Tag: relief prospects

Red Sox pitching prospect Max Carlson has several ‘traits teams look for in a major-league reliever’

In the 12th round of last year’s draft, the Red Sox selected North Carolina right-hander Max Carlson.

Taken with the 358th overall pick, Carlson signed with Boston for $150,000 and marked his professional debut by making one scoreless relief appearance in the Florida Complex League shortly thereafter. He then broke camp with Low-A Salem for the start of his first full pro season earlier this spring.

Carlson appeared in three of Salem’s first 11 games, allowing seven runs (five earned) over 8 1/3 innings, before being elevated to High-A Greenville on April 20. However, that assignment would prove to be short-lived, as Carlson was sent back to Salem three days later after pitching in just one game for the Drive.

For the better part of the next four months, Carlson established himself as a key member of Salem’s bullpen. From April 25 through the MLB All-Star break in July, the righty posted a 1.34 ERA with 45 strikeouts to 11 walks over 17 appearances (33 2/3 innings). Opposing hitters batted just .198 against him in that stretch.

Though he struggled some upon returning from the break, most notably surrendering a season-worst six earned runs to Carolina on July 27, Carlson pitched well enough to earn another promotion to the High-A level on August 20. He then closed out the 2024 campaign by producing a 1.80 ERA in four appearances (10 innings) for Greenville. That includes tossing a season-high five frames of one-run ball in his final outing of the year against Winston-Salem on September 6.

Altogether, Carlson forged a 2.73 ERA and 2.41 FIP with 86 strikeouts to 23 walks in 33 total relief appearances (69 1/3 innings) between Salem and Greenville in 2024. Among the 39 Red Sox minor-leaguers who threw at least 65 innings this year, Carlson ranked first in FIP, second in ERA and swinging-strike rate (17.2 percent), third in xFIP (3.13), ninth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.16) and walks per nine innings (2.99), 10th in walk rate (7.7 percent), 11th in strikeout rate (28.9 percent), and 17th in WHIP (1.27), per FanGraphs.

Carlson, who turned 23 in September, was recognized as a 2024 SoxProspects.com All-Star last month. The Minnesota native is currently regarded by the outlet as the No. 42 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 23rd among pitchers in the organization.

Though he is not ranked among Boston’s top farmhands by publications such as Baseball America at the moment, Carlson was identified by BA’s Geoff Pontes as a pitching prospect with “elite” traits on his four-seam fastball earlier this summer.

“Carlson only sits 91-92 mph but has over seven feet of extension, above-average vertical break, and arm-side run, allowing his fastball to play above its below-average velocity,” Pontes wrote in August. “It’s a classic three-quarters arm slot, but the release and plane on the pitch play up due to his combination of extension and spin efficiency.”

In addition to throwing a fastball that can touch 95 mph, Carlson operates with a 79-81 mph changeup that has “late fade” and a 79-82 mph sweeping slider “that lacks depth at times,” per his SoxProspects.com scouting report, which notes that the 6-foot-1, 190-pound hurler has several traits “teams look for in a major-league reliever that could make him a more interesting bullpen prospect.”

To that end, Carlson — assuming he remains in the organization through the winter — is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Greenville as a member of the Drive’s bullpen to start the 2025 minor-league season.

(Picture of Max Carlson: 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 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 relief prospect Felix Cepeda to begin 2024 season at Double-A Portland

One of the Red Sox’ more unheralded relief prospects will be getting his first taste of competition in the upper-minors to begin the 2024 season.

Felix Cepeda has been assigned to Double-A Portland, per his Instagram account. The Sea Dogs open their season with a three-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats at Hadlock Field beginning Friday night.

Cepeda, 23, split the 2023 campaign between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville, so this serves as a promotion of sorts. The right-hander posted a 2.38 ERA and 3.45 FIP with 60 strikeouts to 29 walks over 33 total relief appearances (53 innings) in which he held opposing hitters to a .194 batting average against.

After spending all of 2022 at Salem, Cepeda returned there for the start of the 2023 season. The Dominican-born righty forged a 3.03 ERA (3.61 FIP) with 39 punchouts to 23 walks in 19 outings (32 2/3 innings) for Boston’s Carolina League affiliate before earning a promotion to Greenville in mid-July. With the Drive, he pitched to a 1.33 ERA (3.19 FIP) to go along with 21 strikeouts to just six walks over 14 appearances (20 1/3 innings) to close out the regular season. He then made three straight scoreless appearances in the playoffs (including the clincher) to help Greenville take home its first South Atlantic League title since 2017.

Altogether, it was a solid showing for Cepeda in 2023. Among the Red Sox minor-leaguers who eclipsed the 50-inning threshold in the regular season last year, Cepeda ranked 20th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.19), 16th in strikeout rate (26.4 percent), third in batting average against, ninth in WHIP (.125), sixth in line-drive rate (17.2 percent), 15th in groundball rate (43.8 percent), 18th in groundball rate (13.7 percent), fourth in ERA, sixth in FIP, and 19th in xFIP (4.31), per FanGraphs. He also lowered his walk rate from 15 percent to 8.1 percent after making the jump from Salem to Greenville over the summer.

Even though he had logged a career-high in innings pitched by the time the Drive were crowned South Atlantic League champions at Fluor Field in late September, Cepeda’s season was not over. Like several other Red Sox prospects, Cepeda headed out west in early October to play in the Arizona Fall League. He proceeded to appear in eight games for the Glendale Desert Dogs, allowing eight runs (six earned) on eight hits, three walks, and six strikeouts across eight frames of relief.

Coming off an eventful 2023 that resulted in him being named a SoxProspects.com All-Star for the first time, Cepeda reached another milestone this spring by getting into three Grapefruit League games last month. He yielded a total of two runs (both of which came in the same outing) on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings while also recording a save against the Twins at JetBlue Park on March 23.

Cepeda, who does not turn 24 until July, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 48 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 20th among pitchers in the organization. Originally signed for $40,000 as an international free agent coming out of the city of Bonao in 2017, Cepeda now stands at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and primarily operates with a two-pitch mix that consists of a 95-96 mph fastball that tops out at 98 mph and an 83-86 mph slider that features 10-to-4 break.

In Portland, Cepeda figures to join a bullpen that includes the likes of Alex Hoppe (once healthy), CJ Liu, Christopher Troye, and Ryan Zeferjahn, among others. It is also worth noting that Cepeda can become eligible for minor-league free agency after the 2024 season, so he will — in essence — be pitching for a new contract this year.

(Picture of Felix Cepeda: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

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 release relief prospect Luis De La Rosa, who was part of Andrew Benintendi trade

The Red Sox released five minor-leaguers on Monday, including one of the prospects they acquired from the Royals as part of the three-team Andrew Benintendi trade a little more than three years ago.

Boston cut ties with right-hander Luis De La Rosa, who came over from Kansas City in June 2021 as one of the three players to be named later in the Benintendi deal. The Red Sox also acquired fellow righty Grant Gambrell from the Royals and outfielder Freddy Valdez from the Mets after bringing in Josh Winckowski and Franchy Cordero four months prior.

De La Rosa, then just 18 years old, had originally signed with the Royals for $147,500 as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in July 18. At the time he was traded to the Red Sox, the Santo Domingo native had yet to pitch above the Dominican Summer League and hadn’t done so since 2019 since the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor-league season.

Upon switching organizations for the first time in his young career, De La Rosa made his stateside debut for Boston’s rookie-level Florida Complex affiliate on June 29, 2021. He spent the rest of the season in Fort Myers and returned there for the start of the 2022 campaign before making the jump to Low-A Salem that July.

In his first taste of full-season ball, De La Rosa pitched to a 4.72 ERA with 38 strikeouts to 12 walks in 11 relief appearances (34 1/3 innings) for Salem down the stretch in 2022. The 21-year-old spent all of 2023 with the Sox’ Carolina League affiliate as well, posting a 2.94 ERA with a staff-leading 88 strikeouts to 40 walks over 28 outings (six starts) spanning 70 1/3 innings in which he held opposing hitters to a .208 batting average against.

Despite those relatively solid results, the Red Sox elected to move on from De La Rosa, who was at minor-league camp in Fort Myers this spring and likely gunning for a spot in High-A Greenville’s bullpen to start the 2024 season. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound hurler will now presumably look to take his talents elsewhere in the coming weeks.

In addition to De La Rosa, the Red Sox also parted ways with right-handers Nate Tellier and Jordan DiValerio (two members of Boston’s 2020 undrafted free agent class), left-hander Jorge Rodriguez (an international signee out of Mexico in 2017), and outfielder Deundre Jones (a 17th-round pick in the 2022 draft) on Monday, per the MiLB.com transactions log.

With De La Rosa’s release, only two of the five players the Red Sox ultimately acquired from the Royals and Mets as part of the Benintendi trade remain in the organization. Like De La Rosa, Valdez was cut loose last May after unsuccessfully transitioning to pitching. Cordero, on the other hand, was non-tendered by Boston in November 2022 and has since signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

As for the players who are still with the Red Sox, Winckowski is coming off a promising 2023 season in which he forged a 2.88 ERA over 84 1/3 big-league innings (83 1/3 of which came in relief) and is now competing for a spot in Boston’s Opening Day starting rotation. Gambrell, meanwhile, made it to Triple-A Worcester last year and is currently ranked by SoxProspects.com as the No. 37 prospect in the system.

(Picture of Luis De La Rosa: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

How did Red Sox relief prospect Alex Hoppe fare in 2023?

Red Sox relief prospect Alex Hoppe certainly made his impact felt on the mound during his first full professional season in 2023.

Hoppe, who was taken in the sixth round of the 2022 amateur draft out of UNC Greensboro, signed with Boston for just $32,250 last July after earning Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors as a fifth-year senior.

Having logged 66 2/3 innings in his final season with the Spartans, Hoppe did not pitch for a minor-league affiliate in the closing weeks of the 2022 campaign. The 24-year-old Iowan instead made the jump to High-A Greenville right out of spring training in early April and made his pro debut shortly thereafter.

Hoppe got off to a rough start with the Drive but began to turn things around for the better as the calendar flipped to May. By the end of July, the right-hander owned a 3.93 ERA and 3.38 FIP with 48 strikeouts to 14 walks in 31 relief appearances (34 1/3 innings) for Greenville.

Wanting to see more, the Red Sox promoted Hoppe to Double-A Portland on August 1. With the Sea Dogs, Hoppe pitched to a 4.50 ERA and 4.42 FIP with 16 strikeouts to just three walks over 12 outings (14 innings) in which he converted two saves in three opportunities. He closed out his season by tossing a scoreless ninth inning in a 6-3 win over the Hartford Yard Goats on Sept. 12 at Hadlock Field.

All told, Hoppe posted a 4.10 ERA (3.68 FIP) to go along with 64 strikeouts to 17 walks across 43 appearances spanning 48 1/3 innings of work between Greenville and Portland. Among the 59 minor-league pitchers in the Red Sox system who threw 40 or more innings this season, Hoppe ranked ninth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.92) and strikeout rate (30.3 percent), 15th in walks per nine innings (3.17), 14th in walk rate (8.1 percent), 10th in groundball rate (48.4 percent), 16th in swinging-strike rate (15.3 percent), 25th in ERA, 11th in FIP, and fourth in xFIP (3.13), per FanGraphs.

On the flip side of that, though, is the fact that Hoppe gave up 52 hits in 48 1/3 innings, leading to a WHIP of 1.43 and opponents’ batting average of .271. While neither of those figures are eye-popping, it should be noted that Hoppe also yielded a .374 batting average on balls put in play this year, which suggests that luck was not exactly on his side.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Hoppe throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a pitch arsenal that is headlined by a 96-99 mph fastball that can reach triple digits. The hard-throwing righty also mixes in an 84-87 mph slider and a rarely-used 85-87 mph changeup, according to his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Hoppe, who turns 25 next month, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 32 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 12th among pitchers in the organization. Ian Cundall, the site’s director of scouting, wrote in September that Hoppe is “one of the top true relief prospects in the system for me.”

Assuming he remains in the organization through the winter, Hoppe is projected to return to Portland’s bullpen for the start of the 2024 season. His development moving forward will likely hinge on his ability to refine the command and control of his secondary offerings. If he can do that, he could be a fast riser next year.

(Picture of Alex Hoppe: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox to promote relief prospect Luis Guerrero to Triple-A Worcester

The Red Sox are promoting relief prospect Luis Guerrero from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester, according to MiLB Central on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Guerrero, 23, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 31 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks ninth among pitchers in the organization. The hard-throwing right-hander was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 17th round of the 2021 amateur draft out of Chipola College (Marianna, Fla.) and signed with the club for $122,500.

In 43 appearances out of the bullpen for Portland this season, Guerrero has posted a 1.81 ERA and 3.37 FIP with 59 strikeouts to 30 walks over 49 2/3 innings of relief. He held opposing hitters to a .150 batting average against in the process of going 18-for-22 in save opportunities.

Among 131 Eastern League pitchers who came into play Tuesday with at least 40 innings under their belts to this point in the year, Guerrero ranks 33rd in strikeouts per nine innings (10.69), 32nd in strikeout rate (27.8 percent), third in batting average against, 16th in WHIP, first in swinging-strike rate (17.1 percent), second in ERA, and 19th in FIP, per FanGraphs.

While the strikeout numbers are undoubtedly impressive, Guerrero has had his issues when it comes to walks. Using the same parameters from above, he ranks 113rd in the Eastern League in walks per nine innings (5.44) and 117th in walk rate (14.2 percent). Dating back to the start of July, he has walked 12 of the last 87 batters he has faced.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Guerrero underwent surgery on his right knee as an infant and now walks with a limp as a result. He told The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier earlier this spring that he now has limited mobility in his knee since the muscles in that area did not grow like the others.

“[But] for pitching, you just need to bend [the back knee] a little bit,” Guerrero explained. “My knee bends just as much as I need it to.”

As a child, Guerrero moved from the Dominican to Boston and grew up near Franklin Park. He then moved to Miami for his senior year of high school and spent two years at Chipola before being drafted by the Red Sox in 2021. Guerrero did not make his professional debut until last June and made his way to High-A Greenville before the 2022 season came to a close. He was expected to return to Greenville for the start of the 2023 campaign as well, but showed increased fastball velocity and wound up breaking camp with Portland.

Since then, Guerrero has only seen his stock rise. Alongside Sea Dogs teammates Nick Yorke and Marcelo Mayer, the righty represented the Red Sox at July’s All-Star Futures Game in Seattle. Replacing left-hander Shane Drohan in suiting up for the American League at T-Mobile Park, Guerrero struck out the lone batter he faced — Rockies prospect Yanquiel Fernandez — on five pitches.

Listed at 6-feet and 215 pounds, Guerrero operates with a 96-98 mph fastball that tops out at 100 mph, an 81-85 mph splitter, and an 87-90 mph slider that features 10-to-4 break, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report. In order to reach his potential, he will need to work on refining his control and command of the strike zone moving forward.

With the minor-league season winding down and the WooSox fighting for a playoff spot, Guerrero is slated to join a Worcester bullpen that already features Nick Robertson, Justin Hagenman, Andrew Politi, and Ryan Fernandez, among others.

(Picture of Luis Guerrero: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Red Sox promote relief prospect Alex Hoppe to Double-A Portland

The Red Sox have promoted relief prospect Alex Hoppe from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, per the club’s minor-league transactions log.

Hoppe, 24, posted a 3.93 ERA and 3.39 FIP with 48 strikeouts to 14 walks over 31 appearances (34 1/3 innings) for Greenville this season. In eight July outings, the right-hander pitched to a 2.25 ERA and 1.99 FIP across eight innings out of the Drive bullpen. Altogether, he went 3-for-5 in save opportunities.

Among 139 South Atlantic League pitchers who have accrued at least 30 innings to this point in the season, Hoppe came into play Tuesday ranking 17th in strikeouts per nine innings (12.58), 21st in strikeout rate (31.2 percent), 19th in groundball rate (50 percent), 18th in swinging-strike rate (16.1 percent), 22nd in FIP, and sixth in xFIP (3.23), per FanGraphs. He has also yielded a .420 batting average on balls put in play, which suggests that luck has not exactly been on his side.

Hoppe is in the midst of his first full professional season after being selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round of last year’s amateur draft out of UNC Greensboro. As a fifth-year senior, the Iowa native signed with the club for an under-slot $32,250. He is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 41 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 16th among pitchers in the organization.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Hoppe throws from a three-quarters arm slot and primarily relies upon a 96-98 mph fastball that tops out at 99 mph. He also works with an 86-88 mph sweeping slider, but his command for that offering is still a work in progress, according to scouting reports from SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall and FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen.

Hoppe, who turns 25 in December, is the third member of Boston’s 2022 draft class to make the jump from Greenville to Portland this season. He joins the likes of fellow righty Isaac Coffey and infielder Chase Meidroth.

(Picture of Alex Hoppe: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)