Tag: pitching prospects

Red Sox’ Blake Wehunt named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week

Red Sox pitching prospect Blake Wehunt has been named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 12-18, Minor League Baseball announced on Monday.

Wehunt was superb in his last start for High-A Greenville this past Friday. Going up against the Aberdeen IronBirds on the road, the 23-year-old right-hander struck out six and walked only one over five scoreless, no-hit innings in which he faced the minimum. He threw 65 pitches (38 strikes) and induced a game-high nine swings-and-misses.

In 10 starts for the Drive, Wehunt has posted a 4.80 ERA and 3.70 FIP with 49 strikeouts to 11 walks over 45 innings pitched. That comes after he forged a 2.16 ERA (2.76 FIP) with 44 strikeouts to 11 walks in eight starts (33 1/3 innings) for Low-A Salem to open his first full professional season before receiving a promotion to Greenville in early June. Between the two stops, opposing hitters have batted just .199 against him.

Among the 113 South Atlantic League pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings to this point in the year, Wehunt ranks 10th in walks per nine innings (2.20), 11th in walk rate (6 percent), 16th in WHIP (1.07), 30th in xFIP (3.58), 39th in FIP, 43rd in batting average against (.222), 50th in strikeout rate (26.6 percent), and 53rd in groundball rate (41.2 percent), per FanGraphs.

Wehunt, who turns 24 in November, was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of last year’s draft out of Kennesaw State. The Georgia native signed for $100,000 and is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 33 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 17th among pitchers in the organization.

Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, Wehunt throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, he operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 93-94 mph fastball that has reached 96 mph this season, an 82-86 mph slider, and an 84-85 mph splitter.

Wehunt becomes the third Greenville hurler to earn South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week honors this season, joining fellow righties Juan Daniel Encarnacion (May 6-12) and Yordanny Monegro (July 29-August 4). He was also recognized as the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 29-May 5 while still with Salem.

(Picture of Blake Wehunt: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox pitching prospect Adam Bates named to Australia’s WBSC U23 World Cup national team

Red Sox pitching prospect Adam Bates has been named to the Australian national team for next month’s WBSC U23 World Cup in China.

Bates, who turned 19 last week, was among 12 pitchers to make Team Australia’s roster. The Aussies will compete in Group A with China, Colombia, Great Britain, Japan, and Puerto Rico. The biennial tournament runs from September 6-15.

A Sydney-area native, Bates signed with the Red Sox for $200,000 as an international free agent last September after impressing at the 2023 U18 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan. Though he had prior experience pitching in the Australian Baseball League as a 17-year-old in 2022, the right-hander made his organizational/professional debut for Boston’s Florida Complex League affiliate in May and spent his first season stateside in Fort Myers.

In 11 appearances (nine starts) for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox, Bates posted a 3.96 ERA and 4.32 FIP with 36 strikeouts to 17 walks over 36 1/3 innings. Opposing hitters batted .278 against him. His 17.2 percent swinging-strike rate ranked 12th among the 76 FCL pitchers who threw at least 30 innings this year, per FanGraphs.

Listed at a projectable 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, Bates operates with a high-80s fastball that tops out at 91 mph, a low-70s curveball, and a low-80s changeup, according to his SoxProspects.com scouting report. He also throws a cutter that he picked up from former Padres righty and fellow Australian Chris Oxspring, as he explained to hosts Andrew Parker and Ed Hand on the To The Show We Go podcast back in February.

Bates is not currently ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com, which describes him as having “room to grow.” It’s early and things can change, but it will be interesting to see if Bates can make his way to Low-A Salem at some point in 2025.

(Picture of Adam Bates: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ Wuilliams Rodriguez named Florida Complex League Pitcher of the Month for July

Red Sox pitching prospect Wuilliams Rodriguez has been named the Florida Complex League Pitcher of the Month for July, Minor League Baseball announced on Tuesday.

In four outings (three starts) for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox last month, Rodriguez allowed one earned run on six hits, four walks, and 15 strikeouts over 15 1/3 innings. Opposing hitters batted just .122 against him.

On the 2024 campaign as a whole, Rodriguez posted a 3.82 ERA and 3.56 FIP with 30 strikeouts to 11 walks over 12 appearances (four starts) spanning 30 2/3 innings of work. The 18-year-old right-hander closed out his first season stateside by firing 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless frames against the FCL Orioles and FCL Rays on July 16 and July 23, respectively.

Among the 76 FCL pitchers who threw at least 30 innings this year, Rodriguez ranked ninth in WHIP (1.14), 12th in FIP, 17th in walks per nine innings (3.23) and walk rate (8.8 percent), 20th in xFIP (4.04), 21st in line-drive rate (13.8 percent), 24th in batting average against (.216), 29th in strikeout rate (24 percent), 33rd in groundball rate (46.3 percent), and 34th in swinging-strike rate (14.9 percent) and ERA, per FanGraphs.

Rodriguez, who turns 19 in November, originally signed with the Red Sox for $50,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in January 2023. The 6-foot-2, 199-pound Barquisimeto native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League last June and was recognized as a DSL mid-season All-Star. He is not currently ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com but is projected to make the jump to Low-A Salem in 2025.

(Picture of Wuilliams Rodriguez: Bryan Green/Flickr)

Red Sox trade breakout pitching prospect Ovis Portes to Reds for bullpen help

The Red Sox parted ways with a promising young pitching prospect to upgrade their bullpen depth in a trade with the Reds on Tuesday afternoon.

In exchange for reliever Lucas Sims, who is eligible for free agency this winter, Boston dealt right-hander Ovis Portes to Cincinnati, per a club announcement. Injured left-hander Brandon Walter was also designated for assignment to make room for Sims on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster.

Portes was regarded by Baseball America as the No. 29 prospect in Boston’s farm system, ranking 10th among pitchers in the organization. The 19-year-old hurler broke onto the scene this season after posting a 2.12 ERA (3.12 FIP) with 41 strikeouts to 19 walks in 11 appearances (five starts) spanning 34 innings between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem.

A native of Antigua and Barbuda, Portes originally signed with the Red Sox for $25,000 as an international free agent in March 2022. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League that June and repeated the level last year, though he was limited to just four outings in which he put up underwhelming results.

Portes broke camp this past spring with the rookie-level FCL Red Sox and strung together four straight scoreless appearances (13 innings) before earning a promotion to Salem in early June. He then pitched to a 3.43 ERA (3.64 FIP) with 25 strikeouts to 15 walks in seven outings (five starts) and 21 innings for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate. Opposing hitters batted .213 against him.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 167 pounds, Portes throws from a three-quarters arm slot. The projectable righty has been sitting between 94-96 mph and topping out at 98 mph with his four-seam fastball this season while also mixing in a low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup, per his Baseball America scouting report.

Portes, who does not turn 20 until December, has been assigned to the Reds’ Low-A affiliate in Daytona, Fla. It remains to be seen if Cincinnati plans on developing Portes as a starter or reliever, but he nonetheless possesses intriguing potential at this stage in his career.

(Picture of Ovis Portes: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox promote pitching prospects Yeferson Vargas, Gilberto Batista to Low-A Salem

In addition to Franklin Arias and Juan Valera, Red Sox pitching prospects Yeferson Vargas and Gilberto Batista have also been promoted from the Florida Complex League to Low-A Salem, as was first reported by Beyond the Monster’s Hunter Noll.

Vargas, who turns 20 next month, posted a 3.13 ERA and 4.58 FIP with 29 strikeouts to 13 walks in 10 appearances (three starts) spanning 31 2/3 innings for the rookie-level FCL Red Sox. That translates to a 22 percent strikeout rate and a 9.8 percent walk rate. Opposing hitters batted .256 against him.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Vargas originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent coming out of San Pedro de Macoris in December 2022. The hard-throwing righty made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League last June and is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 54 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 29th among pitchers in the organization.

Listed at 6-foot and 177 pounds, Vargas was recently described by FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen as a “stout” hurler who “has cut his walks substantially compared to 2023 while also enjoying a two- or three-tick velocity spike.” According to Longenhagen, Vargas has averaged 95-96 mph and reached 98 with his fastball this season while featuring a “snappy” curveball in the 81-84 mph range.

Batista, who does not turn 20 until January, forged a 3.92 ERA and 3.51 FIP with 23 strikeouts to 13 walks in eight appearances (five starts) spanning 20 2/3 innings in which he held opposing hitters to a .220 batting average. That translates to a 24.2 percent strikeout rate and a 13.7 percent walk rate.

Like Vargas, Batista hails from the Dominican Republic and signed with the Red Sox in late 2022. He, too, received a modest $10,000 signing bonus but impressed in his professional debut (3.54 ERA in 40 2/3 innings) in the DSL last season and was recognized as the organization’s Latin Program Pitcher of the Year.

Standing at 6-foot and 165 pounds, Batista is not currently ranked by SoxProspects.com as one of the top 60 prospects in Boston’s farm system. The 19-year-old reportedly sits between 93-95 mph with his fastball and has featured a slider.

Olds promoted, Olivarez released

In other minor-league news, reliever Wyatt Olds was promoted from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester as a corresponding move for Isiah Campbell landing on the WooSox’ 7-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

Olds, 24, posted a 5.03 ERA (4.15 FIP) with 74 strikeouts to 30 walks in 26 appearances (one start) spanning 53 2/3 innings for Portland this season. The right-hander was originally selected by the Red Sox in the seventh round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Oklahoma.

The Red Sox also released Helcris Olivarez, who they signed to a minor-league contract in November, from Portland’s roster. A former top prospect of the Rockies, the 23-year-old lefty pitched to a 3.50 ERA (but much more concerning 6.07 FIP) with 47 strikeouts to 50 walks in 14 appearances (five starts) spanning 36 innings for the Sea Dogs in 2024.

(Picture of Gilberto Batista: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote pitching prospects Elmer Rodriguez, Noah Dean to High-A Greenville

With Connelly Early and David Sandlin making the jump to Double-A Portland, the Red Sox are promoting pitching prospects Elmer Rodriguez and Noah Dean from Low-A Salem to High-A Greenville, according to reports from SoxProspects.com and MiLB Central’s Chase Ford.

Rodriguez, 20, and Dean, 23, are currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the Nos. 16 and 46 prospects in Boston’s farm system. That ranks fourth and 23rd among pitchers in the organization, respectively.

Rodriguez, who turns 21 next month, has spent parts of the last three seasons with Salem after originally being selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Leadership Christian Academy in Puerto Rico. To begin the 2024 campaign, the right-hander posted a 2.51 ERA and 2.73 FIP with 73 strikeouts to 25 walks in 14 appearances (13 starts) spanning 61 innings of work for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate. Opposing hitters batted just .206 against him.

Listed at a lean 6-foot-3 and 160 pounds, Rodriguez throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As recently noted by FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, the lanky righty has seen an uptick in his fastball velocity this season to the point where he is now averaging 95 mph and touching 98 mph with the pitch. He also features an upper-70s curveball, a mid-80s slider, and an upper-80s changeup.

Dean, who turned 23 in March, had been with Salem since making his professional debut last April. The New Jersey native was originally selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2022 amateur draft out of Old Dominion. After struggling to a 6.29 ERA in 2023, Dean kicked off the 2024 season by forging a 3.96 ERA (3.89 FIP) with 86 strikeouts to 31 walks over 15 appearances (13 starts) spanning 61 1/3 innings in which he held opposing hitters to a minuscule .139 batting average.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Dean has overhauled his delivery and now throws from cross-bodied, three-quarters arm slot. The lefty sits between 92-94 mph with his fastball while also mixing in a mid-80s changeup and a slider. SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting Ian Cundall noted last month that Dean has relied on his slider more and used his heater less this season, which has resulted in softer contact.

Command and control remain areas of improvement for both Rodriguez and Dean, who are now slated to join a starting rotation mix in Greenville that includes the likes of Hayden Mullins, Dalton Rogers, Yordanny Monegro, Blake Wehunt, and Jedixson Paez.

(Picture of Elmer Rodriguez: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote pitching prospect Connelly Early to Double-A Portland

In addition to promoting David Sandlin, the Red Sox are also elevating pitching prospect Connelly Early from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, according to Andrew Parker of Beyond the Monster.

Early, 22, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 26 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks eighth among pitchers in the organization. The left-hander was selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round (151st overall pick) of last year’s draft out of Virginia. He received a $408,500 signing bonus and debuted for Low-A Salem in September.

To begin his first full professional season, Early emerged as a key member of Greenville’s rotation by posting a 3.72 ERA and 3.64 FIP with 90 strikeouts to 24 walks in 15 starts (67 2/3 innings) for the Drive. That translates to a 30.9 percent strikeout rate and an 8.2 percent walk rate. Opposing hitters batted just .208 against him.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Early throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium-high leg kick into his delivery. As noted by SoxProspects.com, the lefty operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 92-93 mph that has touched 95 mph this year, a frequently-used 80-82 mph changeup that is considered to be his best secondary offering, a 79-81 mph curveball, and an 87-88 mph cutter.

In making the jump to Portland, Early will be reunited — for the time being, at least — with his old battery mate at Virginia in top catching prospect Kyle Teel, who could soon be on the receiving end of a promotion to Triple-A Worcester alongside the likes of shortstop Marcelo Mayer and outfielder Roman Anthony.

Early and Sandlin, meanwhile, figure to provide support to a Sea Dogs starting rotation that has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks. From a developmental perspective, they will also be challenged with facing more advanced hitting in the upper minors for the first time in their respective careers.

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

Red Sox to promote pitching prospect David Sandlin to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox are promoting pitching prospect David Sandlin from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, per his agent Craig Rose of Paragon Sports International.

Sandlin, 23, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 13 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks third among pitchers in the organization. The right-hander made his 10th start of the season for Greenville in Sunday’s series finale against the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Fluor Field, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, one walk, and four strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings. He threw 64 pitches (46 strikes) and induced eight swings-and-misses.

In his 10 outings for the Drive this year, Sandlin posted a 5.12 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 50 strikeouts to 11 walks over 31 2/3 innings. That translates to a strikeout rate of 37.3 percent and a walk rate of 8.2 percent. Opposing hitters batted .254 against him.

Just a few days before celebrating his 23rd birthday back in February, Sandlin was acquired by the Red Sox from the Royals in a spring training trade that sent reliever John Schreiber to Kansas City. The former 2022 11th-round draft selection out of Oklahoma broke camp with Greenville but missed more than a month of action after being placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation in mid-May.

Sandlin returned to the mound on June 15 and had pitched to a 3.95 ERA with 25 strikeouts to just two walks in his last five starts (13 2/3 innings) coming into play on Sunday. In these shorter outings, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound righty has been touching 99-100 mph with his fastball, according to reports from The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier and FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen. He also incorporates a splitter, cutter, slider, and curveball into his arsenal.

In making the jump from Greenville to Portland, Sandlin will be tasked with going up against tougher competition in the Eastern League moving forward. He also figures to provide support to a Sea Dogs’ starting rotation that has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks.

It is not yet known who will be taking Sandlin’s spot in Greenville’s rotation, but left-hander Noah Dean would seem to be a logical choice since he started for Low-A Salem on Sunday and has been on a similar pitching schedule since Sandlin returned from the injured list last month.

(Picture of David Sandlin: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox pitching prospect Jojo Ingrassia lands on Low-A Salem’s injured list with elbow inflammation

Red Sox pitching prospect Jojo Ingrassia has been placed on Low-A Salem’s 7-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation, according to the affiliate’s MiLB.com transactions log.

Ingrassia was removed in the fourth inning of his last start against the Down East Wood Ducks on the road at Grainger Stadium this past Sunday. The 21-year-old left-hander was charged with one unearned run on three hits, zero walks, and seven strikeouts across 3 2/3 innings of work.

In 18 appearances (nine starts) for Salem to begin his first full professional season, Ingrassia has posted a 2.03 ERA and 1.94 FIP with a staff-leading 86 strikeouts to 17 walks over 53 1/3 innings. Opponents have batted just .187 against him.

Ingrassia opened the 2024 campaign in Salem’s bullpen and forged a 2.00 ERA (1.27 FIP) with 35 strikeouts to five walks over nine relief appearances (18 innings). Since moving to the Red Sox’ rotation in mid-May, the lefty has pitched to a 2.24 ERA (2.28 FIP) with 51 strikeouts to 12 walks across 35 1/3 innings as a starter.

Among the 56 Carolina League pitchers who entered Friday having accrued at least 50 innings to this point in the year, Ingrassia led the group in strikeouts per nine innings (14.51), strikeout rate (40.4 percent), swinging-strike rate (21.8 percent), FIP, and xFIP (1.91). He also ranked third in ERA, fifth in batting average against, seventh in WHIP (0.99), eighth in groundball rate (50 percent), 17th in walks per nine innings (2.87), and 20th in walk rate (8 percent), per FanGraphs.

Ingrassia, who turns 22 next week, was selected by the Red Sox in the 14th round of last summer’s draft out of Cal State Fullerton. The California native spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at San Diego State before transferring and earning Second Team All-Big West honors with the Titans as a junior. He signed for $150,000 shortly after being drafted but did not make his professional debut until April.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, Ingrassia was recently tabbed by FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen as the No. 37 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 15th among pitchers in the organization. Longenhagen described Ingrassia as a “crafty, diminutive” southpaw who “has a whippy arm stroke that helps him sell his fading mid-80s changeup.”

The Red Sox, Longenhagen notes, have altered Ingrassia’s delivery so that it is now more cross-bodied, which “has aided the effectiveness of [his] sweeping low-80s breaking ball, and he’s also had a [velocity] uptick into the low-90s. Because of the upshot angle of his fastball from his low-ish, cross-bodied slot, his heater plays up even though he doesn’t throw all that hard.”

Ingrassia, Longenhagen adds, “is still getting feel for what it’s like to attack hitters with his fastball at the letters (which he really didn’t do in college). Because of his lack of size, it’s more likely that he ends up being a long reliever in the Ryan Yarbrough mold, but Ingrassia has a starter’s repertoire and command and probably needs to be promoted to be tested.”

Prior to landing on Salem’s injured list, Ingrassia could have been viewed as a possible candidate to receive a promotion to High-A Greenville before the end of the season. Now, he will presumably be shut down from throwing in an effort to reduce the inflammation in his elbow before any next steps are taken.

(Picture of Jojo Ingrassia: Gary Streiffer/Flickr)

Red Sox pitching prospect Connelly Early leads organization in Ks at All-Star break

At the MLB All-Star break, no Red Sox minor-leaguer has recorded more strikeouts to this point in the season than Connelly Early.

Early, Boston’s fifth-round selection in last summer’s draft out of Virginia, has been a key member of High-A Greenville’s starting rotation through the first three-plus months of the 2024 campaign. In a staff-leading 15 starts for the Drive, the 22-year-old left-hander has posted a 3.72 ERA and 3.67 FIP with 90 strikeouts to 24 walks over 67 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters have batted just .208 against him.

Among the 35 pitchers who have worked at least 60 innings in the South Atlantic League this year, Early ranks third in strikeouts per nine innings (11.97), strikeout rate (30.9 percent), swinging-strike rate (15.7 percent), and xFIP (3.33), fourth in groundball rate (51.2 percent), eighth in batting average against, 10th in WHIP (1.14), 11th in FIP, 14th in walks per nine innings (3.19) and walk rate (8.2 percent), and 15th in ERA, per FanGraphs.

A native of Virginia himself, Early spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Army before transferring to UVA as a junior. In his lone season with the Cavaliers, the lefty was recognized as a third-team All-ACC selection. He signed with the Red Sox for $408,500 after being taken with the 151st overall pick last July and made one start for Low-A Salem in September to mark his professional debut.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Early throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a medium-high leg kick into his delivery. As highlighted by SoxProspects.com, he operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 92-93 mph fastball that has reached 95 mph this season, an 80-82 mph changeup that is considered to be his best secondary offering, a 79-81 mph curveball, and an 87-88 mph cutter.

To that end, Early is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 26 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks eighth among pitchers in the organization. The publication notes that Early “throws an average amount of strikes and benefits from high chase rates against his changeup and cutter.” It adds that he “has a backend starter’s upside, but is more likely to be reliable rotation depth as an up-and-down option.”

Considering that it has only been a little over a year since he entered the pro ranks, it will be interesting to see if Early — who does not turn 23 until next April — can put himself in position for a promotion to Double-A Portland before the season draws to a close.

(Picture of Connelly Early: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)