Tag: awards

Red Sox’ Ronald Rosario named Eastern League Player of the Week

Red Sox catching/first base prospect Ronald Rosario has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of July 6-12, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Rosario appeared in four of Double-A Portland’s six road games against New Hampshire last week. The right-handed hitter went 8-for-16 (.500) with four home runs, nine RBIs, four runs scored, one stolen base, and one strikeout. He homered once in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, went deep twice on Friday, and left the yard again in Sunday’s series finale.

Following this hot stretch, Rosario is now batting .278/.324/.462 with six doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 26 RBIs, 22 runs scored, two stolen bases, 10 walks, and 41 strikeouts through 43 games (170 plate appearances) for Portland this season, his second at the Double-A level. He is slashing .229/.289/.371 in 38 plate appearances against lefties and .293/.333/.488 in 132 plate appearances against righties.

Defensively, Rosario has primarily split his playing time this year between catcher and first base. Behind Nate Baez and Johanfran Garcia on Portland’s catching depth chart, the 5-foot-11 backstop has thrown out four of 24 would-be base stealers over 15 starts. At first base, where he trails Brooks Brannon on the depth chart, he has committed four errors in 129 chances across 17 starts. He has also made eight starts at DH.

Rosario, 23, originally signed with the Red Sox for $50,000 as an international free agent in July 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, however, the native Venezuelan did not make his professional debut until 2021. He split his first two seasons in pro ball between the rookie-level Dominican Summer and Florida Complex Leagues before graduating to full-season ball in 2023. This past January, he received his first invite to major league spring training and ultimately broke camp with Portland.

Rosario has never been viewed as one of Boston’s premier catching prospects but has provided the organization with solid depth behind the plate over the years. He is slated to reach minor league free agency at the end of the season, though the Red Sox bringing him back on a new contract for 2027 is not out of the realm of possibility.

(Picture of Ronald Rosario: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox prospect Blake Wehunt named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

Red Sox pitching prospect Blake Wehunt has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the week for the week of June 22-28, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Wehunt dazzled for Double-A Portland in Sunday’s series finale against Hartford on the road. Pitching for the first time in 12 days, the 25-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit and no walks while striking out eight over six scoreless innings at Dunkin’ Park. He retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced on 71 pitches (50 strikes), generating seven whiffs and topping out at 95.5 mph with his fastball as the Sea Dogs blanked the Yard Goats, 6-0.

Following a rough 2026 debut in which he was tagged for three runs in one-third of an inning, Wehunt went on the 7-day injured list with a left hamstring strain on April 4. Since returning to the mound on April 22, the righty has forged a 3.16 ERA with 57 strikeouts to 11 walks over his last 10 starts (42 2/3 innings) for Portland.

Altogether, Wehunt owns a 3.77 ERA with 57 strikeouts to 12 walks through 11 starts (43 innings) for the Sea Dogs this season. He has held opponents to a .245/.301/.387 clip. That consists of a .295/.368/.436 line against left-handed hitters and a .200/.236/.341 line against right-handed hitters.

Among the 55 pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings in the Eastern League this year, Wehunt ranks fourth in strikeouts per nine (11.93), strikeout rate (32.4%), and xFIP (3.27), 10th in FIP (3.65), walks per nine (2.51) and WHIP (1.21), 11th in walk rate (6.8%), 13th in ERA, and 20th in groundball rate (45.2%), according to FanGraphs.

A Georgia native who grew up working on his family’s chicken farm, Wehunt was originally selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round (268th overall) of the 2023 draft out of Kennesaw State. He received a below-slot $100,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut that August before moving up from Low-A to High-A to Double-A as part of a strong 2024 campaign. Last season, he was tested and limited to just 63 1/3 innings with Portland due to a lat strain.

Wehunt is currently ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 26 prospect, placing 14th among pitchers in the organization. In addition to a mid-90s fastball that can reach 97 mph, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound hurler features an 89-91 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph sweeper, and an 85-87 mph splitter.

Given how he has fared with Portland as of late, it would not be surprising to see Wehunt — who turns 26 in November — earn a promotion to Triple-A Worcester in the near future. That possibility is worth noting since he can become Rule 5-eligible for the first time this winter if the Red Sox do not add him to their 40-man roster by the protection deadline.

(Picture of Blake Wehunt courtesy of the Portland Sea Dogs)

Red Sox prospects Dylan Brown, Antonio Anderson named South Atlantic League Pitcher and Player of the Week

Red Sox prospects Dylan Brown and Antonio Anderson have been named the South Atlantic League Pitcher and Player of the Week for the week of June 22-28, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Brown put together a dominant start for High-A Greenville last Wednesday. Going up against Asheville at Fluor Field, the 22-year-old left-hander allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out a career-high of 11 over a career-high seven scoreless innings. He threw 75 pitches (53 strikes), topping out at 93.4 mph with his fastball and generating 19 whiffs as the Drive blanked the Tourists, 5-0.

In seven outings (six starts) since being promoted from Low-A Salem in early May, Brown has posted a 4.05 ERA with 49 strikeouts to 11 walks over 33 1/3 innings for Greenville. While opponents in the South Atlantic League are hitting .276 against him, that figure is inflated by a .442 batting average on balls in play.

Overall, Brown owns a 3.34 ERA with an organizational-leading 81 strikeouts to 24 walks through 12 outings (11 starts) spanning 56 2/3 innings between Salem and Greenville this season. The lefty has limited opposing hitters to a .238/.352/.331 clip. In a case of reverse splits, that includes a .299/.405/.373 line against left-handed hitters and a .210/.294/.259 line against right-handed hitters.

Brown, who just turned 22 on Saturday, was selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round (238th overall) of last summer’s draft out of Old Dominion. The Pennsylvania native received an at-slot $229,000 signing bonus but did not make his professional debut until this April. Since then, he has moved into Baseball America’s top 30 Red Sox prospects list and is now ranked as the organization’s No. 28 prospect.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Brown operates with a wide-ranging pitch mix that includes a 91-94 mph two- and four-seam fastball combination that can reach 95 mph, an 88-89 mph cutter, an 81-85 mph slider, and an 82-84 mph changeup.

Anderson, meanwhile, put together a strong series at the plate for Greenville. Appearing in all six games against Asheville, the switch-hitting 21-year-old went 11-for-22 (.500) with two doubles, three home runs, six RBIs, five runs scored, two walks, and four strikeouts. He homered in three straight games (June 25-27), finished a triple shy of the cycle on Saturday, and saw a seven-game hitting streak come to an end on Sunday, though he still scored a run.

After a slow start, Anderson has picked things up in recent weeks. Since June 1, for instance, he is slashing a stout .350/.422/.650 over his last 11 games (45 plate appearances). Altogether, he is batting .236/.342/.390 with five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 18 RBIs, 20 runs scored, one stolen base, 19 walks, and 35 strikeouts through 37 games (146 plate appearances) for Greenville this season. That includes a .200/.286/.400 line against lefties and a .245/.356/.388 line against righties.

Defensively, Anderson has seen most of his playing time this year come at first base, where he has committed four errors in 207 chances across 26 starts. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder has also made eight starts at shortstop (where he has committed four additional errors) and one start at DH. He has prior experience at shortstop, though he has not logged any innings there since 2024.

Anderson, who just turned 21 on Sunday, was selected by the Red Sox in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2023 draft out of North Atlanta High School. He forwent his commitment to Georgia Tech and went pro by signing with Boston for an over-slot $1.5 million. Coming into 2024, he was ranked by Baseball America as the organization’s No. 22 prospect. Since then, however, he has dropped out of the rankings entirely, having become something of a forgotten prospect before this recent stretch.

Brown and Anderson are the first Red Sox prospects to earn South Atlantic League Pitcher or Player of the Week honors for Greenville this season, with each taking home their first career minor league award as well.

(Picture of Dylan Brown: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox’ Johanfran Garcia named Eastern League Player of the Week

Red Sox catching prospect Johanfran Garcia has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of June 8-14, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Garcia tore the cover off the ball for Double-A Portland last week. Appearing in all six of the Sea Dogs’ games on the road against Reading, the 21-year-old slugger went 14-for-27 (.519) with four doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs, four runs scored, and five strikeouts. He recorded multiple hits in five of the six contests and is now riding a 10-game hitting streak dating back to June 2.

After beginning the season in extended spring training, Garcia reported to Portland for his first taste of the Double-A level on April 21. In 36 games since then, the right-handed hitter is batting .309/.356/.570 with six doubles, 11 home runs, 31 RBIs, 22 runs scored, one stolen base, eight walks, and 44 strikeouts through 160 plate appearances for the Sea Dogs. That includes a .235/.316/.500 line in 38 plate appearances against lefties and a .330/.369/.591 line in 122 plate appearances against righties.

Among the 94 hitters who have made at least 160 trips to the plate in the Eastern League this season, Garcia ranks seventh in line-drive rate (29.8%), 10th in batting average and slugging percentage, 11th in isolated power (.262) and OPS (.926), 12th in wOBA (.399), 15th in wRC+ (137), and 28th in on-base percentage, according to FanGraphs.

Defensively, Garcia has seen most of his playing time come behind the plate for Portland, where he is primarily splitting catching duties with Nate Baez and Ronald Rosario. In 22 starts at catcher, the stocky 5-foot-11 backstop has allowed just one passed ball and thrown out 11 of 41 would-be base stealers. He has also made 14 starts at DH and has prior experience at first base.

Garcia, the younger brother of former Red Sox-turned-Pirates outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia, originally signed with Boston for $850,000 as an international free agent in January 2022. The native Venezuelan got his professional career off to a strong start before tearing two ligaments in his right knee while running the bases and undergoing season-ending surgery in May 2024. He returned to action as a rehabber in the Florida Complex League last May, moved up to High-A Greenville in June, and ended the year with a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

Garcia entered 2026 as Baseball America’s No. 27 Red Sox prospect. He has since fallen out of the publication’s top 30, though MLB Pipeline and SoxProspects.com currently have him ranked at No. 26 and No. 34 in Boston’s farm system, respectively.

Taking into account that he can become Rule 5-eligible for the first time this winter, it would not be terribly surprising to see Garcia — who turns 22 in December — leverage his performance at Portland into a promotion to Triple-A Worcester before the end of the season.

(Picture of Johanfran Garcia: Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects Sadbiel Delzine, Franklin Primera named FCL Pitcher and Player of the Week

The Red Sox swept the weekly awards in the Florida Complex League on Monday, as prospects Sadbiel Delzine and Franklin Primera were named Pitcher and Player of the Week for June 8-14.

Delzine was dominant in his latest outing for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox last Tuesday. Working in relief of the rehabbing Jeremy Wu-Yelland on the road against the FCL Braves, the 18-year-old right-hander allowed only two hits and no walks (though he did hit two batters) while striking out a career-high eight over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Finishing with 75 pitches (54 strikes), Delzine generated 14 whiffs en route to improving to 3-0 on the season as the FCL Red Sox routed the FCL Braves, 13-2, at CoolToday Park in North Port. The young righty averaged 96 mph and reached 97.4 mph with his four-seam fastball, a pitch he threw 24 times. He also mixed in a slider, changeup, sinker, curveball, and cutter, according to Baseball Savant.

Through his first six appearances (three starts) of the season for Boston’s FCL affiliate, Delzine has posted a 1.16 ERA (3.03 FIP) with 27 strikeouts to seven walks over 23 1/3 innings in which he has held opponents to a .114 batting average. That includes a .152 clip for right-handed hitters and a .087 clip for left-handed hitters.

Among the 30 pitchers who entered this week having thrown at least 20 innings in the Florida Complex League, Delzine ranks first in batting average against, ERA, FIP, and WHIP (0.69), sixth in walks per nine innings (2.70), seventh in strikeout rate (30.3%), eighth in walk rate (7.9%), 11th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.41), swinging-strike rate (15.6%), and xFIP (4.21), per FanGraphs.

Delzine is currently ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 11 prospect, placing sixth among pitchers in the organization. The native Venezuelan signed with the Red Sox for $500,000 as an international free agent in January 2025. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League last season, but was limited to just 9 1/3 innings due in part to a flexor issue. When on the mound, though, he flashed intriguing potential and has carried that momentum over into 2026.

At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Delzine possesses an imposing, projectable frame and the ability to already touch triple digits with his fastball. He does not turn 19 until January and could very well be ready for a new challenge in the form of a promotion to Low-A Salem in the near future.

The same can be said for Primera, another Venezuelan-born prospect who has been on an absolute tear at the plate of late. In four games for the FCL Red Sox last week, the right-handed-hitting catcher went 8-for-12 (.667) with two doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs, seven runs scored, one stolen base, five walks, and one strikeout. He notably homered and drove in a career-high six runs as part of a four-hit effort in a 26-6 drubbing of the FCL Braves at the JetBlue Park complex on Thursday.

Primera, who turns 19 on Tuesday, is enjoying a productive first season in the United States. Entering the week, he is batting .458/.596/.778 with five doubles, six home runs, 22 RBIs, 25 runs scored, four stolen bases, 21 walks, and 10 strikeouts through 24 FCL games (100 plate appearances). He is slashing .214/.476/.214 in 22 plate appearances against lefties and an eye-popping .517/.628/.914 in 78 plate appearances against righties.

Among the 37 hitters who came into the week having made at least 100 trips to the plate in the Florida Complex League, Primera ranks first in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.374), wOBA (.613), and wRC+ (228), second in isolated power (.319) and strikeout rate (10%), and fourth in swinging-strike rate (7.5%) and walk rate (21%), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Primera has spent most of his time with the FCL Red Sox behind the plate. While primarily splitting catching duties with Jorge Rodriguez, the 6-foot, 230-pound backstop has made 18 starts at catcher, allowing four passed balls and throwing out 11 of 75 would-be base stealers. He has also made five starts at first base, where he has committed one error in 41 chances, and one start at DH.

Hailing from the Venezuelan city of Coro, Primera signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent in September 2024. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League last season and worked his way from a bench role to an injury replacement in the DSL All-Star Game, where he was named co-MVP after hitting a crucial home run.

Less than a year after receiving that honor, Primera is now ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s top catching prospect and No. 19 overall prospect in the system. Like Delzine, Primera seemingly has little left to prove in rookie ball and should soon be in line for a promotion to Salem for his first full-season assignment.

(Picture of Franklin Primera: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Louis Andujar named Florida Complex League Player of the Week

Red Sox infield prospect Louis Andujar has been named the Florida Complex League Player of the Week for the week of May 11-17, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Andujar appeared in five games for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox last week, going 9-for-18 (.500) with four doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, six runs scored, two stolen bases, five walks, and two strikeouts. The right-handed hitting 18-year-old recorded four multi-hit games during that stretch, including a three-double performance on Friday.

Following a 1-for-4 showing on Monday, Andujar is now batting .410/.489/.744 with seven doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs, 11 runs scored, four stolen bases, five walks, and 10 strikeouts through 11 games (45 plate appearances) to begin his first season in the United States. That includes a .364/.462/.818 line against lefties and a .429/.500/.714 line against righties, albeit in a limited sample.

Among 90 qualified hitters in the Florida Complex League, Andujar ranks first in extra-base hits (9), second in total bases (29), third in OPS (1.233), fourth in batting average and slugging percentage, fifth in isolated power (.333), 10th in on-base percentage, and 43rd in strikeout rate (22.2%), per MiLB.com’s leaderboards.

Defensively, Andujar has seen most of his playing time with the FCL Red Sox come at third base. The 6-foot, 185-pounder has yet to commit an error in eight starts and 56 1/3 innings at the hot corner. He has also made two starts at second base and one start at DH.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Andujar signed with the Red Sox for just $20,000 as an international free agent out of San Cristobal last January. He made his professional debut in the 2025 Dominican Summer League, where he slashed .280/.450/.524 with five doubles, five home runs, 19 RBIs, 24 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 22 walks, and 20 strikeouts across 29 games spanning 111 plate appearances.

Andujar — who does not turn 19 until September — is not yet ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. The outlet describes him as having a “solid approach and bat-to-ball skills” as well as “excellent range” and an “above-average arm.”

If he continues to perform at this exceptional pace in the Florida Complex League, Andujar could soon be in line for a promotion to Low-A Salem for his first taste of full-season ball.

(Picture of Louis Andujar: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Enddy Azocar named Carolina League Player of the Week

Red Sox outfield prospect Enddy Azocar has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week for the week of May 11-17, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Azocar had a productive week at the plate in Low-A Salem’s series on the road against Fredericksburg. Appearing in five games, the right-handed hitting 19-year-old went 9-for-21 (.429) with three doubles, one home run, four RBIs, three runs scored, one stolen base, two walks, and six strikeouts.

After going hitless in Tuesday’s series opener, Azocar singled twice and drove in a run on Wednesday before doubling, homering, driving in two runs, and drawing a walk on Thursday. He did not play on Friday, doubled and walked on Saturday, then capped the week off with a four-hit performance on Sunday that included another double, an RBI, and a stolen base.

On the heels of this offensive surge, Azocar now finds himself batting .297/.348/.531 with 12 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 22 RBIs, 30 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 11 walks, and 36 strikeouts through 34 games (158 plate appearances) for Salem this season. That includes a .405/.463/.838 line in 41 plate appearances against lefties and a .259/.308/.426 line in 117 plate appearances against righties.

Among 84 qualified hitters in the Carolina League entering play this week, Azocar ranks sixth in slugging percentage, ninth in isolated power (.234), 10th in line-drive rate (28.6%), 12th in batting average, 13th in OPS (.879), 15th in speed score (8.2), 18th in wOBA (.397), 22nd in wRC+ (127), and 32nd in strikeout rate (22.8%), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Azocar has been used almost exclusively in center field by Salem this season. The projectable 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has made 26 starts and logged 228 1/3 error-free innings in center for the RidgeYaks thus far, recording one assist. He has also made eight starts at DH and has prior experience at both corner outfield positions.

Azocar, who just turned 19 in February, originally signed with the Red Sox for $40,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January 2024. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League before arriving stateside for the first time in 2025. Following an eye-opening spring training in Fort Myers, he came out of the gates firing in the Florida Complex League and arrived in Salem last May.

Even though he struggled in his first stint with Salem, Azocar’s stock has still steadily risen since making the jump to full-season ball a year ago. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline both currently rank him as Boston’s No. 10 prospect, citing his five-tool potential and encouraging underlying data. At the same time, there are questions about his approach at the plate and whether he can stick in center field long-term.

Nonetheless, Azocar is clearly pushing for a new challenge in the form of a promotion to High-A Greenville. At this point, that happening feels more like a matter of when, not if.

(Picture of Enddy Azocar: Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Yhoiker Fajardo named Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for August

Red Sox pitching prospect Yhoiker Fajardo has been named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for August, Minor League Baseball announced on Thursday.

Fajardo dominated Carolina League hitters to the tune of a 1.14 ERA (1.67 FIP) with 36 strikeouts to eight walks in six starts (23 2/3 innings) for Low-A Salem last month. Opponents batted just .159 against the 18-year-old right-hander, who was recognized as the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week on two separate occasions.

In 12 starts for Salem this season, Fajardo has forged a 2.79 ERA (2.43 FIP) with 53 strikeouts to 16 walks over 48 1/3 innings in which opposing hitters batted .230 against him. That comes after he posted a 0.44 ERA (2.41 FIP) with 24 strikeouts to seven walks in six outings (four starts) spanning 20 2/3 innings for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox to open the 2025 campaign before being promoted on June 17.

Among the 107 pitchers who entered play Thursday having thrown at least 45 innings in the Carolina League this year, Fajardo ranked second in FIP, fourth in swinging-strike rate (16.5 percent), sixth in line-drive rate (16.1 percent), 11th in xFIP (3.08), 14th in groundball rate (51.6 percent), 17th in strikeout rate (26.9 percent), 23rd in ERA, 25th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.87) and walks per nine innings (2.98), 26th in walk rate (8.1 percent) and WHIP (1.18), and 53rd in batting average against, per FanGraphs.

Fajardo has been nothing short of a revelation this season after being acquired from the White Sox for left-handed reliever Cam Booser last December. The native Venezuelan had originally signed with Chicago for $400,000 as an international free agent in February 2024 and was fresh off earning Dominican Summer League All-Star honors in his professional debut. He is currently ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 22 prospect (12th among pitchers), while MLB Pipeline has him at No. 25 (14th among pitchers) and SoxProspects.com has him at No. 18 (11th among pitchers), respectively.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds, Fajardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the young righty features a 93-95 mph fastball that can reach 96-97 mph depending on what variation (two-seam or four-seam) he throws, a tight 82-85 mph slider, and an 85-88 mph kick changeup.

Fajardo, who turns 19 in October, was also named SoxProspects.com’s Pitcher of the Month and the Red Sox’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August in recent days. He is slated to make one more start for Salem in the back half of its series against Fayetteville this weekend before the 2025 Carolina League regular season draws to a close on Sunday.

(Picture of Juan Valera: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Yhoiker Fajardo named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for second time this season

Red Sox pitching prospect Yhoiker Fajardo has been named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 18-24, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Fajardo takes home the honor for the second time this season, having previously done so for the week of July 28-August 3. The 18-year-old right-hander made two starts and tossed seven scoreless innings in Low-A Salem’s series against the Carolina Mudcats at Carilion Clinic Field this past week.

After retiring the first three batters he faced on Thursday, Fajardo’s outing was interrupted by rain, and the contest was ultimately suspended in the middle of the first. That allowed him to retake the mound on Sunday afternoon, and he responded by yielding just two hits and no walks while striking out eight over six dominant innings in Salem’s 3-2 victory.

Fajardo fanned the first five batters he faced and took a no-hit bid into the top of the sixth before giving up back-to-back one-out singles. The hard-throwing righty escaped that jam by inducing a groundout and flyout to keep Carolina off the board and end his day on a high note. He threw 74 pitches (55 strikes) and generated 16 whiffs, tied for the most of any pitcher at the Low-A level on Sunday, according to Baseball Savant.

In 11 starts for Salem since being promoted from the rookie-level Florida Complex League (where he forged a 0.44 ERA in 20 2/3 innings) on June 17, Fajardo has posted a 2.84 ERA (2.49 FIP) with 46 strikeouts to 14 walks over 44 1/3 frames in which opposing hitters have batted .217 against him. That includes a 0.92 ERA (1.67 FIP) with 29 strikeouts to six walks across 19 2/3 innings in August.

Among 126 pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings in the Carolina League this season, Fajardo ranks third in FIP and swinging-strike rate (16.7 percent), fifth in line-drive rate (15.8 percent), 11th in xFIP (3.14), 16th in WHIP (1.11) and groundball rate (52.6 percent), 24th in ERA, 25th in walks per nine innings (2.84), 28th in strikeout rate (25.8 percent) and walk rate (7.9 percent), 42nd in batting average against, and 50th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.34), per FanGraphs.

Hailing from Venezuela, Fajardo originally signed with the White Sox for $400,000 as an international free agent in February 2024. The Villa de Cura native made the most of his professional debut and was recognized as a Dominican Summer League All-Star last year before being acquired by the Red Sox for left-handed reliever Cam Booser in December. He is currently regarded by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 22 prospect, which ranks 11th among pitchers in the organization. Elsewhere, MLB Pipeline has him at No. 25 while SoxProspects.com has him at No. 18 on their respective lists.

Listed at a projectable 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds, Fajardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the young hurler features a 93-96 mph two-/four-seam fastball combination that can reach 97 mph and also mixes in a tight 82-86 mph slider as well as an 85-88 mph changeup.

Fajardo, who does not turn 19 until October, is in line to make one or two more starts before Salem’s season ends on September 7. With that being said, it will be interesting to see if he could receive another promotion to aid in High-A Greenville’s quest for a playoff spot. As of this writing, the Drive are one game back of second-half leading Hub City for first place in the South Atlantic League South division standings.

(Picture of Yhoiker Fajardo: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Connelly Early named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

For the second time in as many weeks, a Red Sox pitching prospect has been recognized as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week.

After right-hander David Sandlin took home the honor last week, left-hander Connelly Early was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 23-29 on Monday, Minor League Baseball announced.

Early was stellar for Double-A Portland and was credited with the win in Sunday’s series finale on the road against Binghamton. The 23-year-old lefty walked three and struck out seven over six scoreless, no-hit innings. He retired 17 of the 20 batters he faced, throwing 82 pitches (56 strikes) and generating 12 whiffs as the Sea Dogs defeated the Rumble Ponies by a final score of 3-1 at Mirabito Stadium.

In 12 outings (nine starts) for Portland to this point in the season, Early has posted a 1.94 ERA (2.20 FIP) with a staff-leading 81 strikeouts to 24 walks over 55 2/3 innings in which opponents have batted just .189 against him. That includes a .141 batting average against left-handed hitters and a .212 batting average against right-handed hitters.

Among 29 pitchers in the Eastern League who have thrown at least 55 innings this year, Early ranks second in strikeouts per nine innings (13.10), strikeout rate (35.4 percent), swinging-strike rate (15.2 percent), batting average against, FIP, xFIP (2.77), groundball rate (52.7 percent), and line-drive rate (14.3 percent), third in ERA, and seventh in WHIP (1.10), per FanGraphs.

Early, who turned 23 in April, is currently regarded by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 10 prospect, which ranks fifth among pitchers in the organization. The Midlothian, Va. native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round (151st overall) in the 2023 draft out of Virginia by way of Army West Point. He received an at-slot $408,500 signing bonus and has only seen his stock rise since entering the professional ranks..

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Early throws from a low three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his repeatable delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the athletic southpaw primarily operates with a four- to five-pitch mix that consists of a 92-95 mph fastball (topped out at 96.6 mph on Sunday), an 82-85 mph changeup, an 80-83 mph sweeper, an 84-87 mph slider, and a 77-80 mph curveball.

As is the case with Sandlin, Early, too, is seemingly on the verge of a promotion to Triple-A Worcester. Both hurlers simultaneously made the jump to Portland after the MLB All-Star break last July, so it will be interesting to see if that pattern repeats itself in the coming weeks.

(Picture of Connelly Early: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)