Minor league thread 2023

JM3

JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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JM3 said:
Will have to check it out later. Did they say what happened to poor Bonaci???
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Listening to it now. They didn't say anything about new injuries - they did mention Bonaci missing time in the beginning of the season with a Visa issue, middle of the season with a groin injury & missing time at the end of the season with some other kind of injury.

I'm guessing he probably just reaggravated whatever that was. If he wasn't that healthy, seems kind of silly to choose him over someone else (Meidroth or Blaze maybe?). But I'm sure they weren't expecting issues.
 
sittingstill

sittingstill

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JM3 said:
It's a nice look at how much muscle he's put on the last couple years I guess.
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This is true--he is definitely the sort of person you would like backing you up as you walk into a difficult situation.

JM3 said:
Listening to it now. They didn't say anything about new injuries - they did mention Bonaci missing time in the beginning of the season with a Visa issue, middle of the season with a groin injury & missing time at the end of the season with some other kind of injury.

I'm guessing he probably just reaggravated whatever that was. If he wasn't that healthy, seems kind of silly to choose him over someone else (Meidroth or Blaze maybe?). But I'm sure they weren't expecting issues.
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Under ordinary circumstances the restricted list is essentially for everything that isn't an injury, so it seems more likely that he had to leave the team for a different reason. (That said I don't know if the AFL has its own IL.) He did post a photo from the clubhouse on Instagram today, but of course there's no way to tell if it's new or old--hope it means he's back, though!

 
JM3

JM3

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"Cold heart & cold mind" sounds like he was probably dealing with something worse than injury, yeah...

Looks like he posted that yesterday. He's not in the lineup again today.
 
JM3

JM3

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JM3 said:
"Cold heart & cold mind" sounds like he was probably dealing with something worse than injury, yeah...

Looks like he posted that yesterday. He's not in the lineup again today.
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Especially when combined with gray heart, black heart, cross.

Gray heart = sympathetic love
Black heart = emo
Cross = ✝
 
I

ibrewbeer

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JM3 said:
Scouting report of the Zach Fogell interview:

1) Parker & Hand are not the most exciting interviewers.

2) I still kind of enjoy this, though, because it's a decent little behind the scenes look.

3) I was a bit concerned when Fogell said he was "gyped" out of a start.

4) There were little subtle things I liked, though, like him not telling his mom when he found out the Red Sox were drafting him so she could see the look on her face when she found out on TV.

5) I think his main problem is he's short (5'10) & doesn't have elite stuff.

6) I do like that he's a Red Sox fan growing up in Rhode Island. His favorite pitcher growing up was Lester & favorite hitter was Papi. His mom had recently moved to Shrewsbury so he was watching the draft from MA.

7) Conclusion: Probably won't make it past org arm, but we shall see.

View: https://twitter.com/SoxSpects/status/1709961230205485317
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FWIW
Work with his Dad. Blue collar hard working family. Good people He doesn't come from one of those entitled families that is on every Travel and superstar team.
Hope kid sticks around
 
JM3

JM3

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View: https://twitter.com/brendan_camp/status/1711855744817971682

Among 66 hitters in the DSL who made at least 200 trips to the plate this season, Cespedes ranked third in batting average, 27th in on-base percentage, fifth in slugging percentage, seventh in OPS (.953), eighth in isolated power (.215), first in line-drive rate (28.1 percent), sixth in strikeout rate (11.5 percent), and ninth in wRC+ (145), per FanGraphs.
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JM3

JM3

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Here's the complete list of Rule 5 eligible Sox org players...

December 2023

Rivaldo Avila
Angel Bastardo
Brock Bell
Royman Blanco
Brainer Bonaci
Zach Bryant
Maceo Campbell
Allan Castro
Brendan Cellucci
Felix Cepeda
Juan Chacon
Casey Cobb
Nathanael Cruz
Luis De La Rosa
Nick Decker
Kelvin Diaz
Jordan DiValerio
Shane Drohan
Juan Daniel Encarnación
Alex Erro
Albert Feliz
Ryan Fernandez
Ryan Fitzgerald
Grant Gambrell
Jhostynxon Garcia
Wikelman Gonzalez
Bryan Gonzalez
Justin Hagenman
Alexis Hernandez
Gabriel Jackson
Lyonell James
Gilberto Jimenez
Christian Koss
Robert Kwiatkowski
Chih-Jung Liu
Eduardo Lopez
Matthew Lugo
Elih Marrero
Yorberto Mejicano
Ryan Miller
Andrés Núñez
Yusniel Padron-Artiles
Eddinson Paulino
Zach Penrod
Luis Perales
Railin Perez
AJ Politi
Jose Ramirez
Oscar Rangel
Jorge Rodriguez
Ronald Rosario
Cesar Ruiz
Johnfrank Salazar
Stephen Scott
Cody Scroggins
Reidis Sena
Chase Shugart
Karson Simas
Nick Sogard
Noah Song
Dylan Spacke
Joey Stock
Luis Talavera
Nate Tellier
Michael Valera
Brian Van Belle
Diego Viloria
Jeremy Wu-Yelland
Ryan Zeferjahn

https://soxprospects.com/rule5.htm
 
JM3

JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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sittingstill said:
Under ordinary circumstances the restricted list is essentially for everything that isn't an injury, so it seems more likely that he had to leave the team for a different reason. (That said I don't know if the AFL has its own IL.) He did post a photo from the clubhouse on Instagram today, but of course there's no way to tell if it's new or old--hope it means he's back, though!

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Looks like he originally posted that picture on 9/28. & they've added McDonough, so he seems gone for the season.
 
JM3

JM3

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That group also includes Yu Chang & not sure who else off the top of my head.
 
JM3

JM3

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LIDOM regular season starts October 19th so I'm guessing this is like...Fall Training?
 
Heating up in the bullpen

Heating up in the bullpen

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JM3 said:
Here's the complete list of Rule 5 eligible Sox org players...

December 2023

Rivaldo Avila
Angel Bastardo
Brock Bell
Royman Blanco
Brainer Bonaci
Zach Bryant
Maceo Campbell
Allan Castro
Brendan Cellucci
Felix Cepeda
Juan Chacon
Casey Cobb
Nathanael Cruz
Luis De La Rosa
Nick Decker
Kelvin Diaz
Jordan DiValerio
Shane Drohan
Juan Daniel Encarnación
Alex Erro
Albert Feliz
Ryan Fernandez
Ryan Fitzgerald
Grant Gambrell
Jhostynxon Garcia
Wikelman Gonzalez
Bryan Gonzalez
Justin Hagenman
Alexis Hernandez
Gabriel Jackson
Lyonell James
Gilberto Jimenez
Christian Koss
Robert Kwiatkowski
Chih-Jung Liu
Eduardo Lopez
Matthew Lugo
Elih Marrero
Yorberto Mejicano
Ryan Miller
Andrés Núñez
Yusniel Padron-Artiles
Eddinson Paulino
Zach Penrod
Luis Perales
Railin Perez
AJ Politi
Jose Ramirez
Oscar Rangel
Jorge Rodriguez
Ronald Rosario
Cesar Ruiz
Johnfrank Salazar
Stephen Scott
Cody Scroggins
Reidis Sena
Chase Shugart
Karson Simas
Nick Sogard
Noah Song
Dylan Spacke
Joey Stock
Luis Talavera
Nate Tellier
Michael Valera
Brian Van Belle
Diego Viloria
Jeremy Wu-Yelland
Ryan Zeferjahn

https://soxprospects.com/rule5.htm
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Who are we worried about losing to the draft?
Short list:
Wikelman
Grant Gambrel?
Stephen Scott?
Drohan?
Politi?
What happens next year to players who were eligible this year but not selected? Are they eligible every year thereafter?
(Should we have a Rule 5 thread?)
 
JM3

JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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Heating up in the bullpen said:
Who are we worried about losing to the draft?
Short list:
Wikelman
Grant Gambrel?
Stephen Scott?
Drohan?
Politi?
What happens next year to players who were eligible this year but not selected? Are they eligible every year thereafter?
(Should we have a Rule 5 thread?)
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People are eligible every year until they are added to the 40 (or become Minor League free agents). There should maybe be a thread, but I think it would fit in fine with the '24 40-man roster thread in the main forum.

Here are the R5 eligible guys in order of my rankings. Will go down to Politi since he made your list:

SP Perales (#6) - Only made it to A+, but elite stuff, do not want to risk losing. Should add.

SP Wikelman (#9) - Made it to AA, elite stuff, do not want to risk losing. Should add.

MI Bonaci (#13) - Made it to AA, excellent defender. AFL was going to be interesting, but had to cut his stint short (if I had to wildly speculate, I think someone close to him passed away). Should probably add.

MI Paulino (#18) - Has only made it to A+, so probably safe, but I would be disappointed if someone took him. Probably shouldn't add.

OF Castro (#21) - Has only made it to A+, so probably safe, but I would be disappointed if someone took him. Probably shouldn't add.

SP Drohan #23 - Was kind of a disaster in AAA, so I think he's safe, but I would be disappointed if someone took him. Mixed feelings on adding.

SP Bastardo (#26) - Has made it to AA, where he did not pitch great. I think he's probably safe, but would be a bit disappointed if someone took him. He has an interesting profile & stuff. Probably shouldn't add.

SP Gambrell (#33) - Pitched pretty well in AAA at the end of the season. I would kind of like to see him added in lieu of someone like Brandon Walter. I think he has a pretty decent chance of being a reasonable depth arm. Have mentioned this before, but he profiles very similarly to Thad Ward, & I think he will probably get taken if we leave him unprotected. Should maybe add.

C Scott (#37) - Huge slump to end the AAA season after mashing for a long time. I'm not particularly concerned if someone wants to take him in the Rule 5 at this point. He's a lefty & not really good enough at defense to be additive to the current iteration of the Red Sox. Probably shouldn't add.

RP Fernandez (#41) - Was lights out in AA & struggled in AAA. Has really nice stuff & has back end of the bullpen potential. Just a matter of whether his control/command will ever be good enough. Probably depends on what else they do to address the bullpen this off season & what they think of him. Mixed feelings on adding.

SP Song (#45) - I don't think another team is going to jerk him around again next year like the Phillies did this year. I think we can safely not add him & hope for the best. He pitched ok in A+ at the end of the season, but has a long way to go to get back to where he was a few years ago. Should not add.

3B JOHNFRANK (#47) - I love Johnfrank, but he didn't even play great in A-Ball this season, so pretty sure he's safe. Should not add.

RP De La Rosa (#50) - I also irrationally love De La Rosa. He pitched well in A-Ball, but pretty sure he's safe. Should not add.

RP Cepeda (#51) - He's a really interesting case. He pitched great in A+ after being promoted & has pitched well in the AFL thus far. Has really good stuff & wouldn't be completely shocked if someone poached him...but think he's probably too far away & without elite enough stuff to truly worry about that happening. Should probably not add.

SP BVB (#52) - He's kind of a JAG. Got a bit better toward the end of the AAA season. May be able to provide MLB depth, & should be solid MiLB depth, but not really the type of guy you worry about protecting. Should not add.

SP PENROD (#54) - I will probably be moving Penrod up my list next time. Was signed from Independent ball a couple months ago & pitched well for Greenville, & has allowed 1 run in 8 innings in the AFL so far. He's also already 26 & has some really good stuff. Mixed feelings on adding.

RP Politi (#57) - He was taken by the Orioles last year before being returned. He's already 27 & did not have a great year in AAA. He might get taken, but I don't think he has the level of stuff that would make that a big concern. Should not add.

The only other players who really would have a chance of getting taken (unless I'm totally missing something), are also relievers, like Justin Hagenman (#59) & Ryan Zeferjahn (#72), & CJ Liu, who profiles better as a reliever (#84). But I don't think any of them are good enough or MLB ready enough to worry about protecting.
 
JM3

JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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That reminds me, I tried listening to a Pesky MiLB podcast the other day & was not that into it for some reason. Maybe because it was the RIP Bloom episode. Will try another episode sometime, though.
 
JM3

JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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A fair amount of interesting Perales content in this article. Verlander is his favorite pitcher, even though he's old, working on throwing secondaries more, & I'm not sure how he fits his hair in his hat.

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2023/10/top-red-sox-prospect-with-best-fastball-98-mph-studies-justin-verlander.html

I'll just quote the last paragraph, though:

He said he wants to take another step with his physicality and mature in that area. His goal is to get to the majors in 2024.

“Next year if it’s possible,” he said.
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JM3

JM3

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The weird part is apparently he was placed on the Restricted List for this issue prior to the end of the season:

The switch-hitter made the jump from Greenville to Portland over the summer but only appeared in 16 games for the Sea Dogs before being placed on the reserve list in late August.

Around that same time, per Speier, Bonaci was sent home to Venezuela for the rest of the minor-league campaign “due to what one league source at the time called administrative leave.” He was then taken off the reserve list at season’s end and was permitted to take part in the Red Sox’ fall performance program in Fort Myers as well as the Arizona Fall League as a member of the Glendale Desert Dogs.
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But then was allowed to play in the AFL, but then wasn't again.

As noted by Speier, it is not yet known how Bonaci violated the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy; nor is it known how much time he will spend on the restricted list before a potential resolution is reached.
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Not much point in speculating without any info, but it's kind of weird they decided to let him play & then had a change of heart.

ETA: oops, forgot the link:

https://bloggingtheredsox.com/2023/10/11/red-sox-prospect-brainer-bonaci-placed-on-restricted-list-for-violating-mlb-policy/
 
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JM3

JM3

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It's kind of interesting they named Batista. I don't believe he had the best stats... just the best underlying #s.

Among 94 pitchers in the DSL who threw at least 40 innings this season, Batista ranked fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.95), 11th in walks per nine innings (1.77), fifth in strikeout rate (33.5 percent), first in swinging-strike rate (50.7 percent), 12th in walk rate (5.0 percent), 19th in WHIP (1.03), 11th in FIP (3.02), and first in xFIP (2.74), per FanGraphs.
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I have Batista as my #1 DSL pitcher, #48 overall.
 
JM3

JM3

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Let's see how it compares to Sox Prospects & I...keeping in mind that he removed Brainer Bonaci from it yesterday & I haven't, yet, & haven't updated my list in a couple weeks & neither has SP...

There are long writeups for all of these, including scouting grades for each category, so by all means click through & read them.

30. Jhonstynxon Garcia (SP N/R, JM3 #65)
29. Grant Gambrell (#38, #33)
28. Brooks Brannon (#34, #32)
27. Bryan Mata (#27, #25)
26. Cutter Coffey (#37, #42)
25. Christopher Troye (#39, #36)
24. Kristian Campbell (#48, #27)
23. Marvin Alcantara (#33, #46)
22. Shane Drohan (#13, #23)
21. Nathan Hickey (#19, #24)
20. Angel Bastardo (#30, #26)
19. Luis Guerrero (#29, #16)
18. Antonio Anderson (#24, #30)
17. Jedixson Paez (#41, #35)
16. Hunter Dobbins (#28, #20)
15. Blaze Jordan (#22, #17)
14. Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (#26, #31)
13. Mikey Romero (#18, #14)
12. Eddinson Paulino (#20, #18)
11. Allan Castro (#17, #21)
10. Chase Meidroth (#16, #22)
9. Yordanny Monegro (#25, #7)
8. Johanfran Garcia (#14, #12)
7. Wikelman Gonzalez (#8, #9)
6. Nick Yorke (#6, #11)
5. Luis Perales (#7, #6)
4. Miguel Bleis (#3, #4)
3. Kyle Teel (#5, #3)
2. Roman Anthony (#2, #2)
1. Marcelo Mayer (#1, #1)
 
JM3

JM3

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Dec 14, 2019
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Part of the reason his rankings are different are that he appears to have graduated players we haven't, yet, including:

Ceddanne Rafaela (#4, #5)
Wilyer Abreu (#12, #10)
Enmanuel Valdez (#21, #19)

& he doesn't include DSL players such as:

Yoeilin Cespedes (#10, #8)
Franklin Arias (#43, #29)

Or a rookie who barely played in A-Ball...

Nazzan Zanetello (#9, #15)

& the aforementioned Brainer Bonaci removal (#12, #13).
 
JM3

JM3

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#2 Brendan Cellucci

Cuz of the name. No idea how he celebrates.
 
Just a bit outside

Just a bit outside

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Fangraphs defines a 50 scouting grade as major league average. Noll has his 26 players ranked as 50 or higher. For comparison Fangraphs had 5 and MLB Pipeline had 8 on their midseason reports. I like reading his comments and seeing his list but his scouting grades are inflated.
 
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