Tag: mesa solar sox

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.

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1850374175640244660

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.

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1843502874397192356

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.

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1844261044908429734

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’ Brooks Brannon among top performers early on in Arizona Fall League

Red Sox catching prospect Brooks Brannon was among the top performers in Week 2 of the 2024 Arizona Fall League season.

Appearing in three games for the Mesa Solar Sox last week, Brannon went 7-for-12 (.583) with one home run, two RBIs, four runs scored, two walks, and one strikeout. The right-handed hitter is now slashing a stout .357/.419/.500 through seven games (31 plate appearances) this fall.

Defensively, Brannon has started three of Mesa’s 11 games at catcher while splitting time behind the plate with teammates Moises Ballesteros of the Cubs and Daniel Susac of the Athletics. In that small sample, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound backstop has thrown out one of five possible base stealers without committing an error.

Brannon, 20, is one of eight Red Sox minor-leaguers playing in Arizona this fall. The former 2022 ninth-round draft selection out of Randleman High School (Randleman, N.C.). is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as the No. 27 prospect in Boston’s farm system.

Though he received an above-slot $712,500 signing bonus from the Red Sox to forego his commitment to the University of North Carolina, Brannon has struggled to stay on the field since entering the professional ranks due to various injuries. He was limited to just 17 games in 2023 because of a low back strain, then missed the first seven weeks of the 2024 campaign while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

After completing an eight-game rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Brannon was added to Low-A Salem’s roster in early June. He then batted 251/.326/.396 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 24 RBIs, 22 runs scored, five stolen bases, 23 walks, and 67 strikeouts in 54 games (230 plate appearances) while making 21 starts at catcher and 13 starts at first base.

As MLB.com’s Jim Callis highlighted last week, Brannon’s development as a catcher has been hindered by the amount of time he has missed. Brannon, for instance, possesses eye-popping raw power and plus arm strength, but he could stand to improve his swing decisions as well as his blocking and framing abilities. He told Callis that those are areas of focus for him in Arizona.

“I’m learning how to hit pro pitching and I’m learning how to catch it too and how to call it,” said Brannon. “Catching is a very cerebral position, so learning how to be an intelligent pitch caller has been a major thing for me. Learning guys, being able to be personable with guys, being able to handle the bullpen … It’s been hard but I feel like I’m growing and maturing more as a player.”

(Picture of Brooks Brannon: Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Red Sox to send eight minor-leaguers to Arizona Fall League

The Red Sox will send eight minor-leaguers — five pitchers and three position players — to the Arizona Fall League this year.

Left-hander Zach Fogell, right-handers Cooper Adams, Danny Kirwin, Conor Steinbaugh, and Tyler Uberstine, catcher Brooks Brannon, infielder Max Ferguson, and outfielder Caden Rose were named to the Mesa Solar Sox’ preliminary 2024 roster on Wednesday. They are slated to play alongside prospects from the Angels, Athletics, Cubs, and Rays organizations.

Of the eight that make up the Red Sox’ contingent, Brannon is perhaps the most notable. The 20-year-old is currently regarded by MLB Pipeline as the No. 27 prospect in Boston’s farm system. He was originally selected in the ninth round of the 2022 draft out of Randleman High School (N.C.) and forwent his commitment to the University of North Carolina by signing for an over-slot $712,500.

After a low back strain limited him to just 17 games last year, Brannon opened the 2024 campaign on the 60-day injured list due to a knee issue. The right-handed-hitter spent a few weeks rehabbing in the Florida Complex League before joining Low-A Salem in early June. He then batted .251/.326/.396 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 24 RBIs, 22 runs scored, five stolen bases, 23 walks, and 67 strikeouts in 54 games (230 plate appearances) for the Red Sox. From behind the plate, he threw out 13 of 69 possible base stealers.

Sticking with the position players, Ferguson missed much of the season with an ankle injury that sidelined him for more than four months. In 28 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, the left-handed hitting 25-year-old slashed just .152/.255/.272 with two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, 14 runs scored, six stolen bases, 13 walks, and 30 strikeouts over 106 plate appearances. He was originally selected by the Padres in the fifth round of the 2021 draft out of Tennessee but was traded to the Red Sox with Eric Hosmer and Corey Rosier for Jay Groome the following August.

Rose, like Brannon and Ferguson, also spent time on the 60-day injured list this season after being taken by the Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2023 draft out of Alabama. The right-handed hitting 22-year-old struggled out of the gate for High-A Greenville (.619 OPS in 25 games) but posted a .353/.476/.529 line with six doubles, seven RBIs, nine runs scored, three stolen bases, five walks, and 10 strikeouts in 10 games (42 plate appearances) for Salem upon returning to action late last month.

On the pitching front, Uberstine stands out given the fact that he only recently returned to the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. A former 19th-round draft selection out of Northwestern in 2021, the 25-year-old joined Greenville in late August and allowed one earned run on five hits, one walk, and six strikeouts in three starts (4 2/3 innings) for the Drive. He was promoted to Portland on September 10 but spent the rest of the season on the Sea Dogs’ development list.

Fogell, Boston’s 18th-round selection in the 2023 draft out of Connecticut, spent much of his first full professional season with Greenville after being promoted from Salem in early April. In 33 appearances for the Drive, the 24-year-old Rhode Island native posted a 3.32 ERA and 4.52 FIP with 67 strikeouts to 32 walks over 57 innings of relief in which he held opposing hitters to a .212 batting average.

Adams, Kirwin, and Steinbaugh signed with the Red Sox as undrafted free agents in February, April, and March, respectively. Adams, 24, posted a 5.08 ERA (5.48 FIP) with 59 strikeouts to 37 walks in 26 outings (six starts) spanning 79 2/3 innings for Greenville. Kirwin, also 24, produced a 3.63 ERA (3.65 FIP) with 69 strikeouts to 24 walks in 20 outings (five starts) spanning 69 1/3 innings for Salem. Steinbaugh, 25, was assigned to Salem from Greenville in early May and put up a 2.86 ERA (3.65 FIP) with 52 strikeouts to 19 walks in 20 appearances (one start) spanning 56 2/3 innings after that.

In addition to sending eight players, the Red Sox will be dispatching one coach and one athletic trainer to Arizona as well. Sean Isaac, who has served as Portland’s pitching coach in each of the last two seasons, was named to Mesa’s coaching staff under manager Andy Schatzley. Marissa Sciabarra, who has served as Boston’s Florida Complex League athletic trainer in each of the last two seasons, was named to the Solar Sox’ support staff.

The 2024 Arizona Fall League regular season begins on October 7 and runs through November 14. The annual Fall Stars game is scheduled for November 9 while the championship game will be held on November 16 at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.

(Picture of Brooks Brannon: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)