First on the list is 23 year old left handed pitcher Manuel Medina. Manuel was a Venezuelan teenager signed by the Florida Marlins back in 2019 and never made it above Low A for Florida since. He only pitched in 3 games last year for the Jupiter Hammerheads before being signed by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft. If he's posting a 4.28 or 4.50 ERA in Low A, that's not a good sign. Still, maybe a change of scenery will do him some good.
Speaking of Craig Breslow's first draft, here's 22 year old right handed pitcher Brady Tygart. He was drafted in the 12th round last year after going 4-3 with a 3.94 ERA in 13 starts for Arkansas University. He was supposed to go higher in the draft but injury concerns dropped him and he just made his debut for Salem, tossing 2 2/23 scoreless innings. Let's see if he can make the transition to Single A this year.
One of the most bizarre picks of the 2024 draft was in the 15th round when Boston selected injured right handed pitcher Joey Gartrell. Gartrell was a below average pitcher for Portland University going 5-5 with a 5.17 ERA in 14 starts in 2023. He made just 4 bad starts in 2024 before having Tommy John surgery. Usually Chaim Bloom drafted bums in college so for Breslow to take an injured bum is definitely a head scratcher. Still, can't judge a guy until he makes his debut.
Almost the exact same situation happened a round earlier in last year's draft when the Sox took injured right handed pitcher Alex Bouchard out of Lehigh University. Unlike Gartrell, at least Bouchard had some success in college going 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 12 starts in 2023 for Lehigh before getting hurt in 2024. He may not pitch until the end of this season, judge slowly.
In the third round last year, the Sox selected Florida University closer Brandon Neely. He was first team All-SEC in 2023 before battling arm trouble last year. The arm trouble carried over to this year and he's starting the year on the Injured List. Just like the previous two, it'll be a while before we see Neely in action.
One of the intriguing pitching prospects is 23 year old right handed pitcher Calvin Bickerstaff. He was a bum at Kent State going 4-4 with 5.08 ERA in 11 starts and went undrafted in last year's draft. Signed as a rookie free agent, Bickerstaff surprised everyone when he allowed just 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings to finish the season in Salem. He's out with a sore back right now but it will be interesting to see if he can keep up that momentum in 2025.
One of the heartbreaking stories of last season was that of 20 year old catcher Johanfran Garcia. Signed as a Venezuelan teenager in 2022, Garcia was in the process of having a breakout season with Salem last year. Through 14 games he was hitting .385 with 2 home runs and then he tore his knee out on May 3rd. He's still rehabbing his knee and hopefully when he comes back, he can show the same promise he did before. The Sox organization are reeling at the catcher's position with Kyle Teel gone and Connor Wong out. Him developing would be a big help in terms of depth.
Speaking of heartbreaking stories, look no further than 23 year old outfielder Stanley Tucker. He was taken in the 19th round in 2023 and struggled to hit in Salem. In 2024, he was hitting just .195 when he dislocated his shoulder in August. In his first spring training game this year, Tucker broke his wrist. It'll be a long time before we see him again.
To complete the tri-fecta of misery, here's 23 year old right handed pitcher Matt Duffy. Taken in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, Duffy had a breakout year in Salem last season when he went 4-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 21 starts for the Sox. Looking to be the ace of this year's team until being promoted, he instead tore his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery. He won't be back until sometime next year, damn shame.
Rounding out the injured list is 22 year old right handed pitcher Cole Tolbert. Taken in the 19th round last year in the draft, Tolbert was batting practice for Salem going 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in 5 games. This year he blew his arm out and got Tommy John surgery in spring training. We won't see him until the middle of next season either. Get well soon.
Of the players that will play this season, first up is 21 year old right handed pitcher Blake Aita. Blake was taken in the 6th round in last year's draft after going 7-4 with a 3.90 ERA for Kennesaw State. He's currently 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA this year so he's off to a good start. He can hit 95 on the gun so hopefully he can stay off the injured list.
Here's an intriguing prospect, 19 year old right handed pitcher Adam Bates was signed in October 2023 out of the Australian baseball league. He pitched in 11 games for the Florida Complex Sox last year adjusting to American life and so far this year he's allowed 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings. Maybe he'll turn it around, maybe not. Not exactly "million dollar arm" but going out of the country for talent is a big crapshot.
One of the starters off to a bad start is 23 year old right handed pitcher Trennor O'Donnell. The 6'7 beast was drafted in the 8th round back in 2023 out of Ball State and went 3-7 with a 4.00 ERA for Salem last year. This year so far he's allowed 5 runs in 6 1/3 innings. The season is young but its not a good sign when you're getting smacked around by Low A batting.
Up next is 22 year old right handed pitcher Steven Brooks. Brooks was taken in the 11th round last year after being straight batting practice for Cal Poly from 2022-24. So far things look good this year as he's 1-0 with a 2.89 in 2 games so far. Hopefully he can keep the momentum going as the year continues.
22 year old left handed pitcher Brandon Clarke is another Craig Breslow project. He was a bum in not just college but junior college, going 6-2 with a 4.36 ERA for Florida-Manatee JC. So far, so good this year as he's only allowed 1 run in 6 innings of work. He can hit 100 on the gun so teach him control and you're good to go.
Speaking of drafting bums, last year's 10th round pick was 22 year old left handed pitcher Devin Futrell. Devin was 4-1 but with a 5.40 ERA for Vanderbilt University before he was drafted. He's yet to make his organizational debut but if the last two pitchers are any indication, he might get off to a good start....we hope.
The first "draft and follow" pick back in 2022 was 21 year old right handed pitcher Austin Ehrlicher. The reason he fell to the 18th round was he was playing basketball as well as baseball for Santa Rosa Junior College and scouts were afraid he'd go pro in basketball instead. He got hurt in both 2023 and 2024 making only 2 appearances for Salem last year. This year he hasn't allowed a run in 3 1/3 innings, good start.
Someone who did pitch last year was 21 year old right handed pitcher Griffin Kilander. Drafted in the 16th round, Kilander impressed by allowing just 1 run in 7 innings to finish the season in Salem. This year he's allowed 2 runs in 2 innings but scouts like the look of his sweeper. Time will tell if he can develop.
Norwell, MA's own Shea Sprague is a 22 year old left handed pitcher that was drafted in the 13th round last year out of UNC. He went 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in 14 starts for North Carolina and got hammered for 12 runs in 5 innings so far this year. Hopefully its just opening jitters since he didn't pitch for the Complex to end last year, but allowing that many runs early is concerning.
Last year's ace of the squad was 21 year old right handed pitcher Luis Cohen. Signed as a Venezuelan teenager in 2022, he broke out last year going 6-5 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts for the Sox. He can hit 96 on the gun and he's allowed 1 run in 3 innings so far. Another run like he had last year will have him in Greenville by the middle of the season.
When the Red Sox traded Enmanuel Valdez to the Pittsburgh Pirates, they got their 19th round pick in the 2024 draft 23 year old right handed pitcher Joe Vogatsky in return. Vogatsky was James Madison University's set-up man in 2023 and 2024 recording 14 saves combined. The concerning factor was his 3.49 ERA his senior season which dropped his draft stock. He was taken just three picks before the Sox took D'Angelo "Little Papi" Ortiz. He didn't pitch to end 2024 and he's allowed 2 runs in 8 innings so far this season. If they can get anything out of him, the Valdez trade won't be a colossal failure.
Time might be running out on 22 year old right handed pitcher Nathanael Cruz. He was signed as a Dominican teenager in 2019 and has been straight batting practice for Salem from 2022-24. This year he's already allowed 5 runs in 4 innings and normally you don't give up on a 22 year old, but when he's struggling for the fourth year in a row to get Low A hitters out, it may be time to cut your losses.
21 year old right handed pitcher Eybersson Polanco was signed as a Venezuelan teenager in 2021 and didn't pitch last year due to injury. This year he's already allowed 7 runs in 3 innings and it doesn't look good so far. He struggled in 2023 for the Complex so time will tell if he can turn it around or not.
The elder statesman of the group is 25 year old left handed pitcher Michael Sansone. He was an undrafted rookie free agent signed by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022 and signed with Boston as a minor league free agent last April. In 2024 he went 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA in Salem mostly out of the bullpen. He might be in Greenville sooner rather than later due to his age. He's a junkballer so command will be his downfall or strength.
Joe Vogatsky wasn't the only one from the 2024 draft traded to the Red Sox by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Back in January the Sox sent Chase Shugart to Pittsburgh for 22 year old right handed pitcher Matt McShane. He was taken in the 13th round last year and didn't pitch for Pittsburgh the rest of the year. So far he's allowed an unearned run in 8 innings and hopefully he can keep up the momentum. Amazing how the Sox suffered so many injuries to their 2024 draft picks so they traded for another one.
One of the youngest guys on the team is 19 year old left handed pitcher Nicolas De La Cruz. He was signed as a Dominican teenager in January of 2023 and posted a 1.93 ERA at the Complex last year. This year he's allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings so the jury is still out. He's more of a location pitcher than blow guys away, time will tell if he develops.
The 6 foot 8 monster right handed pitcher Nicholas Judice was drafted in the 8th round back in 2023 and was the throw-in pitcher in the Alex Verdugo trade that sent Greg Weissert and "Big" Dick Fitts to the Red Sox. Last year he pitched in just 3 games and only pitched in one this year so far. Unfortunately he's more of a junkballer than a fireballer which might not translate to success. We'll see how far he goes.
21 year old outfielder Karim Ayubi was signed as a Caracan teenager in 2021 and hasn't been able to hit since. He hit just .198 for the Florida Complex in 2024 before hitting just .224 for Salem after. This year he has 1 hit in 21 at-bats and he better turn it around in a hurry, or he's had it. Going for 1 for 21 in Low A is a bad sign.
20 year old outfielder Yosander Asencio was signed as a Dominican free agent in 2022 and he hit .271 to finish 2024 with the Complex. This year he's got 6 hits in 24 at-bats which is as average as it gets. Better than bad anyway, let's see how he turns out.
Salem's backup catcher is 22 year old catcher Diego Viloria. He's another guy who can't hit at all. He hit .152 last year for Salem and he's only played in one game this year. Its a shame they can't find that can hit in the DSL anymore, that was a Ben Cherrington/Dave Dombrowski staple.
Rounding out the gang that couldn't shoot straight is 19 year old catcher Andruw Musett. He was signed as a Venezuelan teenager in January of 2023 and hit a whopping .200 with no home runs in 17 games last year for Salem. Again, if he's having trouble hitting Single A pitching, how's he going to make it to the next level? He does have 7 hits in 27 at-bats so far this year though.
Salem's starting catcher is 18 year old Venezuelan Kleyver Salazar. Signed in January of 2023, Salazar hit .226 but with 4 home runs for the Complex last year. This year so far he's got 7 hits in 30 at-bats. He's got plenty of time to develop but making Single A at 18 is nothing to sneeze at. Hope he can take the next step within the next few years.
Salem's starting first baseman is 20 year old Dominican Freili Encarnacion. Signed as a teenager in 2022, Freilu hit .244 with 2 home runs in 2024 for Salem and came back for another year. This year so far he's already belted two home runs and driven in 8 runs total. That's a good start, hopefully he can keep the momentum going.
Salem's starting second baseman is 19 year old Dominican Yoeilin Cespedes. He was signed in January 2023 and was tearing up the Florida Complex last year but broke his hand just before his first game for Salem. This year his hand is healed and he's got 8 hits in 36 at-bats so far. Hopefully last year's injury was just a hiccup and he's ready to dominate the next level.
Salem's starting third baseman is 19 year old right handed hitting Antonio Anderson. He was one of the many infielders drafted by Chaim Bloom as he went in the 3rd round back in 2023. He had arguably one of the worst seasons by a starting position player as he hit just .186 in 108 games last year. Still, if taking his lumps as an 18 year old prepared him for this year, it might have worked. He already has 12 hits in just 9 games so far and looks to be turning the corner. Good on him if he does.
With all the infielders drafted by Chaim Bloom between 2020 and 2023, ironically Salem's starting shortstop is 19 year old Venezuelan Franklin Arias. He was the Florida Complex League MVP last year hitting .355 with 6 home runs, 28 rbis and 30 stolen bases. He was brought up to Salem where he hit .257 with 3 home runs to finish the season. This year could be the breakout year as he already has 17 hits in 43 at-bats. Would love to see him win Carolina League MVP this year.
Salem's starting left fielder is 20 year old outfielder Frederik Jimenez. Jimenez hit .308 for the Complex last year but has just 5 hits in 28 at-bats to start this season. If only he learns how to hit, he might be a stud down the road.
Salem's starting centerfielder is 22 year old outfielder Kelvin Diaz. One of the last of the Dave Dombrowski Dominican signings in 2019, Diaz spent 2021 and 2022 with the Dominican Sox before spending 2023 and 2024 with the Florida Complex. He finished with 29 games in Salem last year and has 5 hits in 20 at-bats to start this year. Covid wiped out 2020 so he's a year late in his development but still, this year could be the year for Diaz.
Salem's starting right fielder is 20 year old Dominican Natanael Yuten. He was signed in January 2022 and almost won Florida Complex MVP in 2023. Last year he hit .243 with 6 home runs and 50 rbis in 101 games for Salem. This year he has just 3 hits in 22 at-bats but the year just started. This could be a breakout year for Yuten if things fall into place.
Last but not least is 19 year old starting designated hitter, Starlyn Nunez. Signed in January 2023 as a Dominican teenager, Nunez hit .228 with 3 homers for the Complex last year and already has 2 home runs in 8 games this year. The Sox are going to need someone to develop this year and it may as well be Nunez.
That's going to do it for this year's preview. The last few years the majority of the pitchers were the Dominican teenagers being asked to sink or swim because of Bloom's reliance of position players. Now its the other way around with a bevy of draft picks on the pitching side and reliance on Dominican players for the starting nine. It'll be interesting if they can get a few guys that can hit or pitch well. Come to the park and found out.
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