Tag: fall stars game

Red Sox prospects Luis Perales, Stanley Tucker named 2025 Fall Stars

Red Sox prospects Luis Perales and Stanley Tucker have been selected to the 2025 Fall Stars Game, the Arizona Fall League announced on Thursday.

Perales, a 22-year-old right-hander, and Tucker, a 23-year-old infielder/outfielder, will represent the Salt River Rafters by suiting up for the American League in the 19th annual Fall Stars Game at Mesa’s Sloan Park on Sunday night. The game, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, will be broadcast live on MLB Network and MLB.com.

Perales, one of Boston’s top pitching prospects and a member of the club’s 40-man roster, is still in the process of working his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery. After a lengthy rehab, the Venezuelan-born righty returned to the mound in September, appearing in two games (one start) for Double-A Portland and one game for Triple-A Worcester before the minor-league season concluded.

So far this fall, Perales has mostly struggled in the hitter-friendly AFL. Through five starts for Salt River, the 6-foot-1 hurler has posted a 9.58 ERA with 16 strikeouts to 10 walks over 10 1/3 innings in which opponents have batted .326 against him. Stuff-wise, he has reached triple digits with his fastball while also mixing in a cutter, slider, and changeup.

As he is slated to make his sixth start for Salt River on Friday, Perales will not pitch in Sunday’s Fall Stars Game. With that being said, he will nonetheless be an intriguing name to watch from within the Red Sox organization for various reasons heading into 2026.

Tucker, meanwhile, is not ranked among Boston’s top prospects but is also working his way back from injury following a lost 2025. After suffering a torn labrum from dislocating his shoulder last August that required surgery, the former 2023 19th-round draft selection out of Texas A&M crashed into the outfield wall in his first spring training game in March, dislocating a bone in his right wrist. He then spent all season on Low-A Salem’s 60-day injured list.

Now healthy, Tucker has had a solid fall thus far. Coming into play on Thursday, the right-handed hitter has batted .288/.397/.333 with three doubles, 14 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 12 walks, and 19 strikeouts through 20 games (78 plate appearances) for Salt River. His 12 base thefts are good for the fourth-most in the AFL.

Defensively, Tucker has seen all of his playing time this fall come at second base. The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder has logged a team-leading 162 1/3 innings at the keystone for Salt River, committing seven errors in 94 chances. He also has prior professional experience at third base and all three outfield positions.

Beyond Perales and Tucker, former Red Sox farmhand Miguel Ugueto (taken by the Cardinals in the minor league phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft) was named a National League Fall Star on Thursday. Additionally, Braden Montgomery, one of four prospects traded to the White Sox for ace Garrett Crochet last December, is a finalist via the ‘Final 2’ fan vote for the last spot on the American League’s Fall Stars roster. Whether he makes it or not will be determined on Friday.

 (Picture of Luis Perales: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Trio of Red Sox minor-leaguers named 2024 Arizona Fall League All-Stars

Three Red Sox minor-leaguers were named 2024 Arizona Fall League All-Stars on Friday.

The trio of catcher Brooks Brannon, infielder/outfielder Max Ferguson, and right-hander Danny Kiriwn will represent the Mesa Solar Sox by suiting up for the American League in Saturday night’s Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. eastern time. The game will be broadcast on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com and the MLB app.

Brannon is the most notable of the Red Sox’ three Fall Stars given his standing as the No. 27 prospect in Boston’s farm system, per MLB Pipeline. The right-handed hitting 20-year-old has not played since last Saturday, but he is batting .333/.375/.500 with four doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, eight runs scored, four walks, and 18 strikeouts in 14 games (64 plate appearances) for Mesa this fall.

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Defensively, Brannon has started eight of Mesa’s 26 games at catcher while splitting time at the position with teammates Moises Ballesteros (Cubs), David Avitia (Cubs), and Daniel Susac (Athletics). In the process of logging 68 innings behind the plate, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound backstop has thrown out five of 20 possible base stealers without committing an error.

Unlike Brannon, who was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2022 draft out of Randleman High School (N.C.), Ferguson was acquired from the Padres as part of the August 2022 trade that sent veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer and minor-league outfielder Corey Rosier to Boston and pitching prospect Jay Groome back to San Diego.

Ferguson, 25, missed much of this past season after injuring his ankle in mid-April. So far this fall, the left-handed hitting Tennessee product has slashed .246/.368/.361 with four doubles, one home run, 10 RBIs, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases, 13 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 17 games (76 plate appearances) for Mesa. In that time, he has logged 62 innings at second base, 60 innings at shortstop, and 21 2/3 innings in right field.

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Kirwin, meanwhile, signed with the Red Sox in late April after garnering attention on social media and having his contract purchased from the Oakland Ballers of the independent Pioneer League without pitching in a game for the club. In four appearances (one start) for Mesa this fall, the hard-throwing righty out of Rider University has posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 14 strikeouts to just one walk over 10 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters have batted .283 against him.

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Standing at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Kirwin — who turns 25 next week — throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 92-96 mph fastball that has reached 98 mph, a mid-80s slider, and a cutter.

(Picture of Brooks Brannon: Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects at the Fall Stars Game: How did Zach Penrod, Corey Rosier fare in AFL showcase?

Red Sox prospects Zach Penrod and Corey Rosier represented the American League in Sunday evening’s 2023 Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. How did the two Glendale Desert Dogs teammates fare in the Arizona Fall League’s 17th annual showcase?

Penrod received the first call out of the American League bullpen, relieving starter and Blue Jays pitching prospect C.J. Van Eyk in the top half of the second inning. The 26-year-old left-hander gave up a booming one-out double to Jakob Marsee that nearly left the yard, but the extra-base hit was immediately nullified when Marsee was thrown out at third base by left fielder Will Robertson. Penrod then fanned Marlins prospect Jacob Berry on three pitches and wound up facing the minimum in his lone frame of work.

Finishing with nine pitches (five strikes) Penrod induced a pair of whiffs and touched 96 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a changeup, per The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.

Rosier, meanwhile, served as the starting center fielder for the American League. Batting out of the nine-hole, the left-handed hitter went 1-for-2 with a single, a run scored, and a strikeout.

To lead off the bottom of the third inning, Rosier put his impressive speed on display by beating out a softly-hit grounder to third base for an infield single. He then went from first to third on another single before easily scoring on a wild pitch for the junior circuit’s first run of the contest.

That, at the time, knotted things up at one run apiece. Rosier struck out in his only other plate appearance before being replaced in center field by Dasan Brown. The American League then went on to defeat the National League by a final score of 6-3 in front of a crowd of 1,608 spectators. White Sox prospect Colson Montgomery — also a member of the Desert Dogs — earned MVP honors after going 2-for-2 with a 409-foot solo home run.

Two of eight Red Sox prospects playing in the AFL this fall, Penrod and Rosier were selected to the Fall Stars Game on Friday. Penrod has made four starts for Glendale thus far and is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA (third-lowest among qualified pitchers in the league) and 14 strikeouts to eight walks over 14 innings in which he had held opposing hitters to a .184 batting average against.

Rosier, on the other hand, has slashed a respectable .300/.391/.400 with four doubles, two triples, eight RBIs, 14 runs scored, a team-leading eight stolen bases, 11 walks, and 15 strikeouts in 20 games (92 plate appearances) for the Desert Dogs. The 24-year-old speedster has put up those numbers while seeing his playing time come at all three outfield positions.

With Sunday’s Fall Stars Game in the books, the AFL regular season will pick back up on Tuesday and come to an end on Thursday. As such, Glendale has three games remaining against Surprise, Peoria, and then Surprise again. At 12-15, the Desert Dogs are already out of contention for the top seed in the league. They can, however, still catch up to second-seeded Scottsdale (14-13) and third-seeded Salt River (14-14) for a spot in the play-in semifinals this coming weekend.

(Picture of Corey Rosier: Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects Zach Penrod, Corey Rosier selected to 2023 Fall Stars Game

Red Sox prospects Zach Penrod and Corey Rosier have been selected to the 2023 Fall Stars Game, the Arizona Fall League announced earlier Friday evening.

Penrod, a left-hander, and Rosier, an outfielder, will represent the American League in the 17th annual Fall Stars Game at Mesa’s Sloan Park this coming Sunday. The game, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. eastern time, will be broadcasted on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.

Penrod owns the second-lowest ERA (1.29) among qualified pitchers in the AFL this fall. To go along with that sparkling ERA, the 26-year-old southpaw has struck out 14 and walked eight in four starts (14 innings) for the Glendale Desert Dogs. He has put up those numbers while holding opposing hitters to a .184 batting average against.

The Red Sox signed Penrod out of the independent Pioneer League in August and assigned him to High-A Greenville. Having last pitched in affiliated ball as a member of the Texas Rangers organization in 2018, Penrod impressed with the Drive down the stretch this season by posting a 2.18 ERA with 20 strikeouts to 11 walks in four starts spanning 20 2/3 innings of work.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Penrod throws from a high-three quarters arm slot and operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph that tops out at 96 mph, a 90-91 mph cutter, an 84-87 mph changeup, and an 85-87 mph slider, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Penrod, who does not turn 27 until next June, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 49 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 17th among pitchers in the organization. The Idaho native is signed through the end of the 2024 season, but he could be an intriguing target for pitcher-needy clubs in December’s Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to the Sox’ 40-man roster by the protection deadline later this month.

Rosier, meanwhile, comes into play Friday slashing a solid .303/.391/.382 with four doubles, one triple, eight RBIs, 14 runs scored, a team-leading eight stolen bases, 10 walks, and 14 strikeouts in 19 games (87 plate appearances) for Glendale. Among qualified AFL hitters, the speedy 24-year-old ranks 12th in batting average, 20th in on-base percentage, 16th in runs scored, 12th in stolen bases, and eighth in strikeout rate (16.1 percent), according to MLB.com’s leaderboards.

Capable of playing all three outfield positions, Rosier was acquired from the Padres alongside veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer and fellow minor-leaguer Max Ferguson in the August 2022 trade that sent pitching prospect Jay Groome to San Diego.

After a rough go of things with Greenville last summer, Rosier bounced back nicely in his first full season as a member of the Red Sox organization. In 116 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this year, the left-handed hitter batted .285/.351/.431 with 25 doubles, six triples, seven homers, 41 RBIs, 70 runs scored, 49 stolen bases, 37 walks, and 96 strikeouts over 444 trips to the plate. He also recorded seven outfield assists and was named Boston’s Minor League Base Runner of the Month on three separate occasions.

Rosier, who is currently ranked by SoxProspects.com as the No. 44 prospect in the system, is projected by the publication to return to Worcester for the start of the 2024 season next spring.

(Picture of Zach Penrod: Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects at the Fall Stars Game: How did Stephen Scott, Nick Yorke fare in Arizona Fall League showcase?

Red Sox prospects Stephen Scott and Nick Yorke participated in the 16th annual Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Mesa’s Sloan Park on Sunday afternoon.

Scott got the start behind the plate for the American League squad and batted out of the nine-hole. The left-handed hitter went 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored. He grounded out in the second inning, walked and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Heston Kjerstad in the fifth, and singled with two outs in the top of the sixth.

In the latter half of the frame, Scott was replaced at catcher by Brewers prospect David Fry. Yorke also came off the bench in the sixth inning as he pinch-hit for Twins infielder Edouard Julien. The right-handed hitter struck out in his first plate appearance and then took over for Julien at second base. He later grounded out to lead off the ninth as he finished the day having gone 0-for-2.

The National League ultimately defeated the American League by a convincing score of 9-3. Cubs prospect Matt Mervis earned Fall Star Game Most Valuable Player honors after accounting for the contest’s lone home run.

Scott, who also took part in the first-ever Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby on Saturday, was deservedly named a Fall Star earlier this weekend. The 25-year-old backstop has batted .315/.393/.648 with one double, one triple, five home runs, 16 RBIs, 15 runs scored, one stolen base, seven walks, and 10 strikeouts in his first 14 games (61 plate appearances) with the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Among qualified AFL hitters, Scott currently ranks tied for second in homers, fourth in RBIs, tied for fifth in runs scored, sixth in slugging percentage, third in isolated power (.333), and fifth in OPS (1.041), per MLB.com. The North Carolina native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 10th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt University. He can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft later this winter if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by November 15.

Yorke, meanwhile, has been one of the more productive hitters in the fall league despite missing some time recently with left wrist soreness. Across 19 games (92 plate appearances) with Scottsdale, the 20-year-old second baseman has slashed .342/.424/.526 with eight doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs, 18 runs scored, one stolen base, 12 walks, and 16 strikeouts.

According to MLB.com’s AFL leaderboards, Yorke is second in doubles and runs driven in, fifth in runs scored, 15th in on-base percentage, 12th in slugging percentage, and 11th in OPS (.950). The former first-round pick out of Archbishop Mitty High School is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 4 prospect in Boston’s farm system.

Following Sunday’s Fall Stars Game, the AFL regular season will resume on Tuesday and conclude on Thursday. The top three teams make the playoffs. The No. 1 seed receives a first-round bye of sorts while a play-in game between the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds will determine who they take on in the championship next Saturday.

At 13-13, the Scorpions are currently tied with the Peoria Javelinas for sole possession of the second seed. At the same time, they hold a half-game lead over both the Glendale Desert Dogs and Mesa Solar Sox (13-14) for the third and final playoff spot.

(Picture of Stephen Scott and Nick Yorke: Barry Gossage/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects Stephen Scott, Nick Yorke selected to 2022 Fall Stars Game

Red Sox prospects Stephen Scott and Nick Yorke have been selected to the 2022 Fall Stars Game, the Arizona Fall League announced earlier Friday morning.

Scott and Yorke will represent the American League in the 16th annual Fall Stars this coming Sunday, November 6, at Mesa’s Sloan Park.

One of four catching prospects selected from the junior circuit, Scott comes into play Friday batting .327/.386/.673 with one double, one triple, five home runs, 15 RBIs, 15 runs scored, one stolen base, five walks, and 10 strikeouts across 13 games (57 plate appearances) for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

The left-handed hitting 25-year-old is currently in a five-way tie for the league lead in homers. As such, he will participate in the first-ever Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby on Saturday.

Defensively, Scott has logged 88 innings behind the plate for the Scorpions so far this fall. In that time, the 5-foot-11, 207-pound backstop has thrown out four of 20 potential base stealers.

The Red Sox originally selected Scott in the in the 10th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of the esteemed Vanderbilt University. The North Carolina native began his professional career in the outfield but has since transitioned to become a full-time catcher.

After splitting the 2022 minor-league season between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, Scott can become Rule 5-eligible for the first time this winter. The Red Sox would need to add him to their 40-man roster at some point this month if they want to prevent that from happening.

Yorke, meanwhile, recently missed about a week of action due to left wrist soreness. Since returning to Scottsdale’s lineup on Tuesday, though, the 20-year-old second baseman has gone 3-for-10 (.300) with one home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.

On the AFL campaign as a whole, the right-handed hitting Yorke is slashing .324/.414/.507 with seven doubles, two homers, 18 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 12 walks, and 15 strikeouts over 18 games (87 plate appearances) with the Scorpions. All of his playing time on the field has come at second base.

Yorke was taken by the Sox with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft out of Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, Calif. The 6-foot, 200-pound infielder spent the entirety of the 2022 minor-league season with Greenville and is currently regarded by Baseball America as the fifth-ranked prospect in Boston’s farm system.

(Picture of Nick Yorke: Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox catching prospect Kole Cottam selected to 2021 Fall Stars Game, joining Triston Casas

Red Sox catching prospect Kole Cottam has been added to the East Division’s roster for Saturday night’s Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game, per his agency True Gravity Baseball.

Cottam will join fellow Red Sox prospect Triston Casas in representing the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 15th installment of Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

The 24-year-old backstop was one of eight prospects Boston sent to Arizona last month to participate in the fall league. Through 14 games with Scottsdale, he has slashed an impressive .283/.370/.543 to go along with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs, seven runs scored, five walks, and 11 strikeouts over 54 plate appearances.

Among all Arizona Fall League hitters this year, Cottam ranks 31st in doubles, 12th in home runs, 32nd in RBIs, 64th in runs scored, 39th in batting average, 53rd in on-base percentage, 19th in slugging percentage, 29th in OPS (.914), 16th in isolated power (.261), and 14th in at-bats per home run (15.33), per MLB.com.

Regarded by Baseball America as the top defensive catcher in the Sox’ farm system, Cottam will be one of three backstops on the East Division’s roster alongside the likes of Blue Jays prospect Gabriel Moreno and Giants prospect Kole Cottam.

The 6-foot-3, 235 pound right-handed hitter was originally selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2018 amateur draft out of the University of Kentucky. After receiving an invite to major-league spring training, he opened the 2021 minor-league season with High-A Greenville and earned a promotion to Double-A Portland in late July.

With the Scorpions, Cottam has caught six games for a total of 51 innings behind the plate. He has also played one game at first base while primarily serving as Scottsdale’s designated hitter.

The Red Sox likely sent Cottam, who does not turn 25 until next May, knowing that he can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time in his career this winter. Boston would need to add the native Tennessean to their 40-man roster by November 19 — or next Friday — in order to prevent that from happening.

While Cottam is starting Saturday’s Fall Stars Game on the bench, Casas is in Scottsdale’s starting lineup, batting sixth while getting the start at first base. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. eastern time on MLB Network, MLB.com, and the MLB app.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and senior vice president of baseball operations Ben Crockett are among those expected to be in attendance.

(Picture of Kole Cottam: Arizona Fall League)

Red Sox top prospect Triston Casas selected to 2021 Fall Stars Game

Red Sox top prospect Triston Casas has been named a 2021 Arizona Fall League Fall Star, the league announced on Wednesday morning.

Casas will represent the Sox and the Scottsdale Scorpions when he suits up for the East Division Fall Stars team this coming Saturday. Fellow Red Sox prospect Jeter Downs was also named a final vote candidate.

One of eight prospects Boston sent to Arizona, Casas has put together a strong showing in his brief time with the Scorpions. Through 17 AFL games, the 21-year-old first baseman is slashing an impressive .333/.457/.424 to go along with three doubles, one home run, nine RBIs, 15 runs scored, 13 walks, and 17 strikeouts over 81 plate appearances thus far.

Among the top hitters in this year’s installment of the Arizona Fall League, Casas ranks seventh in hits (22), ninth in runs scored, ninth in walks, ninth in batting average, fifth in on-base percentage, 23rd in slugging percentage, and 19th in OPS (.881), per MLB.com.

Casas, who turns 22 in January, has certainly had an action-packed 2021 season. He began the year with Double-A Portland, left the team on two separate occasions to ultimately help the United States baseball team win a silver medal in the Summer Games in Tokyo, and was promoted to Triple-A Worcester in late September.

The left-handed hitting infielder is currently regarded by Baseball America as the top prospect in Boston’s farm system a little more than three years after he was selected by the Sox in the first round of the 2018 amateur draft out of American Heritage High School (Plantation, Fla.).

Downs, meanwhile, will have a chance to join Casas in this weekend’s Fall Stars Game in Scottsdale.

The 23-year-old infielder, who also hails from the Miami-area, comes into play Wednesday batting .196/.393/.522 with five homers, 14 RBIs, nine runs scored, four stolen bases, 14 walks, and 15 strikeouts across 13 games (61 plate appearances) for the Scorpions.

Fans have until 2 p.m. eastern time on Friday to vote Downs into the Fall Stars Game, as he is competing against the likes of Giants prospect Marco Luciano and Rockies prospect Michael Toglia. Voting can be done by following this link.

As previously mentioned, the Fall Stars Game itself takes place on Saturday night. First pitch from Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is slated for 7 p.m. eastern time. The game will be broadcasted on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.

(Picture of Triston Casas: Taylor Jackson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Three Red Sox Prospects Selected to 2019 Fall Stars Game

Three Red Sox prospects will be representing the Peoria Javelinas in the 2019 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game on Saturday night, as announced by MLB.com earlier Tuesday.

Outfielders Jarren Duran and Marcus Wilson, as well as infielder C.J. Chatham, have impressed thus far with Peoria despite the club only sporting a 8-7 record with 13 games remaining in the AFL season.

Ranked as the club’s top prospect out of the three and fourth overall, Duran is slashing .262/.340/.381 with one home run, two doubles, two stolen bases, and three RBI over 11 games played. The 23-year-old will be one of six prospects who participated in the All-Star Futures Game in Cleveland back in July.

Chatham, who turns 25 in December, is ranked as the Sox’ ninth overall prospect, and has put together a .300/.364/.400 slash line to go along with three stolen bases, four doubles, and six RBI through 10 games.

Wilson, meanwhile, has only played in six games for the Javelinas, but is slashing .318/.423/.500 with one home run, two stolen bases, and eight RBI over that span. He is second on the team in terms of OPS (.923), trailing only Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jared Oliva (1.174). in that category.

Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks this past April, the 23-year-old Wilson is ranked as the Sox’ 17th overall prospect, per MLB.com.

According to SoxProspects.com, both Chatham and Wilson will need to be added to Boston’s 40-man roster come November in order to avoid protection from the Rule 5 Draft.

Bobby Dalbec, the club’s No. 2 prospect, will also need to be added, so it will be interesting to see what moves the Red Sox make in order to create space for three of their prospects.