Lining Up The Minors

With the big club clicking like a well-oiled machine (shut up, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) I thought it might be a good time to take a look at what is happening on other teams who go by “Red Sox.”  And just in the interest of keeping it simple let’s acknowledge here and now that all numbers in this piece suffer from small sample size warnings.

1B - Triston Casas - AAA - Honestly there is no way that Casas wouldn’t be the player I would focus on here.  Bobby Dalbec is not exactly locking down first base but Casas in his first season at AAA is not taking it yet.  .267/.421/.500 in Worcester, .195/.320/.390 on the road.  Having given the pessimistic view it’s worth noting that his plate discipline is not notably different away from Worcester and the power is there.  I think mid-season remains a reasonable target for the big lefty.

2B - Yolmer Sanchez - AAA - The 30 year old former Gold Glover Sanchez is no kind of prospect of course but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a role to play on the big club.  Christian Arroyo is struggling and Jonathan Arauz is Jonathan Arauz.  Meanwhile Sanchez (.312/.449/.557) is hitting and of course is a high quality glove.  He’s only played two games at shortstop so far, that may bear watching.  If he plays a few games in a row there or at third base (4 games so far) that may be a sign the club is evaluating him as a utility man.

3B - Alex Binelas - Hi A - The big part of the Renfroe/Bradley deal is making an impact in Greenville.  He has already slugged six homers in just 74 PA.  He is 22 so he may have a chance to move rapidly.  Obviously he is not part of any solution this year other than maybe as trade bait but there may be a place for him down the road.  He seems to be splitting time equally between first and third base.

SS - Marcelo Mayer - Hi A - Shortstop is a position having a good year for the Sox.  Bogaerts is having a great start even by his lofty standards and Jeter Downs’ .789 OPS is the lowest of any shortstop in the system with Mayer (.888), Matt Lugo (.955 Hi A) and David Hamilton (.919 AA)  all raking. Mayer of course is one of the best prospects in the game and his placement in the teens by most observers during the off-season is quickly looking like it was too low and a single digit prospect rank is in his near future.

OF - Franchy Cordero - AAA - Oh I don’t know.  What do you do with this guy?  He is tearing it up in Worcester but man, can he actually hit in the Majors?  If the offense continues to struggle I think you have to give strong consideration to giving him one more chance. 

OF - Gilberto Jimenez - Hi A - (Hey Darren how are ya’?) The uber fast Jimenez seems to have grown into some pop this year with 3 homers already.  I don’t know if he’s cost himself some speed (3 for 5 in steals) or what but he’s hitting with a level of pop we haven’t seen from him before.  Let’s all agree to ignore the 16:1 K:BB rate OK?

OF - Jarren Duran - AAA - Sorry for being a bit predictable in picking some of these guys but hey it’s early.  Unlike many of his teammates Duran is actually raking away from Worcester (.409/.519/.500) and struggling at home (.200/.294/.200).  He is also hitting lefties and while his K rate has remained pretty stable he is walking considerably more often.  Like Cordero he has to be on the “OK we gotta get something going here” list.  I think he’s probably a bit behind Cordero as he is seen as more of a longterm asset than Franchy but if I’m Jackie Bradley and I see two lefty hitting outfielders in the system ripping the ball I may want to get on one of my famed hot streaks sooner than later.

C - Nathan Hickey - Lo A - The 2021 fifth round pick is tearing the cover off the ball in Salem. Sox Prospects suggests that he may have the bat to shift positions if his below average defensive forecast is accurate. 

RHP - Durbin Feltman - AAA - Feltman had a nightmare outing against Lehigh Valley (4 runs in 2 innings) but has been excellent beyond that.  He has fanned 12 and walked just 2 in 8 innings of work and as the Sox seek consistency in the bullpen the former highly regarded prospect has to be someone the Sox are keeping their eyes on.

LHP - Brandon Walter - AA - 23 innings, 29 strikeouts, 0 walks.  Again, 23 innings, 29 strikeouts, 0 walks.  No HBP, just 14 hits allowed, the 25 year old probably needs to be in Worcester sooner than later and if he is going to put those numbers up may have himself on a short track to Boston.  Walter is a 2019 draft pick (26th round) and has done nothing but pitch well.  He had a strong cameo in the FCL then after 2020’s lost season pitched well out of the bullpen for Salem before struggling as a starter in Greenville last year.  He is working as a starter in Portland right now and obviously it is going well.