Tag: pitching prospects

Red Sox pitching prospect Richard Fitts impresses in final outing of spring

Red Sox pitching prospect Richard Fitts looked sharp in his final outing of the spring on Tuesday afternoon.

Fitts got the start in the Sox’ exhibition finale against the Rangers at Globe Life Field. The right-hander was tasked with facing plenty of big-league regulars but held his own, scattering just two hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings of work in a winning effort.

Though he kept Texas off the scoreboard, Fitts did deal with his fair share of traffic on the base paths. The 24-year-old gave up a leadoff single to Marcus Semien in the first inning, but stranded him at first. He then worked his way around a one-out double from top Rangers prospect Wyatt Langford in the second and a leadoff walk drawn by Leody Taveras in the third.

Both Langford and Taveras made it as far as third base but failed to advance past there. After the Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, Fitts retired the lone batter he faced in the latter half of the fourth by fanning reigning ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia on six pitches. He was then relieved by Isaiah Campbell, the first of seven bullpen arms used by manager Alex Cora as Boston went on to defeat Texas by a final score of 4-1.

Finishing with 54 pitches (33 strikes), Fitts induced a game-high seven whiffs and was credited with the winning decision. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound righty threw 25 sliders, 20 four-seam fastballs, and nine changeups while averaging 93.9 mph and topping out at 95.8 mph with his heater, according to Baseball Savant.

One of three pitchers acquired from the Yankees in the December trade that sent Alex Verdugo to New York, Fitts is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 11 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks third among arms in the organization behind only Wikelman Gonzalez and Luis Perales. The Alabama native was originally selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Auburn and is coming off a 2023 season in which he posted a 3.48 ERA (3.92 FIP) with 163 strikeouts to 43 walks over 27 starts (152 2/3 innings) for New York’s Double-A affiliate.

On the heels of earning Eastern League Pitcher of the Year honors, Fitts was dealt to the Red Sox alongside Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice. Identified by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Co. as someone who could strengthen an area of need in the minor-league pipeline, Fitts took part in the club’s rookie development program back in January and pitched three innings of relief for Boston in its inaugural Spring Breakout matchup against the Braves at JetBlue Park earlier this month.

With his first-ever big-league spring training start in the books, Fitts will now report to Triple-A Worcester and open the 2024 campaign in the WooSox’ starting rotation. His first start of the season could come as soon as this Sunday, when Worcester wraps up a three-game weekend series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pa.

At this point in time, it remains to be seen if Fitts — who does not turn 25 until December — will be able to stick as a starter or ultimately move to the bullpen in the long run. He can nevertheless become Rule 5-eligible for the first time later this year, meaning the Red Sox would need to add him to their 40-man roster by the protection deadline in November in order to prevent that from happening.

Based on the early returns, though, Fitts could very well make his major-league debut this season depending on how things shake out for the Red Sox. How he fares with the WooSox out of the gate will certainly be worth monitoring.

(Picture of Richard Fitts: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Could Red Sox prospect Christopher Troye make MLB debut this season?

When discussing which prospects could possibly make their major-league debuts for the Red Sox in 2024, Christopher Troye should be among those in the conversation.

Troye, a hard-throwing catcher-turned-reliever, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 34 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 14th among pitchers in the organization. The 25-year-old right-hander was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 12th round of the 2021 amateur draft out of UC Santa Barbara.

A native of California himself, Troye signed with Boston for a slightly under-slot $122,500 and made his professional debut in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. He was, however, limited to just two appearances with the FCL Red Sox before the 2021 season drew to a close.

The start of Troye’s first full season in pro ball was slightly delayed due to an unspecified injury in 2022. He arrived at Low-A Salem from the Fort Myers complex that May and spent the rest of the year with Boston’s Carolina League affiliate, pitching to a 4.86 ERA (3.10 FIP) with 50 strikeouts to 24 walks over 26 relief appearances spanning 33 1/3 innings of work.

Because of those gaudy strikeout numbers, Troye began to garner more attention heading into the 2023 campaign. He broke camp with High-A Greenville last spring and promptly posted a 1.96 ERA (3.46 FIP) with 37 punchouts to nine walks in 14 outings (18 1/3 innings) for the Drive. Around the same time he was named the Red Sox’ Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month for May, Troye received a promotion to Double-A Portland.

To start things off with the Sea Dogs, Troye produced a 4.63 ERA (2.85 FIP) with 22 strikeouts to 13 walks across his first 10 appearances (11 2/3 innings) through July 3. He then spent nearly three weeks on the injured list before returning to action on July 22. From that point forward, he forged a 3.26 ERA (2.86 FIP) with 28 strikeouts to 14 walks in his final 14 relief outings (19 1/3 innings) of the year.

Altogether, Troye went 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA (3.08 FIP) and 87 strikeouts to 36 walks in 38 total appearances (49 1/3 innings) between Greenville and Portland last season. Among the 59 Red Sox minor-leaguers who accrued more than 40 innings on the mound, Troye led the way in both strikeouts per nine innings (15.87) and strikeout rate (39.5 percent). He also ranked second in batting average against (.169), 13th in swinging-strike rate (15.8 percent), eighth in ERA, third in FIP, and fifth in xFIP (3.33), per FanGraphs.

Shortly after the minor-league season, Troye joined seven other Red Sox prospects in heading out west and taking part in the Arizona Fall League. He made eight appearances for the Glendale Desert Dogs, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits, six walks, and 11 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings. Though that translates to a 6.23 ERA, it is worth noting that five of those six runs were surrendered in a single outing back in early October.

Fast forward more than five months later, and Troye — who turned 25 in February — has undoubtedly established himself as one of the more intriguing relief prospects in the organization. That much was made evident when he was included on the Red Sox’ first-ever Spring Breakout roster. And even though he did not pitch in the actual showcase against the Braves at JetBlue Park last Saturday, SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting Ian Cundall said on the NESN broadcast that afternoon that he could see Troye or fellow righty Luis Guerrero reaching the majors at some point this season.

Troye, like Guerrero, possesses tantalizing yet raw stuff. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound hurler operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 93-95 mph fastball that tops out at 98 mph, an 82-85 mph curveball, and an 88-91 mph cutter. His heater “has among the highest [induced vertical break] in the system and shows plus carry up in the zone,” according to his recently-updated SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Even if Troye, who is expected to break camp with Portland next month, were not to make his big-league debut in 2024, this season can be considered important for other reasons. Troye, like other college draftees from 2021, can become Rule 5 eligible for the first time in his career this winter if he is not added to the Red Sox’ 40-man roster by the protection deadline in November.

There is still plenty of time between now and then, but Troye could put himself on a similar track to Ryan Fernandez, who was left unprotected by the Red Sox and then scooped up by the Cardinals with the sixth overall pick in December’s Rule 5 Draft. As of now, it appears as though Fernandez is slated to make St. Louis’ Opening Day roster as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.

Troye, meanwhile, already has the kind of velocity that can play at the next level. It is now just a matter of him improving his command of the strike zone while also harnessing his arsenal in order to further develop and elevate his profile. With that being said, Troye does an impressive job documenting his journey through pro ball on X/Twitter as well as Instagram.

(Picture of Christopher Troye: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox’ David Sandlin tabbed by MLB Pipeline as ‘under-the-radar’ prospect on Boston’s Spring Breakout roster

It has not even been a full month since David Sandlin was traded by the Royals to the Red Sox, yet the pitching prospect already finds himself in a unique position with his new organization.

Dealt by Kansas City in exchange for veteran reliever John Schreiber on February 17, Sandlin was included in the initial roster last week for the Sox’ inaugural Spring Breakout game against top prospects from the Braves organization at JetBlue Park this coming Saturday.

Sandlin, 23, was originally selected by the Royals in the 11th round of the 2022 amateur draft out of the University of Oklahoma. The right-hander signed with Kansas City for $397,500 and marked his professional debut by making one appearance in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League that August.

Last year, Sandlin went 4-2 with a 3.51 ERA (3.68 FIP) and 87 strikeouts to 18 walks in 14 starts (66 2/3 innings) between Low-A Columbia and High-A Quad Cities. He spent much of the season with Columbia, posting a 3.38 ERA (3.45 FIP) in 12 starts (58 2/3 innings) for the Fireflies before receiving a promotion to Quad Cities in late June.

After making just two starts, in which he allowed four earned runs over eighth innings, for the River Bandits, Sandlin was placed on the injured list due to a oblique strain that would ultimately cut his season short. Still, the righty showed enough promise in that stretch to stick out to interested clubs such as the Red Sox.

“He was someone we had identified early on as someone that we think is on the rise, has the makings of a legitimate starting pitcher,” chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said of Sandlin when speaking with reporters (including MLB.com’s Ian Browne) after the trade was made. “And I think we’ve talked for a while about our right-handed relief depth. That’s something we feel strongly about, something we feel confident in. We talked about the need — when the opportunity exists — to create more starting pitching depth. So I think this was one example of a chance to do that.”

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Sandlin operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a fastball, slider, curveball, and splitter. As Breslow noted last month, Sandlin has added significant velocity to his heater since entering the pro ranks nearly two years ago.

“[His] fastball as an amateur was kind of low 90s,” explained Breslow. “In pro ball, it’s been up to 98, 99. He pitches at probably 95 to 97. He has a good breaking ball and a change that we see room to optimize. So it was a combination of kind of raw stuff, projection and a chance to maybe tweak the usage a little bit and improve performance.”

To that end, Sandlin is now regarded by MLB Pipeline as the No. 16 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks fourth among pitchers in the organization. On Wednesday, he was identified by the outlet as an “under-the-radar” prospect on the Red Sox’ Spring Breakout roster, though his status there could soon change.

When asked by Beyond the Monster’s Chris Henrique last weekend about the significance behind making the Sox’ Spring Breakout roster, Sandlin said that “it means the world to him.”

“Especially being with the team for just over a couple weeks now,” he continued. “It truly is an honor to have the chance to go out in an atmosphere that has so much talent for all the teams, to represent the Boston Red Sox organization.”

Sandlin has yet to pitch in a Grapefruit League game for the Red Sox this spring, so Saturday’s showcase against the Braves represents an opportunity for him to pitch on a major-league mound in front of a sizable crowd for the first time in his young career.

“I think what I am looking forward to the most out of this game is just being in a great atmosphere with fans in a big-league spring training park,” Sandlin told Henrique. “Playing against and with some of the most talented prospects in baseball.”

Looking beyond this weekend and assuming all goes well throughout the rest of the spring in Fort Myers, Sandlin is expected to begin the 2024 minor-league season at High-A Greenville.

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

Red Sox pitching prospect Grant Gambrell overcame adversity in 2023

After missing the entirety of his first full season as a member of the Red Sox organization due to injury, pitching prospect Grant Gambrell bounced back nicely in 2023.

Gambrell was, of course, one of two players to be named later the Red Sox acquired from the Royals in the February 2021 trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City. Unlike several others involved in that deal, though, Gambrell and fellow right-hander Luis De La Rosa did not switch organizations until that June.

To that point in the 2021 season, Gambrell — a former third-round draft selection of the Royals out of Oregon State — had posted a 4.37 ERA in five starts (22 2/3 innings) for Kansas City’s High-A affiliate. The California native remained at the High-A level upon joining Boston’s minor-league pipeline and struggled to a 7.16 ERA in eight starts (32 2/3 innings) for the Greenville Drive before hitting the injured list in early August.

That is where Gambrell would spend the rest season. It turns out that he had been plagued by discomfort in his heel and ankle area dating back to his first spring training with the Royals. He attempted to pitch through it, but was ultimately diagnosed with a benign tumor in his calcaneus, the heel bone, after meeting with a doctor in Boston towards the tail end of the 2021 campaign.

Gambrell then underwent a series of five surgeries to remove that tumor and spent all of 2022 rehabbing at the Red Sox’ JetBlue Park complex in Fort Myers, Fla. As MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith highlighted last June, “it definitely was a long journey” for Gambrell.

“It definitely had its very, very low points,” Gambrell said. “After surgery one, two, three, you’re just kind of just saying to yourself like, ‘Man, I don’t even know if this is ever gonna be fixed. I don’t know if this is ever going to be healed.’”

With help from Chris Sale and other rehabbers, Gambrell made it through the recovery process and returned to competitive action with Greenville last April. The 26-year-old righty got off to a bit of a rough start before shaking off the rust and leveraging his performance with the Drive into a promotion to Double-A Portland in late May.

In 15 starts for the Sea Dogs, Gambrell forged a 3.42 ERA with 84 strikeouts to 32 walks over 84 1/3 innings of work in which he held opposing hitters to a .227 batting average against. He was then promoted again from Portland to Triple-A Worcester in late August and made two starts for the WooSox, allowing just two runs with 14 punchouts to five walks in 10 1/3 innings, before the 2023 season drew to a close.

Altogether, Gambrell went 9-6 with a 3.63 ERA (4.23 FIP) and 134 strikeouts to 46 walks across 23 starts (126 1/3 innings) between Greenville, Portland, and Worcester in 2023. He trailed only Brian Van Belle for the organizational lead in innings pitched and was subsequently named SoxProspects.com’s Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Gambrell altered his pitch mix to some degree while he was sidelined in 2022. As he noted in his conversation with Smith, Gambrell eliminated his four-seam fastball in favor of a two-seam fastball that sits between 92-95 mph. He also added a cutter last spring to complement a slider and mid-80s changeup.

“We were looking at some video and where my hand placement is at release point,” explained Gambrell, who was introduced to the cutter by the Red Sox. “Found I was a seam-shifted guy. So the cutter is a good pitch for me and it’s been pretty good ever since I started throwing it.”

Gambrell, who does not turn 27 until November, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 37 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 16th among pitchers in the organization. Barring a surprise, he is expected to return to Worcester’s rotation for the start of the 2024 minor-league season.

With that being said, Gambrell can once again become Rule 5-eligible at year’s end. He made a somewhat compelling case to be added to the Sox’ 40-man roster this past November but was passed over in December’s Rule 5 Draft after being left unprotected. As long as he stays healthy, Gambrell has the chance to further elevate his profile in the coming months regardless of the role he is given.

“Whatever the team needs,” Gambrell told Smith. “This week I could be in the starting rotation and next week I could be in the bullpen. Honestly, it wouldn’t matter to me as long as I can help the team win in any type of way, any type of situation. I’m going to go out there and treat it the same no matter what. No matter what the score is, no matter if I’m in the bullpen or starting.”

(Picture of Grant Gambrell: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz focused on his own development in 2023

Despite dealing with elbow issues last year, Red Sox pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz still enjoyed a relatively productive 2023 season with Low-A Salem.

Rodriguez-Cruz made 14 starts for Salem, which is where he ended his first full professional season in 2022. In 2023, the 20-year-old right-hander posted a 2.60 ERA and 4.37 FIP with 51 strikeouts to 27 walks over 55 1/3 innings of work in which he held opposing hitters to a .219 batting average against.

Prior to the major-league All-Star break in mid-July, Rodriguez had gone 6-2 with a 2.53 ERA (4.45 FIP) in his first 12 outings (53 1/3 innings) of the season. He was then placed on Salem’s injured list on July 21 with right elbow inflammation and did not return to action until the first of September.

Rodriguez-Cruz made two more starts for Salem before the minor-league campaign drew to a close and went an inning in each, allowing one earned run on two hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. He later told MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith at the Red Sox’ fall performance program in Fort Myers that he thought his season “went well.”

“Nobody expects to be injured but besides that, I started the season strong,” Rodriguez-Cruz said. “I feel like I was doing great. I was developing some stuff the organization wants me to do. I feel like I was doing all those things.”

Among the 111 pitchers who tossed 50 or more innings in the Carolina League last year, Rodriguez-Cruz most notably ranked 33rd in batting average against, 42nd in WHIP (1.27), 36th in groundball rate (48.3 percent), and seventh in ERA, per FanGraphs.

Rodriguez-Cruz was originally selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round (105th overall pick) of the 2021 amateur draft out of Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The Trujillo Alto native forwent his commitment to the University of Oregon by signing with Boston for $497,500 as a 17-year-old that July.

Since debuting in the rookie-level Florida Complex League the following June, Rodriguez-Cruz has compiled a 2.31 ERA (3.76 FIP) with 93 strikeouts to 42 walks over 27 total appearances (24 starts) spanning 93 2/3 innings in pro ball thus far.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Rodriguez-Cruz throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 91-93 mph fastball that tops out at 95 mph, a 76-78 mph curveball that features long, 11-to-5 break, an 86-88 mph changeup, and an 84-86 mph slider that is considered by SoxProspects.com to be a “work in progress.”

To that end, Rodriguez-Cruz indicated to Smith back in September that one of his main goals of the offseason was to build strength as he continues to fill out.

“That’s going to help me to improve velo and all that and stay healthy,” the righty explained. “I feel like working on my body is my main priority.”

Having said that, it will be interesting to see if Rodriguez-Cruz benefits from the new pitching infrastructure the Red Sox are putting in place under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Brian Abraham, Boston’s farm director, described Rodriguez-Cruz to Smith as a “development staff’s dream because he’s young, he has a live arm, he’s athletic, he’s got a good frame to put on weight, and he works hard.”

Rodriguez-Cruz — who does not turn 20 until August — is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 30 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks ninth among pitchers in the organization. He is projected by SoxProspects.com to make the jump to High-A Greenville for the start of the 2024 season.

(Picture of Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz: Gary Streiffer/Flickr)

Who is newest Red Sox pitching prospect David Sandlin?

The Red Sox added to their breadth of pitching prospects on Saturday by acquiring right-hander David Sandlin from the Royals in exchange for veteran reliever John Schreiber.

Sandlin, who turns 23 next week, was originally selected by the Royals in the 11th round of the 2022 amateur draft out of Oklahoma. The former Sooner was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 242 prospect in his class and received a $397,500 signing bonus from Kansas City.

After officially putting pen to paper, Sandlin made his professional debut in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League that August. The righty got the start against ACL Diamondbacks Red on a balmy Monday evening in Surprise and gave up just one hit and no walks with three strikeouts over two scoreless innings of work.

That would prove to be Sandlin’s lone outing with a Royals affiliate in 2022, which is understandable since he had just tossed 66 2/3 innings while helping Oklahoma make it to the College World Series earlier in the spring. Despite the lack of experience, though, the Sooner State native enjoyed a relatively productive first full season of pro ball in 2023.

Sandlin spent most of last year with Low-A Columbia, posting a 3.38 ERA and 3.45 FIP with 79 strikeouts to 13 walks in 12 starts (58 2/3 innings) for the Fireflies. He faced Boston’s Carolina League affiliate, the Salem Red Sox, two times during that stretch and went a season-high seven innings without giving up a run against them on June 9.

Shortly thereafter, Sandlin earned a promotion to High-A Quad Cities. Unfortunately, he made just two starts for the River Bandits — allowing a total of four earned runs with eight strikeouts to five walks over eight innings — before hitting the injured list in early July. That is where he would spend the rest of the season, as he was ultimately shut down due to an oblique strain.

All told, Sandlin went 4-2 with a 3.51 ERA (3.68 FIP) and 87 strikeouts to 18 walks in 14 starts (66 2/3 innings) between Columbia and Quad Cities last season. Among those in the Royals organization who also eclipsed the 60-inning threshold in 2023, Sandlin ranked fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.74), seventh in walks per nine innings (2.43), first in strikeout rate (32.1 percent), seventh in walk rate (6.6 percent), eighth in WHIP (1.21), fifth in swinging-strike rate (14.5 percent), eighth in ERA, 11th in FIP, and first in xFIP (2.86), per FanGraphs.

On the heels of that solid showing, Sandlin had been regarded by Baseball America as the No. 20 prospect in Kansas City’s farm system heading into 2024. He was also identified as a potential sleeper candidate “who could take a jump forward” this year.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Sandlin operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a mid-90s fastball that touches 97 mph, a mid-80s slider with horizontal break and high spin rate, a low-80s curveball with bite, and a changeup that breaks like a splitter, according to his Baseball America scouting report.

When speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith and MLB.com’s Ian Browne) at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers on Saturday, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow indicated that Sandlin’s velocity has increased significantly since entering the pro ranks, as he previously pitched in the low-90s while in college but has since been able to reach 98-99 mph with his heater.

“He has a good breaking ball and a change that we see room to optimize,” Breslow explained. “So it was a combination of kind of raw stuff, projection and a chance to maybe tweak the usage a little bit and improve performance.”

In light of any possible injury concerns, Breslow said that Sandlin is now “fully ramped up” for spring training and will report to minor-league camp at the Fenway South complex in the coming days. If all goes well, he will likely start the 2024 campaign with High-A Greenville.

(Picture of David Sandlin: Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Who is Stijn Van Der Schaaf? Dutch pitching prospect made pro debut last year after signing with Red Sox

Of all the storylines that played out within the Red Sox farm system last season, a Dutch national making his affiliated debut may have slipped through the cracks a bit.

Stijn Van Der Schaaf, who signed with Boston for $50,000 as an international free agent coming out of the Netherlands last January, appeared in nine games for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox in 2023. Granted, the Amersfoort native already had some professional experience under his belt, having pitched for HCAW Bussum of the Dutch Major League in 2022, but this represented an entirely new challenge.

As a 19-year-old, Van Der Schaaf did a bit of everything for Boston’s Fort Myers-based affiliate last season. In those nine appearances (one start), the right-hander posted a 4.42 ERA and 5.70 FIP with 14 strikeouts to 15 walks over 18 1/3 innings of work. He and Luis Cohen were the only members of the FCL Red Sox’ pitching staff to both start and save at least one game.

On the surface, an ERA north of four in rookie ball isn’t going to blow anyone away. With that being said, it is worth mentioning that Van Der Schaaf overcame a rough start to his debut season and actually ended it on a relatively strong note.

In three June outings (one start), for instance, Van Der Schaaf allowed seven earned runs and walked 10 of the 22 batters he faced over just 3 1/3 innings. From that point forward, though, the righty pitched to a far more encouraging 1.20 ERA (4.08 FIP) with 11 strikeouts to only five walks in his next six appearances (15 innings) after the calendar flipped to July.

All things considered, it’s rather impressive that — despite averaging more than seven walks per nine innings on the year as a whole — Van Der Schaaf held opposing hitters to a .167 batting average against. Interestingly enough, that figure remained the same in 48 plate appearances against right-handed hitters and 33 plate appearances against left-handed hitters.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, Van Der Schaaf first drew interest the Red Sox and several other clubs in 2019. He performed well for the Netherlands in different international tournaments, including the 2022 U-18 European Baseball Championship, and was ultimately signed by international scout Rene Saggiadi a little less than 13 months ago.

“I chose Boston because I have the best feeling with them,” Van Der Schaaf told Honkbalsoftball.nl last January. “They have been following me since 2019, have seen the progress I have made every year, know my stats. Their story and perspective for me and what they want to achieve is good and appeals to me.”

Shortly after he signed, Baseball America’s Ben Badler identified Van Der Schaaf as a potential sleeper within Boston’s 2023 international class. In doing so, Badler tabbed Van Der Schaaf as a “deeper projection arm” with “a lot more room to fill out” and a “fasstball that has started to touch the low 90s.”

To expand on that, Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero described Van Der Schaaf as “a good athlete” with room to grow when speaking with The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey last winter.

“He has really good arm action, free, loose he’s a good athlete,” Romero said. “In a small amount of time our scout saw a lot of improvement, right now he’s a two-pitch guy, we need to work on a third pitch, but we saw him touching 90 (mph) with a really good slider … he had average to tick-above-average spin on the fastball and really good spin on his slider as well.

“His fastball moves and we saw on video that he was overmatching guys,” added Romero. “There are still some inconsistencies because he’s still raw, we have a ways to go with a third pitch, but he was just improving and wanted to play pro ball and we were able to get him.”

Van Der Schaaf, who turns 20 in April, is not currently ranked by any major publication as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. He is, however, projected by SoxProspects.com to return to the Florida Complex League for the start of his second season in the Red Sox organization.

In years past, both the Florida and Arizona Complex League seasons commence in early June and end in late August. As Baseball America’s JJ Cooper reported on Tuesday, though, the 2024 FCL and ACL seasons will get start and finish a month earlier than usual. More specifically, they will begin on May 4 and wrap up on July 25.

Having said that, Van Der Schaaf — as well as several others in the organization — could be ready to make the jump to Low-A Salem well before the summer is over. Of course, that decision may be dependent on Van Der Schaaf’s development and what kind of role the Red Sox have envisioned for him moving forward.

(Picture of Stijn Van Der Schaaf: Bryan Green/Flickr)

How did Red Sox pitching prospect Dalton Rogers fare in first full pro season?

Dalton Rogers was the first pitcher the Red Sox took in the 2022 amateur draft. How did the Southern Mississippi product fare in his first full professional season last year?

Selected with the 99th overall pick and signed for $447,500 that July , Rogers debuted in the rookie-level Florida Complex League but made just two relief appearances before the 2022 season drew to a close. The left-hander then broke camp with Low-A Salem last spring.

Making his full-season debut as a 22-year-old in the Carolina League, Rogers got his 2023 campaign off to an impressive starts. In six starts for the Red Sox out of the gate, he posted a 2.49 ERA and 1.99 FIP with 38 strikeouts to 13 walks over 21 2/3 innings of work in which he held opposing hitters to a .139 batting average against.

Before the calendar flipped from May to June, Rogers received a promotion to High-A Greenville. The lefty carried with him a 2.75 ERA through his first four outings with the Drive. After tossing six no-hit innings and recording the first double-digit strikeout game of his career on June 14, however, he experienced some struggles that really plagued him for the rest of the season.

From June 21 through the end of the regular season, Rogers went 1-6 with a 6.51 ERA and 75 strikeouts to 35 walks over 13 starts (55 1/3 innings). Despite those difficulties, Rogers got the start for Greenville in the second and final game of the South Atlantic League Championship Series against the Hudson Valley Renegades at Fluor Field on September 19. He went the first three innings, allowing just one run on two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts as the Drive went on to take home their second SAL title in franchise history.

All told, Rogers produced a 5.52 ERA (but a much more respectable 4.23 FIP) to go along with 102 punchouts and 48 walks in 17 starts (75 innings) for Greenville last season. Among those in the South Atlantic League who also eclipsed the 70-inning threshold in 2023, Rogers ranked fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.24), sixth in strikeout rate (30.9 percent), 16th in batting average against (.238), 21st in groundball rate (42.3 percent), 20th in swinging-strike rate (13.4 percent), 21st in FIP, and 14th in xFIP (4.19), per FanGraphs.

Between Salem and Greenville, Rogers went 2-7 with a 4.84 ERA (3.73 FIP) and 140 strikeouts t0 61 walks across 23 total starts spanning 96 2/3 innings pitched. He was one of 11 Red Sox minor-leaguers to reach the century mark in strikeouts last season and was named an MiLB.com organizational All-Star alongside the likes of right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and reliever Luis Guerrero.

Rogers, who turned 23 last month, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 34 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks second among lefties in the organization behind only Brandon Walter. The Mississippi native stands at 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds and throws from a three-quarters arm slot. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, he operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of a 91-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96 mph, an 81-83 mph changeup, and a 79-82 mph slider that features horizontal break.

As he prepares for his third pro season, which will likely begin in Greenville, it remains to be seen if Rogers’ future lies in being used as a starter or reliever. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, who also compiles the Red Sox’ organizational rankings for Baseball America, wrote last February that the club “will develop Rogers as a starter, hoping that his control will improve to the point where his tantalizing mix can play to its fullest potential. If everything coalesces, he has the pitches to emerge as a No. 4 starter. If control remains elusive, Rogers could become a middle-innings lefty with high strikeout and walk rates.”

Either way, Rogers could benefit from the new pitching infrastructure that Red Sox chief baseball officer has been putting in place since his hiring. With that, it would not too surprising if Rogers continues to put up big strikeout numbers while improving in other areas and ultimately makes his way to Double-A Portland at some point in 2024.

(Picture of Dalton Rogers: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

After breakout season, Yordanny Monegro comes into 2024 as one of Red Sox’ top pitching prospects

When thinking about which Red Sox prospects broke out the most last year, outfielder Roman Anthony probably comes first to mind, and rightfully so. On the pitching side of things, though, that distinction might belong to none other than Yordanny Monegro.

Entering the 2023 campaign, Monegro was not viewed by outlets like Baseball America as one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. After spending all of 2022 in the Florida Complex League, the 21-year-old right-hander repeated at the Sox’ rookie-level affiliate to kick off his third professional season last June.

Monegro made just three starts for the FCL Red Sox and dominated, allowing two earned runs on five hits, four walks, and 20 strikeouts over 15 innings in which he held opposing hitters to a .102 batting average against. As such, he was named the Florida Complex League Pitcher of the Month for June, though he earned a promotion to Low-A Salem before the calendar had even flipped to July.

Facing full-season competition for the first time as a pro, Monegro picked up where he left off by striking out a career-high of 11 over five scoreless innings in his Salem debut on June 25. He tied that career high again in August and finished with a 2.43 ERA — as well as 60 punchouts to 17 walks — in nine starts (40 2/3 innings) for the Red Sox before making the jump to High-A Greenville in the late stages of the summer.

Yet again, Monegro impressed in his first outing with a new affiliate by taking over for the rehabbing Zack Kelly in the second inning and fanning eight Brooklyn Cyclones across five scoreless frames at Fluor Field on September 1. The righty did not fare as well in his final start of the regular season eight days later, but he made up for it by picking up the win against the Hickory Crawdads in the second and final game of the South Atlantic League division series on Sept. 14. The Drive then swept the Hudson Valley Renegades in the championship series to take home their second SAL title in franchise history and first since 2017.

All told, Monegro went 6-3 with a 2.06 ERA and 93 strikeouts to 26 walks in 14 appearances (13 starts) spanning 65 2/3 total innings of work between the FCL, Salem, and Greenville last year. Among his peers in the Red Sox organization who also eclipsed the 60-inning threshold in 2023, Monegro ranked third in strikeouts per nine innings (12.75), 10th in walks per nine innings (3.56), second in strikeout rate (34.6 percent), 11th in walk rate (9.7 percent), second in batting average against (.194), second in WHIP (1.10), 12th in line-drive rate (21.3 percent), fifth in groundball rate (48.9 percent), and first in swinging-strike rate (20 percent), ERA, FIP (2.55), and xFIP (3.05), per FanGraphs.

Monegro, who hails from the Dominican Republic, originally signed with the Red Sox for just $35,000 as an international free agent in February 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic that ensued, the Santo Domingo native was unable to make his pro debut until the following July. He then compiled a 3.63 ERA in 13 Dominican Summer League starts (39 2/3 innings) that year and followed by struggling to a 7.36 ERA over 25 2/3 innings in the 2022 Florida Complex League.

Given the struggles he endured in his stateside debut, the success Monegro enjoyed this past season may have been surprising to some. Internally, however, the Red Sox had high hopes for Monegro going into 2023 because of what he accomplished in the offseason. Assistant general manager Eddie Romero acknowledged as much in a July email exchange with BloggingtheRedSox.com.

“We were really excited about Monegro heading into the spring,” Romero wrote. “He impressed a lot with the physical shape he came into spring training, and has continued to work since then — this has been key to his early-season success. He’s super athletic with a lightning quick arm which contributes to his ability to have a plus breaking ball. He’s tightened up his delivery to let his athleticism show and be consistent with his mechanics.”

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, Monegro operates with a diverse arsenal that consists of a four-seam fastball that averages just under 95 mph, a 12-to-6 curveball that sits between 76-81 mph, and an 88-90 mph cutter, per his Baseball America scouting report. That same scouting report notes that Monegro “also has a two-seamer and splitter, though the latter is a work in progress. In order to stick as a starter, he’ll likely need to either sharpen one of his pitches into a plus offering or develop the splitter into a solid offering.”

Monegro — who does not turn 22 until October — is now regarded by Baseball America as the No. 18 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks fourth among pitchers in the organization behind only fellow righties Wikelman Gonzalez, Luis Perales, and Richard Fitts. He is expected to return to Greenville for the start of the 2024 season, though he could reach the upper levels by the end of the year since he can become Rule 5-eligible for the first time next winter.

(Picture of Yordanny Monegro: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox sign former Giants pitching prospect Melvin Adón to minor-league deal

The Red Sox signed former Giants pitching prospect Melvin Adon to a minor-league contract last week, according to the club’s MLB.com transactions log. It is unclear if the deal comes with an invite to major-league spring training.

Adon, 29, spent the last nine seasons in the Giants organization before reaching free agency this past November. The Dominican Republic native originally signed with San Francisco for $50,000 as a 20-year-old international free agent coming out of Santo Domingo in February 2015.

Making his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League later that year, Adon quickly emerged as one of the more intriguing arms in San Francisco’s farm system. The right-hander worked his way up through the organization primarily as a starter, but successfully transitioned to the bullpen in the 2018 Arizona Fall League before being added to the Giants’ 40-man roster that November in order to receive protection from the Rule 5 Draft.

Adon was ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ No. 12 prospect to open the 2019 season. Used exclusively as a reliever that year, he forged a 4.72 ERA with 77 strikeout to 34 walks in 48 appearances (55 1/3 innings) between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento. Adon did not pitch for a minor-league affiliate in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he wound up injuring himself in winter ball that offseason and underwent right shoulder surgery in February 2021 as a result.

The procedure cost Adon, who was non-tendered by the Giants and brought back on a minor-league deal, all of 2021 and the first two months of the 2022 campaign. He returned to action in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League that June and closed out the year in Richmond.

Adon was at spring training with the Giants around this time last year. He pitched at three different levels during the 2023 season, though 32 of his 43 appearances came with Sacramento. In two separate stints with the River Cats, the righty posted a 7.43 ERA (5.90 FIP) with 50 strikeouts to 37 walks over 40 innings of relief in which opponents batted .297 against him.

All told, Adon owns a lifetime 4.47 ERA with 451 strikeouts to 215 walks in 181 career minor-league outings (65 starts) spanning 457 total innings of work. That includes an 8.76 ERA in 44 appearances at the Triple-A level. He also pitched for the Toros Del Este of the Dominican Winter League this offseason, though he was limited to just one appearance there back in October.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, Adon primarily operates with a two-pitch mix that consists of an upper-90s sinking fastball that can reach triple digits and a low-90s slider. As FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen mentioned last June, Adon struggles with his command and “can’t throw strikes with his fastball, but he might not have to if he can get ahead of hitters with his slider and then rush his heater past them once he’s in two-strike counts.”

It is worth noting that although Adon is switching organizations for the first time in his career, he already has one prior connection on the Red Sox in pitching coach Andrew Bailey, who served in the same capacity for the Giants the last four seasons before leaving for Boston in November.

Adon, who turns 30 in June, will surely be looking to benefit from a change of scenery and make his big-league debut with the Red Sox at some point this season. Given how much right-handed depth Boston currently has in its bullpen, though, he is likely ticketed to break camp with Triple-A Worcester this spring.

(Picture of Melvin Adon: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)