The outfielder acquired for Quinn Priester had a great night Tuesday.
Shortstops up and down the organization had a night Tuesday! So, too, did relief pitching… for the most part. It is intriguing that these things have been a detriment to the Red Sox over the last, oh, 300 games or so. And Marcelo Mayer wasn’t even one of the guys who popped off, after his game was postponed until tomorrow. While none of these guys are the solution right now, it’s refreshing to see that the Red Sox may not have to be concerned with the plan at this position for long given the multitude of depth. Let’s get into it!
Worcester: PPD due to “rain/freezing conditions”
With a feels-like temperature at 25 degrees, even though there was baseball being played elsewhere in the state, it wasn’t possible in Central Massachusetts against the Clippers (Guardians AAA). Shane Drohan (likely) goes at 4:05 in game 1 of a double-header on Wednesday.
Portland: W, 2-1 (10) (BOX SCORE)
Yordanny Monegro, who had a fantastic end of the season in Greenville last year, had his first Double-A start, and he was decent, going 3.1 with one earned run and two hits, striking out six. Jack Anderson, who was acquired in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft, had a great night as well, striking out five. And, on a night that the Red Sox kept giving up late innings hits to the Blue Jays, Zach Bryant held their minor league affiliate Fisher Cats hitless through pivotal nine outs. Tyler Miller had the only extra base hit of the night for Portland, and Max Ferguson continues to be clutch, walking the game off by scoring his fellow trademate Corey Rosier.
Greenville: L, 2-6 (BOX SCORE)
Payton Tolle, the highest remaining draft pick following Kyle Teel’s trade to the White Sox, laid an egg in his first start in High-A in Asheville (Astros High-A). Tolle gave up five runs in as many outs. In brighter news: You might recall Quinn Priester being traded to the pitcher-desperate Brewers for outfielder Yophery Rodriguez. Know that Rodriguez, despite striking out twice, managed the game’s only triple and one other hit. Nazzan Zanetello falling to the two-spot in this lineup is quite justified, and, although the two combined for four strikeouts, seven if you count Zach Ehrhard’s three in the three spot, there’s some promising bats coming through the Drive system.
Salem: L, 8-9 (BOX SCORE)
Frank Arias and Antonio Anderson, two 19-year-old sluggers, are off to rollicking starts in 2025. Anderson contributed two doubles, and Arias has now had nine hits in the first four games of Salem’s season. Unfortunately, following a rough night by Australian starter, 19-year-old Adam Bates, the Red Sox got walked-off by the Nationals, a rair scuff in Michael Sansone’s armor. Salem issued nine walks to Fredricksburg on the night, dampening a winning probability that was as high as 71% when Nataniel Yuten had a basses-clearing double to make the score an early 6-4, marred by 15 strikeouts in the plate. Salem drops to 3-1, but luckily had offensive starpower take the smart off the burn.
Have a happy Thursday!