Another Red Sox Rule 5 Draft gamble has paid off; Noah Song is a member of the group as soon as once more.
There was appreciable outrage when the Red Sox selected to depart Song unprotected from final December’s Rule 5 Draft, which led to the Philadelphia Phillies scooping him up. But as has been the case for a lot of the previous couple of years, Chaim Bloom took the lengthy view; the 26-year-old Song hadn’t pitched since 2019 as a result of his dedication to the U.S. Navy however per the Rule 5 necessities, the reigning National League pennant-winners must carry Song on the 26-man roster for the complete season. If not, he may very well be up for grabs earlier than lengthy.
That’s precisely what occurred. Song reported to Phillies spring coaching and started pitching once more, however suffered a again pressure earlier than the season started, and ended up sidelined for a lot of the season.
Song’s rehab task didn’t go properly. Over 11 innings between video games in A-ball, Double-A, and Triple-A, he struck out 16 batters, but in addition issued 11 walks. The Phillies recalled him from his rehab task final Saturday, reinstated him from the injured listing, and designated him for task. Per the Rule 5 pointers, as soon as he cleared waivers, they needed to supply Boston’s 2019 fourth-round decide again to them at half value ($50,000). He’ll report back to High-A Greenville and try to climb the ladder once more.
Other than Song’s return, the most important minor league information of the month got here within the type of the MLB Draft. The first spherical was a coup for the Red Sox, who discovered high catching decide Kyle Teel nonetheless on the board when the 14th decide rolled round.
Here are the highlights from the farm:
Triple A Worcester
Ceddanne Rafaela has been unstoppable ever since his promotion to Worcester.
Much like final season, when the 22-year-old moved from the infield to middle subject and have become a human spotlight reel, every month of this MiLB season has yielded a brand new jaw-dropping efficiency. The group’s No. 2 prospect (No. 76 on MLB’s Top 100) stole six bases in a single recreation in May, earned the promotion to Triple-A in June, hit .337 with a 1.008 OPS in July, and started the month of August by homering in three consecutive video games.
Plate self-discipline was a key issue within the group figuring out that Rafaela ought to start the minor league season in Double-A, moderately than transfer as much as the farm’s high degree. Several workforce sources have made clear to the Herald that they imagine he’s already a serious league-caliber defender, an opinion his WooSox supervisor, Chad Tracy, reiterated this week.
“Honestly, he could go to the big leagues tomorrow and play an elite-level center field, there’s no doubt in my mind on that,” Tracy advised reporters. “And if he continues on the track he’s on and really hones in on making good choices as a hitter, he’s going to be able to impact the game in a big way on the offensive side, too, so the sky’s the limit for this kid.”
At this charge, it will not be lengthy earlier than Rafaela heads east on the Mass Pike, sure for Fenway. He doesn’t have a monopoly on the lengthy ball, although; the WooSox entered Friday with 158 house runs, tied for third within the International League. Wilyer Abreu, David Hamilton and Stephen Scott are among the many WooSox sluggers who’ve been sending balls out of the yard not too long ago.
Scott hit .304 with a .951 OPS in July, gathering 14 hits in 15 video games, together with a pair of doubles, three house runs, 10 runs, 10 RBI and a pair of stolen bases. He additionally walked (7) greater than he struck out (6).
Hamilton has additionally stolen 40 bases, a minimum of 17 greater than each different WooSox participant, and fourth-most within the International League.
Bobby Dalbec is now not a prospect, however he’s the workforce chief in house runs (25), runs (63) and RBI (58) this season. There isn’t actually room for him with the large league workforce, and it’s exhausting to imagine no group could be prepared to take a flyer on him in a commerce.
Double-A Portland
Speaking of raking on the subsequent degree, Blaze Jordan is having his personal home-run fest since being promoted from High-A to Double-A. He’s collected 15 homers this season, three since getting moved as much as Portland.
But the most important efficiency in Double-A final month was undoubtedly Wikelman Gonzalez’s portion of a mixed no-hitter on July 23. In solely his second Sea Dogs begin after his July 14 promotion, the group’s No. 11 prospect struck out 10 batters over six innings, incomes himself Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors.
Over three begins in Portland totaling 17 innings, the 21-year-old right-hander has a 1.59 ERA and has struck out 23 batters, solely allowed six hits, three earned runs, one homer, and 9 walks. His command appears to be bettering quickly; after 10 wild pitches in his 15 begins for Greenville earlier than the promotion, he’s but to throw one in Portland.
Gonzalez wasn’t the one one to earn POTW honors in July. On the final day of the month, fellow righty Grant Gambrell was named Pitcher of the Week after his personal shutout begin. Gambrell, who was one of many gamers to be named later the Kansas City Royals despatched to Boston to finish the Andrew Benintendi commerce, tossed seven scoreless innings wherein he solely issued one stroll and struck out eight.
High-A Greenville
Down within the South Atlantic League, Angel Bastardo had a stupendous month, capped off by turning into simply the third Greenville Drive pitcher ever to carry house Pitcher of the Month honors.
The 21-year-old right-hander’s July included back-to-back complete-game shutouts on July 15 (referred to as after six innings as a result of rain) and July 23, each of which had been on the highway. In the latter, he tied the membership file with 14 strikeouts in a single recreation.
Overall, Bastardo posted a 2.89 ERA and held batters to a .192 common in July. He struck out 42 over simply 28 innings throughout his 5 begins.
On the offensive aspect, No. 5 prospect Roman Anthony hit .268 over 16 video games. The 19-year-old outfielder, who moved as much as Greenville in mid-June, put up a .984 OPS in July that was practically 100 factors greater than his June whole.
Low-A Salem
Preseason, Keith Law of The Athletic puzzled if the Red Sox have a single authentic beginning pitching prospect of their group.
Up and down the farm, that hasn’t appeared just like the case this summer time. On the second-to-last day of July, Jedixson Paez made his case, tossing six shutout innings and solely permitting one hit.
Overall, Paez had a stellar month, posting a 0.90 ERA throughout 4 begins wherein he solely allowed 10 hits and two earned runs, and struck out 20. Opposing batters hit .141 towards him with a meager .348 OPS. He didn’t challenge a single stroll all month.
The finish of July additionally noticed Elvis Soto’s promotion from Florida Complex League, and a formidable Salem debut. Over 4 shutout innings, the 19-year-old held the Cleveland affiliate Lynchburg Hillcats to 2 hits, two walks, and struck out three.
On the offensive aspect, Cutter Coffey continues to enhance with every passing month. After hitting .247 with a .337 on-base share in June, the group’s No. 17 prospect put up a .264 common and .354 OBP in July.
Rookie
Top draft picks Kyle Teel (first spherical, No. 14) and Nazzan Zanetello (second, No. 50) are among the many greenest Red Sox prospects taking part in rookie ball in Fort Myers. Though that is July’s farm report, it’s price noting that each made their skilled debuts on Thursday, with Teel serving as beginning catcher and batting third, and Zanetello taking part in shortstop and batting second. Both went 0-for-2 in a 7-0 loss wherein their workforce solely managed three hits.
On Friday, Zanetello hit third and served because the designated. While he once more went hitless, he drew three walks, stole three bases, and scored a pair of runs.
Source: www.bostonherald.com