The preliminary roster is out for the Surprise Saguaros, and six Red Sox players are on it:
* Deven Marrero, SS (AAA)
* Sean Coyle, 2B/3B (AA)
* Keith Couch, RHSP (AA)
* Aaron Kurcz, RHRP (AA)
* Robby Scott, LHRP (AA)
* Madison Younginer, RHRP (A+)
BaseballAmerica has a breakdown of all AFL teams including players to watch, and on the Surprise roster they list a slot for a Boston outfielder to be named later. Additional details from SoxProspects:
As for Castillo, he'll certainly need a crapload of ABs this offseason, but I question whether playing against mostly AA and AAA guys is the best way for a guy his age to prepare for an MLB starting role. The Saguaros begin play October 7, but the four primary winter leagues kick off shortly thereafter. The Venezuelan and Mexican leagues get going later that same week, the Dominican starts 10/17, and Puerto Rico gets underway around Halloween give or take a day.
Since those leagues are a far higher caliber of competition, with numerous major leaguers, I'd be strongly in favor of sending him to one of the Caribbean teams instead. I suppose they could also let him play the AFL slate and then send him to winter ball (which continues through mid-January with the playoffs & Caribbean World Series stretching into early February), but then the concern might be late season burnout in the majors.
* Deven Marrero, SS (AAA)
* Sean Coyle, 2B/3B (AA)
* Keith Couch, RHSP (AA)
* Aaron Kurcz, RHRP (AA)
* Robby Scott, LHRP (AA)
* Madison Younginer, RHRP (A+)
BaseballAmerica has a breakdown of all AFL teams including players to watch, and on the Surprise roster they list a slot for a Boston outfielder to be named later. Additional details from SoxProspects:
...That spot could go to Rusney Castillo. When Jose Iglesias was signed in September of 2009, the Red Sox sent him to get at-bats in the AFL that fall, and this situation with Castillo is quite similar.
The Red Sox will likely add one or two additional players before the AFL starts, and while that outfielder mentioned before could be Castillo, Bryce Brentz our Henry Ramos would also make sense.
All four pitchers are eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter, and while none of them are likely to be added to the 40-man by the November 20 deadline, it is a good chance to get them more exposure, and in the case of Couch and Kurcz, get them more innings as they have both missed time this season on the disabled list.
As for Castillo, he'll certainly need a crapload of ABs this offseason, but I question whether playing against mostly AA and AAA guys is the best way for a guy his age to prepare for an MLB starting role. The Saguaros begin play October 7, but the four primary winter leagues kick off shortly thereafter. The Venezuelan and Mexican leagues get going later that same week, the Dominican starts 10/17, and Puerto Rico gets underway around Halloween give or take a day.
Since those leagues are a far higher caliber of competition, with numerous major leaguers, I'd be strongly in favor of sending him to one of the Caribbean teams instead. I suppose they could also let him play the AFL slate and then send him to winter ball (which continues through mid-January with the playoffs & Caribbean World Series stretching into early February), but then the concern might be late season burnout in the majors.