Red Sox’ Matthew Lugo named Eastern League Player of the Week

Red Sox prospect Matthew Lugo has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of April 15-21, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Lugo appeared in five of Double-A Portland’s six games against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hadlock Field this past week. The right-handed hitting 22-year-old went 7-for-16 (.438) with three doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBIs, three runs scored, five walks, and four strikeouts.

Lugo played hero for the Sea Dogs on more than just one occasion during their latest series. He came through with a game-winning, three-run triple in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Fisher Cats, then drove in the first two runs of a 3-0 victory on Wednesday. He also homered and collected a game-high four RBIs on Saturday and doubled in a run on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to six games.

On the 2024 season as a whole, Lugo is now batting a stout .357/.471/.857 with three doubles, one triple, three homers, 12 runs driven in, five runs scored, six walks, and eight strikeouts through nine games (34 plate appearances) for Portland. He currently leads a talented Sea Dogs team in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS (1.328), and total bases with 24.

Lugo, who turns 23 next month, is repeating Double-A this year after struggling to a .242/.297/.381 slash line in 83 games (318 plate appearances) with the Sea Dogs in 2023. The former 2019 second-round draft selection out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in Puerto Rico was regarded by SoxProspects.com as a top-15 prospect organization around this time last season but has since dropped from the site’s rankings completely.

The nephew of Beltran himself, Lugo initially came up as an infielder after signing with Boston for $1.1 million in June 2019. More recently, however, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder has transitioned to the outfield. So far this season, he has made a team-leading eight starts in left field for the Sea Dogs and has yet to commit an error over 64 2/3 innings.

Given that this is the third straight season in which Lugo has appeared in at least one game for the Sea Dogs, it should be interesting to see if he can force his way up to Triple-A Worcester sooner rather than later. He certainly couldn’t ask for a better start this year, though.

(Picture of Matthew Lugo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote pitching prospect Max Carlson to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted pitching prospect Max Carlson from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Carlson, 22, has made three appearances out of the Salem bullpen to begin his first full professional season. The right-hander has allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks to go along with 14 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings of relief. That translates to a 5.40 ERA, though he owns a more favorable 3.60 FIP and 2.98 xFIP.

A native of Minnesota, Carlson was selected by Boston in the 12th round of last year’s draft out of the University of North Carolina. The former Tar Heel was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 385 prospect in his class. He signed with the Red Sox for $150,000 and made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League, tossing a scoreless sixth inning in his lone outing of the year.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Carlson throws from a three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a full wind-up in his delivery. The righty operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 90-93 mph that tops out at 95 mph, a whiff-inducing changeup that sits in the low-80s, and an infrequently-used 81-84 mph slider, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Carlson, who does not turn 23 until September, is the second member of Boston’s 2023 draft class to earn a promotion in as many weeks. Lefty Zach Fogell, the club’s 18th-round pick out of Connecticut, also made the jump from Salem to Greenville last Friday.

In addition to promoting Carlson, the Red Sox added outfielder Kelvin Diaz to Salem’s roster from extended spring training. Diaz, 21, stole 21 bases in 48 Florida Complex League games last season. He originally signed with Boston for $300,000 as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019.

(Picture of Max Carlson: Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Top Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer off to strong start with Double-A Portland

After a winter full of skepticism, shortstop Marcelo Mayer is using the early stages of the minor-league season to show why he should still be considered the top prospect in the Red Sox organization.

To begin the 2024 campaign, Mayer has strung together a seven-game hitting streak for Double-A Portland. Following Sunday’s 9-5 win over the Reading Fightin Phils, the left-handed hitter is now 10-for-28 (.357) with one double, one home run, five RBIs, seven runs scored, two stolen bases, two walks, and eight strikeouts for the Sea Dogs.

On the other side of the ball, Mayer has seen all of his playing time on the field to this point in the season come at shortstop. The 6-foot-3, 188-pounder has logged a team-leading 50 innings at short thus far and has yet to commit an error.

Still just 21 years old, Mayer really couldn’t ask for a better start after what went down last season. The former fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft suffered a left shoulder impingement while with High-A Greenville early in the year and attempted to play through the discomfort. He managed to make it to Portland and represent the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game over the summer, but he struggled mightily at the plate before going on the injured list — and ultimately being shut down — in the first week of August.

Mayer received a pain-killing injection in September and spent his offseason rehabbing at home in Chula Vista, Calif., and at the Red Sox’ JetBlue Park complex in Fort Myers, Fla. He focused on building strength back up in that injured shoulder and was deemed a “full go” for Boston’s rookie development program in January.

Though he did not receive an invite to major-league spring training, Mayer got into two Grapefruit League games (as well as the Spring Breakout prospect showcase) and made his impact felt in other areas before breaking camp with Portland for the start of his third full professional season. As Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham recently told MLB.com’s Ian Browne, Mayer appears to be benefitting from the work he put in during the offseason.

“He worked incredibly hard throughout his progression in the offseason and spring training to prepare for the 2024 season,” said Abraham. “Whether that be rehab-related, strength-related, on-field performance-related, we saw a player working with an intent to be an impact player this season and moving forward. It’s been great to see him continue to mature both on and off the baseball field.”

Mayer, who does not turn 22 until December, is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as the No. 1 prospect in Boston’s farm system and the No. 15 prospect in all of baseball. If he continues to produce the way he has been to start the season, it will not be long until he garners consideration for a promotion to Triple-A Worcester. From there, the big-leagues are only one call away.

“Continue to become an improved all-around player,” Abraham said when asked about the organization’s developmental goals for Mayer this season. “Improve his range in the field and keep looking to impact the baseball. Have the continued ability to add good weight and strength. Offensively, it’s focusing on pitches within the zone he can do damage with. In simpler terms, increasing his walk percentage and decreasing his strikeout percentage will allow him to be a better overall hitter and maximize his potential.”

Mayer, for his part, explained his own mindset when speaking with WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford on the ‘Baseball Isn’t Boring’ podcast earlier this month. He did so while emphasizing that his shoulder felt great.

“I think I do feel close, but obviously I need to handle business here (in Double-A) first. I need to handle business in Triple-A. So there is still two levels to go,” Mayer said. “I feel close. I feel ready to go, excited for the new year. I’m ready to show myself and what I’m able to do. Again, I’m healthy.”

(Picture of Marcelo Mayer: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Zach Fogell to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Zach Fogell from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to MiLB.com’s transactions log.

Fogell, 23, appeared in just two games for Salem to start the 2024 minor-league season. The left-hander allowed two hits and one walk to go along with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .111 batting average against.

A native of Rhode Island, Fogell was selected by the Red Sox in the 18th round of last year’s amateur draft out of the University of Connecticut. He signed with Boston for $150,000 and made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League before first arriving in Salem last August.

Since entering the pro ranks a little less than nine months ago, Fogell has yet to surrender an earned run in seven total appearances (10 innings) between the FCL and Salem. He also got into a pair of major-league spring training games earlier this year and did not give up a run in 1 1/3 innings there, either.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Fogell throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium leg kick into his delivery. The southpaw operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph fastball with late sink, an 88-90 mph changeup with arm-side run, and a sweepy 80-82 slider, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Fogell, who turns 24 in July, is not currently regarded by any major publication as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. He joins fellow 2023 draftees Kristian Campbell, Connelly Early, Caden Rose, and Cade Feeney on Greenville’s active roster.

In addition to promoting Fogell to Greenville, the Red Sox added right-hander Trennor O’Donnell to Salem’s roster from extended spring training. Like Fogell, O’Donnell was drafted in the eighth round last year but has yet to make his professional debut.

(Picture of Zach Fogell: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox pitching prospect Angel Bastardo impresses in 2024 debut for Double-A Portland

The conditions were far from ideal, but Red Sox pitching prospect Angel Bastardo still impressed in his 2024 debut for Double-A Portland over the weekend.

Due to a snowstorm hitting southern Maine and blanketing Hadlock Field with snow on Thursday, Portland was forced to postpone its first two games of the season against the Hartford Yard Goats on Friday and Saturday. Thanks to diligent work from the team’s grounds crew, though, the Sea Dogs were able to celebrate Opening Day in front of a crowd of 6,074 on Sunday afternoon.

Bastardo, in turn, rose to the occasion. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed only one earned run on one hit and two walks to go along with three strikeouts over five solid innings of work. That lone run came in the top of the third after Rockies prospect Ryan Ritter drew a leadoff walk, stole two bases, and scored from third on an RBI groundout off the bat of Bladimir Restituyo.

That sequence of events gave the Yard Goats an early 1-0 lead, but Bastardo did not waver. He instead got through the rest of the third inning unscathed and went on to retire the final seven batters he faced before making way for reliever Theo Denlinger in the top half of the sixth.

Finishing with 67 pitches (44 strikes), Bastardo induced seven swings-and-misses. He was later charged with the tough-luck loss as the Sea Dogs fell to the Yard Goats by a final score of 1-0 after being held to just three hits as a team. As such, he is now 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.60 WHIP on the young season.

Bastardo, who turns 22 in June, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 27 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks seventh among pitchers in the organization. The native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for just $35,000 as an international free agent coming out of the town of Moron in July 2018.

Bastardo first arrived in Portland last August after pitching to a 4.62 ERA (3.82 FIP) with 139 strikeouts to 46 walks over 21 starts (103 1/3 innings) for High-A Greenville. He then made three starts for the Sea Dogs before the 2023 campaign drew to a close, allowing a total of nine earned runs on 12 hits, nine walks, and 10 strikeouts across 16 frames in which he held opposing hitters to a .207 batting average against.

Unlike other intriguing pitching prospects in the system such as Wikelman Gonzalez and Luis Perales, Bastardo was not added to Boston’s 40-man roster in November despite being Rule 5-eligible. He was ultimately passed over in December’s Rule 5 Draft (meaning he could become eligible again this offseason) and now appears set for a key role in Portland’s starting rotation to begin the year.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Bastardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and features a medium leg kick in his delivery. The righty operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 93-95 mph fastball that tops out at 97 mph, an 84-88 mph changeup, an 81-84 mph curveball with 11-to-5 break, and an 85-88 mph slider, per his scouting reports from Baseball America and SoxProspects.com.

As is the case with most young arms in the organization, it will be interesting to see if Bastardo can benefit from the revamped pitching infrastructure the Red Sox have begun to implement under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. How he fares this year in regards to improving his command and control could impact how he is viewed (as a starter or future reliever) moving forward.

(Picture of Angel Bastardo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox OF prospect Caden Rose homers in professional debut

Over the weekend, Red Sox outfield prospect Caden Rose recorded the first hit and home run of his professional career on one swing of the bat.

Rose, who has been assigned to High-A Greenville for the start of the 2024 campaign, rode the bench in the Drive’s season opener against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Friday but got the start in left field at First National Bank Field on Saturday night.

Batting out of the seven-hole, Rose struck out swinging in each of his first two plate appearances before stepping up again with two outs and nobody on in the top of the sixth inning. Matched up against lefty reliever Jaden Woods, the right-handed hitting Rose worked a 2-0 count and then crushed a solo shot to the berm in left-center field.

With that, Rose notched his first homer of the season and his first as a pro. The 22-year-old later lined out in his final plate appearance Saturday before going 0-for-3 with a walk while patrolling center field in Sunday’s series finale. The Drive lost both of those games and are now 1-2 to start their South Atlantic League title defense.

To summarize, Rose is 1-for-7 (.143) with one home run, one RBI, one run scored, one walk, and two strikeouts to kick off the young season. The University of Alabama product is getting his first taste of affiliated action after being selected by the Red Sox in the seventh round (208th overall pick) of last July’s amateur draft.

A native of Alabama himself, Rose signed with Boston for $150,000 after spending three years in Tuscaloosa. Because of injuries to his shoulder and hamstring sustained earlier in the spring, Rose did not appear in any minor-league games for the Red Sox in 2023 and instead spent his time rehabbing at the club’s JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.

Despite playing hurt, however, Rose still put together a solid junior season in which he batted .261/.383/.503 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBIs, 45 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 26 walks, and 40 strikeouts over 48 games (186 plate appearances) for the Crimson Tide. He was then named to the 2023 NCAA All-Tournament Team after Alabama made it to the super regionals.

“Obviously you come in right after you get drafted and you want to play and showcase your abilities,” Rose told MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith last September. “But that’s something I just wasn’t in the spot to do when I got drafted. I dealt with some injuries this year that I played on throughout the season and kind of just made them worse. So the best thing for me and my future was to come down here and rehab. And that’s what I’ve done. I’m fired up to get back out there next year.”

Standing at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Rose has past experience at both second base and shortstop but figures to stick in the outfield to begin his pro career. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, Rose has a “solid defensive profile” and “the combination of instincts and quickness teams look for in center field.” He also has “sneaky pop for his size, “above-average speed,” and “leaves it all on the field.”

Rose, who does not turn 23 until October, is part of a crowded outfield mix in Greenville that includes the likes of Allan Castro, Kristian Campbell, Juan Chacon, Miguel Ugueto, Eduardo Lopez, and Bryan Gonzalez. He is already one of three players to make their pro debuts for the Drive so far this season, joining righties Cooper Adams and Conor Steinbaugh.

(Picture of Caden Rose: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox prospect Luis Cohen ‘has several traits teams look for in young pitchers’

After two years in rookie ball, Red Sox pitching prospect Luis Cohen has been assigned to Low-A Salem for the start of the 2024 minor-league season.

Cohen originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in January 2022. The Tucacas native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter, pitching to a 2.89 ERA with 42 strikeouts to 14 walks over 13 appearances (12 starts) spanning 46 2/3 innings of work.

Last summer, Cohen made the jump to the Florida Complex League. The 20-year-old right-hander made a strong first impression in his stateside debut by earning July’s FCL Pitcher of the Month honors. Altogether, he posted a 3.46 ERA with 39 strikeouts to 14 walks in 10 outings (seven starts, 39 innings) for Boston’s Fort Myers-based affiliate.

Among the 48 FCL pitchers who eclipsed the 30-inning threshold in 2023, Cohen ranked 24th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.00), 12th in walks per nine innings (3.23), 16th in strikeout rate (25.3 percent), 15th in walk rate (9.1 percent), 11th in batting average against (.206), sixth in WHIP (1.08), eighth in line-drive rate (15.6 percent), 12th in ERA, eighth in FIP (3.85), and 17th in xFIP (4.56), per FanGraphs.

Listed at 6-foot and 172 pounds, Cohen throws from a three-quarters arm slot and has a high leg kick. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the righty operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 91-93 mph fastball that tops out at 94 mph, a 74-78 mph curveball that has depth, an 80-82 mph slider that has a horizontal break, and an 80-82 mph changeup that shows late fade.

According to that same scouting report, Cohen “has several traits teams look for in young pitchers and has gained velocity and improved each year.” He could also “see his velocity tick up even more and break out in 2024 if he shows consistency with his command and secondary pitches.”

Cohen, who turns 21 late next month, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 38 prospect in Boston’s farm system. That now ranks 16th among pitchers in the organization after the site updated its top 60 list on Thursday.

A projected starter, Cohen is not the lone member of Boston’s 2022 international signing class to make Salem’s Opening Day roster. He is joined by the likes of Denis Reguillo, Johanfran Garcia, Marvin Alcantara, and Natanael Yuten. The Red Sox open their season at home against the Carolina Mudcats on Friday night.

With that being said, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reported on Monday that from Double-A down, Red Sox minor-league affiliates will employ six-man rotations with multi-inning relievers behind them this season. In Cohen’s case, Salem has virtually every Monday off this year, so he would be in line to make one start per week and then spend time between his outings conducting “goal-oriented side work” for the sake of his own development.

It is an interesting strategy that stems from the Red Sox overhauling their pitching infrastructure under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and director of pitching Justin Willard, but it is one that could benefit younger arms such as Cohen in the long run.

(Picture of Luis Cohen: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox relief prospect Felix Cepeda to begin 2024 season at Double-A Portland

One of the Red Sox’ more unheralded relief prospects will be getting his first taste of competition in the upper-minors to begin the 2024 season.

Felix Cepeda has been assigned to Double-A Portland, per his Instagram account. The Sea Dogs open their season with a three-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats at Hadlock Field beginning Friday night.

Cepeda, 23, split the 2023 campaign between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville, so this serves as a promotion of sorts. The right-hander posted a 2.38 ERA and 3.45 FIP with 60 strikeouts to 29 walks over 33 total relief appearances (53 innings) in which he held opposing hitters to a .194 batting average against.

After spending all of 2022 at Salem, Cepeda returned there for the start of the 2023 season. The Dominican-born righty forged a 3.03 ERA (3.61 FIP) with 39 punchouts to 23 walks in 19 outings (32 2/3 innings) for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate before earning a promotion to Greenville in mid-July. With the Drive, he pitched to a 1.33 ERA (3.19 FIP) to go along with 21 strikeouts to just six walks over 14 appearances (20 1/3 innings) to close out the regular season. He then made three straight scoreless appearances in the playoffs (including the clincher) to help Greenville take home its first South Atlantic League title since 2017.

Altogether, it was a solid showing for Cepeda in 2023. Among the Red Sox minor-leaguers who eclipsed the 50-inning threshold in the regular season last year, Cepeda ranked 20th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.19), 16th in strikeout rate (26.4 percent), third in batting average against, ninth in WHIP (.125), sixth in line-drive rate (17.2 percent), 15th in groundball rate (43.8 percent), 18th in groundball rate (13.7 percent), fourth in ERA, sixth in FIP, and 19th in xFIP (4.31), per FanGraphs. He also lowered his walk rate from 15 percent to 8.1 percent after making the jump from Salem to Greenville over the summer.

Even though he had logged a career-high in innings pitched by the time the Drive were crowned South Atlantic League champions at Fluor Field in late September, Cepeda’s season was not over. Like several other Red Sox prospects, Cepeda headed out west in early October to play in the Arizona Fall League. He proceeded to appear in eight games for the Glendale Desert Dogs, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits, three walks, and six strikeouts across eight frames of relief.

Coming off an eventful 2023 that resulted in him being named a SoxProspects.com All-Star for the first time, Cepeda reached another milestone this spring by getting into three Grapefruit League games last month. He yielded a total of two runs (both of which came in the same outing) on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings while also recording a save against the Twins at JetBlue Park on March 23.

Cepeda, who does not turn 24 until July, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 48 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 20th among pitchers in the organization. Originally signed for $40,000 as an international free agent coming out of the city of Bonao in 2017, Cepeda now stands at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and primarily operates with a two-pitch mix that consists of a 95-96 mph fastball that tops out at 98 mph and an 83-86 mph slider that features 10-to-4 break.

In Portland, Cepeda figures to join a bullpen that includes the likes of Alex Hoppe (once healthy), CJ Liu, Christopher Troye, and Ryan Zeferjahn, among others. It is also worth noting that Cepeda can become eligible for minor-league free agency after the 2024 season, so he will — in essence — be pitching for a new contract this year.

(Picture of Felix Cepeda: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Former Red Sox OF prospect Albertson Asigen signs minor-league deal with White Sox

Former Red Sox outfield prospect Albertson Asigen signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Saturday, per MiLB.com’s transactions log. He has been assigned to Chicago’s Low-A affiliate in Kannapolis, N.C.

Asigen, 22, was released on Wednesday as part of a larger series of minor-league cuts made by the Red Sox. The Dominican Republic native originally signed with Boston for just $10,000 as an international free agent coming out of Puerto Plata in October 2019.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor-league season, Asigen did not make his professional debut until July 2021. He spent the first two years of his pro career in the Dominican Summer League, batting .297/.397/.402 with seven doubles, seven triples, two home runs, 39 RBIs, 56 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 42 walks, and 55 strikeouts over 77 total games spanning 310 plate appearances.

Last June, Asigen made the jump stateside by opening his 2023 campaign in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The right-handed hitter appeared in 14 games for Boston’s Fort Myers-based affiliate, going 14-for-42 (.333) with two doubles, one triple, five RBIs, 12 runs scored, seven stolen bases, six walks, and five strikeouts before receiving a promotion to Low-A Salem in early July.

With the Salem Red Sox, Asigen slashed .318/.436/.434 with five doubles, two triples, two homers, 12 runs driven in, 22 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 24 walks, and 42 strikeouts across 42 games (156 plate appearances). Among the 151 hitters Carolina League hitters who made at least 150 trips to the plate last year, he ranked 20th in walk rate (15.4 percent), second in batting average, third in on-base percentage, 20th in slugging percentage, 10th in OPS (.870), 22nd in speed score (7.6), first in line-drive rate (31 percent), and fourth in wRC+ (153), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Asigen saw playing time at all three outfield positions while with Salem. The stocky, 5-foot-10, 175-pounder logged 170 innings in left, 15 innings in center, and 157 1/3 innings in right. He recorded a total of four outfield assists while committing three errors in 57 defensive chances.

Despite producing relatively strong offensive numbers last season, it is worth noting that — between the FCL and Salem — Asigen posted a .434 batting average on balls put in play, which suggests that he may have been the beneficiary of good luck throughout the year. That could have played a role in the Red Sox electing to cut Asigen, though it’s certainly possible he requested to be released in an effort to find more playing time elsewhere.

Asigen, who turns 23 in late August, was never viewed as a top Red Sox prospect but will now look to start anew as a member of the White Sox organization. The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, who also play in the Carolina League, are slated to open their season on Friday. Depending on how things shake out there, it should be interesting to see if Asigen can work his way up to High-A at some point in 2024.

(Picture of Albertson Asigen: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Former Red Sox catching prospect Stephen Scott signs minor-league deal with Tigers

Former Red Sox catching prospect Stephen Scott signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Friday, per MiLB.com’s transactions log. The 26-year-old has been assigned to Detroit’s Double-A affiliate, meaning he will open the 2024 season with the Erie SeaWolves.

Scott became a free agent earlier this week after requesting and being granted his release from the Red Sox organization. The North Carolina native was originally selected by Boston in the 10th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt.

Signed for $50,000, Scott initially came up as a first baseman and corner outfielder before transitioning to catching full-time in 2022. Last season, the left-handed hitter batted .235/.350/.462 with 16 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 66 RBIs, 59 runs scored, six stolen bases, 59 walks, and 85 strikeouts in exactly 100 games (403 plate appearances) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.

After making the jump from Portland to Worcester in early June, Scott slashed .228/.339/.470 with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, 44 runs driven in, 36 runs scored, two stolen bases, 35 walks, and 51 strikeouts over 63 games (254 plate appearances) with the WooSox. In that time, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder made 10 starts at first base and 30 at catcher. He threw out just three of 38 possible base stealers while allowing six passed balls in 263 1/3 defensive innings behind the plate.

This spring, Scott received his second straight non-roster invite to major-league camp. He appeared in five Grapefruit League games for Boston, going 0-for-6 with a walk and three strikeouts before being reassigned to minor-league camp on March 6. It seemed as though Scott was ticketed to return to Worcester for the start of the 2024 campaign, but he obviously had something else in mind.

With the external additions of Tyler Heineman and Mark Kolozvary, plus the emergence of prospect Nathan Hickey, Scott would have been buried on Worcester’s catching depth chart. And so, in hopes of finding more playing time elsewhere, Scott and the Red Sox agreed to a mutual parting of ways this past Wednesday.

Scott, who turns 27 in late May, has now found a new opportunity for himself by inking a minors pact with the Tigers. As noted by the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold, the former Arizona Fall League All-Star could serve as Erie’s primary catcher to begin the 2024 season and ultimately work his way back up to the Triple-A level before the year is over.

(Picture of Stephen Scott: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)