Nick John

The Boston Red Sox continue to have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. Many fans know about top prospects Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony, and Marcelo Mayer, others are making strong impressions early on in the season. Infielder Franklin Arias has started off str ong in his first six games in Salem and may soon be a name to know too. Arias is a 19-year-old shortstop who signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela at the age of 17. Arias has shown solid range with smooth action and soft hands. Confident in his defense, he’s able to make difficult plays look rather routine and is viewed as possibly being an above-average defender at second base or an average defender if he sticks at shortstop. In Salem, Arias has split time between second base and shortstop with 10 games at the former and 26 at the latter. Originally considered a glove-first shortstop, Arias managed to surprise and impress the organization with strong underlying batted ball data. Playing in six games so far this season, Arias has 12 hits in 24 at-bats with only three strikeouts. Thanks to a simple right-handed stroke and advanced swing decisions for his age, he’s able to make repeated contact and avoid racking up strikeouts. In his first game of the season, Arias started off strong as he got three hits, including two doubles in his five at-bats. And that hot hitting has carried on since, as he’s gotten at least one hit and managed to reach base at least twice in every game. Arias played fantastically with both the Dominican Summer League Red Sox and the Florida Complex League Red Sox. In 2023, he played 37 games in the Dominican Summer League and absolutely raked batting .350. In 2024, he was even better in the Florida Complex League as he played in 51 games and managed to hit .355/.471/.584 with six home runs. Due to his great play, Arias was named the league’s top prospect. Aftrer a promotion to Salem in 2024, Arias slashed .257/.331/.378 in 36 games as an 18-year-old. Despite being one of the youngest guys in the Carolina League, Arias held his own and now, in a small sample size, he is putting the league on notice at the age of 19. While he hasn’t hit for much power so far (nine of his 12 hits are singles), he continues to put the ball in play and force the defense to make plays. Arias has only improved since his first stint at Salem and continues to impress not just those within the Red Sox organization but across baseball, making his way onto multiple top 100 prospects lists. Time will tell whether the hot start is just that or whether he will force his way to Greenville.

It was Red Sox prospect Brandon Clarke’s birthday Thursday night. It was also his professional debut, and he made sure to celebrate both milestones in style. To call his debut anything less than phenomenal would be an understatement. Pitching for the Salem Red Sox, Clarke showcased the potential that made him Boston’s fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Salem would go on to lose to the Fredericksburg Nationals, 7-4, and currently sits in second place in the Carolina League. The 6-foot-4 left-hander dominated in four unhittable innings. Needing just 40 pitches to retire all 12 batters he faced, Clarke looked like he didn’t belong in Salem. He struck out five and did not allow a single batter to reach base, recording nine whiffs and a 75% strike rate. Of his five strikeouts, four were on sliders and sweepers. The final one came on a 97-mph fastball. The Fredericksburg batters were off balance and unable to do anything against him. The lack of hard contact made the performance even more remarkable. Of the seven balls in play Clarke allowed, six were groundouts and one was a foul pop-out. Clarke has a low release height and good extension to go with a high leg kick and deceptive arm action. The left-hander uses four pitches: a fastball, slider, sweeper, and changeup. The fastball sits between 96 and 99 mph and tops out at 100. It lacks much movement, however, and his command and control of it are still works in progress. However, it has the potential to be a plus pitch. His slider flashes bat-missing potential. and he can snap it off with tight rotation when he’s on with it.. He has trouble landing it in the zone, but if he can be consistent with it, it could be an average pitch for him. The sweeper seems to be his strikeout pitch, with a long, horizontal break. He uses it when he needs to get a whiff. Just like the slider, however, he lacks consistency with it and it currently looks slightly below-average to average. The changeup is very much a work in progress, with reduced arm speed that serves as a tell. Clarke has the potential to be a multi-inning leverage reliever with the ceiling of a middle-of-the-rotation arm as he learns to make the most of his frame and velocity. The Red Sox are looking to develop him as a starter, and it's easy to dream on that potential after Thursday's performance.

Thursday night saw Liam Hendriks return for the Worcester Red Sox as they faced off against the Columbus Clippers. Hendriks started the game and looked comfortable in his first appearance since the end of spring training. On the injured list with elbow inflammation during his ramp-up from Tommy John surgery, Hendriks received a cortisone shot on Opening Day. Hendriks pitched a single inning, striking out three batters, including the first batter he faced, and allowed one weak infield single. Hendriks last pitched on March 20, and he threw 18 pitches in the first inning, relying mainly on his fastball and slider. He also tossed two curveballs during the game. Hendriks led with the slider, tossing it nine times. The pitch averaged 86.7 mph on the might, 1.3 mph below its average in 2023, the last time Hendriks pitched in the majors. The pitch worked well, earning five swings and misses. Hendriks threw his fastball even times, generating five swings but no whiffs. The pitch topped out at 95.2 mph and averaged 94.3 mph, a drop-off of 1.1 mph from his 2023 average. The lone hit of the inning came off the fastball, a slow roller to third with an exit velocity of 63.4 mph. Nate Eaton attempted to make a do-or-die play on it, but the runner was able to beat it out for an infield single. Hendriks located 14 of his 18 pitches outside the zone, focusing on earning chases with sliders low and away to right-handed hitters and in to left-handed hitters. Of his seven fastballs, four were located within the zone; the plan of attack was to focus on the upper third of the zone. In all, he earned chases on eight of his 14 pitches outside the zone, and five whiffs and five fouls on the 11 swings he induced. "I think I had more strikeouts today than I did all of spring training, which is nice,” Hendriks said after the game. “Good thing was it felt good, but more importantly, location-wise, it was a little better. It was a little easier to get to all of those pitches than it was in the spring.” Assuming he feels good over the next few days, Hendriks plans on pitching against the Clippers again on Sunday. “Ever since I got the shot on Opening Day, it’s been cruising pretty well,” he said. “I was able to do a couple of things differently over this last week that I wasn’t able to do all spring training. It was just my stubborn [expletive] just not willing to admit that I wasn’t quite 100% and trying to push through it that way. But ever since I got that shot in there, everything’s calmed down in there and the ball’s coming out nice.”

There are several moments that can change the entire outcome of the game. Whether it’s a clutch hit, a defensive stop or even just a walk, a simple thing can have huge ramifications. The flashiest plays don't always lead to wins, and any contribution can be important. This was on display just this past Sunday, as the Red Sox and Cardinals battled it out in the first game of a doubleheader. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox fought hard to get back into the game, down by two. Facing arguably one of the top closers in the game in Ryan Helsley, their chances did not look good. Despite the unlikely odds of winning, they fought and clawed their way into a chance, managing to make it a one-run game and loading the bases with two outs. The Red Sox also had the one player they would usually want stepping to the plate: Rafael Devers. Devers’ early season struggles have been covered at length, but he had been turning it around over the past few days. He entered the game five for his past 11, then hit his first home run of the season up into the Monster seats. He was truly back. The at-bat was going to be a battle for both sides; two stars facing off with the game on the line. Helsley started out strong, throwing a fastball clocked at 100.9 mph middle-in. Whether that was its intended location or not, it was the perfect spot to throw based on Devers’ early season struggles. Middle-in is one of Devers’ preferred spots; he's run an 82% swing percentage there. Unfortunately, he has not had much success there, at least early in the season. He'd whiffed on 44% of them and had yet to turn one into a hit. Helsley followed it up with a slider that you can’t help but think was a mistake. All game he struggled to control the pitch but refused to abandon it. He had the slider 52% of the time entering the game, but it was not a trusty pitch on the day. Overall, he threw 18 of them with only 44% in the zone and just a 20% chae rate. In total, only eight of his sliders landed in the strike zone and only two outside of the zone were chased. Fortunately for him, Devers did not swing at the middle-middle slider, choosing to take it and fall behind in the count as he had two strikes on him. This was where the patience Devers showed throughout the season paid off. Quite a few hitters would get jumpy down 0-2, especially with two outs, bases loaded, and the tying run at third base. Devers remained calm, taking the next pitch, a slider in the dirt. Despite having a fastball he could throw at 100 mph, Helsley and the Cardinals continued to go with the slider that had been unreliable all afternoon. The fourth pitch continued that trend, another slider middle-outside. Devers let it go right by him and didn’t offer again. He had worked the count back into something more favorable, two balls, two strikes, and he was showing Helsley he was not going to chase. All season, he showed that pitches outside the zone had to look convincing to get him to chase and none of Helsley’s sliders were doing the job. Still, Helsley tried the slider once more, and just like the previous three sliders, Devers did not swing. Instead, he watched as Helsley tried to backdoor it into the upper-outside portion of the zone. He couldn’t get it to break enough as Devers watched it pass by once more and now had a full count. This was when Devers’ patience cornered Helsley. He was not going to chase a slider, and with the bases loaded Helsley could not risk throwing another, given his spotty command. He went with the fastball, and everyone watching knowing that it was coming. Devers was prepared, staring down the pitcher as he readied himself. Helsley threw the sixth and final pitch of the at-bat, the closest one to the strike zone since getting ahead with two early strikes. Devers didn’t swing at it, however. The pitch was too far off the plate. It was a close pitch for the situation, but Devers could tell it would be too far off the plate, landing just outside at the bottom of the zone. Devers battled, watching pitch after pitch and not jumping at one of them. After his first miss Devers did not swing again throughout the at-bat, allowing his eyes to do the work for him and tie the game up with a walk. With it he completed the rally to tie the game and shifted momentum completely over to the Red Sox. While everyone would probably prefer a hit to walk off the game, a game-tying walk is just as exciting. Especially when Devers had to fight back after falling behind two strikes. It would have been easy to just swing at one of the various pitches thrown by Helsley, to wave at a slider that looked to be breaking over the plate but remained too far outside. Instead, he stuck to his method, he worked the at-bat until he either got a pitch he liked or earned a walk. And with his still questionable hitting up to that point in time, Devers did everything he could to tie the game and give Alex Bregman a chance to win it all. That single at-bat might have been his best in the entire game.

After a turbulent 2024 season, left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan appears to be returning to the type of pitcher many thought he could become. Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, Drohan rose through the minor leagues, making his way to Triple-A Worcester by 2023. Prior to his promotion, Drohan had flashed potential as a left-handed pitcher with four average pitches who had solid command and control of them. However, he struggled mightily in his first go around with Worcester in 2023, appearing in 21 games and making 19 starts. Drohan went 5-7 with an ERA of 6.47 across 89 innings pitched. He surrendered 103 hits, 19 of them home runs, while his usual command was nowhere to be found. He allowed 63 walks, after allowing 51 over 129 2/3 innings pitched in 20222. The hope was that he would return to Worcester in 2024 and develop from that tough showing, but it wasn’t to be. Instead, Drohan found himself selected by the Chicago White Sox in the Rule 5 draft heading into 2024, and was to be part of their organization. Unfortunately, Drohan would suffer an injury-filled year with the White Sox, to the point that they decided to return him to the Red Sox. By the time Drohan had been returned, his stuff had regressed. Only his changeup was projected to be better than average. Upon his return, Drohan would only make two starts in Worcester, throwing a combined seven innings and allowing five runs. He also walked eight batters and struck out eight. By the end of the 2024 season, Drohan's fit in the organization wasn't apparent. Other pitching prospects like Luis Guerrero, Hunter Dobbins, and Richard Fitts had passed him. Drohan wasn’t even viewed as an emergency up-and-down starter. His work ethic entering spring training may have put him back on the list of potential options, as Andrew Parker of Beyond the Monster reported that Worcester's pitching coach Dan DeLucia praised the left-hander for the work he put in during the offseason as reported by. Entering spring training, 2025 Drohan was coming off a healthy offseason and appeared to be returning to form. His latest pitching appearance for the Worcester Red Sox on Friday evening showcased the type of pitching prospect he once was. Starting against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Drohan kept them off the board as he threw four completely dominant innings. Needing just 56 pitches, Drohan surrendered only a single hit while striking out six and allowing just two hard-hit balls. Drohan worked with all five of his pitches but mainly relied on his cutter, fastball, and slider, throwing the three 71% of the time. His led with his cutter using it 30% of the time. His curveball and changeup made up the remaining 29% of pitches thrown. He induced 13 swings and misses. Drohan's fastball isn't considered one of his best pitches, but it showed signs of promise, averaging 92.6 mph and topping out at 94.9 mph, and improvement from 2024, when it sat between 90 and 93 mph. His slider looked good, earning six whiffs, sitting between 84 and 87 mph and topping out at 87.3 mph. The pitch also featured between two and six inches of horizontal break. Just like his fastball and slider, his cutter also played well in the start, sitting between 86 and just under 90 mph as it topped out at 89.6 mph. However, Drohan will need to continue working on his command. Just 26 of his 56 pitches were in the strike zone, but he did earn an excellent 16 chases. It's still early in the season, but across two appearances, Drohan has looked comfortable on the mound. Against the Syracuse Mets in his first appearance, Drohan threw two innings, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out two batters. Now 26 years old, he’ll have to continue providing results on the mound to be considered a call-up option for the Red Sox. He’s only allowed a single walk in his six innings pitched this season. All of this follows an impressive spring training during which he tossed six scoreless innings. If he can keep this performance up, we might just see him in Boston.

[Editor's Note: Nick volunteered to write this article before Friday's game, when Rafael Devers went 2-for-3 with two walks. After he wrote the article on Sunday, Devers went 5-for-8 with two doubles, two walks, and a homer. That brought his wRC+ for the season up to 134, the exact mark he hit in 2024. Rafael Devers is indeed back, and Nick was all over it.] After opening the season with a hitless streak that reached 21 at-bats, Red Sox fans began to worry about Rafael Devers. Were his shoulders bothering him? Was he not handling the transition to designated hitter? Or could it have been a mechanical issue? It was just unlike Devers to struggle as much as he did, especially when you took into account that his bat speed was lower than it was last year. It's starting to look like all that worry was unnecessary. Devers has now gotten five hits in his last 11 at-bats following Friday’s game. He looks calmer at the plate after getting his first hit out of the way, no longer pressing to break that hitless streak. That said, even when things were at their bleakest, Devers wasn't helping pitchers out. While he struck out 15 times in his first 19 at-bats, he was not chasing. His chase rate this season currently sits at 16.3%, placing him in the 94th percentile in the entire league. Likewise, his walk percentage has him in the 94th percentile as well, sitting at 18.9%. The issue was timing. He was late on everything, often missing completely or failing to square up the ball properly. Entering Sunday, Devers’ 45.3% whiff rate has him in the second percentile. Missing nearly half of the pitches he swung at wouldn’t help, neither would the fact that he’s currently only squaring up the balls he does hit at an 11.8%. Those numbers look bad, but they’re skewed by the slow start. Since April 2, when Devers began hitting, he has reached base at least twice per game and has increased his on-base percentage from .174 up to .324. He continues to lay off pitches outside the strike zone and make pitches work as he gets his timing back. As part of his offseason program after being shut down due to shoulder issues, Devers did not do any baseball activities prior to spring training. Even in spring training, he did not play often as he and the team were cautious with his shoulders. While he would get several at-bats on the backfields, it isn’t the same as facing pitches in a live game situation. Now that he’s having live at-bats and seeing real pitches again, he’s starting to get his timing back. Devers isn’t completely back yet but he’s heading in the right direction. Once we see Devers begin to lift the ball to left-center or right-center instead of hitting it hard on the ground then he will be completely back to his old self. But for now, Devers will continue to work until he’s back to his usual self. Missing most of spring training didn’t help and now he will have to work to catch up to where he should be. But if there’s anything from watching Devers since his debut, it’ll be just a matter of time until we see the left-handed slugger mash baseballs into the outfield gaps. [Editor's Note: Yup.]

On Wednesday, the Red Sox announced that they had locked up second baseman Kristian Campbell to an eight-year extension, securing a core piece of their future through at least his age-30 season. The deal, valued at $60 million, can increase all the way to 10 years and $100 million (plus another $22 million in incentives) if the Red Sox pick up two options. The move also raises a question: will Campbell remain at second base for the entirety of his contract? Selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft out of Georgia Tech, Campbell spent most, but not all of his time at second in college. He was drafted with the compensation pick that the Red Sox got from the San Diego Padres for signing Xander Bogaerts that past winter. In his first season in the minors, Campbell played in 22 games, appearing at second base in 15 of them. However, there was no guarantee he would stick there. The organization had former first-round pick Nick Yorke in the system still, the man who had been viewed as the future second baseman when he was drafted. Yorke’s value has dropped since then, but the organization had yet to give up on him. In 2024, Campbell’s versatility was on display once more, as he played across three different levels in the minor leagues. Appearing in 115 games between Greenville, Portland, and Worcester, Campbell split time between second base, shortstop, third base, and center field. Campbell spent 36 games at both second and short, as well as 25 in center and five a third base. Even during spring training and over the early part of the 2025 season, the Red Sox have moved Campbell around, not letting him get settled in any one position. The belief entering the season was that the team wanted him to be the starting second baseman. Unfortunately, Campbell never really got the chance to play second every day and is still relatively new to the position, having only played 51 games there in the minor leagues. The lack of game action shows his lack of experience showed up in his footwork and double-play turn. Still, there's no reason that Campbell couldn't keep growing at second base as he tries to claim that position as his own for the next decade. Shortstop is likely out of the question for Campbell, as the team has incumbent Trevor Story and top prospect Marcelo Mayer waiting at Triple-A. The duo will keep shortstop covered for the foreseeable future. It’s also hard to picture Campbell moving to the outfield as a full-time starter anytime soon, as the team is loaded with young talent. The current starting outfield of Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu are all sticking around for the next few years, barring a trade, and Alex Cora has insisted that Masataka Yoshida will get some time in the outfield if and when he returns to the club. Top overall prospect Roman Anthony is waiting in Triple-A just like Mayer. If one of the three starting outfielders is traded, it would be to make room for Anthony. The 6-foot-3 Campbell is somewhat large for a second baseman; the average height is currently 5-foot-11. He's also seen time at third, and it's not impossible that he could end up there whenever Alex Bregman's time with the team ends. Bregman could opt out after this year, and if he doesn’t, he is only in Boston for a maximum of three years (not including a possible extension). Much like Campbell, Bregman was not drafted as a third baseman but rather moved there in the minor leagues. Still, second base likely makes the most sense for Campbell over the long term. The Red Sox lack depth at second, with neither David Hamilton nor Vaughn Grissom looking ready to handle the position on a daily basis. Moreover, the team just hitched its wagon to Campbell for the next eight to 10 years. Those kinds of franchise cornerstones usually have a position locked down (in much the same way that Rafael Devers was told that third base would be his when he signed his mega-extension). If the Red Sox view Campbell as the long-term answer at second, it's probably time to let him show what he can do at the position every day. If they view him as a super-utility player, racking up value by bringing great production in both the infield and the outfield, they should probably make that clearer. Knowing that you have a defined role and are valued for it can help a young player build confidence. As a prospect, Campbell was known for his defensive versatility, and while it may prove important throughout his career, he has shown the most promise at second His athleticism should help him out at any position, though his average arm may make the decision to keep him at second base an easy one. While passable for a shortstop or third baseman, it is best suited for second base. His defense will continue to grow as he gains more experience, whether it's in the outfield or the infield, but one thing is certain: second base is currently the only position where he can get regular at-bats. There could always be a roster shakeup that opens a spot down the road, but for the time being, Campbell's current abilities have him playing his best defensively at second base. There will be plenty of time to discuss this issue. Locking Campbell down for at least the next eight years was a huge decision. At 22, he has plenty of time to work on his defense and to get some clarity about his role on the team.

The Boston Red Sox continue to lock up their key pieces, agreeing to a contract extension that will keep Kristian Campbell in Boston on Wednesday afternoon, just two days after the team locked down Garrett Crochet to a long-term extension. MassLive's Christopher Smith was first with the news that the two sides are in agreement on an eight-year deal worth $60 million. The deal also has options for the 2033 and 2034 seasons, worth $19 and $21 million, respectively. In other words, the Red Sox will the chance to keep Campbell in Boston for the next 10 seasons. The contract will buy out Campbell's first three seasons along with his three arbitration years and up to his first four years of free agency. Alex Speier of the Boston Globe broke down what Campbell will make each season. That's listed below, but the deal reportedly also includes incentive clauses that could push the value even higher based on awards voting and All-Star selections. 2025: $1 million plus a $2 million signing bonus 2026: $2 million 2027: $3 million 2028: $4 million 2029: $6 million 2030: $9 million 2031: $13 million 2032: $16 million 2033: $19 million team option ($4 million buyout if the option is declined) 2034: $21 million team option That adds up to a nice, round $100 million should the Red Sox exercise both options. As for the incentives, Campbell would earn an extra $2 million for winning an MVP, $1 million for finishing in second or third in the MVP voting, $500,000 for finishing fourth or fifth, $250,000 for a top-10 finish, and $200,000 for an All-Star selection. In theory, should he win the MVP for the next 10 seasons, he could add $22 million in additional salary. Then again, if he wins the MVP 10 years in a row, he'll land so many endorsement deals that he'll be able to lose $22 million between his couch cushions. The Red Sox drafted Campbell in the fourth round of the 2023 draft out of Georgia Tech. Campbell ran a .376 batting average in college but showed mostly doubles power, hitting just four home runs. However, the Red Sox got him into a bat speed training program and helped him alter his swing path to get more lift by switching to a more upright batting stance. Campbell absolutely took off, mashing over a short sample in 2023, then going from High-A to Double-A to Triple-A in 2024, crushing the baseball at every stop along the way. He entered the season as a consensus top-10 prospect in the game, and Jarrett Seidler of Baseball Prospectus wrote that he received serious consideration for the top spot (which ended up going to Roman Anthony instead). Despite an ugly showing in spring training, Campbell broke camp with the Red Sox, outdeuling David Hamilton and Vaughn Grissom for the second base job. He has performed very well over the first five games of the season. As is often the case for this kind of extension, the deal will allow Campbell to make much more money over the first six seasons of his career while giving up some money over the last several years. Without the extension, he would be making the major league minimum for years. The deal allows the Red Sox to lock Campbell up for the entirety of his prime at a bargain rate, and it's not that dissimilar from the deal that the team gave to Ceddanne Rafaela. Campbell is a second baseman by trade and he certainly appears to have the skill and athleticism for it. However, he hasn't spent all that much time at the position and is expected to have some growing pains there. Moreover, the team has also put him in left field once this season. The deal is a major step towards the Red Sox keeping their young core in Boston for their primes, and it begs the question of when and if the team will lock down Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer.

The Worcester Red Sox opened their season at home last Friday with a short, three-game series against the Syracuse Mets. The Woosox split the series after Saturday’s game was called due to the weather. The series featured a lot to be excited about, along with a few bits of ugliness that will hopefully be ironed out as the season goes along. The Good The starting pitching in both games was incredible. Robert Stock started the first game and did not disappoint, going four dominant innings. Allowing only two hits and a walk, he struck out six batters and generated five whiffs on only 67 pitches. Stock was followed by Michael Fulmer who started the second and final game of the series on Sunday. In his first game since 2023, Fulmer threw 54 pitches across four innings and allowed only two hits while striking out five. While neither starter went long enough to be credited with the win, they both pitched excellentlyand gave some hope for emergency depth should the Red Sox need an arm. The bullpen was also strong on Sunday, going the remaining five innings and only allowing two hits and a walk. Shane Drohan, Hobie Harris, Bryan Mata, and Luis Guerrero closed out the game for a shutout to end the short homestand. Joining the pitching as a key to a good weekend was the hitting of both Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer on Sunday. Anthony homered twice on Sunday, including a shot over the Worcester Wall in right field during the sixth inning. He also walked twice during the game and a total of four times over the weekend. Mayer may not have homered during the weekend, but he managed to get two hits after going hitless in his Triple-A debut. What may have been most impressive for Mayer, however, was his nine-pitch at-bat in the third inning on Sunday. After falling behind, 1-2, Mayer continued to foul off close pitches until he managed to drive one back up the middle for a two-run single. Mayer just missed his first home run on Friday, as a first-inning fly ball died near the warning track. The Bad This week, there wasn’t much to be too disappointed with. The bullpen could have been a bit better on Frida, as it combined for all four runs allowed to the Mets. Isaiah Campbell took the loss on Friday, allowing two runs in one inning of work. Every hit he surrendered had an exit velocity of at least 90 mph. Anthony also had a moment that belong in the bad category. He misread a line drive during Friday’s game and attempted to dive for it. The outfielder came up short, allowing what would have been a single to turn into a double. Finally, the offense struggled at times on Friday, particularly Nick Sogard. Sogard uncharacteristically struck out three times, including with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Through two games, Sogard has struck out five times. Last season he struck out a total of 90 times across 96 games. The Ugly We’re only three games into the 2025 minor league season, and Worcester has already had a rainout. Worcester has dealt with them plenty over the past few years, and while it's nothing awful, it is a bit deflating for the second game of the season to be canceled. At least it wasn’t like the 2024 opening homestand, where two games were canceled because of snow. Josh Winckowski joins this list, as his performance in Friday’s game was a bit of a mixed bag. While he surrendered two runs on six hits across his three innings, he pitched rather well overall. He was tied for the Triple-A lead in whiffs, with 15 on the day. His fastball also topped out at 97 and he struck out five. Unfortunately, one of those hits was a home run that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead. The home run had an exit velocity of 101.8 mph off of a cutter that caught too much of the plate. Roman Anthony took a slight tumble on Friday after a minor collision at first base. Anthony collided with the Mets’ second baseman, who was covering first on a soft ground ball. Following the collision, Anthony went to the ground for a minute, but after being looked at by manager Chad Tracy and the training staff, he managed to get off the field with ease and remained in the game. Following the game, Tracy revealed that Anthony just had the wind knocked out of him and was fine. The Woosox now head off to Jacksonville to take on the Jumbo Shrimp in a six-game series that will see Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito make rehab appearances for the team. Bello looks likely to throw on Tuesday and Sunday before the club decides whether he’s ready return to Boston. Giolito is likely to throw on Wednesday before any decision is made as to the next step of his rehab.

A key theme of the offseason, often reiterated by Craig Breslow, was needing to get "uncomfortable” when it came to making moves. Well the Red Sox did just that Monday night, when they reached an agreement with Garrett Crochet on an extension that will keep him in Boston for potentially the next six seasons. The deal is presumably pending a physical, but the two sides agreed on a six-year, $170-million deal that will begin in 2026. It will buy out Crochet's last year of arbitration, when he would have made around $10 million, and it should carry a luxury tax hit of $28.33 million. The deal does not include any deferred money, and it contains $10 million in incentives based on where Crochet finishes in the Cy Young voting. It also has a $2 million assignment bonus should the team trade Crochet and an opt-out following the 2030 season that would allow Crochet to enter free agency at the age of 31. That means that although it's technically a six-year extension, it may only keep Crochet in Boston for four extra years. The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. The contract is the largest the Red Sox have given to a starting pitcher since Chris Sale signed his extension back in 2019. It continues a trend of the Red Sox spending money following Alex Bregman’s three-year, $120-million (much of it deferred) contract this past offseason, and it comes on the heels of reports that the team is also working on an extension with rookie Kristian Campbell. The sides had reportedly been close to a deal prior to Crochet’s self-imposed deadline of Opening Day, with Crochet telling reporters that it had gone "down to the wire." With no agreement by the deadline, the chances of a deal happening during the season seemed to be much lower, but plans change quickly when both sides want something done. Just four days after Breslow himself told fans not to expect a deal, the two sides have managed to make it happen. Crochet will pitch next on Wednesday, the first game the team will play since he signed the extension thanks to an off day today. In his first start with the Red Sox, Crochet got the win, lasting five innings and surrendering two runs on five hits. He managed to strike out four and walked two batters. The team will now turn to its ace to stop its losing streak at four games. An extension always seemed likely because both sides stood to gain quite a bit from one. Crochet's history of elbow injuries and short track record as a starter gave him motivation to seek the security of a long-term deal earlier, even if it meant not getting top dollar on the free agent market. The Red Sox have been loath to make long-term commitments to free agents, but starting pitching has been a clear priority for them, and they clearly coveted the kind of bona fide ace who could start the first game of a playoff series. In fact, they coveted Crochet so much that he didn't have to give up any money; the team is paying him a bit more per year than the Yankees are paying Max Fried, even though Fried's track record as a successful starter is fully six times longer than Crochet's. It's important to keep in mind that this move is a gamble. The Red Sox have tied their future to Crochet, and if he should falter or face further injury troubles, the contract could look onerous, just as Chris Sale's did toward the end of his tenure in Boston. Crochet has just one year as a starter under his belt at any level, and he's just two years removed from a major surgery. Last season, Crochet's desire for an extension, but only for a deal that paid him what he felt he was worth, deterred many potential trading partners. As he was on an innings limit in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, he also made it clear that if he did get traded but didn't sign an extension, he wouldn't jeopardize his future by pitching in the playoffs. The Red Sox were able to take advantage of the conditions that made other interested parties balk. They traded for Crochet during the Winter Meetings, sending the White Sox a package that included Kyle Tyle, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman González. Crochet immediately became the staff ace, and he reinforced that with an epic run during spring training, striking out 30 batters and allowing just one run over 15 2/3 innings. After impressing again on Opening Day, it's hard to imagine that Crochet could push expectations even higher, but the new contract should do it. He'll be the face of the rotation into the next decade.

The Boston Red Sox have had a rough few seasons, but it has led to one positive thing for the team: a loaded farm system. Many know about the growth of the Red Sox farm system under Chaim Bloom and now Craig Breslow, Through what had been three turbulent seasons has now given way to excitement and wonder as the top prospects are now knocking at the door of the big leagues. Finally, one of them finally knocked that door down. Kristian Campbell played his first major league game on Opening Day for the Red Sox, and it brings up the question if he was ready for it. Through all of spring training, it was the worst kept secret that the Red Sox wanted him on the Opening Day roster, but while he struggled to begin camp, others were playing much better. Because of that, it took until the very end of spring training for the team to announce who the second base starter would be. In 20 games played this spring, Campbell did not play his best, especially at the start of it. Across 48 at-bats, the rookie only managed to hit .167/.305/.271 with 18 strikeouts. One thing that was for certain, though, was that the kid had a good grasp on the strike zone thanks to his 10 walks. His defense was also questioned, the young player looking uncomfortable at second with the way he moved around the bag. That was only natural considering he was originally drafted as a shortstop and only started a total of 49 games at second base in the minors. Despite that, as he got more playing time at the position, he looked more natural there and quieted the concerns that maybe he wasn’t a good defensive second baseman. Despite his struggles offensively and questions about his defense, Campbell didn’t falter. He didn’t quit and he didn’t make excuses. He just put his head down and continued to work on his game each day to prove he belonged. And that was what Campbell has been known for, working hard and shattering expectations. Last season in the minors, he started at High-A Greenville and forced his way up to Worcester to finish the season. Overall, he managed to slash .330/.439/.558 and put his name into the conversation as one of the top prospects in baseball. Entering this season, he made it as high as fourth on some top prospect lists, showing his immense growth and incredible talent. His struggles in spring training didn’t dim those expectations from fans and the organization alike; it did, however, increase the question of whether he was ready for the major leagues just yet. Add to it that his teammate and fellow "Big 3" member Marcelo Mayer was playing phenomenal baseball during spring training, and the questions started to change from “should Campbell make the team” to “Mayer should be considered for the second base position”. And you couldn’t really argue against it. Mayer was raking at the plate while Campbell continued to struggle. In the end, the Red Sox liked what they saw from Campbell. They felt his at-bats were better than what the results showed and felt comfortable with his defense. They made him the starting second baseman, leading to a divide among the fans debating whether or not he should have made the team. Honestly, it’s a simple answer: he deserves to be here. In spring training, you don’t look at just the stats of the player. Otherwise, we would believe Trayce Thompson would be an MVP candidate. What matters is the process of how the at-bats went, how the plays were made. And, most importantly, how the players respond to the outcomes. Campbell got off to a rough start, but continued to work and fight in his opportunities as he showed his desire to fight back against the struggles and grow. He really managed to show that he has the mental fortitude to handle rough stretches and not press even worse. Kristian Campbell is a major league player, and it’ll show as the season progresses. He will struggle at points — it’s only natural for a 23-year-old to do so. However, he’ll manage to fight his way out of those struggles, he’ll grow from them, and become a better player than he was before. In a lot of ways, he could be similar to another second baseman when it comes to being mentally strong: Dustin Pedroia. Everyone needs to remember that in his rookie season Pedroia struggled early on, but once he got acclimated to the major league level, he turned his entire season around. Campbell could be the same, or with his talent, even better. He's played just a few games in the major leagues thus far, and has had a few moments of looking nervous, but overall, he deserves the shot to prove that he belongs in the starting lineup. In fact, in Saturday's game, he made good on his promise with his first big league homer. So, if Campbell goes through a rough stretch, we need to remember he’s young and this is his first time facing this level of talent. He’s shown his entire career that he’ll adapt and grow, capable of becoming a better player than he previously was. The Red Sox made the right choice in naming him the starting second baseman. Sooner or later, everyone will agree.

The Boston Red Sox have managed to acquire a large amount of pitching depth for their rotation this year, and early on in the season, they’re putting it to good use. With three potential starters opening the season on the injured list, the Red Sox have had to tap into that depth. However, one player no one thought was a serious option to make the team when spring training began was Sean Newcomb. Newcomb signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training in the middle of January, the left-hander being thought of as some Triple-A depth after spending most of the past two years in the minor leagues. Newcomb had been a reliable starter for the Atlanta Braves between 2017-18 before moving to the bullpen in 2019, where he was decent. Newcomb then returned to the rotation, struggling in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. 2021 saw him moved back to the bullpen where he remained for most of the next few years. He didn’t last long in any of his stops, playing briefly with the Cubs before signing a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants for the 2023 season. Before the season ended, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, appearing in seven games for them. He would make seven more appearances for the A's in 2024 before getting released in July. The Red Sox figured there was something still there, willing to take a chance on the left-hander with a minor league deal. Newcomb managed to make that decision look like a smart one. Appearing in five games in spring training, four of them starts, Newcomb was phenomenal. Throwing 14 1/3 innings, he finished the spring with a 0.63 ERA while striking out 13 batters. His WHIP may have been even more impressive, sitting at 0.837. Newcomb is known for his breaking balls having a ton of movement thanks to his ability to generate spin, but has had scattershot command in the past. In his final start of the spring, Newcomb threw four and two-thirds innings against the Minnesota Twins. He stifled the Twins’ lineup, surrendering just four hits and one unearned run. But what might have been the most important stat was the fact he surrendered zero walks. Across the entire spring, he only walked three batters. In that particular start, Newcomb threw 47 pitches, relying mainly on his slider and changeup, which he threw a combined 28 times. The shift in focus for his pitch mix is interesting; throwing his slider for 34% of his pitches and his changeup for 25.5% goes against his past usage of it. The 2023 and 2024 seasons will be ignored due to his lack of usage, but in 20 games in 2022, he threw his slider for only one percent of his pitches, the same as his changeup. In fact, between his four-seamer and cutter, his two fastballs made up 81% of his pitches for the season. Even in his incredibly short 2024 season, Newcomb did not throw a single slider and only used his changeup four percent of the time, while his fastball was thrown 47% of the time. On March 20th, he only threw his four-seamer on 12.8% of his pitches. A change in pitch philosophy may prove to be key for Newcomb, as a reliance on his four-seamer could be ineffective for him. In his spring outing, his fastball averaged only 89.6 mph, not a big difference from his slider or changeup as they averaged 85.5 mph and 88.1 mph, respectively. Though, his fastball may play closer to his old cutter instead based on its movement and speed during that March 20th start. Regardless, he cannot try to pitch like he has a dominating fastball — there is no way he could survive if he tried to rely on it. Even at his best, Newcomb's fastball only averaged around 93 mph. With a bigger reliance on movement, Newcomb may be able to make hay as a pitch-to-contact type, as he does not get many whiffs. Despite striking out three batters, he only generated two whiffs in the game, and his Contact% throughout the spring was 82.4%, meaning batters managed to make contact on nearly 83% of his pitches that were swung at. His percentage for strikes that were swung at and missed was only 8.7%. With the inherent movement of his pitches, the Red Sox may look for him to rely heavily on limiting hard contact. While high velocity is important in today’s game, Newcomb could be one of a rare breed to make it work with limited gas (i.e, the Kyle Hendricks model). Newcomb does not generate many swings with his pitches and does not throw many first pitch strikes. It’s a dangerous combination for a starter, especially one with control issues in the past. Newcomb’s amount of contact allowed can be mitigated by embracing his tendency as a ground-ball pitcher. For his career, he’s allowed ground balls at a 43.1% rate. However, in spring training, he saw that increase to 55.6%, while his fly ball rate sat at just 30.6%, a decrease from his career average of 35.5%. With an infield defense like the Red Sox have, Newcomb could get away with hard contact if it remains on the ground. It’ll be his ability to limit extra-base hits that will determine his season. The left-hander could possibly only be in Boston for a start or two, but if he manages to pitch well enough in those outings, it could lead to a difficult decision to keep him in the rotation, move him to the bullpen, or to designate him for assignment and hope they can sneak him down to Worcester. The best case scenario is that Newcomb creates that conversation, the worst case being that he struggles in his couple of starts and is designated for assignment. It's obvious that Newcomb won’t make or break the season, but the fact he looked this good in spring training without being a high strikeout pitcher makes you wonder if the Red Sox pitching lab may have unlocked something for him, or if he just got extremely lucky through the entire spring. Either way, as someone born and raised in Massachusetts, you can’t help but root for Newcomb to perform well in Boston.