Steve Trefz

After their first homestand of the 2025 season, the Red Sox will back their bags again for a 3,497 mile trip through the South Side of Chicago to the temporary outdoor home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Six games against two of the 2024's most disappointing teams, in some of the easiest venues to get close to the action. What awaits the Sox and their fans? Boston tests its road chops again with this mid-April trip to the Midwest and Florida Gulf Coast. Cold and warm will greet them; will the Red Sox get hot or go cold on the trip? Can Red Sox fans survive Rate Field in Boston gear? Can they even get a ticket to the tiny field that the Rays now call home? Let's see how these series shake out. Chicago White Sox - April 11-13 Rate Field - Capacity 40,615 2024 Attendance: 1,380,733 (Averaged 17,931, 13th out of 15 AL parks and 27th overall) Boston split a four-game series in June 2024 in their last trip to Rate Field. After opening the series with a resounding 16-2 victory, their offense went cold before finally salvaging an extra-inning victory in the finale. This mediocre result against a terrible club reflects the nature of the South Side road trip. Overall, the Red Sox have taken more than they have given in their trips to Rate Field, winning 70 of the 134 contests on the Pale Sox's turf since 1991. While Chicago can't claim a home-field advantage, they have held their own consistently as the teams have traded series victories over the decades. The artist formerly known as New Comiskey Park, The “Cell,” and Guaranteed Rate has been around since 1991, but South Side Chicago baseball has been cooking since 1910. While the new stadium resides in a residential area, it carries a “big” stadium vibe compared to its North Side counterpart. Sharing an owner allows you to also buy Bulls gear at the ballpark, which works for me. The upper deck leans into the “upper” definition, and while the bleachers get hot…they probably won't in April. In the 2000s, a person could shower on the outfield walkway. I’m not sure who thought that was a great idea, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t try it out one blistering August afternoon myself. Lake Michigan, Soldier Field and the Museum campus, Sears Tower, and the Magnificent Mile. The smell of the L-Train platforms wandering in the Lake Shore breeze. The early-season angst of White Sox fans. It is a weekend series, but since it's April I’m guessing there should be quite a few good seats available. Getting to Rate Field most likely involves a car and parking, and sneaking to the South Side before rush hour is a “mandatory” event. An L-Train ride is always an option as well on the red line. If you want to get from Chicago to Tampa in time to catch the next game, however, an airplane is your only chance. Tampa Bay Rays - April 14-16 George M. Steinbrenner Field - Capacity 11,026 2024 Attendance (at Tropicana Field): 1,337,739 (Averaged 16,515, 14th out of 15 AL parks and 28th overall) The Red Sox went 4-2 at Tropicana Field in 2024, sweeping a May series and dropping two of three in September to their divisional rival. The 2024 success sticks out like a sore thumb for a Boston squad that had gone a stunning 1-15 in their previous 16 games at the Trop! Overall, the results are slightly more average, with the Red Sox winning 116 and the Rays winning 120 in their contests at Tropicana Field since 1998. The results also skew tremendously streaky, with several multi-year winning and losing streaks mixed into the records. This history obviously gets tossed partly out the window with this season's contests taking place in an outdoor postage stamp. Major league baseball in Tampa Bay made sense on paper. As the Yankees' spring training home, it already houses a major league team for two months each year, so why not put an actual franchise in town? In 1998, the Tampa/St. Pete metro area got its own ballclub: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They celebrated by losing at least 90 games in each of their first 10 seasons! Then after a 2008 name change to the Rays (think “sunshine,” not “seafood”), the tide turned in many respects. Their first World Series appearance and a constant stream of small market success stories defined the next decade. Attendance, however, never followed suit except for the occasional playoff run. Tropicana Field boasted the notorious label of being “unattractive” and “nondescript.” A concrete dome, with Astroturf (which even the Astros stopped using), optical illusions from the seating arrangement, and catwalks that giveth (Jason Kubel in 2010) and taketh away (Miguel Sano in 2015). But apparently, the game experience itself could be a lot of fun. Dancing grounds crews, a live ray tank in the outfield (think “seafood,” not “sunshine”), a Ted Williams and Hitters Halls of Fame, and plenty of room to roam made the Tropicana experience a good buy. If you could time the series right, you can also catch a few minor league games in the area while you were there. Tropicana Field embodied quirky baseball, but thanks to hurricane-force winds and a stadium dispute that strangled any motivation for repairs, it now stands roofless, leaving more questions than answers about the future of the franchise in the area. That leads the Red Sox to George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Spring Training home of the rival Yankees, and the minor league home to the Yankee's single-A Tampa Tarpons. Why didn't the Rays go with their own spring training site in Port Charlotte? Too far to travel, and worse amenities, supposedly. With a capacity of less than their average attendance in 2024, and with a ballpark that is (finally) easily accessible to citizens of Tampa, the Rays look to raise some prices, make some cash, and most likely vacate town. The landscape and tourism industry of Tampa took a hit with Hurricane Milton for sure, but the Salvador Dali Museum, the Sunken Gardens, and the Florida Aquarium still are worth the trip, and the Big Cat Rescue also is pretty sweet. Hopefully, you can find a way to get your tickets early, because it looks like these games will be sold out by February and the Boston tax might be high on re-sale. After traveling 3,497 miles on this zig-zag road trip, the Red Sox will return home to face the White Sox again for the last time this season, then meet the Mariners for the first time. How do you think the Red Sox will be faring in the standings by the time they finish this road trip? Are you planning on making the trip to either game? Do you have any advice from prior trips to Rate Field or the Tampa area, or even Steinbrenner Field? Let's get talking, Sox fans! View full article

For the 2025 Boston Red Sox, the journey begins on the road, first to Arlington, Texas, to face the Rangers and then on to Baltimore to face the upstart Orioles. What awaits the team and its fans? Opening Day 2025: Texas Rangers - March 27-30 Globe Life Field - Capacity 40,300 2024 Attendance: 2,651,553 (Averaged 32,735, fifth out of 15 AL parks and 12th overall) The Red Sox last journeyed to Arlington in August of 2024, taking two of three from the Rangers. Boston averaged more than seven runs a game while bombing seven home runs in the summer heat. We'll find out whether springtime in Texas has the same impact. Since 2021, the Red Sox have made four road trips to Arlington and have come away at a near stalemate, with six victories and seven defeats. Texas exists as an outlier in the baseball universe. Even Moon Baseball Road Trips doesn’t know what to do with it. A trip to a Rangers game gets lumped in with a “heartland” road trip. The retractable roof at the new ballpark offers 71-degree days even when the outdoors is boiling in Arlington, but this shouldn't be a factor at the end of March. Globe Life Field opened to empty seats in 2020 thanks to the Covid pandemic. The seats didn’t necessarily fill up for mediocre baseball in 2022 either, but a World Series championship can do wonders for the attendance figures. After a step back in 2024, the Rangers hope to recapture attention in 2025. The trend towards “entertainment district” stadium usage continues here, as teams seek to maximize fan spending for blocks in all directions. While in the entertainment district, you can go to Six Flags, a water park, AT&T Stadium, and a mall. What you can’t find is a downtown vibe or accessible public transit. The Dallas metro area has the usual big-city highlights, along with a JFK memorial, the iconic Reunion Tower, and other professional teams like the Stars and Mavs, who each have home games during this series. It's 1,785 miles from Boston to Globe Life Field, so if you want to walk to the season opener, you should probably leave the house right around now. From Arlington, the Red Sox will travel 1,386 miles back the way they came, arriving in Baltimore to play at the stadium that is, just barely, still named Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles - March 31-April 3 (Off Day April 1) Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Capacity 44,970 2024 Attendance: 2,281,129 (Averaged 28,514, eighth out of 15 AL parks and 19th overall) Boston didn't love or hate their trips to Oriole Park in 2024, winning three and losing four to their division rivals. When the Red Sox found a way to score more than three runs in a game, they won. Unfortunately, runs proved hard to come by most of the time. The trip to Baltimore is one of the most familiar for Boston fans, as the Red Sox have played 266 games at OPACY. Boston has come away with 157 wins against only 109 losses, so players and fans alike can look forward to it. Both teams should start the series with the back half of the rotations, as they'll have four games under their belt. Chilly conditions will most likely greet Boston in this series, so expect a pitching duel regardless of how the rotation actually shakes out. Oriole Park at Camden Yards will forever be tied with Ken Griffey Jr. in my mind. The connection has nothing to do with Griffey's legendary blast in the 1993 Home Run Derby — still the only home run ever to hit the warehouse in right field — it's due to the fact that the Super Nintendo game Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball was the first place I saw the ballpark. Built in 1992, Camden Yards changed aesthetic templates for Major League ballparks. The warehouse frames a beautiful backdrop for baseball and for batters' dreams. The seats are designed for viewing baseball, but the third-base line is the way to go. Legends Park holds statues of Orioles greats, the walkways bustle with food and fun, and the city itself carries a history of the birthplace of baseball immortality, Babe Ruth. The Inner Harbor and National Aquarium are tourist destinations that boast ships straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean and over 17,000 animals. Locals have been pursuing a Loch Ness-type creature named “Chessie” since the ’30s. My friends in the area don’t describe Baltimore as a vacation hotspot, but it sounds like a great four days to me! Whether or not snow will be covering the ground can impact much of the city's exploration potential as well. After traveling over 3,000 miles on this opening road trip, the Red Sox will only have to travel 402 miles to Fenway Park for the home opener the next day, April 4, against the Cardinals. How do you think the Sox will be faring in the standings by the time it arrives? Are you planning on making the trip to either game or have any advice from prior trips to Globe Life Field or Oriole Park? Let's get talking Sox fans! View full article

I think the September schedule sets up well on paper, and the opening of the season will catch some teams that you might rather catch in September. I thought it was interesting how two of the closest road trips are solo-site trips. Wonder if that's something the players and coaches actually prefer?

Haven't been to Minute Maid yet, but I've heard its a great experience. Pricey for Sox tickets you think? Wrigley was ten minute L-Train ride from my seminary for three years...but I could only afford the April/early-May tickets which required gloves and stocking hat 😆 2027 should be next time up if you can't catch this season. There hasn't been a rhyme or reason yet on what "time" of season these trips get scheduled yet, just the year.

Have you been to the Truist Park complex yet? I haven't, but I hear its set up well for staying there for a few games, but away from the Atlanta tourist stuff by a ways.

It’s winter at Fenway Park, meaning the Hot Stove is simmering, and it's time to dream of warmer times. Nothing beats a summer road trip, and following your favorite baseball team on the road doubles the fun! Here is where the Red Sox can take you in 2025. The 2025 season brings new elements to Major League Baseball fan travel. The Athletics now play their “home” games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, CA, and its 14,000 seats. The Rays will still play in Tampa but at George M. Steinbrenner Field, which has 11,000 seats. The Red Sox will make a trip to both locations in 2025, with Tampa trips coming in mid-April and mid-September and Sacramento capping off a western swing in early September, and this provides fans an opportunity for some of the most intimate baseball experiences in the history of MLB. Granted, both journeys are to cities that leave a little to be desired from a tourist perspective, but the chance to catch baseball’s best in minor-league confines more than makes up for it. The balanced schedule that debuted in 2023 is still in effect, which means the Red Sox will play all 29 other teams during the regular season. Outside of the AL East series (two home, two away) that occur every season, Red Sox fans can travel to any MLB ballpark to catch their favorite nine every two years. This year, intrepid roadies can kick off the season with the Red Sox in Arlington, TX, and Baltimore, MD. You can escape to Hotlanta in May and hit the Pacific Ocean in Seattle or San Francisco in June. Do you care to follow the team to Wrigley Field in July or San Diego in August? Or how about spending Independence Day in the nation’s capital? Besides the excitement and adventure of traveling, joining the team on the road brings some unique perks. When the gates open at game time, it's your team taking batting practice, and you can get as close as possible when the team is looking for a friendly face. After each inning in the field, you are part of the few and proud in the stands that your team wants to throw the ball to as they head to the dugout. From restaurant to hotel encounters and pre-and post-game interactions, your odds of getting close to the team you love grow exponentially on the road. In the next several weeks, we will be going into detail trip by trip for the Red Sox road journeys, complete with must-do activities and travel tips. Today, we take a more 10,000-foot view so that you can begin to daydream about where the 2025 Red Sox season might take you. I’ve included the “Total Miles from Fenway Park and Back Again” that the road trip encompasses for a frame of reference. There are 14 different Red Sox road trips; let’s go! Trip 1 - March 27-April 3 - Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles (3573 miles) Trip 2 - April 11-16 - Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays (3497 miles) Trip 3 - April 25-May 1 - Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays (1476 miles) Trip 4 - May 9-14 - Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers (2896 miles) Trip 5 - May 26-June 1 - Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves (2975 miles) Trip 6 - June 6-8 - New York Yankees (406 miles) Trip 7 - June 16-25 - Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Angels (7233 miles) Trip 8 - July 4-6 - Washington Nationals (876 miles) All-Star Break - July 14-17 - Atlanta (2162 miles for some lucky Red Sox?) Trip 9 - July 18-23 - Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies (2045 miles) Trip 10 - July 28-30 - Minnesota Twins (2786 miles) Trip 11 - August 8-13 - San Diego Padres and Houston Astros (6312 miles) Trip 12 - August 21-28 - New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles (807 miles) Trip 13 - September 5-10 - Arizona Diamondbacks and the Athletics (6414 miles) Trip 14 - September 19-25 - Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays (3199 miles) What road trips are you most excited about for the 2025 season? Planning to make any of the journeys? Let’s start daydreaming, Sox fans! Let's Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins' 14 road trips during the 2025 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. I will also consider potential pitfalls and roadblocks and mention travel considerations. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation. View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our proverbial Talk Sox hardware. Who were the top hitters for the Red Sox minor-league ballclubs in 2024? Last week we handed out the following awards: Short-Season Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Juan Valera Short-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year: Franklin Arias Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year: Mike Sansone Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year: Jojo Ingrassia Today, we will discuss the most exciting hitters in the Red Sox full-season minor-league affiliates. The Talk Sox minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. All in all, 13 minor-league hitters received votes. Kiko Kavadas (Worcester) received a few votes, but currently dons the Angels colors after being traded for Luis Garcia. Bryan Gonzalez (Greenville/Portland), Bobby Dalbec (Worcester), Mikey Romero (FCL Red Sox/Greenville/Portland), and Nick Sogard (Worcester) all received a few votes as well, and are worth keeping an eye on heading into 2025. Before getting into the top five vote-getters, here are three hitting prospects worthy of honorable mention. Honorable Mention C/1B/2B – Mickey Gasper, 29, (Portland/Worcester), 92 G, .328/.440/.531, .970 OPS, 102 H, 27 2B, 0 3B, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 56 BB, 42 K, 4 SB SS/3B/LF – Matthew Lugo, 23, (Portland/Worcester before being traded to Angels), 79G, .287/.376/.578, .954 OPS, 79 H, 21 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 57 RBI, 32 BB, 74 K, 16 SB (stats include one game with Angels AAA) 2B/3B/SS - Chase Meidroth, 23 (Worcester), 51 G, .293/.437/.401, .838 OPS, 128 H, 20 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 57 RBI, 105 BB, 71 K, 13 SB Full-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year Here are the top five players for the Red Sox Full-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year: 5. C/OF - Kyle Teel, 22, Portland/Worcester 112 G, .288/.386/.433, .819 OPS, 12 SB, 123 H, 23 2B, 0 3B, 13 HR, 78 RBI, 68 BB, 116 K First-round pedigree and a quick rise up the organizational ladder puts Teel near the top of the list. Teel was selected 14th overall in the 2023 amateur draft, and the 6'0", 190-pound, left-handed bat out of the University of Virginia has lived up to the hype. He started at FCL rookie league in 2023 but made it all the way to Portland before season's end. In 2024, Teel made the climb from Double A to triple-A Worcester, but also saw him struggle at the highest level of minor-league baseball comparatively (OPS .852 in Portland/.717 in Worcester). With a hot start in 2025, Teel could be promoted for the last time relatively soon. If he stumbles out of the gate, there isn't much need to rush the 22-year-old catching prospect as he continues to build some power into his swing and work on his game-calling. 4. SS – Marcelo Mayer, 21, Portland 77 G, .307/.370/.480, .850 OPS, 13 SB, 118 H, 28 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 30 BB, 66 K At 6'3", 188 pounds, Mayer has room to grow for sure. Hitting for average appears to be a solid skill already, but the fourth overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft out of Eastlake High School (CA) is just beginning to fill out into his prospect form. Mayer has taken his time climbing the ladder, spending all of 2021 in the FCL and splitting his time between the Salem and Greenville squads in 2022. He made the leap from Greenville to Portland in 2023, but his slash numbers all took a hit at Double A, as his average fell .290 to .189 and his OPS from .890 to .609. Given the depth above Mayer at the shortstop position, one could make the argument that he will play a role in the 2025 trade season before he climbs any further. It will be an important season for the young prospect to continue to improve. 3. OF – Jhostynxon Garcia, 21, Salem/Greenville/Portland 107 G, .286/.356/.517, .882 OPS, 17 SB, 118 H, 24 2B, 5 3B, 23 HR, 66 RBI, 33 BB, 99 K Garcia came to the Red Sox via the international free agent market out of Venezuela in 2021. Since then, the 6'0", 163-pound outfielder took the slow route of promotion early in his professional career. After spending 2021 in the Dominican Summer League, Garcia rose up to the next rookie level in the FCL in 2022, and then spent all of 2023 in Salem. However, things escalated quickly for the 21-year-old in 2024. After 24 games in Salem, he spent the bulk of the 2024 season in Greenville and then kept on going right up to Portland for his last 30 games. While the rise to Greenville went well, the climb to Portland wasn't so smooth, as his OPS fell from .998 to .706. You can figure that "The Password" will spend the bulk of 2025 in Double A, continuing to hone his defense and sweet home run stroke, while also working to improve his walk-to-strikeout rate. 2. OF – Roman Anthony, 20, Portland/Worcester 119 G, .291/.396/.498, .894 OPS, 16 SB, 132 H, 32 2B, 4 3B, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 79 BB, 127 K Anthony came close to topping the list and he's not even old enough to drink yet! The second-round selection in the 2022 amateur draft out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (FL) has done nothing but impress since he began his professional career. The 6'2", 200-pound prospect has climbed the organizational steps and delivered at every destination of late. In 2022, Anthony struggled in the leap from rookie FCL ball to Salem, but he turned that around with stellar performances in 2023 from Salem to Greenville to Portland (we like an OPS of 1.020). Last season brought more good vibes, as Anthony spent most of the season at Portland before being promoted to Worcester. Will the Red Sox show patience with Anthony in 2025, allowing him to continue filling out his frame and honing his approach at the plate for a full season? Red Sox fans can't wait to find out. 1. 2B/SS/CF, Kristian Campbell, 22, Greenville/Portland/Worcester 47 G, .320/.391/.517, .908 OPS, 8 SB, H, 11 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 19 BB, 20 K Atop the list this season is a propsect whose pedigree is strong but not brilliant. Campbell came to the Red Sox organization via the fourth round of the 2023 amateur draft out of Georgia Tech. With size (6'3", 210 pounds) and college experience in his favor, Campbell took off in 2024 as he climbed from Greenville all the way to Worcester, where he was over four years younger than his peers. Considered a second baseman on many prospect lists, Campbell actually spent the bulk of his time at shortstop in the higher levels of the minors. Whether or not he remains there will affect the organization's plans for Mayer. What made our Talk Sox crew pick Campbell as the top hitter in the organization? How about that slash line, which bears evidence of great contact ability and contact quality? He had a knack for driving in runs and managed 74 walks while delivering his 55 extra-base hits. Stealing 24 bases also makes one appreciate the diverse and electric skill set that the Red Sox might have stumbled upon in that 2023 draft. This outstanding young talent begins 2025 in Worcester, and if he can prove that last season wasn't a fluke, Fenway Park is just a small step away. Congratulations to the young hitters we discussed today on great showings. For 2024, Kristian Campbell definitely earned and deserved our choice for Talk Sox Minor-League Hitter of the Year. Roman Anthony is quickly climbing the ranks, and several others have promising futures ahead in the next two to three seasons. Hopefully the offense will turn from liability to strength when these gems finally get the chance to shine at Fenway Park! What do you think Red Sox fans? Is there someone that we missed? Who are you most excited about for both the short-term and long-term future of the squad? View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our annual Talk Sox hardware. Who were the top starting pitchers for the Red Sox minor league ballclubs? Yesterday, we named Mike Sansone as the Red Sox Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year. Today, we will discuss the brightest prospects for starting pitching in the Sox minor leagues. The Talk Sox minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (Salem/Greenville), RHP Richard Fitts (Worcester/Boston), and RHP Luis Cohen (Salem) all received a few votes, and are worth keeping an eye on heading into 2025. Before getting into the top four vote getters, here are five starting pitching prospects worthy of honorable mention. Honorable Mention - LHP Connelly Early, 22, Greenville/Portland: 23 G, 23 GS, 4.95 ERA, 1.186 WHIP, 103.2 IP, 84 H, 39 BB, 138 K - RHP Blake Wehunt, 23, Salem/Greenville/Portland: 22 G, 22 GS, 4.25 ERA, 1.110 WHIP, 97.1 IP, 74 H, 34 BB, 110 K - RHP Jedixson Paez, 20, Salem/Greenville: 22 G, 12 GS, 3.17 ERA, 1.117 WHIP, 96.2 IP, 96 H, 12 BB, 113 K - RHP Isaac Coffey, 24, Portland: 24 G, 21 GS, 3.72 ERA, 1.232 WHIP, 113.2 IP, 89 H, 51 BB, 148 K Minor League Full-Season Starting Pitcher of the Year Here are the top four vote-getters for Red Sox Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year: #4. RHP Yordanny Monegro, 22, FCL Red Sox/Greenville: 18 G, 17 GS, 3.79 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 76 IP, 50 H, 29 BB, 94 K The Red Sox signed Monegro as an international free agent in 2021 out of the Dominican Republic. His 6’4”, 180 pound, frame has bounced from Rookie ball to Salem and Greenville and back again since then, but one thing has remained constant: he can get opposing hitters out consistently. Monegro’s talent is just beginning to come of age, but he has been steadily improving with each promotion since early 2023. Monegro stumbled at the end of June, but he rallied to construct an eight game and 37 2/3 inning scoreless streak that was only snapped during the final outing, a game he still won. Portland will be calling to start Monegro’s 2025, and the sky is the limit for the young starter. #3. RHP Matt Duffy, 23, Salem: 22 G, 21 GS, 2.83 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 98.2 IP, 81 H, 27 BB, 100 K Duffy showed enough promise at Canisius College, NY, to warrant a 4th round selection in the 2023 amateur draft. The 6’2”, 205 pound Canadian righty dipped his toes in professional baseball with one start with the FCL Red Sox and two starts with Salem in 2023, but those two starts went as badly as possible. Duffy surrendered five runs in just over three innings of work in those starts. Therefore, finding his way onto this list in 2024 was probably considered a long shot by many in the organization, but to his credit Duffy delivered early and often at Salem this summer. If Duffy can continue to improve upon his strikeout percentage, lengthen his starts, and sharpen his control in 2025, Portland seems to be a reasonable final destination after spending the majority of the season in Greenville. #2. RHP Hunter Dobbins, 25, Portland/Worcester: 25 G, 25 GS, 3.08 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 125 2/3 IP, 110 H, 48 BB, 120 K Dobbins was drafted by the Red Sox in the 8th round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Texas Tech. He skipped rookie ball and has been climbing the organizational ladder rung by rung ever since. Now that the 6’2”, 185 pound, prospect has reached the pinnacle of the minor leagues he appears ready to take the next steps in development. Perhaps most striking in Dobbins’ 2024 campaign was the fact that he was able to not only gain some length in his Worcester starts (averaging over five innings per game) while still lowering his ERA. Velocity climbed, control improved, and in general Dobbins began to display the kind of consistency that a fourth or fifth starter could add to the major league roster. 2025 might see Dobbins dwelling in Worcester for the long haul, but his star is rising and will find its way to Fenway soon. And the Talk Sox Boston Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year is… #1: LHP Jojo Ingrassia, 22, Salem: 21 G, 12 GS, 1.85 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 38 H, 20 BB, 93 K A banner year for Red Sox minor league starting arms is capped off with one of the youngest prospects on the list. Ingrassia was selected in the 14th round of the 2023 amateur draft out of Cal State Fullerton, after primarily serving in a relief role throughout his last year of college. The 6’1”, 170 pound, left-hander started his professional career at Salem in the bullpen as well, working either as a closer or setup role over the first nine games of the 2024 season. He was successful too, gaining two wins and a save over that stretch with an ERA of 2.00 and 40 strikeouts over 18 innings of work. On May 15th, suddenly Ingrassia was a starter, and there he would remain. He stretched his length to four innings of work in the middle of that run, and actually lowered his ERA while maintaining a high rate of strike outs. Walks bit him early on in his starts, but he settled down and showed that his ability to piggy-back Paez also meant that he could be a starter in his own right. With a fastball running 90-92 mph, along with a slider and changeup in his arsenal, the Red Sox most likely know that his stuff doesn’t translate to major league closer. His results translate into major-league caliber pitcher, however. Red Sox fans should be excited to continue to follow this youngster’s climb up the prospect ladder, no matter where he fits into the future of the club. The starting pitching prospects gave some stellar performances across the Red Sox minor leagues in 2024. However, the most surprising starting prospect has to be the one that started his season as a closer. Jojo Ingrassia earned and deserved our choice for our Talk Sox Minor-League Starting Pitcher of the Year with a great debut season. What do you think Sox fans? Would you rank any of these pitchers differently? Comment below! View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our proverbial Talk Sox hardware. Who were the top relief pitchers for the Red Sox minor-league ballclubs in 2024? Earlier in the week, we named Juan Valera as the Red Sox Short-Season Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Today, we will discuss the most exciting relief pitchers in the Red Sox other minor league affiliates. The Talk Sox minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. RHP Isaac Stebens (Salem/Greenville), LHP Zach Penrod (Portland/Worcester/Boston), and LHP Zach Fogell (Salem/Greenville) all received votes and offer examples of hope for the future. Before getting into the top three vote getters in 2024, here are the three vote getters who earned Honorable Mention. Unfortunately, two of the three are currently pitching for other clubs. Honorable Mention LHP Lucas Luetge, 37, Worcester: 31 G, 0 GS, 6 SV, 3.02 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 41.2 IP, 36 H, 13 BB, 47 K (Opted out of minor league contract in August 2024 after not being promoted) RHP Ryan Zeferjahn, 26, Portland/Worcester: 7/18 G, 0/1 GS, 0.00/5.47 ERA, 0.878/1.50 WHIP, 13.2/24.2 IP, 9/20 H, 3/17 BB, 22/31 K (Traded to Los Angeles Angels for RHP Luis Garcia) RHP Reidis Sena, 23, Greenville/Portland: 28/7 G, 0/0 GS, 3/2 SV, 3.56/7.94 ERA, 1.25/1.853 WHIP, 48/11.1 IP, 36/13 H, 24/8 BB, 67/17 K Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year Here are the top three vote-getters for Red Sox Full-Season Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year 3. RHP Robert Kwiatkowski, 27, Portland/Worcester (32 G/4 G) 36 G, 2 GS, 4 SV, 2.86 ERA, 1.106 WHIP, 78.2 IP, 62 H, 25 BB, 71 K Kwiatkowski has experienced every stop on the Sox minor league circuit since he was signed in 2020 as a free agent out of Marshall. The fact that he went undrafted in the five round 2020 COVID draft still sticks with him, and he hopes to erase all doubt that he is a major leaguer. The 6’1”, 190 pound, righty has managed to improve with each promotion since 2022, but no improvement was more significant than his jump to AAA Worcester in 2024. In an admittedly small sample size of four games, Kwiatkowski nearly doubled his strike out to walk ratio, and he looked like a man who was ready to make the next leap in 2025. A middle and long reliever by trade, Kwiatkowski averaged two innings of work in his outings. How his setup utilization will translate to his 2025 usage in Worcester remains to be seen, but as a 27 year old there is no time to waste. If the need arises, Kwiatkowski should get the call up. 2. RHP Luis Guerrero, 24, Worcester/Boston (42 G/9 G) 42 G, 0 GS, 2 SV, 3.31 ERA, 1.307 WHIP, 54.1 IP, 39 H, 32 BB, 79 K (Worcester) In 2021, the Red Sox selected the 6’0”, 215 pound, right handed Guerrero out of Chipala College in Florida. The Dominican native worked his way up the minor league ladder in succession until 2023. After making the leap from Greenville to Worcester to start the season, Guerrero struggled out of the gate to a 7.71 ERA in his first six outings. Upon arrival in Portland, he regained form. Starting 2024 in Worcester also proved to be the appropriate step up, and Guerrero excelled. There are many ways to measure success, but making the leap to the majors only one year after being demoted in the minors definitely points to the inner strength of Guerrero. His near-100 mph heater, nasty slider, and disappearing splitter also point to good things! Odds are that Luis’ minor league days are over, and the Red Sox bullpen is about to fully begin. His 0.00 ERA and 0.800 WHIP in nine major league games bode well for this future success. 1. LHP Mike Sansone, 24, Salem 20 G, 3 GS, 3 S, 3.11 ERA, 1.009 WHIP, 72.1 IP, 64 H, 9 BB, 68 K They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, in this case it was the often pitching keen Rays who let one get away. The Rays signed the undrafted 5’9”, 195 pound, left-handed pitcher to a 2022 minor league contract out of Fairfield University in Connecticut. After a year in rookie ball, and another at the Tampa minor league Charleston A squad. Sansone achieved modest success one inning at a time in 2023, but didn’t reveal enough promise to stay in the organization. Enter Boston, and they are glad they did! Sansone spent 2024 working mostly out of the Salem bullpen in long relief. Outings of three to four innings were commonplace, and that extra workload suited Sansone very well. He tripled his innings output, while simultaneously lowering his statline in every metric desired. Towards the end of the season, Sansone worked some as an opener as well, and he has potential in climbing the organizational ladder. Portland would be the logical starting point for Sansome in 2025, and it will be interesting to see how his emergent talent is utilized there. Will he continue to be stretched into a more traditional starter’s role? Or will his success in long relief play better into another bullpen strategy for the future? Either way, Red Sox fans can be happy that Boston has apparently found a gem hiding in the local Pioneer Baseball League. Congratulations to the young pitchers we discussed today on great showings. For 2024, Mike Sansone definitely earned and deserved our choice for Talk Sox Minor-League Relief Pitcher of the Year. What do you think Red Sox fans? Is there someone that we missed? Who are you most excited about for both the short-term and long-term future of the squad? View full article

Today, we continue to hand out our annual Talk Sox hardware. Who were the top pitchers for the Red Sox Florida Complex League and the Dominican Summer League in 2024? Yesterday, we named shortstop Franklin Arias of the FCL Red Sox the Talk Sox Short-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year. Today, we will discuss the top pitchers on the Sox Complex League squads: the Florida Complex League (FCL) Red Sox and the Dominican Summer League (DSL) Red Sox Red and Blue. The Red Sox saw their major-league bullpen completely implode in 2024 and will need to restock the roster for 2025. In this climate, finding short-season diamonds in the rough should pique everyone’s interest. These prospects won’t climb that high any time soon, but they will most likely be rising up the minor league system faster than preferred. Who should Red Sox fans be paying the most attention to? The Talk Sox minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. Before getting into the honorable mention and consensus top two, here are the others who received votes. Others Receiving Votes RHP - Yoelvin Chirino, 19, DSL Blue, 12 G, 7 GS, 3.16 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 37 IP, 28 H, 23 BB, 40 K RHP - Yodrian Beltre, 18, DSL Blue (5 G) and Red (5 G), 10 G, 8 GS, 3.50 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 36 IP, 29 H, 12 BB, 34 K RHP - Jeison Payano, 18, DSL Red, 9 G, 6 GS, 1 SV, 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 31 IP, 22 H, 9 BB, 9 K RHP - Enrique Carta, 20, DSL Blue (12 G) and Red (3 G), 15 G, 2 SV, 2.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 31 IP, 20 H, 14 BB, 33 K Honorable Mention RHP - Greider Colina, 19, DSL Red Sox Red 16 G, 0 GS, 4 SV, 2.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 29.2 IP, 18 H, 13 BB, 29 K The 6’2”, 180-pound, international free agent from Venezuela filled a long relief role for the Red team and found success in converting save opportunities as well. If Colina can follow up his first season of professional ball with another strong performance, he could find his way to Greenville before the end of 2025. LHP - Oscar Sanchez, 21, DSL Red Sox Red 10 G, 0 GS, 1.04 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 17.1 IP, 6 H, 7 BB, 13 K Sanchez is a few years older than other short-season players, but he probably won't have to worry about playing there again. A 2023 international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, this 6’0”, 180-pound lefty reliever has the potential to hold down a setup role for years to come if he can continue to develop and improve upon his control. RHP - Gilbel Galvan, 18, DSL Red Sox Blue 17 G, 0 GS, 1 SV, 1.62 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 33.1 IP, 24 H, 13 BB, 21 K Galvan might be small in stature at 5’10” and 167 pounds, but his professional debut stood tall. The 2024 international free agent out of the Dominican Republic improved steadily as the season progressed, only allowing three earned runs in the second half of the short season. Primarily used in two-inning middle relief opportunities, 2025 will most likely give Galvan a chance to keep growing in short-season ball or low A. RHP - Dalvinson Reyes, 17, DSL Red Sox Blue (4 GS) and Red (1 GS) 5 G, 5 GS, 0.00 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, 17 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 19 K Reyes is only 17 years old, but he already has the makings of a starting rotation gem. A promotion at the end of the season to make playoff starts for the Red team solidified that this 6’5”, 200-pound pitching machine is up to the challenge and has grown man moxie. While none of his starts went long, the 0.00 ERA speaks for itself. Add in Reyes’s unbelievable strikeout ability and pinpoint control, and Red Sox fans should be drooling over what might be coming up the pipeline in two or three years. Short-Season Pitcher of the Year Here are the top two vote-getters for Red Sox Short-Season Pitcher of the Year in 2024: 2. RHP - Yermain Ruiz, 18, DSL Red Sox Red 11 G, 11 GS, 1.77 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 45.2 IP, 27 H, 15 BB, 37 K At 160 pounds, Ruiz;s 5'11" fram still has a lot of physical growth ahead. The young right-handed starter excelled in his first season of professional baseball in the Dominican Summer League, starting all 11 of his outings and averaging over four innings per game. The native Venezuelan looks to build more to his arsenal and increase his strike-out rate. Adding some muscle won’t hurt either. While his velocity reached mid-90s, there is room to grow. Batters averaged .172 off of Ruiz this season, and his 2-0 record in the playoffs showed that the youngster is ready to shine at the higher levels of action. Look for Ruiz to begin in Salem or maybe even Greenville, with Portland potentially on the horizon in 2025 as well. 1. RHP - Juan Valera, 18, FCL Red Sox (11 G) and Salem Red Sox (7 G) FCL Stats Only: 11 G, 9 GS, 1.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 40.1 IP, 17 H, 14 BB, 40 K Since this is a short-season award, we don’t factor in Valera’s Salem Red Sox efforts. Don’t be surprised if the 2025 minor league pitcher of the year list includes Valera yet again, perhaps even in a Portland jersey. After only starting one of his 15 outings for the DSL Red Sox Blue in 2023, the 6’3”, 205-pound Dominican righty started nine of 11 games for the FCL Red Sox, and all seven of his Salem appearances. With a WHIP under 1.00 and almost four times as many strike outs as walks, Valera quickly proved that he belonged on the mound despite being nearly three and a half years younger than most of his competition. After originally signing for a mere $45,000 as an international free agent in 2023, Valera looks like a steal. Valera’s success at Salem also proved that the short-season efforts weren’t a fluke. His progression through the farm system will depend upon how patient the organization can be in rebuilding its staff. For now, Red Sox fans can just smile and enjoy the fact that the top prospects in Boston short-season baseball have starting pitcher written all over them. Hope sprung up through the pitching performances across the Red Sox complex leagues in 2024, with some left-handed relief, emerging young starter mentalities, and strikeout studs leading the way to victory. For 2024, Juan Valera earned and deserved our choice for our Talk Sox Short-Season Minor-League Pitcher of the Year. View full article

Short-season leagues are often the first chance for fans to see the newest prospects in an organization. Here are the hitters in the Red Sox organization that had the strongest short-season minor league success in 2024. Not every prospect excels in a short-season league due to the limited season run (56 games) and young age of the players involved. After a season to mostly forget, the Red Sox faithful who most believe in player development as the path to championships should begin in the Florida Coast League (FCL) and the Dominican Summer League (DSL). Boston features three outposts for their youngest prospects, the FCL Red Sox and the DSL Red Sox Blue (north) and Red (west). The Red squad cruised to a division win at 42-14, but all three teams finished with a winning record amongst their peers. The records might be meaningless, but success breeds success. Therefore, lets take a closer look at who brought the offensive fire to these victorious efforts. Before we get into the hitters that impressed this season, here are the previous winners of this award: Before getting into this year’s top short-season hitters, here are some of the other hitters who received votes from the Talk Sox minor league writers. Honorable Mentions RF/1B - Edwin Brito, 17, DSL Red, 51 G, .252/.361/.450, .811 OPS, 6 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 21 BB, 46 K C - Frederik Jimenez, 19, FCL Red Sox, 29 G, .308/.404/.500,.904 OPS, 5 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 12 BB, 22 K, 6 SB OF - Yosander Asencio, 19, FCL Red Sox, 43 G, .271/.393/.441, .834 OPS, 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 25 BB, 48 K Short-Season Hitter of the Year Here are the top three players for the Red Sox Short-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year, with an almost unanimous first place selection! 3. SS - Justin Gonzales, 17, DSL Red Sox Blue (43 G) and Red (4 G) 47 G, .320/.391/.517, .908 OPS, 8 SB, 11 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 19 BB, 20 K Gonzales entered the scene as an international free agent signee in January of 2024 out of the Dominican Republic. At 6’4” and 210 pounds, the teenage corner outfield/infield prospect has the frame to display power, but also managed to show some speed on the bases. When the time came for the DSL playoffs, Gonzales was moved to the Red team, and he delivered in the championship game with four hits, including a double and his ninth RBI of the postseason. Already delivering in the “clutch,” this young prospect is moving up the charts, and looks to continue his climb up the ladder in 2025. 2. SS/2B Yoeilin Cespedes, 19, FCL Red Sox 25 G, .319/.400/.615, 1.015 OPS 3 SB, 10 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 12 BB, 19 K Cespedes’ season was cut short due to a broken hamate bone in his non-throwing left hand, which prevented his climb to A ball mid-season. Before the injury, Cespedes proved that his 5’8”, 181 pound, frame could rake, with a 1.015 OPS over 25 games. The 2024 campaign improved his second year slash line in every avenue except a small dip in batting average compared to 2023. In short, power grew while contact stayed mostly consistent. It’s easy to see why the Red Sox are excited about the Dominican 2023 international free agent signee, as an infield prospect who is garnering comps in the DSL to Rafael Devers. How Cespedes is able to recover his high exit velocities and swing following the hand surgery will be an obviously key factor in both where he will start the 2025 season, and upon how high he can climb as the number seven prospect on the MLB’s Red Sox list looks to make an impact on the organization for years to come. 1. SS/2B - Franklin Arias, 18, FCL Red Sox (51 G)/Salem Red Sox (36 G) FCL Red Sox - 51 G, .355/.471/.584, 1.055 OPS, 30 SB, 16 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 34 BB, 36 K Arias was the clear favorite for this honor, deserving of his mid-season call up to Low-A Salem. While the leap in competition led to a decline in offensive success for the 18 year old, his FCL season is still worth celebrating. The youngster international free agent 2023 signee out of Venezuela represents some of the best defensive chops at the middle infield positions amongst the prospect squad, and his hitting and speed pay tribute to his diverse skill sets at the plate and on the bases. Ranked sixth on the Red Sox prospect list by MLB.com, Arias gives the Red Sox the luxury of having back up at a valuable position, which could unlock a quicker rebuild if desired through the trade route. Arias’ final week at Salem brought signs of his offensive talent, so starting there or in Greenville to start 2025 makes sense, but early arrival in Portland isn’t out of the question. Congratulations to this year’s winners. How would you rank these players on your ballot? Should a different player have made the top 3? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article