Results tagged ‘ hot stove league ’
PHOTOS: Hot Stove League Party at McCoy
The 35th annual PawSox Hot Stove League Party was a great success. A big thanks goes out to everyone who helped make it possible. If you weren’t able to make it, below are some photos I took throughout the night.
(Note: If you’re a subscriber to the blog and are reading this in your email, the best way to view the photos is by clicking the headline link above.)
PawSox pitcher Brandon Duckworth answers a fan’s question during the Q&A portion of the evening. Catcher Luis Exposito is to his left, pitcher Alex Wilson to his right.
Everyone who attended the Q&A session then had the opportunity to get autographs from all three players.
Fans listening to the players answer their questions. The room you see is actually the PawSox batting tunnel that was cleared out for the event.
Riot control.
In the PawSox clubhouse manager Arnie Beyeler and outfielder Alex Hassan held a Q&A session of their own followed by autographs.
I had a great time at my first PawSox Hot Stove League party. On Monday I’ll post some of the video interviews I did with the players during the Media Luncheon that day. Have a great weekend, stay warm, and enjoy the NFL playoffs.
-AG
Hot Stove Party Invitees – Alex Wilson
You’re invited this Friday, January 13th to the 35th Annual Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove League Party at McCoy Stadium from 6-9 p.m. This FREE event is open to the public and gives our great fans a chance to get autographs and photos with some terrific Red Sox prospects.
Today I’ll profile the fourth and final player who will be here Friday night, RHP Alex Wilson.
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 215 Age: 25 Resides: College Station, Tx. Drafted: 2nd Rd., 2009
Born in Dhahram, Saudi Arabia, Wilson is the son of a geologist and, believe it or not, grew up a Red Sox fan. If he makes it to Fenway, he’ll become the first Saudi Arabian-born pitcher to make the major leagues and the second player overall (Craig Stansberry, 2007-’09).
Wilson made four starts with the PawSox at the end of 2011 (Elsa/Getty Images)
His family eventually relocated from the sands of Saudi Arabia to the mountains of West Virginia where Alex was named Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior in 2005.
Wilson then went on to pitch at Winthrop University (S.C.) where he was named Collegiate Baseball’s National Freshman Pitcher of the Year in 2006. However, the righty soon suffered a setback when he needed Tommy John surgery.
In a video interview Wilson did with Sox In Site, he talked about how he believes having already had Tommy John is a positive. ”I feel like I’ve already got it out of the way. A lot of guys – power guys especially – have to end up having it. I got that out of the way when I was in college. I’ve been 100% since then, have had no problems whatsoever with it.”
After recovering from the surgery, Wilson pitched in the Cape League for Falmouth during the summer of 2007. He didn’t put up great numbers, but then again, didn’t pitch very much (0-1/9 hits/5 walks/7 runs/4.0 innings).
Wilson then transferred to Texas A&M where he redshirted in 2008. That summer the Chicago Cubs drafted him in the 10th round but Alex wisely opted not to sign. Instead he returned to Falmouth for another summer where he improved to 0-1, 4.60 with 36 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.
His career as an Aggie was was short lived: 24 appearances in 2009 before the Red Sox selected him in the second round.
Things have worked out well for wilson since being drafted by his childhood team:
2011:
- Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year
- Sea Dogs Opening Day starter
- Invited to big league Spring Training
- Tied for the second-most wins in the system (10)
- Tied for second-most strikeouts in the system (123)
- Second-highest winning percentage in the system (.714)
- Third-lowest ERA in the system (3.11)
- Ranked by Baseball America as having the best fastball and slider in the Sox system
A self-proclaimed “low-tech” country boy, Wilson will be here at McCoy Stadium tomorrow (Friday) night to sign autographs and answer questions. Both of us look forward to seeing you then.
-AG
Hot Stove Party Invitees – Luis Exposito
You’re invited this Friday, January 13th to the 35th Annual Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove League Party at McCoy Stadium. This FREE event is open to the public and gives our great fans a chance to get autographs and photos with some terrific Red Sox prospects. I’ll profile each player scheduled to appear Friday on the blog this week leading up to the event.
Today we continue with C Luis Exposito.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 210 Age: 24 Hometown: Miami, Fl. Signed: 31st Rd., 2005
Last year marked Exposito’s first year in Triple-A ball after spending 2010 and part of ’09 in Double-A Portland. Prior to last season, the South Beach native was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
When Jarod Saltalamacchia was under the weather last year with a stomach virus, it was Exposito whom Boston called up. Although he was optioned back to Pawtucket without ever seeing any playing time, it no doubt was a good opportunity for him to see what 48 hours in the bigs is all about.
Exposito hit .242 in 89 games with the PawSox in 2011 (Kelly O'Connor)
Exposito’s family is Cuban and came to the States in the ‘80s. His sister is stateside, but back in Cuba is his older brother - whom he’s never met.
Speaking of family, near the end of Spring Training last year, Exposito and his girlfriend had their first child. To make things even better, it was on that same day he was assigned Pawtucket.
While scouts can break down Exposito’s game all day long, one of the biggest perks he has going for himself is his ability to fluently speak both Spanish and English. Luis talked about being bilingual in an interview with Mike Andrews of SoxProspects.com:
“It’s definitely helped … It probably helped more at the lower levels where some of the guys don’t know English at all. In the end, a pitcher needs to feel comfortable out on the mound and I think it raises their comfort level to be able to speak their main language with me — especially when they’re on the mound and I’m trying to settle them down.”
You can hear Luis speak English (and maybe even a little Spanish) this Friday night at McCoy Stadium. Hope to see you there.
-AG
Hot Stove Party Invitees – Brandon Duckworth
You’re invited this Friday, January 13th to the 35th Annual Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove League Party at McCoy Stadium. This FREE event is open to the public and gives our great fans a chance to get autographs and photos with some terrific Red Sox prospects. I’ll profile each player scheduled to appear Friday on the blog this week leading up to the event.
Today we continue with RHP Brandon Duckworth.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 215 Age: 35 Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT Signed: Philadelphia, 1997
Elsa/Getty Images
We all know how valuable a veteran presence is in a minor league (or major league) clubhouse, and that’s exactly what you get with Duckworth. An eight-year major league veteran, the righty has appeared in 134 career major league games (84 starts) with three different teams (Philadelphia, Houston, and Kansas City). Also of note, he was part of the November 3, 2003 trade that bought All-Star closer Billy Wagner to Philadelphia.
His big league debut came back on August 7, 2001 in a 7-3 win over the Padres. Overall, Duckworth has gone 23-34, 5.28 ERA in the majors, last pitching with Kansas City in 2008 when he started seven games. Since ’08, he’s pitched for three different Triple-A clubs: Omaha (Kansas City), Lehigh Valley (Philadelphia), and Pawtucket.
Last season with the PawSox Duckworth put up solid numbers going 8-6, 3.97 in 22 games (21 starts). He strung together a four game winning streak from July 14 – 29 where he allowed five runs over 23 1/3 innings (1.93 ERA). For those efforts he won International League Pitcher of the Week.
Interestingly enough, there are only four players from the state of Utah with more major league experience than Duckworth. At the top of the list is former Red Sox pitcher Bruce Hurst with 15 years of experience (1980-94). In
nine seasons with the Sox, Hurst went 88-73, 4.23 ERA and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004.
One thing Duckworth can say he’s had that not many other major leaguers have experienced is his own cheering section. During his time in the City of Brotherly Love, this section was known as the Duck Pond. It was so popular that when he was re-signed by the Phillies in 2010, there was a Facebook group created to bring the Duck Pond to Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh Valley where he was pitching.
Should be fun meeting Brandon this Friday night at McCoy. Hope to see you there.
-AG
Hot Stove Party Invitees – Alex Hassan
You’re invited this Friday, January 13th to the 35th Annual Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove League Party at McCoy Stadium. This FREE event is open to the public and gives our great fans a chance to get autographs and photos with some terrific Red Sox prospects. I’ll profile each player on the blog this week leading up to Friday.
Today we start things off with Alex Hassan.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 195 Age: 23 Hometown: Milton, Ma. Drafted: 20th Rd., 2009
Hassan at the Futures at Fenway Game in 2010 (Kelly O'Connor)
Alex spent all of 2011 with Double-A Portland where he hit .291 over 126 games while clubbing 13 home runs and driving home 64 runs. His defensive versatility was seen last year by playing all three outfield positions with the vast majority of games coming in left field where he stood in front of the “Maine Monster.”
The former Duke Blue Devil actually appeared in three road games for the PawSox in 2010, all in Scranton/WB. In other words, there’s a good chance that this Friday will be his first time at McCoy Stadium.
Judging by the numbers, one of the impressive facets of Hassan’s game is his walk to strikeout ratio. I thought it’d be fun to compare his 2011 Double-A BB/K numbers to those of Josh Reddick’s 2009 season in Portland:
Reddick
Games Played: 63 Walks: 30 Strikeouts: 62
(*Expanded to 126 games: 60 BB/124 K)
Hassan
Games Played: 126 Walks: 76 Strikeouts: 79
Of the 13 players in the Double-A Eastern League that hit .290 or above in 2011, only one player drew more walks than Hassan (Matt Rizzotti, Reading, 79). In fact, his 76 walks were second to only Pawtucket’s Lars Anderson’s 80 in the Rex Sox farm system.
The soon-to-be PawSox spent this fall playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions. There he played alongside the top two prospects in all of minor league baseball: Bryce Harper and Mike Trout.
This fall, Hassan actually had better numbers than Trout – the only player of the three to have seen big league action.
Harper
Games: 25 Avg.: 333 HR: 6 RBI: 26 BB: 11 K: 22
Hassan
Games: 25 Avg.: 253 HR: 2 RBI: 7 BB: 15 K: 16
Trout
Games: 25 Avg.: 245 HR: 1 RBI: 5 BB: 15 K: 33
OK, enough with the numbers, we’ll wrap this up with some fun stuff …
- Originally drafted as right-handed pitcher but wanted to play outfield
- Played in the Cape League in 2008 for Orleans where he played both positions
- There he hit nearly .290 and made the Cape League All-Star Team
- The following spring, he made the All-ACC second team as a junior and was drafted by the Sox
- Boston eventually determined he had a chance to make a bigger impact at the plate than on the mound.
- He’s probably smarter than all of us, was a psychology major at Duke.
- Was also a National Honor Society member in high school
- Threw a no-hitter in his first high school start as a freshman in 2003 at Boston College High School.
- As a kid, his parents helped him build a mini-Fenway Park in his backyard complete with a tall plywood Green Monster, a mini Pesky pole in right, and a Citgo sign he dug up at an old gas station.
Without a doubt, Hassan should be fun to talk to this Friday night. Hope to see you there.
-AG
