Tag: rule 5 draft

Red Sox’ Justin Slaten has impressed Craig Breslow this spring

When recently asked by The Athletic’s Jim Bowden about who has stood out to him at spring training thus far, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow offered a simple, yet informative response.

“Slaten has been impressive,” Breslow said. “He’s shown the ability to get swings-and-misses in the zone on his secondaries with enough (on his fastball) to keep hitters off balance.”

Breslow is, of course, referring to right-hander Justin Slater, whom the Red Sox acquired from the Mets for minor-league lefty Ryan Ammons in the moments following the completion of December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Slaten’s journey to Boston has been somewhat unique. The 26-year-old had spent the previous five seasons in the Rangers organization after being selected by the club in the third round of the 2019 amateur draft out of New Mexico. He was then left off Texas’ 40-man roster this past November, which subsequently made him available to other teams on the final day of the Winter Meetings in Nashville.

The Red Sox, as noted by The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey, had targeted Slaten as a top priority going into the Rule 5 Draft, but saw him come off the board before they were set to pick. They then swung a trade with the Mets, who took Slaten eighth overall, by dealing away Ammons (a 10th-round selection in the 2023 amateur draft out of Clemson) as well as cash considerations to New York.

“It was kind of the marriage of the data, the raw pitch characteristics, the performance, the scouting group, everyone kind of aligned. This budding pitching infrastructure, we were able to get additional perspectives, and when there’s alignment across all of those groups, it makes for a fairly easy decision,” Breslow said at the time. “He’s a guy with huge swing-and-miss stuff, profiles as a back-of-the-bullpen type arm, so we’re really excited to get him here and see what he can do.”

As a Rule 5 Draft pick, Slaten was immediately inserted into Boston’s big-league mix and added to the 40-man roster. He took part in the club’s rookie development program in January, was at Winter Weekend in Springfield, and is now vying for a spot in the Sox’ Opening Day bullpen at major-league spring training camp down in Fort Myers.

Slaten is coming off a 2023 season in which he posted a 2.87 ERA (4.03 FIP) with 86 strikeouts to 20 walks in 40 appearances (one start) spanning 59 2/3 total innings of work between Texas’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. He allowed just one run on three hits, four walks, and 10 strikeouts across five outings (8 1/3 innings) after being promoted to Triple-A Round Rock in September, then struck out six over 3 2/3 frames of relief for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

So far this spring, Slaten has gotten into four Grapefruit League games for Boston. He has allowed only two hits, zero walks, and one hit batsman with four strikeouts over four scoreless innings in which he has held opposing hitters to a .133 batting average against. Considering that he last pitched on Tuesday, he could conceivably be used as part of this weekend’s Dominican Republic Series against the Rays in Santo Domingo.

“Velocity, movement,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Slaten when speaking with MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith last month. “Obviously we’ve got to make sure he throws that over the heart of the plate. But so far, so good. Big boy with good stuff. I think if you look around, we’re a little bit bigger in that department this year. A lot of big bodies, a lot of big dudes with nasty stuff. So we’ve just got to make sure we throw that nasty stuff over the heart of the plate and take our chances.”

Standing at a sturdy 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, Slaten operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 95-97 mph fastball, a mid-80s sweeping slider, an 89-91 mph cutter, and a low-80s curveball that features two-plane break. He demonstrated improved control last year and is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 28 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks eighth among pitchers in the organization.

Even though he was not directly taken by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter, Slaten still must stick on Boston’s active roster (or injured list, if he is hurt) for the entirety of the 2023 season. If those conditions cannot be met, the Sox will have to expose Slaten — who cannot be optioned to the minor-leagues — to waivers and then, if he clears, offer him back to the Rangers for $50,000.

Earlier in camp, it appeared as though Slaten and fellow pitching prospect Bryan Mata were competing for the same bullpen spot. Mata, like Slaten, was gunning to make the Opening Day roster since he is out of minor-league options and would be facing the possibility of being placed on waivers. He has since suffered a hamstring strain that shut him down from throwing until just recently.

As The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams highlighted on Wednesday, there is still no timetable for when Mata could be available to get into a game, which puts his status for Opening Day in question. The Red Sox could, however, place the hard-throwing 24-year-old on the injured list to start the season and delay their decision on what to do with him until he is physically cleared to return to action.

Regardless, Mata’s injury gives Slaten an advantageous edge for a roster spot with less than three weeks to go until the Red Sox open the 2024 season in Seattle on March 28. The fact Breslow has been impressed with him this spring certainly speaks to that.

(Picture of Justin Slaten: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox lose versatile prospect with intriguing profile to Cardinals in minor-league phase of Rule 5 Draft

Of the three position players the Red Sox lost in the minor-league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft, Johnfrank Salazar — who was scooped up by the Cardinals — may have the highest ceiling.

Salazar originally signed with the Red Sox for $400,000 as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in August 2019. The Barcelona native came into the 2023 season ranked by SoxProspects.com as the No. 37 prospect in Boston’s farm system.

Despite making his way to Low-A Salem last year, Salazar began his season in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. That likely had something to do with the fact that the Red Sox were working on converting the 20-year-old infielder into a catcher.

Having already faced FCL competition in 2022, Salazar unsurprisingly batted a stout .374/.408/.593 with 11 doubles, three home runs, 20 RBIs, 22 runs scored, two stolen bases, five walks, and 12 strikeouts in 25 games (103 plate appearances) for Boston’s Fort Myers-based affiliate. The right-handed hitter then earned another promotion to Salem in late July and slashed .228/.307/.374 with three doubles, five homers, 17 runs driven in, 13 runs scored, 14 walks, and 22 strikeouts in 34 games (137 plate appearances) for the Red Sox.

While a .681 OPS is certainly far from eye-opening, Salazar was at least able to end the 2023 campaign on a strong note by batting .304/.385/.464 with two doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs, seven runs scored, nine walks, and 12 strikeouts in his final 18 games (78 plate appearances) of the year.

Among the 171 hitters in the Carolina League who made at least 130 trips to the plate this past season, Salazar most notably ranked 14th in strikeout rate (16.1 percent), 47th in isolated power (.146), and 61st in line-drive rate (22.2 percent), per FanGraphs. He also produced a 49.5 percent pull rate, indicating that he makes plenty of contact.

As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, though, Salazar rarely misses pitches in the strike zone but still “needs to improve his pitch recognition and quality of contact.” That being the case because he “gets caught out in front too easily by secondary pitches” and “has the tendency to get himself out” as a result.

On the other side of the ball, Salazar made his professional debut as a shortstop in the Dominican Summer League two years ago but has since diversified his defensive profile. In 2022, for instance, the 6-foot-1, 159-pounder started games at all four infield positions. This past season, he started four games at catcher in the FCL and threw out two of seven would-be base stealers while allowing two passed balls. According to SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting Ian Cundall, Salazar mainly played first base, second base, and third base upon moving up to Salem because of his struggles behind the plate. At the Red Sox’ fall performance program in September, he was treated as a super-utility player.

To that end, it remains to be seen how the Cardinals will utilize Salazar moving forward. Salazar, who does not turn 21 until next August, had been projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Salem in 2024, so he could be headed for St. Louis’ Low-A affiliate in Palm Beach, Fla. when the minor-league season begins in April.

Salazar is the older brother of Kleyver Salazar, a 17-year-old catcher who signed with the Red Sox for $175,000 back in January. A right-handed hitter like his big brother, Kleyver batted .240/.378/.347 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 36 games (151 plate appearances) for Boston’s DSL Blue affiliate. He put up those numbers while gunning down 20 of 55 potential base stealers.

(Picture of Johnfrank Salazar: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox add catcher with local connections from Yankees system in minor-league phase of Rule 5 Draft

The Red Sox added catcher/first baseman Mickey Gasper from the Yankees in the minor-league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft. He has been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Gasper, 28, spent the last five seasons in the Yankees organization after originally being selected by New York in the 27th round of the 2018 amateur draft out of Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. As a senior, the Merrimack, N.H. native signed with the club for just $5,000 and made his professional debut in the rookie-level Appalachian League that June.

Never touted as a top prospect in New York’s farm system, Gasper split the 2023 campaign between Double-A Somerset (where he caught Richard Fitts) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 52 games with the Patriots, the switch-hitter batted .269/.388/.423 with six doubles, six home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 26 walks, and 27 strikeouts over 188 plate appearances. With the RailRiders, he slashed .191/.295/.265 with two doubles, one homer, four runs driven in, seven runs scored, two stolen bases, eight walks, and 16 strikeouts across 22 games spanning 78 trips to the plate.

On the other side of the ball, Gasper has varying levels of experience at four different defensive positions. As a catcher this past season, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound backstop threw out three of 30 potential base stealers while logging 91 total innings behind the plate. He also appeared in 26 games as a first baseman, 16 as a second baseman, and one as a third baseman.

Gasper, who does not turn 29 until next October, becomes the latest ex-Yankees farmhand to join the Red Sox via the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. He will look to join right-handers Kaleb Ort and Raynel Espinal as those in that group who made their respective big-league debuts with Boston.

While the Red Sox welcomed Gasper to the organization, they also bid adieu to several of their own players in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday. Ryan Fitzgerald, a fan favorite in Worcester, was most notably plucked by the Royals while Jose Ramirez (White Sox), Johnfrank Salazar (Cardinals), Alexis Hernandez (Blue Jays), Railin Perez (Astros), Ryan Miller (Angels), and Brock Bell (Reds) were all scooped up by other clubs as well.

(Picture of Mickey Gasper: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox add top pitching prospects Wikelman Gonzalez, Luis Perales to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 deadline

The Red Sox added two of their top pitching prospects to the 40-man roster on Tuesday in order to protect them from being available in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

Boston selected the contracts of right-handers Wikelman Gonzalez and Luis Perales, bringing its 40-man roster up to 39 players. Even with that one vacant spot, the club somewhat surprisingly decided against adding another eligible top pitching prospect in left-hander Shane Drohan.

Gonzalez, 21, is currently regarded by Baseball America as the No. 8 prospect in the Sox’ farm system, which ranks second among pitchers in the organization behind only Perales. The Venezuelan-born righty split the 2023 season between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, posting a 3.96 ERA and 3.33 FIP with 168 strikeouts to 70 walks in 25 starts spanning 111 1/3 innings of work.

After closing out the 2022 campaign in Greenville, Gonzalez returned to the Drive this spring but struggled out of the gate by allowing 15 earned runs over 8 2/3 innings in his first four starts of the year. He then turned a corner as the calendar flipped from April to May, forging a 3.48 ERA across his next 11 outings (54 1/3 innings) before earning a promotion to Portland on July 14.

In his first start with the Sea Dogs on July 16, Gonzalez fanned nine of the 23 batters he faced over six scoreless innings on the road against the Reading Fightin Phils. Six days later, he struck out 10 more while being responsible for the first six innings of a combined no-hitter against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hadlock Field.

All told, Gonzalez produced a 2.42 ERA and 3.07 FIP with 63 strikeouts to 28 walks in his final 10 starts (48 1/3 innings) of the season for Portland. He put up those numbers while holding opposing hitters to a miniscule .162 batting average against.

Recognized as Boston’s 2023 Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year in September, Gonzalez led all qualified Red Sox minor-leaguers in strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings (13.58), strikeout rate (35.2 percent), and batting average against (.189). On the flip side of that, though, the 6-foot, 167-pounder also posted a suboptimal 14.7 percent walk rate.

Gonzalez originally signed with the Red Sox for $250,000 as an international free agent coming out of Maracay in July 2018. He now throws from a three-quarters arm slot and operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a 94-96 mph fastball that tops out at 97 mph, a 75-79 mph curveball that features 11-to-5 break, an 84-88 mph changeup, and an 84-88 mph curveball, per his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Perales, Boston’s No. 7 overall prospect according to Baseball America, also split the 2023 season between two levels. The 20-year-old righty broke camp this spring with Low-A Salem and pitched to a 3.21 ERA (3.16 FIP) with 71 strikeouts to 28 walks in 13 starts (53 1/3 innings) for the Red Sox. He then made the jump to Greenville at the same time Gonzalez moved up to Portland during the All-Star break in July.

In eight starts for the Drive, Perales posted a 4.95 ERA (6.07 FIP) to go along with 44 strikeouts to 22 walks over 36 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .275 against him. Altogether, Perales finished the year with a 3.91 ERA (4.34 FIP) and 115 strikeouts to 50 walks across 21 total starts (89 2/3 innings) between Salem and Greenville.

Like Gonzalez, Perales also hails from Venezuela. The Guacara native signed with Boston for $75,000 as an international free agent in July 2019 and has now put himself in a position where he can be viewed as arguably the No. 1 pitching prospect in the organization.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, Perales throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and works with five different pitches: a 94-96 mph fastball that can reach 99 mph, an 88-91 mph cutter that features short, horizontal break, an 81-85 mph slider, and an 85-87 mph changeup, according to his SoxProspects.com scouting report. In similar fashion to Gonzalez, much of Perales’ development moving forward hinges on if he can improve his control/command of the strike zone.

Gonzalez, who turns 22 in March, is projected to return to Portland for the start of the 2024 minor-league season. Perales, who turns 21 in April, is expected to return to Greenville next spring.

Drohan, meanwhile, looked like a sure bet to join Gonzalez and Perales on Boston’s 40-man roster just a few months ago. The 24-year-old lefty got off to a fantastic start this season, putting up a 1.32 ERA (2.42 FIP) with 36 strikeouts to nine walks in six starts (34 innings) for Portland before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Worcester in mid-May.

With the WooSox, though, Drohan struggled mightily to the tune of a 6.47 ERA (6.55 FIP) and 93 strikeouts to 63 walks over 21 outings (19 starts) spanning 89 innings. It did not help that his both his stuff and command faded as the year progressed and that obviously created some question marks regarding his upside.

Drohan, the No. 3 pitching prospect in Boston’s farm system behind Perales and Gonzalez, was selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the COVID-shortened 2020 draft out of Florida State. The Fort Lauderdale native signed with the club for $600,000.

Now that he has been left unprotected, Drohan — who turns 25 in January — could be scooped up by another team for $100,000 in December’s Rule 5 Draft. That club would then need to carry the 6-foot-3, 195-pound southpaw on their active roster for the entirety of the 2024 season (barring an injury) or would otherwise have to place him on outright waivers and then offer him back to the Red Sox for $50,000 should he clear.

The Red Sox, of course, lost three pitchers in last year’s Rule 5 Draft as Thad Ward (Nationals), Noah Song (Phillies), and Andrew Politi (Orioles) were all nabbed by other teams. Of those three, though, Ward was the only one to not be offered back to Boston at any point this past season.

(Picture of Wikelman Gonzalez: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Orioles return Rule 5 Draft pick Andrew Politi to Red Sox

The Orioles have returned right-hander Andrew Politi to the Red Sox, the club announced earlier Tuesday afternoon. Politi has been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Politi was selected by Baltimore with the 17th pick in last December’s Rule 5 Draft but failed to make the club’s Opening Day roster. The 26-year-old was subsequently designated for assignment on Monday after the Orioles acquired left-hander Danny Coulombe from the Twins.

In nine appearances for the O’s this spring, Politi struggled to a 6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with eight strikeouts to three walks over 8 2/3 innings of relief. Opposing hitters batted .265/.342/.588 off the righty as well.

Because he did not their Opening Day roster, the Orioles had no choice but to designate Politi for assignment given his status as a Rule 5 Draft pick. Since he cleared waivers, the Red Sox paid the O’s $50,000 to retain Politi’s rights. Baltimore initially paid Boston $100,000 in order to draft him.

Now that he is back in the organization, the Red Sox do not need to commit a 40-man roster spot to Politi. After beginning the 2022 season with Double-A Portland, Politi was promoted to Worcester in late May and posted a 2.57 ERA with 63 strikeouts to 19 walks in 38 outings (two starts) spanning 56 innings of work for the WooSox.

The Red Sox originally selected Politi in the 15th round of the 2018 amateur draft out of Seton Hall. At the time he was scooped up by the Orioles, the New Jersey native was ranked by SoxProspects.com as the No. 42 prospect in Boston’s farm system.

Politi, who turns 27 in June, operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a high-80s cutter, a mid-80s slider, and a low-80s curveball, per Baseball Savant. The 6-foot, 195-pound hurler figures to provide the Red Sox with some experienced bullpen depth in the upper-minors.

In addition to Politi, the Red Sox also lost fellow righties Thad Ward (Nationals) and Noah Song (Phillies) in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter. Ward appears to be a lock to make Washington’s Opening Day roster as a long reliever. Song, on the other hand, has been sidelined by lower back tightness this spring and is expected to begin the season on Philadelphia’s injured list.

(Picture of Andrew Politi: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Orioles designate Andrew Politi, who Red Sox lost in Rule 5 Draft, for assignment

The Orioles have designated right-hander Andrew Politi for assignment, according to The Boston Globe’s Speier.

Politi, 26, was selected by Baltimore in last December’s Rule 5 Draft after spending the first five seasons of his professional career in the Red Sox organization.

In nine appearances for the Orioles this spring, Politi posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with eight strikeouts to three walks over 8 2/3 innings of relief. Opposing hitters batted .265/.342/.588 off of him as well.

Because he did not make their Opening Day roster, the Orioles had no choice but to designate Politi for assignment given his status as a Rule 5 pick. If he clears waivers in the coming days, Politi will be offered back to the Red Sox for $50,000. Baltimore already gave Boston $100,000 in order to draft him.

Another team, in theory, could claim Politi off waivers. But that club would then be required to carry the righty on their active roster or major-league injured list for the entirety of the 2023 season. They would not have the ability to option him to the minor-leagues, either.

Given those somewhat challenging prerequisites, Politi could be returned to the Red Sox by the end of the week. If that does happen, Boston would be able to retain Politi’s services without needing to commit a 40-man roster spot to him.

Originally selected by the Red Sox in the 15th round of the 2018 amateur draft out of Seton Hall, Politi spent most of the 2022 minor-league season with Triple-A Worcester after earning a promotion from Double-A Portland in late May. In 38 outings (two starts) for the WooSox, the New Jersey native pitched to a 2.57 ERA with 63 strikeouts to 19 walks over 56 innings of work.

Despite those strong numbers, the Red Sox elected not to add Politi to their 40-man roster in November, leaving him unprotected and eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 Draft. At the time he was scooped up by the Orioles, Politi was ranked by SoxProspects.com as the No. 42 prospect in Boston’s farm system.

Politi, who turns 27 in June, operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, a high-80s cutter, a mid-80s slider, and a low-80s curveball, per Baseball Savant. The 6-foot, 195-pound hurler would presumably re-join the Worcester bullpen if he does clear waivers and returns to the Red Sox.

In addition to Politi, the Red Sox also lost fellow righties Thad Ward (Nationals) and Noah Song (Phillies) in the Rule 5 Draft over the winter. Ward has had a solid spring and looks like a lock to make Washington’s Opening Day roster as a bullpen option. Song, on the other hand, has been sidelined by lower back tightness and is expected to begin the season on Philadelphia’s injured list.

(Picture of Andrew Politi: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Former Red Sox pitching prospect Noah Song cleared to resume career with Phillies

Former Red Sox pitching prospect Noah Song is about to make his return to professional baseball with a new organization.

Song, who was taken by the Phillies in December’s Rule 5 Draft, has been transferred from active Naval duty to selective reserves and will report to Philadelphia’s spring training camp in Clearwater, Fla. on Thursday, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Song’s situation is quite complex. The 25-year-old right-hander was originally selected by Boston in the fourth round of the 2019 amateur draft out of the United States Naval Academy. He was considered to be a first-round talent after being named a Golden Spikes finalist as a senior, but his military commitment created some question marks.

Still, the Red Sox took somewhat of a chance on Song by signing him for $100,000. The California native made his pro debut with short-season Lowell and forged a miniscule 1.06 ERA in seven starts (17 innings) with the Spinners. He then made five scoreless relief appearances for Team USA in the Premier12 tournament that fall.

That was the last time Song pitched competitively. He reported to flight school in 2020 and completed his flight training last May. Song then applied to the Secretary of the Navy for a waiver that would allow him to continue his baseball career, but it was not granted by the time the Red Sox lost him to the Phillies on the final day of the Winter Meetings in mid-December.

If the Phillies intend on keeping Song, he will have to stick on their active 26-man roster (or injured list if he is hurt) for the entirety of the 2023 season. If those conditions cannot be met, Philadelphia could trade Song away, but those conditions would apply to his new team. Regardless, Song must remain in the majors for the entire season or would otherwise be offered back to the Red Sox for $50,000. At that point, Boston would not have to commit an active or 40-man roster spot to Song.

Song, who turns 26 in May, was once considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s farm system. With that being said, it could be tough for the righty to stick on Philadelphia’s (or another club’s, if he is traded or waived) for the whole season considering that it has been nearly four years since he last pitched in a real game.

If Song is able to make an impact at the big-league level (whether it be in Philadelphia or elsewhere), then that would mean Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom let a talented young pitcher go for a mere $100,000 (the fee a team pays to claim a Rule 5 pick). If Song is not yet ready for the majors, then the Red Sox would be able to retain his services with his military commitment already behind him.

The fact that former Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who drafted Song in 2019, was the one who plucked the hurler from the organization makes this all the more interesting. As noted by Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, Dombrowski and Phillies general manager Sam Fuld both had smiles on their faces at the time the selection was made.

“We made sure to double-check that he was available to be drafted, which he was,” Dombrowski said of Song back in December. “I knew him at the time (of the 2019 draft). We loved him. We thought he was a No. 1 Draft choice; we thought he might be the best starting pitcher in the country. We took a gamble at that point because we thought maybe he wouldn’t have to serve, but he ended up having to do that.

“Being available like this, we really had nothing to lose,” he added. “We like his talent a lot. We get to put him on the military list right off the bat, so he’s not on our 40-man roster. We figured we’d take a chance and just see what ends up happening.”

As Dombrowski alluded to then, the Phillies immediately placed Song on the military service list so that he would not count against their 40-man roster. According to Baseball America, the Red Sox could have added Song to their 40-man roster then placed him on the military service list, which would have made him ineligible for the Rule 5 Draft. By doing that, though, they would have been required to immediately add Song to the 40-man roster once he was eligible to pitch again.

Bloom, for his part, explained why the Red Sox elected to not protect Song when speaking with reporters (including MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo) at the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

“Anytime you leave somebody unprotected, there’s always a chance they get picked,” Bloom said. “He’s a high-profile guy for a reason. Obviously, such a unique situation. You don’t ever want to lose anybody. Given his situation, we felt that when he returns from his commitment, being on the 40-man roster would not be an ideal situation to have. That’s a risk we were willing to take.”

(Picture of Noah Song: Gene Wang/Getty Images)

How did Red Sox pitching prospect Juan Daniel Encarnación fare in 2022 and what can be expected from the righty this season?

In his evaluation of the Red Sox farm system, which he ranked 23rd out of 30, heading into the 2023 season, The Athletic’s Keith Law noted that Boston’s “group of pitching prospects is one of the weakest” in baseball.

“They might not have a future MLB starter anywhere on their full-season rosters,” wrote Law. “The best of those candidates all have huge reliever risk, at least.”

One under-the-radar prospect who could help change this narrative in 2023 is Juan Daniel Encarnacion, who is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as the No. 44 prospect in Boston’s farm system, which ranks 16th among pitchers in the organization.

Encarnacion, 21, spent the majority of the 2022 minor-league season with Low-A Salem before earning a promotion to High-A Greenville in August. The right-hander posted a 4.09 ERA — but much more respectable — 3.34 FIP — with 119 strikeouts to 39 walks in 24 appearances (23 starts) spanning 103 1/3 innings of work for the Red Sox.

Among the 14 Carolina League pitchers who surpassed the 100-inning mark last year, Encarnacion ranked third in strikeouts per nine innings (10.36) and strikeout rate (26.7 percent), seventh in walks per nine innings (3.40) and walk rate (8.8 percent), first in home runs per nine innings (0.26), sixth in WHIP (1.30), seventh in ERA, second in FIP, and fourth in xFIP (4.12), per FanGraphs. He also allowed the highest batting average on balls put in play (.336), which suggests he may have been unlucky at times.

Upon making the jump from Salem to Greenville in late August, Encarnacion made two starts for the Drive before the season came to a close. His first start did not go so well, as he surrendered four earned runs in five innings against the Rome Braves on September 2. One week later, though, the righty bounced back by tossing five scoreless frames and striking out seven in a 2-0 win over the Asheville Tourists at hitter-friendly Fluor Field.

All things considered, it was a solid first full season in affiliated ball for Encarnacion after he impressed at the rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2021. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier even wrote for Baseball America in November that he believed Encarnacion “already started to open eyes” in 2022.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Encarnacion originally signed with the Red Sox for $40,000 as an international free agent coming out of San Pedro de Macoris in Sept. 2018. Per his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the wiry 6-foot-2, 173-pound hurler throws from a low three-quarters arm slot and operates with a three-pitch mix that consists of an 88-92 mph fastball that tops out at 94 mph, a 76-78 mph curveball, and an 84-86 mph changeup.

Encarnacion, who turns 22 late next month, is projected to return to return to Greenville for the start of the 2023 campaign. He can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time next winter, so he certainly could improve his standing as a prospect if he proves capable of holding his own against more advanced hitting.

(Picture of Juan Daniel Encarnacion: Gary Streiffer/Flickr)

Red Sox prospect Brainer Bonaci walked as many times as he struck out (89) in 2022

The Red Sox did not lose infield prospect Brainer Bonaci in the major-league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft.

Bonaci, 20, ended the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 20 prospect in Boston’s farm system. The switch-hitter spent the entirety of the 2022 campaign with Low-A Salem and batted .262/.397/.385 (125 wRC+) with 19 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 50 RBIs, 86 runs scored, 28 stolen bases, 89 walks, and 89 strikeouts over 108 games spanning 494 trips to the plate.

Among qualified Carolina League hitters, Bonaci ranked second in walk rate (18 percent), ninth in strikeout rate (18 percent) sixth in swinging-strike rate (8.1 percent), 19th in batting average, second in on-base percentage, 23rd in slugging percentage, 11th in OPS (.782), 11th in stolen bases, 12th in speed score (7.8), eighth in line-drive rate (24.4 percent), and sixth in wRC+, per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Bonaci saw playing time at three different positions this year. The 5-foot-10, 164-pounder expectedly logged 477 1/3 innings at second base, 67 innings at third base, and 267 2/3 innings at shortstop. But he also made one appearance as an outfielder for the first time in his career as he logged one inning in right field back on April 17.

Born in Venezuela, Bonaci originally signed with the Red Sox for $290,000 as an international free agent on his 16th birthday in 2018. The Catia La Mar made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League the following year and then impressed evaluators at fall instructs after the 2020 minor-league season was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent the majority of 2021 in the Florida Complex League before earning a late-season promotion to Salem and — as previously mentioned — put together a solid year at Low-A in 2022.

In a virtual chat with Baseball America subscribers last month, The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier wrote that Bonaci did garner some consideration as a potential top 10 prospect in the Red Sox farm system heading into the 2023 season, but questions surrounding his bat-to-ball skills put him behind No. 10 prospect (and fellow versatile infielder) Eddinson Paulino.

The Red Sox were at risk of losing both Bonaci and Paulino in this week’s Rule 5 Draft since neither was added to the 40-man roster last month. Fortunately for them, Bonaci and Paulino went unclaimed, which likely has something to do with their lack of experience in the upper-minors. That said, the two infielders will again be Rule 5-eligible again next winter.

Bonaci, who does not turn 21 until next July, currently grades as a superior defender to Paulino, according to Speier. Both are projected to make the jump to High-A Greenville for the start of the 2023 minor-league season in April.

(Picture of Brainer Bonaci: Robert Simmons/RTS Photography)

Red Sox select pitchers Joe Jacques, Ryan Miller in minor-league phase of Rule 5 Draft

The Red Sox may have passed on taking a player in the major-league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft, but they did make two selections in the minor-league phase.

Boston added left-hander Joe Jacques from the Pirates and right-hander Ryan Miller from the Yankees. The two hurlers have been assigned to Triple-A Worcester.

Jacques, 27, was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 33rd round of the 2018 amateur draft out of Manhattan College in New York City. The New Jersey native received a mere $2,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut in the Appalachian League.

After beginning this past season on the 60-day injured list, Jacques spent most of the 2022 campaign with Triple-A Indianapolis. There, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound southpaw posted a 3.62 ERA and 4.74 FIP with 27 strikeouts to 12 walks over 29 relief appearances (37 1/3 innings) for the Indians. He also fared far better against left-handed hitters (.257 OPS against) compared to right-handed hitters (.845 OPS against).

Jacques, who turns 28 in March, throws from a unique sidearm slot and operates with a four-pitch mix that consists of a two-seam fastball, a four-seam fastball, a slider, and a changeup, according to Pittsburgh Baseball Network.

Miller, 26, was originally taken by the Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2018 draft out of Clemson University. The Florida native signed with Arizona for $25,000, but was released less than two years later at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He latched on with the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League in 2021 and began the 2022 season with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association before having his contract purchased by the Yankees in late May.

In his return to affiliated ball, Miller produced a a 5.75 ERA — but much more respectable 4.11 xFIP — with 50 strikeouts to 18 walks across 25 relief appearances (36 innings) for High-A Hudson Valley. He did not pitch at all in the month of September due to an undisclosed injury.

Listed at 6-feet and 180 pounds, Miller put up reverse splits this year, as he held opposing left-handed hitters to a .622 OPS against but allowed right-handed hitters to slash .275/.374/.522 off of him.

Miller, who — like Jacques has a birthday in March, becomes the sixth different pitcher the Red Sox have taken from the Yankees in the major- or minor-league phase of a Rule 5 Draft dating back to 2018. Boston took Anyelo Gomez in 2018, Raynel Espinal in 2019, Garrett Whitlock and Kaleb Ort in 2020, and Brian Keller in 2021.

Red Sox lose Cameron Cannon to Phillies

In addition to picking up two pitchers, the Red Sox also lost an infielder in the minor-league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft as Cameron Cannon was scooped up by the Phillies.

Cannon, now 25, was Boston’s second-round pick in 2019. The University of Arizona product was once regarded by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the Red Sox farm system but had since fallen off the list completely. He spent the majority of the 2022 season with Double-A Portland before being promoted to Worcester in August. Like fellow 2019 draftee Noah Song, Cannon is now reunited with Dave Dombrowski to some degree in Philadelphia.

Former Red Sox infielder Jonathan Arauz, who was claimed off waivers by the Orioles in June, went from Baltimore to the Mets organization on Wednesday.

(Picture of Chaim Bloom: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)