Tag: greenville drive

Red Sox promote prospects Jhostynxon Garcia, Jedixson Paez to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-hander Jedixson Paez from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Garcia and Paez are currently ranked by SoxProspects.com as the Nos. 35 and 47 prospects in Boston’s farm system. The pair of Venezuelans originally signed with the Red Sox as international free agents in July 2019 and January 2021, respectively.

Garcia, 21, batted .258/.365/.517 with six doubles, one triple, a team-leading five home runs, 19 RBIs, 20 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 15 walks, and 25 strikeouts over 24 games (104 plate appearances) for Salem to begin the 2024 season. The right-handed hitter was sidelined for over two weeks (from late April through early May) with a left hamstring strain but still maintained his status as one of the Red Sox’ top power threats upon returning to action.

Among 109 Carolina League hitters who have made at least 100 trips to the plate this year, Garcia ranks 21st in walk rate (14.4 percent), 34th in batting average, 28th in on-base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage and OPS (.882), first in isolated power (.258), third in speed score (8.2), and sixth in wRC+ (152), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Garcia made 12 starts in center field and nine starts in right field for Salem. The 6-foot, 163-pounder committed one error and recorded one outfield assist (both from center) in 39 total defensive chances between the two spots. He has past experience in left field as well.

Garcia, who does not turn 22 until December, will join an outfield mix in Greenville that already includes the likes of Allan Castro, Kristian Campbell, Miguel Ugueto, and Bryan Gonzalez. He should provide the Drive with additional depth in the absences of Juan Chacon and Caden Rose, who are both currently on the 7-day injured list.

Paez, meanwhile, posted a 2.53 ERA (2.28 FIP) with 35 strikeouts to four walks in seven appearances (five starts) spanning 32 innings for Salem this season. The 20-year-old righty was used as a bulk reliever in his last two times out and went four innings in each outing, allowing a total of three runs (two earned) on 11 hits, one walk, and five punchouts.

Among 48 pitchers in the Carolina League who have accrued at least 30 innings this year, Paez ranks 16th in strikeouts per nine innings (9.84), third in walks per nine innings (1.13), walk rate (3 percent), and swinging-strike rate (16.7 percent), 18th in strikeout rate (26.5 percent), 14th in groundball rate (47.2 percent), ninth in ERA, and second in FIP and xFIP (.251), per FanGraphs. He also leads that group with a .380 batting average on balls put in play, which suggests that the defense behind him has struggled at times.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, Paez throws from a three-quarters arm slot and has some effort in his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the young hurler operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of an 89-91 mph fastball that tops out at 92 mph, a 76-79 mph curveball, and an 82-84 mph changeup.

Paez, who does not turn 21 until next January, is slated to join a rotation mix in Greenville that includes the likes of the recently-activated Yordanny Monegro, Dalton Rogers, Juan Daniel Encarnacion, Cooper Adams, Connelly Early, and Hayden Mullins.

(Picture of Jedixson Paez: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote infield prospect Tyler Miller to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox are promoting corner infield prospect Tyler Miller from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central.

Miller, 24, had been with Greenville since the start of the 2023 season. In his first 36 games this year, the left-handed hitter batted .275/.321/.450 with nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBIs, 16 runs scored, nine walks, and 28 strikeouts over 140 plate appearances for the Drive. He slashed .313/.365/.552 against right-handed pitching and just .171/.194/.171 against lefties.

Among 78 qualified hitters in the South Atlantic League this season, Miller ranks 23rd in strikeout rate (20 percent) and OPS (.771), 17th in batting average and slugging percentage, 21st in isolated power (.176), 20th in line-drive rate (26 percent), 28th in swinging-strike rate (10.7 percent), and 30th in wRC+ (119), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Miller has primarily split his playing time between first and third base in 2024. With Greenville, the 6-foot-1, 193-pounder made 18 starts at first and 16 at the hot corner while committing six errors in 211 total defensive chances. He also has limited experience at all three outfield spots.

Miller was originally selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Auburn. The Alabama native signed for $157,800 that July and has since posted a slash line of .252/.313/.400 with 29 homers and 61 RBIs in 268 career games (1,106 plate appearances) across three different minor-league levels. He is not currently viewed by SoxProspects.com as one of the top 60 prospects in Boston’s farm system.

By making the jump to Portland, Miller should provide the Sea Dogs with additional depth at first and third base in the absence of Blaze Jordan, who has been sidelined since May 12 after fracturing his left ring finger on a play at the plate. Besides Jordan, Alex Binelas has been the only Sea Dogs player to log innings at both corner infield positions this year.

Miller, who does not turn 25 until December, is the first position player from Greenville’s 2024 Opening Day roster to receive a promotion to Portland. As noted by SoxProspects.com’s Chris Hatfield, it appears as though the Red Sox opened a spot for Miller on the Sea Dogs’ roster by releasing reliever Cody Scroggins.

(Picture of Tyler Miller: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote top pitching prospect Luis Perales to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox are promoting top pitching prospect Luis Perales from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, as was first reported by Andrew Parker of Beyond the Monster.

Perales, 21, is coming off one of the best starts of his young career in his last time out against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Tuesday. The right-hander allowed only one hit and two walks to go along with a season-high 12 strikeouts over five scoreless innings. He threw 81 pitches (49 strikes) and induced 26 swings-and-misses.

On the 2024 campaign as a whole, Perales has posted a 3.42 ERA and 1.98 FIP with 46 strikeouts to 10 walks across seven starts (26 1/3 innings) for Greenville. He missed some time last month due to side soreness but has impressed since returning to the mound, pitching to a 2.11 ERA (1.97 FIP) with 39 punchouts to eight walks over his last five outings (21 1/3 innings) dating back to April 27.

Among 60 pitchers in the South Atlantic League who came into play Wednesday with at least 25 innings under their belts this season, Perales ranked first in strikeouts per nine innings (15.72), strikeout rate (39.7 percent), and swinging-strike rate (20.7 percent), per FanGraphs. He also led the pack in batting average on balls put in play (.474), which suggests that the defense behind him has been lacking at times.

In addition to the gaudy strikeout numbers, Perales has also given up fewer walks and has induced softer contact. As The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier recently noted, Perales has cut down his walk rate from 12.7 percent last year to 8.6 percent this year while elevating his groundball rate from around 30 percent to 47.3 percent.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, Perales throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium-to-high leg kick into his delivery. The righty primarily operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a high-90s fastball that tops out at 98-99 mph, a low-90s cutter, a low-80s changeup, and a mid-80s slider.

Perales, who does not turn 22 until next April, originally signed with the Red Sox for $75,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in July 2019. Alongside fellow countryman Wikelman Gonzalez, Perales was added to the club’s 40-man roster over the winter to receive protection from the Rule 5 Draft. He is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 9 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks third among pitchers in the organization behind fellow righties Gonzalez and Richard Fitts.

In Portland, Perales is slated to join a starting rotation that — for the time being — includes the likes of Gonzalez, Angel Bastardo, Isaac Coffey, Zach Penrod, Helcris Olivarez, and Hunter Dobbins. If any of these arms were to make the jump to Triple-A Worcester to accommodate the addition of Perales, Penrod would seemingly be a prime candidate.

(Picture of Luis Perales: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox’ Juan Daniel Encarnacion named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week

Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Daniel Encarnacion has been named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 6-12, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

It is a well-deserved honor for Encarnacion, who was not even lined up to start for High-A Greenville this past Saturday. He was instead thrown into the fire after the Drive’s scheduled starter, David Sandlin, was scratched late due to forearm soreness.

In Sandlin’s place, Encarnacion spun a gem against the Hickory Crawdads at Fluor Field on short notice. The right-hander yielded zero hits, one walk, and one hit batsman to go along with six strikeouts over five scoreless innings of work. He retired the first 13 batters he faced before running into some trouble in the top of the fifth.

After plunking Quincy Scott and issuing a one-out walk to Konner Piotto, Encarnacion got Benjamin Blackwell to ground out and Yosy Galan to pop out, thus extinguishing the threat. The 23-year-old hurler finished with 64 pitches (46 strikes) and induced 16 swings-and-misses but did not factor into the decision as Greenville ultimately fell to Hickory by a final score of 3-2.

Encarnacion now owns a 3.27 ERA and 3.26 FIP with 31 strikeouts to eight walks in five starts (22 innings) for the Drive this season. Among 60 pitchers in the South Atlantic League who have accrued at least 20 innings on the mound, Encarnacion ranks sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.68), 22nd in walks per nine innings (3.27), eighth in strikeout rate (33.3), 20th in walk rate (8.6 percent), 24th in batting average against (.207), 24th in WHIP (1.14), second in swinging-strike rate (17.3 percent), 25th in ERA, 17th in FIP, and 18th in xFIP (3.38), per FanGraphs.

A former international free agent who signed with the Red Sox for $40,000 in September 2018, Encarnacion has spent parts of the last three seasons (2022-2024) at the High-A level. The San Pedro de Macoris native struggled to a 6.32 ERA (6.05 FIP) across 99 2/3 innings for Greenville last year, so the results he has produced so far in 2024 are certainly encouraging.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 173 pounds, Encarnacion throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium-high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the lanky righty operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph fastball that tops out at 95 mph, an 85-87 mph slider that features 10-to-4 break, and an 89-91 mph changeup.

Encarnacion, who does not turn 24 until next March, is not currently ranked by publications such as SoxProspects.com as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. He could, however, emerge as a candidate for a promotion to Double-A Portland before long if he continues to impress for Greenville.

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

Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell homers in third straight game for High-A Greenville

Versatile Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell nearly hit for the cycle in High-A Greenville’s 8-2 win over the Asheville Tourists on Thursday night.

Batting second and starting at second base for the Drive at hitter-friendly McCormick Field, Campbell went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. All four hits had exit velocities of more than 100 mph, according to the Red Sox’ Player Development X/Twitter account.

After singling in the first inning, Campbell doubled in Ahbram Liendo to open the scoring in the top half of the third. The 21-year-old scored on a sacrifice fly and stroked another single in the fourth before crushing a two-run homer off Asheville reliever Carlos Calderon to give Greenville an 8-2 lead in the top of the fifth.

Having already gone deep for the third straight game, Campbell had the chance to complete the first cycle of his young career with a triple. The right-handed hitter stepped up to the plate one final time to lead off the ninth inning but did not get much to swing at and instead drew a seven-pitch walk to put the finishing touches on a productive evening.

In three games against Asheville this week, Campbell has gone 7-for-12 (.583) with one double, three home runs, six RBIs, five runs scored, two walks, and two strikeouts. After somewhat of a slow start, he is now batting .276/.391/.569 with five doubles, four homers, 12 runs driven in, 11 runs scored, one stolen base, 10 walks, and 19 strikeouts over 16 games (69 plate appearances) for Greenville this season.

Among 87 qualified hitters in the South Atlantic League coming into play on Friday, Campbell ranks 22nd in walk rate (14.5 percent), 19th in batting average, 12th in on-base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage, third in OPS (.960), fourth in isolated power (.293), 23rd in line-drive rate (25.7 percent), 38th in swinging-strike rate (11.3 percent), and second in wRC+ (173), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Campbell has seen playing time at three different positions for the Drive so far this year. The 6-foot-3, 191-pounder has logged 65 1/3 innings at second base and 39 innings in center field and has yet to commit an error. He also started three games as Greenville’s designated hitter and has prior experience at both corner outfield spots.

Campbell, who turns 22 in June, was selected by the Red Sox with the 132nd overall pick in last year’s draft out of Georgia Tech. That, of course, is the pick the club received as compensation for losing Xander Bogaerts to the Padres in free agency the previous winter.

A Georgia native himself, Campbell signed with Boston for $492,700 and made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League. He posted a .911 OPS in 22 games between the FCL and Greenville last season while helping the Drive win their first South Atlantic League title since 2017.

After spending most of the offseason in Fort Myers, Campbell entered his first minor-league spring training ranked by Baseball America as the No. 35 prospect in Boston’s farm system. He drew palpable buzz on the back fields of the JetBlue Park complex, with Red Sox director of player development Brian Abraham telling The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier: “I think with the swing-decision ability that he already naturally has on top of the ability to impact the baseball, we’re looking at a guy who could be really, really impactful and continue to get better.”

Taking that all into consideration, it should be interesting to see if Campbell can keep this kind of production up and possibly make his way to Double-A Portland later in the season. In the interim, he will start at second base and bat cleanup for Greenville on Friday.

First pitch from McCormick Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. eastern time, though the forecast does not look particularly promising.

(Picture of Kristian Campbell: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Caleb Bolden to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Caleb Bolden from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, according to the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Bolden has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024 season with Greenville. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed just two unearned runs on six hits and six walks to go along with 20 strikeouts over eight appearances (13 innings) for the Drive in which he has held opposing hitters to a .136 batting average against. He has also gone 3-for-3 in save opportunities.

Bolden was originally selected by the Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2022 amateur draft out of TCU. As a graduate transfer who previously spent four years at Arkansas, the Texas native received a modest $7,500 signing bonus from Boston and made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League.

Since then, Bolden has compiled a 3.84 ERA and 3.23 FIP with 104 strikeouts to 37 walks over 42 relief outings (72 2/3 innings) at three different minor-league levels. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound hurler throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. He operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph fastball that tops out at 95 mph, an 80-82 mph sweeping slider, and an 83-85 mph changeup, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Bolden, who does not turn 26 until December, is the second reliever from the Red Sox’ 2022 draft class to make the jump from Greenville to Portland in as many weeks. Fellow righty Jonathan Brand was promoted last Wednesday. Those two now help make up a Sea Dogs bullpen that already includes the likes of Alex Hoppe, Ryan Zeferjahn, Christopher Troye, and Felix Cepeda.

(Picture of Caleb Bolden: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Tyler Miller named South Atlantic League Player of the Week

Red Sox corner infield prospect Tyler Miller has been named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of April 22-28, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Miller appeared in five of High-A Greenville’s six games against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Fluor Field this past week. The left-handed hitting 24-year-old went 9-for-18 (.500) with two doubles, one home run, four RBIs, four runs scored, one walk, and zero strikeouts.

After recording just two hits in his first two starts of the series, Miller went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs on Friday. He stroked three more hits, including a solo homer, on Saturday before singling and scoring a run on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to five games.

Miller, who is repeating at High-A to begin the season after spending all of 2023 with Greenville, has gotten his 2024 campaign off to an encouraging start. The left-handed hitting 24-year-old is currently batting .305/.349/.492 with five doubles, two home runs, seven runs driven in, 11 runs scored, four walks, and nine strikeouts over 16 games (63 plate appearances) for the Drive.

Among 88 qualified South Atlantic League hitters, Miller currently ranks seventh in batting average, 33rd in on-base percentage, ninth in slugging percentage, 17th in OPS (.841), 21st in isolated power (.186), eighth in strikeout rate (14.3 percent), third in line-drive rate (32.7 percent), 34th in swinging-strike rate (11.4 percent), and 18th in wRC+ (145), per FanGraphs.

Much like Blaze Jordan, who took home Eastern League Player of the Week honors for Double-A Portland on Monday, Miller has made eight starts at both first and third base for Greenville this year. The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder has committed just one error (at third base) in 83 total defensive chances between the two corner spots thus far.

Unlike Jordan, Miller is not regarded by publications such as Baseball America as one of the top prospects in Boston’s farm system. The Alabama native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Auburn University. He signed with the club for $157,800 and put up strong numbers in his debut season (.934 OPS in 27 games between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem) but has yet to graduate past the High-A level.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Miller — who does not turn 25 until December — can keep producing the way he has for Greenville and possibly make the jump to Portland later this year. He would probably benefit from someone with a similar profile, like Jordan, earning a promotion of his own.

(Picture of Tyler Miller: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Isaac Stebens to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Isaac Stebens from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, per the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Stebens, 22, was taken by Boston in the 16th round of last year’s draft out of Oklahoma State. The Stillwater native signed for $150,000, but he did not pitch for a minor-league affiliate after logging 64 1/3 innings and earning NCBWA third-team All-American honors in his lone season with the Cowboys.

Instead, Stebens made his professional debut in Salem earlier this month. The right-hander appeared in six games for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, four walks, and 14 strikeouts over 11 innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .179 batting average against. He also converted three of four save opportunities.

Listed at 6-feet and 194 pounds, Stebens has a unique delivery in which he throws from a low three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a minimal leg kick. He primarily operates with a sinking low-90s fastball that tops out at 95 mph as well as a high-70s slider, according to his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Stebens, who does not turn 23 until December, is the third member of the Red Sox’ 2023 draft class to make the jump from Salem to Greenville so far this season. In that regard, he joins 12th-rounder Max Carlson and 18th-rounder Zach Fogell, though Carlson was sent back down to Salem on Tuesday after appearing in just one game for the Drive.

(Picture of Isaac Stebens: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Jonathan Brand to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Jonathan Brand from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, per the club’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Brand, 24, has yet to allow an earned run in six appearances for Greenville this season. The right-hander has given up just one unearned run on eight hits and three walks to go along with 18 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings in which he has held opposing hitters to a .186 batting average against.

Brand was originally selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2022 amateur draft out of Miami University (Ohio). The Georgia native had committed to go to Auburn University as a graduate transfer, but he forwent that commitment by signing with Boston for just $7,500.

Since making his professional debut in the Florida Complex League in August 2022, Brand owns a career 1.90 ERA (2.90 FIP) in 37 total appearances (52 innings) across three different minor-league levels. That includes a 2.58 ERA (3.52 FIP) with 47 strikeouts to 14 walks in 29 relief outings (38 1/3 innings) for Low-A Salem last year.

Despite those impressive numbers, Brand is still not viewed as a top pitching prospect within Boston’s farm system. Per his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound righty throws from a three-quarters arm slot and utilizes a medium leg kick in his delivery. He operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of an 89-90 mph fastball, a 74-76 mph curveball, an 80-82 mph slider, and an 80-82 mph changeup.

It remains to be seen if Brand’s first stint with Portland will be a short or long-lived one. Regardless, he takes the place of lefty Brendan Cellucci — who was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday — in the Sea Dogs’ bullpen.

(Picture of Jonathan Brand: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign former Padres draft pick Adam Smith to minor-league deal, assign him to High-A Greenville

The Red Sox have purchased the contract of right-hander Adam Smith from the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League, per an announcement from the club.

Smith had just signed with Evansville in early March, so his tenure there did not last too long. The 23-year-old righty is a former 2021 14th-round draft selection of the Padres out of UNC Wilmington who spent the first three seasons of his professional career with San Diego before being released in December.

As was the case in 2022, Smith spent the entirety of the 2023 campaign with the Padres’ High-A affiliate in Fort Wayne, Ind. In 30 appearances for the TinCaps, Smith posted a 5.83 ERA and 4.49 FIP with 35 strikeouts to 21 walks over 41 2/3 innings of relief.

A native of West Chester, Pa., Smith spent his offseason working out at Ascent Athlete, a facility in nearby Garnet Valley. While there, “he made some changes to get to a more natural delivery and improve on his pitch shapes. Dropping his arm slot allowed him to unlock a whole new approach to pitching.”

According to a recent Instagram post from Ascent Athlete, Smith averaged 93.6 mph and topped out at 96.1 mph with his fastball. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound hurler also developed an “elite sweeper with some insane movement” and a changeup that “plays as a second out pitch” to both left- and right-handed hitters.

Smith, who turns 24 next month, has been assigned to High-A Greenville and will presumably contribute out of the bullpen for the Drive. With that, it should be interesting to see how he fares with a revamped pitch mix in his return to affiliated ball.

(Picture of Adam Smith: UNC Wilmington Athletics)