Results tagged ‘ SoxProspects.com ’
T-Minus 72 Hours
It has finally hit me that Opening Day is now just 72 hours away. Everyone has been working overtime at McCoy Stadium getting ready for Thursday’s 7:05 first pitch against Buffalo, even our manager, Arnie Beyeler.
Arnie, who just arrived from Ft. Myers, was inside our offices today participating in a live Q&A on Boston.com where fans asked him every question under the sun about the PawSox. You can replay the chat and read all of Arnie’s answers by clicking here. If one of your questions was regarding what the back of Arnie’s head looks like, I’m glad I could provide the answer.
At this time we don’t have any definitive word on what our roster will will be. As soon as the Red Sox release our roster I’ll be sure to post it here ASAP. In the meantime, Mike Andrews of SoxProspects.com reported via Twitter (@MikeAndrewsSP) that outfield prospect Alex Hassan has been assigned to Pawtucket. He also reported the following moves:
- Matt Barnes, 2011 first round pick, assigned to Single-A Greenville
- Blake Swihart, 2011 first round pick, assigned to Single-A Greenville
- Xander Bogaerts, Baseball America’s No. 2 Red Sox prospect, assigned to High-A Salem.
- Heiker Meneses, infielder, assigned to Double-A Portland
- Aaor Kurcz, Jayson Hernandez, Will Latimer, and Caleb Clay assigned to Double-A Portland
- Mitch Dening, Jorge Padron, Drew Dominguez, and Josue Peley released by Boston.
Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe has reported that through five innings today, Aaron Cook has the following line: 2-H/1-R/1-ER/1-BB/2-K and 11 groundball outs. You can follow Pete’s live updates throughout the Red Sox vs. Nationals game on the Extra Bases Blog.
There’s a strong chance that Cook opens the season in Pawtucket before seeing time in the Big Leagues with the Red Sox. It’s important to remember that Cook has an “opt out” in his minor league contract on May 1. This could pressure Boston to call him up to Fenway before then since he has proven in Spring Training that he can get batters out.
Between getting ready for Opening Day, finalizing my taxes, and getting my couch ready for tonight’s NCAA Championship Game, there’s lots to do! I’ll leave you with a 2007 head shot of a former International League standout who is on the verge of signing a $200 million contract extension.
-AG
@aaronmgoldsmith
agoldsmith@pawsox.com
State of the (Red Sox) Farm System
In light of last night’s State of the Union Address, I thought it might be good timing to examine the State of the (Red Sox) Farm System. And don’t worry, much to the displeasure of my office-mate, Rick Medeiros, there will be no further talk of politics.
I was an avid follower of the Red Sox farm system in 2009 when I was the No. 2 broadcaster with the Portland Sea Dogs (best summer of my life). For the last two years I’ve done my best to check up on things while I was broadcasting games in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A, Texas Rangers). I’ll share with you some of my findings over the last month on how the “experts” believe the Sox system looks heading into 2012.
Tejada played in 123 games last year for Portland, hitting .249 with five HRs and 41 RBIs (Kelly O'Connor)
1) MiLB.com recently ranked the Top-10 prospects at each position (LHP, RHP, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF). Of these eight positions, the Sox had a Top-10 prospect in the following four:
- Second Base: Oscar Tejada, ranked 4th
- Catcher: Ryan Lavarnway, ranked 8th
- Third Base: Will Middlebrooks, ranked 6th
- Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, ranked 10th
2) Former Bill James research assistant and current SB Nation minor league guru John Sickels ranked the Sox farm system as the 11th best among the 30 major league teams.
3) Who is the Red Sox No. 1 overall prospect entering 2012? Well, pretty much everyone agrees.
- Baseball America: 3B, Will Middlebrooks
Middlebrooks figures to spend much of 2012 in Pawtucket (Kelly O'Connor)
- SoxProspects.com: 3B, Will Middlebrooks
- MLB.com: 3B, Will Middlebrooks
- Diehard Magazine: SS, Xander Bogaerts
According to SoxProspects, “the key story to watch in 2012 may be how Bogaerts fares against more advanced pitching, especially pitchers with refined off-speed offerings. Fans may also want to keep an eye on him in the early spring, to see how much he’s physically matured during the offseason. If he continues to grow, he could end up moving to third base or right field down the line.”
Red Sox fans will enjoy plenty of interesting minor league story lines throughout 2012 thanks to some promising young players. Some will be seen on a nightly basis here at McCoy Stadium, others at Hadlock Field in Portland, and many more at the lower levels.
There’s no doubt Boston has invested heavily. According to Baseball America, “For the third time in four years, the Red Sox set a new franchise record for draft spending, upping the ante to $11 million in 2011.”
As a result, on paper there’s a good group of minor league talent in the system – especially offensively. Now it’s up to the coaches and the work ethic of these young teenagers and twenty-somethings to truly develop.
-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
