged 101 home runs while making an All-Star team and winning a Gold Glove. I was a bit upset when the Sox traded Hunter Renfroe to get him back, but at least it netted the team David Hamilton as well. Jackie Bradley Jr. recently made a return to Fenway, catching the ceremonial first pitch for Joe Castiglione during his retirement ceremony, which was great to see. 2. Henry Owens, LHP: Henry Owens was yet another hyped pitching prospect whom the Red Sox failed to develop. The team drafted him 36th overall out of high school. Owens owned a career 3.52 ERA in the minors, and the Red Sox promoted him to the big club in 2015. The results weren’t great, but not terrible either. Over 63 innings in 11 starts, Owens ran a 4.57 ERA with a 4.28 FIP. Owens got five starts in 2016, and that's when the wheels started to fall off. He struggled heavily, walking 20 while only striking out 21. He also had a WHIP of 1.955, meaning he allowed nearly two baserunners in every inning he pitched. After the 2017 season, the Red Sox placed him on waivers, and although the Diamondbacks picked him up, he'd get into just five games in their system, pitching in indie ball from 2020 to 2022. 1. Xander Bogaerts, SS: Bogaerts spent 10 seasons in Boston and, depending on your opinion of Nomar Garciaparra, has a decent argument for the title of best shortstop in team history. Bogaerts made four All-Star teams while smashing 156 long balls and producing an .814 OPS in Boston. His best season with the Red Sox came in 2019, when he crushed 33 home runs, drove in 117, and batted .309. While I certainly don’t blame the Red Sox for declining to meet the San Diego’s enormous contract offer, I do think a deal with Bogaerts should’ve been worked out long before it got to that point. It felt like Xander Bogaerts should’ve been a Red Sox shortstop for life. While the future certainly looks bright in Boston, we all must keep our expectations in check. While I want to see all of our top prospects succeed, history suggests that the likely scenario is that two of them fully pan out, if we’re lucky. That isn’t meant to rain on anyone’s parade, but just remember, for every Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, there are always many more Henry Owens, Blake Swiharts, and Allen Websters. Still, I can’t wait to see how these up-and-coming players develop. View full article

This might be it for the 2024 Red Sox's postseason hopes. Weekly Snapshot: Mon 9/9 through Sun 9/15 Run Differential Last Week: +10 (Overall: +4) Standing: Third place in AL East (12.0 GB) Game 144 | BAL 3, BOS 12: O’Neill and Refsnyder become Manny and Ortiz Game 145 | BAL 5, BOS 3: Cedric Mullins legacy game hinders the Red Sox Game 146| BAL 3, BOS 5: O’Neill’s heroics lead the Red Sox to a series win Game 147 | BOS 1, NYY 2: The Red Sox fail to score in the 10th, leading to a Yankees victory Game 148 | BOS 4, NYY 5: Fitts has another good start, but the bullpen implodes again. Game 149 | BOS 7, NYY 1: Bello pitches well as Devers and the Red Sox flex on Gerrit Cole yet again Game 150 | BOS 2, NYY 5: The nail in the coffin? The Red Sox needed to be perfect this week to give themselves a shot at October baseball. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Between shaky bullpen performances and inconsistent offensive output, it’s becoming likely that we might be looking to 2025 to see playoff baseball in Boston. At least we still own Gerrit Cole, though…. This three-game set against Baltimore is a series that the Red Sox won, but it needed to be a sweep and certainly could have been. With the season in jeopardy at any given moment, the Red Sox needed to play the hottest stretch of baseball they have all season. On Monday, they started their series against the Baltimore Orioles off in exciting fashion, clobbering the Orioles 12-3. The key performers in this offensive breakout were Tyler O'Neill and Rob Refsnyder. The pair totaled seven hits, four home runs, and eight RBI. This included the duo hitting back-to-back home runs on two different occasions. Albert Suarez stymied the Red Sox’s offense in game two of the series. After totaling 15 base knocks in the series opener, the Red Sox struggled to gain any traction on Tuesday. The Red Sox left seven on base and never seemed to have any real momentum swings in their favor throughout the game. Kutter once again threw decent enough but still yielded two home runs, each coming off the bat of Cedric Mullins. At the conclusion of this start, Kutter Crawford had given up a league-leading 31 home runs. Going back to his last eight starts, Crawford has served up ten homers. Dropping this game 5-3, it felt like a gut punch. Sweeping one of the better teams in the American League isn’t easy to accomplish, but it felt necessary to keep the hope alive. Especially since going into this game, the Orioles had lost four of their last five. In the rubber match of the series, Tyler O’Neill once again put the team on his back, smashing a walk-off home run off of Keegan Akin in the bottom of the 10th inning. This capped off an impactful series for Tyler O’Neill. The 29-year-old slugger went 4-12 with three home runs and 6 RBI while drawing two walks. Despite the typical injury woes you see from O’Neill, this has been a very productive season for him. It’ll be interesting to see if the Red Sox entertain giving him the qualifying offer this offseason. While O’Neill and Refsnyder picked up a lot of the offensive slack in this series, Jarren Duran failed to provide a spark at the top of the lineup, going 2-15 with four strikeouts throughout the series. September has been a struggle for Duran. At the time of this series against the Orioles, he’s batting only .236 with a .536 OPS since the start of the month. Duran has also failed to record a stolen base thus far into September, going 0-2 in his only attempts. While it’s hard to be upset over a series win, it felt as if the team had to win all three of these games to remain competitive in the Wild Card standings. Time is running out. If there were ever a time for a 2004 ALCS-esque miracle to happen, it would be now. With some positive momentum on their side, The Red Sox headed to Yankee Stadium for a four-game set with the Bronx Bombers in a bid to make things interesting and keep any semblance of playoff hopes alive. As much of an optimist as I am when it comes to this team, I fear that this series was the nail in the coffin. The Yankees took three out of the four games against the Red Sox in what feels like a knockout punch. Cooper Criswell gave the Red Sox a very nice start in the first game of the series. He went five and a third innings and only gave up one run on four hits. Unfortunately, the bats didn’t come alive during the game. The Red Sox's only run came off a Danny Jansen home run. The top of the order gave the Red Sox nothing this game. Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and Romy Gonzalez went a combined 0-12. It’s really hard to win when the top of the lineup isn’t producing. As good as the Red Sox were on the mound, the team would fall 2-1 in the series opener. The Red Sox only managed one hit after the fifth inning. The team seemed to lack the intensity that they desperately needed. The second game of this four-game set is where the white flag seemed to be fully raised on the Red Sox’s season. I feel as if this is a script we’ve all seen play out dozens of times. The offense gave the team a lead early on thanks to Masataka Yoshida and Trevor Story home runs. It wouldn’t be for long though. After another solid start by Richard Fitts that saw him pitch five scoreless innings, Zack Kelly was brought into the game and things unraveled fast. Kelly would give up consecutive walks and then a single to Gleyber Torres that drove in a run. This prompted Alex Cora to put in Cam Booser who immediately walked Alex Cora to load the bases. Aaron Judge strolled to the plate with the bases loaded. His struggles since appearing on “Paw Patrol” have been well documented. It had been 16 games since Judge had sent a ball out of the park, a personal record for the slugger. Right on queue, Judge sent Cam Booser’s 2-0 pitch into left field and over the fence for a Grand Slam, giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. I feel as if everyone watching the game knew this was the spot where Judge was going to break out of his slump, and sure enough, it happened. This might’ve been the most demoralizing loss of the season given the situation the Red Sox are in based on the standings. It truly felt like the end. The bullpen has been extremely spotty all season and this is another instance of them letting the game slip away. In response to their struggles and in need of fresh arms, the Red Sox demoted Booser and Kelly after the game and opted to promote Bailey Horn and Zach Penrod. Setting up Penrod for his MLB debut. After Friday’s demoralizing loss, there’s one positive takeaway from this series. Rafael Devers and the Red Sox still own Gerrit Cole. After plunking Devers with a pitch in the first inning, Cole did something that will forever make Red Sox fans smile, he put up four fingers as Rafael Devers came to bat in the fourth inning, opting to intentionally walk the slugger. Cole’s struggles against Devers have been well documented at this point, but it was still a surprise to see Cole back down from the challenge of facing Devers. This decision would immediately blow up in Cole’s face, as it would be the catalyst for a three-run inning by the Red Sox’s offense. Devers and the Red Sox would get to Gerrit Cole once again in the fifth inning. This included a two-run single by Devers. Cole would exit the game with the Yankees trailing 7-1, a score that would hold for the duration of the contest. This game had a layer of drama to it, as Red Sox manager Alex Cora insinuated that Cole intentionally hit Devers with a pitch. After the game, Cora was quoted as saying “I felt like he hit him on purpose. He doesn’t want to face him. Whether Cole hit Devers on purpose is up for debate, but there’s no doubt that he isn’t comfortable facing him. Sadly, defeating Gerrit Cole would be the only bright spot during this series. The Sox dropped the series finale 5-2, most likely ending any type of playoff aspirations. The Red Sox have fallen to 22-32 since the All-Star break. The lack of consistent offensive production and reliable bullpen arms have hindered the team's success. At this point, it seems as though the most we can hope for is an above .500 finish. This is shaping up to be a disappointing end to a once-promising season. Mathematically speaking, it’s still possible for the Red Sox to sneak into the postseason so let’s all lock in and hope for the best. Anything’s possible in baseball. Trending Storyline: September 14th saw the MLB debut of Zach Penrod. At the age of 27, the left-hander entered the game and proceeded to throw a scoreless eighth inning. He struggled with finding the strike zone a bit, walking one batter in the process but ultimately, he got the job done. Penrod also threw two-thirds of a scoreless inning in the series finale against the Yankees. Looking ahead: After a day off on Monday, the Red Sox will head to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays in a three-game set before returning to Fenway to take on the Twins. The series against the Rays is winnable, and then a sweep of the Twins would be vital. The Red Sox still have to leap the Mariners and Tigers in the standings as well. Let’s see if the bullpen can keep it together, and if the offense can produce. Monday, SEP 16: OFF DAY Tuesday, SEP 17: Red Sox @ Rays - RHP Nick Pivetta v. TBD, Wednesday, SEP 18: Red Sox @ Rays - TBD, Thursday, SEP 19: Red Sox @ Rays - TBD, Friday, SEP 20: Twins @ Red Sox - TBD, Saturday, SEP 21: Twins @ Red Sox - TBD, Sunday, September 22: Twins @ Red Sox - TBD View full article

Bryce Whitlow sits down with the Red Sox's 2024 second-round draft pick, Payton Tolle. View full video

“I didn’t hear no bell” 😂

Thank you so much!

Appreciate it! I’m going to be doing it weekly to finish this season and as we move onto next season. I’ll work on condensing the length a bit on the next one haha!

It’s been a tough week to be a Red Sox fan. The team was swept at the hands of the Mets before looking to rebound against the White Sox. The Red Sox did their job, winning the first two games of the series against Chicago, but dropped the series finale after another bullpen implosion. With time not on their side, the Red Sox sit four games back of the final Wild Card spot. The season is hanging on by a thread. With the return of Story and an impressive debut by Richard Fitts bringing some excitement to Boston, one question remains: Can the Red Sox make a run at this thing? Weekly Snapshot: Mon 9/2 through Sun 9/8, Run Differential Last Week: -14 (Overall: -6) Standing: Third place in AL East (10.0 GB) Game 138 | BOS 1, NYM 4: Bello labors through 5 as the bats stay ice cold Game 139 | NYM 2, NYM 7: The Sox keep it close before an uncharacteristic Chris Martin outing proves fatal Game 140| BOS 3, NYM 8: The Mets get to Houck early and Jansen late Game 141 | CWS 1, BOS 3: Late heroics from Rafaela help the Sox stick the landing in a must-win game Game 142 | CWS 5, BOS 7: Criswell settles in, and the offense gets to Crochet early Game 143 | CHW 7, BOS 2: Richard Fitts shines in his debut, but the bats go quiet, and the bullpen implodes As we move towards the end of the MLB season, The Red Sox needed a hot start to September to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the case due to less-than-stellar pitching performances and an inability to drive home runners in scoring position on the rare occasion the team got somebody on base. The series loss at the hands of the Tigers undoubtedly left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths, particularly the series finale that saw Cooper Criswell get taken out despite a perfect game bid with a low pitch count. Pitching decisions aside, winning games is tough when only scoring one run per contest is all the Red Sox could manage in the final two games in Detroit. The Red Sox then traveled to New York to take on the Mets. Sadly, things wouldn’t get much better for the team in the Big Apple. The series opener saw Bryan Bello take on Luis Severino on a chilly New York night. Bello, who pitched well in five August starts, struggled after a scoreless first inning. Starting in the 2nd inning, Bello allowed runs in three consecutive frames. He would get through five innings, but the four runs he allowed were all the Mets would need to claim a victory against the flailing Red Sox offense. Severino was as good as ever, pitching seven innings of one run ball while fanning five. Boston’s only run came on a Jarren Duran single that drove in Ceddanne Rafaela. Duran would be thrown out on this play, attempting to stretch a single into a double. This was a tough watch. The Red Sox couldn’t get anything going offensively, and a few defensive lapses further complicated things. Tyler O’Neill misplaying a Luis Torrens double that helped DJ Stewart score was a big sore spot in the game. Bello wasn’t at the top of his game either, but it wouldn’t have mattered much with how the team swung the bats. If you’re looking for a possible silver lining from the game, it could be found in Josh Winckowski, who relieved Bello and threw three innings of one hit ball to finish the game. Game two of the series saw Kutter Crawford square off against David Peterson. Both starters pitched quite well, each going six innings apiece. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Kutter would get the first out of the inning before walking Jeff McNeil on five pitches. Crawford would get the next batter, Francisco Alvarez, to strike out swinging. Shortstop Francisco Lindor strolled to the plate with two outs and belted a two-run homer to right field to get the Mets on the board. Kutter Crawford has allowed a league-leading 29 long balls this season, but make no mistake, this was a good start for the right-hander. The home run by Lindor would be the only hit allowed by Kutter in his six innings of work. The Red Sox would finally get their offense going in the top of the 5th inning. Masataka Yoshida led off the inning with a single, followed by a Danny Jansen groundout that advanced Yoshida to second base and a Ceddanne Rafaela strikeout. Nick Sogard would then step to the plate, and on the 6th pitch of the at-bat, the rookie singled to center field, allowing Yoshida to score. In the 7th inning, Justin Slaten would relieve Kutter Crawford and immediately give up a solo shot to Mark Vientos, making the score 3-1. To their credit, the Red Sox showed a fight in the top of the 8th inning, managing a run on an Enmanuel Valdez sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game. Alex Cora would turn to the typically reliable Chris Martin to keep the game close. Unfortunately, this wasn’t Martin’s night. He’d give up two singles, a double, and a Pete Alonso home run throughout the inning. By the time the dust had settled, Chris Martin was tagged for four runs, and the Mets had now led the game 7-2. Ryan Stanek would shut down the Red Sox in the 9th to finish things off, ending a frustrating game and spoiling a good Kutter Crawford outing. Once again, the Red Sox couldn’t wake the bats up during this game. David Peterson was dealing as well. Every batter in the Red Sox starting line-up other than Yoshida punched out at least once. The third and final game of the series saw the Red Sox turn to All-Star Tanner Houck in a bid to avoid the sweep and keep the team from falling to .500. Things would get off to a rough start, and the Sox would go down 1-2-3 in the top of the first against pitcher Tylor Megill. Houck would then take the mound, and things would quickly unravel. Tanner allowed a lead-off single to Lindor, a five-pitch walk to Brandon Nimmo, and a line-drive single to Mark Vientos, loading the bases with nobody out. He’d get Pete Alonso to strike out swinging, but then the recently acquired Jesse Winker would come to bat and break things open by mashing a Grand Slam. Houck would then get the next two batters, Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil, to ground out, but the damage had been done. The Sox would have to show some fight on the offensive side of the ball to get back in the game. In the bottom of the third, that’s precisely what they did. Enmanuel Valdez and Nick Sogard would hit singles to start the inning, and Jarren Duran would smack a ground-rule double, scoring Valdez and moving Sogard to third. Rafael Devers and Wilyer Abreu would hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to put the score at 4-3. The Red Sox offense had responded, battling back from a 4-0 deficit to make things interesting; none of us knew it then, but this inning would be the last time they’d score for the rest of the night. The Sox did have a chance to tie things up in the bottom of the 8th. With two outs, the Red Sox had Tyler O’Neil at first and Rob Refsnyder at third base. Yoshida stepped up to the plate but couldn’t finish the job, lining out to shortstop to end the inning. Kenley Jansen took the mound in the bottom of the 8th inning, and the wheels would quickly fall off the wagon. Jansen’s outing was rough initially, as he allowed a lead-off walk to Brandon Nimmo and then a single to Mark Vientos. Jansen would get Pete Alonso to strike out for the first out of the frame but then walk Jesse Winker to load the bases. In the next at-bat, outfielder Tyrone Taylor would work the count full before drawing a bases-loaded walk, allowing a run to score. It was clear that it wouldn’t be Kenley’s night on the bump, so the Red Sox turned to Rich Hill. Hill would walk two more runs before allowing a Harrison Bader sacrifice fly. Just like that, the score was now 8-3. Alex Cora then opted to bring Greg Weissert out of the pen, and he did his job, getting Lindor to line out to end the inning. Edwin Diaz toed the rubber for the Mets in the 9th inning. Triston Casas would get things started with a walk, but Connor Wong, Enmanuel Valdez, and Romy Gonzalez would all make outs to end the game. The Offsnese showed a spark for one inning but didn’t produce afterward. This game was also notable as it’s likely the last time Rich Hill will take the mound in the MLB. After this rough outing, he was DFA’d by the Red Sox on September 6th to make room for Luis Guerrero. Rich Hill didn’t have much left in the tank, but he’s been an on-and-off presence for the Red Sox for over a decade; it’s sad to see him go. Giving Guerrero a shot certainly seems like the correct move, though. As far as this series goes, the Red Sox couldn’t get consistent pitching or offensive performances and got swept by one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last couple of weeks. After having off Thursday, September 5th, the Red Sox rolled back into Fenway to take on the historically bad Chicago White Sox. Going into this series sitting at 70-70, it felt like a three-game set that the Red Sox must sweep to keep any glimmer of playoff hopes alive. The pitching match-up for game 1 of the series featured Nick Pivetta taking on Davis Martin. The Red Sox got a nice start from Pivetta. The veteran gave the team 6 innings of 1 run baseball. The White Sox scored a run in the top of the 2nd inning thanks to an RBI single from Jacob Amaya. The Red Sox, who wasted opportunities with runners on base in the 1st and 2nd inning, were finally able to tie the game up in the bottom of the 4th after Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida were both hit by pitches, leading to a Triston Casas RBI single. The game remained tied 1-1 until the bottom of the 7th inning. Enmanuel Valdez came up to bat and drew a 1-out walk, bringing the rookie Ceddanne Rafaela up to bat. Rafaela, who ranks in the top 5 for RBI by a rookie, once again cashed in, belting a two-run homer to left field on the first pitch of his at-bat. Brennan Bernardino and Josh Winckowski pitched perfect 8th and 9th innings, allowing the Red Sox to obtain a much-needed victory. As far as I’m concerned, this game was 100% must-win for the Red Sox. Rafaela can drive in runs when the team needs it, and once again, he was clutch. On Saturday, the biggest headline heading into the game was the return of Trevor Story. Story, who has missed 133 games this season after a shoulder injury in early April, got the start at shortstop and batted in the 7-hole. Story’s return is undoubtedly welcome, as he provides stability on the defensive end and an ability to swing a hot bat when he’s in a groove. Cooper Criswell, fresh off a start that saw him flirt with perfection (before controversially being taken out), toed the rubber against Garrett Crochet. From the outside looking in, this had the makings of a challenging game for the Red Sox. Crochet has been one of the few bright spots for the White Sox this season. The Red Sox have also had a tough time hitting left-handed pitching throughout the season. Looking deeper into the numbers, I see that Crochet has struggled since the All-Star break. In 8 starts during the 2nd half of the season, the southpaw has pitched to the tune of a 6.20 ERA. The Red Sox would hope to take advantage of Garrett Crochet’s recent woes on the mound and come out on top; The White Sox would immediately do damage against Criswell. After a Luis Robert lineout, Andrew Benintendi would single into right field, followed by a 402-foot home run by Andrew Vaughn. This immediately put the White Sox ahead and was a frustrating start to the game. Luckily, the Red Sox came to play. Duran started the bottom of the 1st with a single, and Devers followed that up with a double. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Rob Refsnyder did his job, hitting a ground ball to 2nd base that allowed Jarren Duran to score and Devers to advance to 3rd base. This cut the deficit to 1 as the chiseled physique of Tyler O’Neill strolled to the dish and smacked a 396-foot home run to put the Red Sox ahead 3-2. This wouldn’t be all the Red Sox offense would contribute to this inning. The next batter, Romy Gonzalez, singled and swiped on the 2nd and 3rd bases. Connor Wong would drive Romy in, lacing a double to left field. This put the score at 4-2 after only one inning. As rough as Criswell’s first inning was, he locked in for the remainder of his start and turned in a nice performance; he’d go five innings, with the Andrew Vaughn two-run shot being the only run he’d give up. After a brutal beginning, it was nice to see Cooper get the job done. Crochet would only pitch one more inning before Gus Varland would toe the rubber for the third inning; the Red Sox jumped on Varland. O’Neill led off the inning with a single and was swiftly driven in by a Romy Gonzalez double to right field. Gonzalez would once steal third, setting the table for Trevor Story to hit a single into center field, netting his first hit and RBI in his first game back from the IL. This productive inning pushed the score to 6-2 after three innings. At the bottom of the 5th, the Red Sox would once again pile on. Tyler O’Neill came up to bat and hit his second home run of the game, extending the lead to 7-2; Chase Shugart would take over for Cooper Criswell in the top of the 6th and pitch a scoreless inning. He was sent out again in the 7th inning to eat another low-leverage inning, but it didn’t go as well this time. Shugart allowed a walk to Chuckie Robinson and a single by Lopez to put two runners on base. After getting Luis Robert to fly out, former Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi lifted a ball 391 feet for a home run. This made the score 7-5. Shugart would then allow a single to Andrew Vaughn, and Bernardino would be summoned from the pen to finish the inning. Luckily, he locked things down, striking out Sheets and inducing a fly-out by Sosa. Chad Kuhl would impressively strike out the side in the bottom of the 7th, fanning Abreu, O’Neill, and Gonzalez in order. The score stayed at 7-5 when Alex Cora turned to Kenley Jansen to record the save; he was money, setting the White Sox down to record his 26th save of the season. This wasn’t a pretty win, but it’s a victory. Don Orsillo called this game, giving the contest a very sentimental feel. I also thought having former White Sox and Red Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski in the booth was a nice touch. It was nice to see Trevor Story get a base hit and RBi in his first game. I’d love to see him get hot down the stretch. There’s no logical reason for the Red Sox to give Tyler O’Neill a new deal this winter, but I’m going to enjoy these moon shots at Fenway while they last, The third and final game of the series would see the MLB debut of pitching prospects Richard Fitts and Luis Guerrero. Fitts was great, going 5.2 innings and not allowing an earned run. Base running was an issue for the Red Sox early on. The team seemed intent on testing the strong arm of Korey Lee, and it didn’t work out so well. Duran, Abreu, and Trevor Story ran into unnecessary outs on the bases in the game's early goings. With the game tied 2-2 heading into the 9th inning, Cora put Zack Kelly out of the Red Sox bullpen. Things would go south for Kelly rather quickly. Kelly would surrender five hits and leave the game with the score at 6-2 with runners on 2nd and 3rd base. Luis Guerrero was summoned from the pen to make his Major League debut. Guerrero would pitch pretty well, allowing a sacrifice fly from Luis Robert to score a run before getting Andrew Benintendi out to end the inning. With the score at 7-2 by the inning’s end, it felt insurmountable, which would sadly be the case. The Red Sox would go down quietly in the 9th inning to end the game. Games against teams like the White Sox are must-win, so squandering this game felt deflating. The bullpen implosion by Zack Kelly overshadowed the impressive debut by Richard Fitts, who was excellent. This was probably the most disappointing series win of the season. Trending Storylines The return of Trevor Story and the debut of Richard Fitts undeniably bring some excitement to the team, but not being able to complete the sweep against the White Sox leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. It’ll be interesting to see what Trevor Story’s presence can do to help the Red Sox on both sides of the ball in the last month of the season. Richard Fitts gave a nice glimpse into the type of starter he can be at the MLB level, even if it was against the White Sox offense. It’ll be interesting to see if he keeps getting opportunities to start games as the month progresses. The promotion of Fitts also signified the end of the Bobby Dalbec era in Boston, as the former top prospect was DFA’d by the ball club on Sunday Morning. This Red Sox team can’t afford to have more bullpen implosions or cold nights with the bat for the rest of the season. Currently, sitting four games back of the last wild card spot, a losing streak of any kind can mean the end of the season for the Red Sox, if it’s not already the case as it is. Looking Ahead On Monday, the Red Sox will begin a 3-game series against the 2nd-place Orioles, followed by a 4-game set against the 1st-place New York Yankees. It’s a daunting task, but it feels as if every game is a win for the Red Sox even to have a chance at making a run. At worst, the Red Sox must win 6 out of 7 games. The Red Sox will turn to Bryan Bello on Monday night to help get them back in the win column and hopefully spark a winning streak. Let’s buckle in and hope for the best; stranger things have happened. Monday, SEP 9: Orioles @ Red Sox - LHP Cade Povich V. RHP Bryan Bello Tuesday, SEP 10: Orioles @ Red Sox - RHP Albert Suarez V, RHP Kutter Crawford Wednesday, SEP 11: Orioles @ Red Sox - RHP Dean Kramer V. RHP Nick Pivetta Thursday, SEP 12: Red Sox @ Yankees - pitchers to be determined Friday, SEP 13: Red Sox @ Yankees - pitchers to be determined Saturday, SEP 14: Red Sox @ Yankees - pitchers to be determined Sunday, September 15: Red Sox @ Yankees - pitchers to be determined View full article

Fantastic article!

Do you remember Lars Anderson?

On Sunday morning, the Red Sox announced they’d designated first baseman Bobby Dalbec for assignment. This is a corresponding move to make room for the recently promoted Richard Fitts on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox selected Bobby Dalbec in the 4th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He instantly drew attention for his impressive minor league play, batting .386 for the Lowell Spinners in 2016. From there, he’d continue to show an impressive ability to hit for power in the minor leagues. Dalbec was widely considered a top prospect in the Red Sox organization for multiple years. From 2019-2021, he’d peak at #3 on MLB.com’s top 30 Red Sox prospects. In the shortened 2020 season, Bobby Dalbec would get his first crack at the big leagues. He’d play in 23 games, hitting .263 with eight homers and an eye-opening .959 OPS. In 2021, Dalbec would have his best season, crushing 25 long balls with a .792 OPS in 133 games. Dalbec’s breakout season prompted the Red Sox to give him the keys to begin the 2022 season as the team’s primary first baseman. Dalbec struggled, batting just .147 during the first month of the season. This led to the Red Sox looking for options elsewhere, initially giving Franchy Cordero time and acquiring Eric Hosmer in August to fill the void. In September, Dalbec was hitting .211 on the season and was subsequently demoted to Triple-A to make room for an up-and-coming Triston Casas. In 2023, Dalbec appeared in just 21 games for the Red Sox. When he did play, the on-field results weren’t ideal. He hit .204 with a single home run in 49 at-bats. The emergence of Triston Casas left Dalbec without a lane for consistent MLB playing time. In Triple-A, he shined, slugging 33 home runs in just 114 games for the Woo Sox. Despite his impressive minor-league performance, the results never consistently translated to the majors. Somewhat surprisingly, Bobby Dalbec made the Opening Day roster in 2024. He appeared in six games before being demoted to Triple-A. Dalbec would be shuttled back and forth several times from Worcester to Boston, and he'd once again struggle at the MLB level. He managed only one hit in his first 32 at-bats and fanned 18 times. Dalbec’s last appearance for the Red Sox came on June 21st. He went 0-3 with two punch outs. In 37 games this season, he hit .133 with one home run and 8 RBI. The news of Dalbec being designated for assignment felt like a reasonable decision from the Red Sox front office. He’s shown flashes of translating his skill set to the MLB, but Triston Casas is the obvious choice for regular reps at first base for the Red Sox. Dalbec does possess some versatility, making appearances at third base and the outfield this season. Unfortunately, for Dalbec, these aren’t necessarily positions of need for the Red Sox. Bobby Dalbec may be a classic quad-A player who crushes minor-league pitching but can’t do the same in MLB, but that remains to be seen. I’m certain that by the time next season rolls around, Dalbec will get a new opportunity to show what he’s capable of with a new organization. Honestly, I’d love to see him thrive somewhere, but it’s clear Boston isn’t where it's meant to be. View full article

They feel inevitable

I don’t think anyone could say it’s logical to re-sign O’Neill, but im certainly enjoying what will probably be his last handful of Moon Shots at Fenway.

I could easily see a team do a bit of an overpay on him over like three years. Something like a Soler type deal.

Sure, it's easy to remember Manny, Dustin, and the stars. But do you remember these four guys? As a lifelong Red Sox fan, I’ve had the pleasure of watching some fantastic talent over the years. Being born in 2001, I can recollect the end of the Manny Ramirez era. I also saw plenty of memorable moments from David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. It was truly a joy to grow up watching these players; for every Kevin Youkilis or Jason Varitek, a handful of players may not be as easy to remember. Whether they were veterans past their prime or players who made a name elsewhere after leaving Boston, the last few decades were filled with notable names playing out somewhat forgettable stints in a Red Sox uniform. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to highlight a handful of former Red Sox players who might have slipped through the cracks over the last two decades of baseball. Brandon Phillips (2018) Widely known for his 11-year run with the Cincinnati Reds, the Red Sox would be the last stop of Phillips’ impressive big league career. The three-time All-Star signed a minor league deal with the Sox on June 27th, 2018, after playing in Atlanta for the 2017 season. He’d appear in 38 minor league games, batting .304 with five home runs. Once September rolled around, Phillips was added to the big league roster and debuted on September 5th against the Atlanta Braves. He’d get off to a nice start, belting a two-run home run to put the Red Sox ahead 9-8 in an eventual victory. Phillips started hot, but it wouldn’t last; he’d play in 9 games with the team and hit .130. The Red Sox opted not to use Brandon Phillips during their championship run, and his time in Boston would mark the end of a very good MLB career. Yoenis Cespedes (2014) I often forget that Yoenis Cespedes spent a brief chunk of his 8-year MLB career with the Red Sox. The Red Sox acquired Cespedes during the 2014 trade deadline in exchange for Jonny Gomes and long-time ace Jon Lester. Yoenis Cespedes was an incredibly hyped phenomenon out of Cuba when he came to the Oakland Athletics in 2012. Yoenis played well for the A’s, even making the All-Star team before being shipped to Boston in 2014. His tenure with the Sox was entirely forgettable. In 51 games to finish the season with the Red Sox, Cespedes batted .269 with five homers and 33 RBI. His OPS dropped to .719, and he posted a below-average 98 OPS+. With an abysmal walk rate and rumors of Cespedes being unhappy in Boston, the outfielder was traded to the Detroit Tigers in December 2014 in exchange for future Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. Cespedes would make an impact for the New York Mets later in his career, making his time in Boston seem even more distant. Allen Craig (2014-2015) From 2011 to 2013, Allen Craig was one of the most clutch bats in the MLB. In 2013, Craig hit an astonishing .454 in 130 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Allen Craig was having a down when the Red Sox acquired him along with Joe Kelly in exchange for John Lackey in July of 2014. He had played in 97 games up to that point, batting .237 with an OPS of .638. Due to his track record as a skilled hitter, I remember being excited to see what he could do now that he had a change of scenery. Unfortunately, for everyone involved, the wheels fell off. In 29 games with Boston in 2014, Craig struggled. He batted .128 and struck out 36 times in 94 at-bats. Despite this slow start to his Red Sox tenure, Allen Craig began the 2015 season as the starting first baseman for the Red Sox. It was once again a struggle. The once-elite hitter once batted below the Mendoza Line during the season. This underwhelming performance prompted him to be eventually outrighted off the 40-man roster in May of 2015. Craig would play a handful of games for the Red Sox to finish the 2015 season in September and October but would again not produce. He’d never play in the MLB again—a disappointing end to a good hitter’s career. Aaron Cook (2012) Lost in the shuffle of the disastrous 2012 season was the final year of Aaron Cook’s career. Cook had spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies before joining the Red Sox on a minor league deal before the 2012 season. Cook had been dealing with shoulder and knee injuries during his final seasons in Colorado and looked to rebound with the Sox. The former All-Star started the season in Triple-A. In five Pawtucket starts, he dealt, going 3-0, including two complete games. Cook was promoted to the big league club on May 1st, just before he could trigger an opt-out clause in his minor league contract. While he found success in Triple-A, it was clear the once-talented pitcher didn’t have much left in the tank upon his return to the majors. Cook did have a few bright spots, pitching a complete game shutout on June 29th against the Seattle Mariners. The bad outweighed the good, though, and he finished the season with a 4-11 record and a 5.65 ERA. He’d sign minor league deals with the Phillies and the Rockies in 2013 but would never pitch in the MLB again. Throughout the years, plenty of talented players have called Fenway their home. It’s always interesting to look back at good players who joined the team for stints that weren’t exactly memorable. Many former stars have stopped by for one final taste of big-league action. It’s nice to take some time and look back on them every so often. View full article

You’re not wrong

“Epic comeback starts right now”

Ouch

How do we feel about Middlebrooks in the booth?

Not off to the best start…