Now that that's over with. Let's take a look at the 2022 Portland Sea Dogs. Currently they are 10-11 on the season and are doing just as bad as the Boston Red Sox it seems. Nevertheless let's begin with the team's fourth ranked prospect in all of the minors. 22 year old right handed pitcher Brayan Bello. Bello was signed as a Dominican teenager and is currently 2-2 with a 2.64 ERA in Portland. If he keeps improving he could be starting for Worcester by the end of the season.
Up next is 23 year old right handed pitcher Zach Bryant. Bryant was the player to be named in the Josh Osich trade in August of 2020 and he had a decent season in Greenville last year but has been struggling at the AA level so far. With the Sox desperate for bullpen arms and their historical ineptness at drafting pitchers, if Bryant doesn't pan out that's a big blow to the Sox.
Moving right along to the Number 30 ranked prospect in the system, 24 year old right handed pitcher Frank German. The Sox picked him up in the Adam Ottavino trade before 2021 and he struggled as a starter last year. This season he's been put in the bullpen and he's been arguably Portland's best pitcher, going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 8 appearances. If he turns into a bullpen ace not only for Portland and Worcester but someday for the Boston, that's another pitcher the Sox stole from the Yankees like Garrett Whitlock.
Up next is injured 27 year old left handed pitcher Rio Gomez. Gomez was the 36th round pick of the 2017 draft and took forever to get to this point. He did show some promise for Greenville a few years back but if he's still in Double A at 27 years old, its unlikely he'll advance much further....if he even stays healthy.
Up next is one of the most tragic members of the Red Sox organization, the number 10 ranked prospect, 23 year old left handed pitcher Jay Groome. Jay was Boston's first round pick in the 2016 draft and seemed fast tracked to the majors when he had to have Tommy John surgery that essentially wiped out his 2018 and 2019 seasons. Then Covid wiped out 2020 and he looked rusty in his stint with Greenville last year. The good news is he responded in a late call-up to Portland and so far he's 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 3 starts in Portland this season. Tanner Houck blew right by him to the majors but there's still a chance Groome makes it to the dance if he's fully healthy this season.
Up next is one of the team's longshots, 25 year old left handed pitcher Dominic LoBrutto. Dominic was an 18th round pick in 2016 and has been mediocre in the minors since then. He's currently on the 60 day injured list so we may not even see him in Portland this season after he struggled last year. Oh well, least they still have Jay Groome....right?
Up next is 25 year old right handed pitcher Joan Martinez. He was drafted as a Dominican teenager and was a reliever for Portland last year. He's struggled so far this season but its early, he may turn it around as the season goes on.
Moving right along to 22 year old Venezuelan left handed pitcher Oddainer Mosqueda. He was one of Lowell's best pitchers at age 19 and needs to have a good season to make it to Worcester by the end of the season. Compared to some of the career minor league bums that usually clog up AAA rosters, it would be nice to see prospects pitching instead.
Up next is Boston's number 11 ranked prospect, 23 year old left handed pitcher Chris Murphy. Murphy had a relatively bad year in 2021 but is in the starting rotation to start this season. He's allowed just 7 runs in 24 innings and his record may not show it, but his 2.63 ERA is pretty good. As mentioned with Mosqueda, a good year may have him up in Worcester sooner rather than later.
This next one is a true underdog story. Undrafted out of college, 26 year old left handed pitcher Brendan Nail pitched in just 31 games between 2017 and 2019 before Covid wiped out 2020. He did make a comeback last year going 6-0 with the Salem Red Sox although he's struggling to start this season. Hopefully he can get it right because going from undrafted and injured to the majors would be a best-selling novel for sure.
Next is the 15th round pick in the 2018 draft, 25 year old right handed pitcher Andrew Politi. Politi sucked as a starter going 6-9 last year for the Sea Dogs with a 6.36 ERA but hasn't given up a run yet this year as a reliever. Hopefully being used in the bullpen will fare him better in the long run.
Up next is the guy they picked up in the CJ Chatam trade, 21 year old right handed pitcher Victor Santos. He made his Dominican League debut for the Philadelphia Phillies organization at 16 years old and he was sent to the Sox last July 17th. He went 4-2 for the Sea Dogs as a starter last year and is 2-2 so far this season in the rotation. If he matures and becomes a better pitcher this could be a steal of a trade from the Phills.
Moving right along is Boston's 51st ranked prospect, 25 year old right handed pitcher Chase Shugart. Chase looked like a future star in 2019 when he went 6-4 in 16 starts for Greenville. Unfortunately he had a bad season last year and is now coming out of the bullpen for the Sea Dogs. He may be back in the rotation by the end of the season through one reason or another. Either way losing 2020 definitely held him back in development.
Up next is 2019 21st round pick right handed pitcher Dylan Spacke. He started and relieved in 2021 for Greenville but unfortunately he's 0-2 to start this season coming out of the bullpen. For someone drafted in the 21st round, even getting to Portland is impressive enough. Hopefully he turns it around this season.
Up next is the oldest player on the team, 27 year old right handed pitcher Jake Thompson. Quite frankly I have no idea how he's still in the organization. He was a fourth round pick in 2017 and went 5-13 for Salem that season. He pitched in just 4 games in 2019 and was mediocre for Portland last year. He hasn't pitched yet this season but don't expect much if and when he comes back.
Up next is Boston's 34th ranked prospect, 23 year old right handed pitcher Jacob Wallace. He was UConn's closer in college and he was the player to be named when the Sox shipped Kevin Pillar to the Colorado Rockies. He struggled for Portland as a set-up man/closer but he still has time to work things out. Usually you don't get much out of PTBNL's but if he figures out command he could be Worcester's closer at the end of this year.
Up next is Boston's 6th overall ranked prospect, 25 year old left handed pitcher Brandon Walter. Walter actually had a good year for Salem and Greenville last season and has an ERA of 1.17 as a starter this season. Because of his age, he may get a chance at Worcester sooner rather than later especially if he continues to dominate AA batters. Worcester could use a younger, live arm compared to Derek Holland and such.
Up next is another tragic tale, the 21st ranked prospect in 25 year old right handed pitcher Thaddeus Ward. Ward was ranked in the top ten in 2019 as he dominated Greenville and Salem pitching. After Covid wiped out 2020 he ended up having Tommy John surgery last year and isn't expected to pitch this season until June at the earliest. Just like Jay Groome, he seemed to be fast tracked to the majors until injuries kicked in.
Now for the position players. First is the 51st ranked prospect, 24 year old catcher Kole Cottam. Kole hit .278 last year for Greenville and Portland and is hitting .300 this season so far. With Christian Vazquez struggling in Boston, a huge hot streak by Cottam could have him in Worcester by the end of this season and maybe competing with Vazquez (or someone else) in 2023. The sky's the limit if he keeps hitting.
Backing up Cottam is the son of former MLB player Eli Marrero, Elih. Elih did manage to hit .287 for Greenville last year but displayed almost no power. Slap hitting catchers can be useful to get on base so time will tell if Marrero pans out here or somewhere else.
The last of the three catchers is 23 year old Oscar Rangel. He's currently on the Development List which is basically the Injured List but not actually injured. He hit only .154 in Portland last year so he definitely could use some seasoning. Maybe he'll be back in Greenville before coming back to Portland.
Up next is Boston's 53rd ranked prospect, 24 year old second basemen Cameron Cannon. He was drafted in the second round in 2019 and hit .205 for Lowell. Last year he hit .300 for Greenville but struggled in Portland as a late season call-up. With Nick Yorke and Marcello Mayer tabbed as a future double play combo, Cannon may have to switch positions or be traded altogether if he doesn't improve this season.
Up next is 24 year old shortstop David Hamilton. He was one of the prospects in the Hunter Renfroe trade and he's been one of Portland's best hitters this season. He's hitting .298 with 13 steals and 13 rbis. Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom is banking on Hamilton and Ales Binelas developing into players because Jackie Bradley Jr has completely flopped in his Red Sox return.
Up next is the 60th ranked prospect, 22 year old third baseman Brandon Howlett. Howlett is one of those all or nothing guys that hit .253 last year but clocked 17 home runs. So far he's struggled this season but the Sea Dogs are going to need his power if they hope to compete this season. If Rafael Devers doesn't walk at the end of the season, Howlett may be on the trade block.
Up next is the 22nd ranked prospect, 24 year old infielder "Boss" Christian Koss. Koss made his name in the Cape Cod League while in college and was picked up in a trade last off-season for Yoan Aybar. Koss responded by slamming 15 home runs last year in Greenville. He already has 2 this season for Portland and this trade could prove to be a steal if he continues to improve.
Up next is 23 year old third baseman Hudson Potts. Hudson has been a huge disappointment since he came over in the Mitch Moreland trade. He hit 17 home runs in 2019 in the San Diego Padres system but hit just .217 with 11 home runs last year. So far he does have 3 home runs but is only hitting .143. With Jeisson Rosario gone, he's the last link to Moreland and if he doesn't pan out....chalk that up as a bad trade.
Rounding out the infielders is 24 year old first baseman Tyreque Reed. Reed was picked up from the Texas Rangers in the Rule 5 draft last off-season along with Garrett Whitlock from the Yankees. So far he's been as good as advertised, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 71 runs between Greenville and Salem. He's started off slow this season but his power bat will come into play in the summer when the weather gets warmer and balls fly out quicker.
Moving on to to the outfielders, we begin with power hitting 24 year old Pedro Castellanos. He hit 23 home runs for Salem in 2019 and 13 last season after missing 2020 due to Covid. The Sox are desperate for power hitting outfielders, especially if Jarren Duran in Worcester doesn't pan out. Maybe Pedro can either be a trade chip or actually make an appearance in Boston some day.
Up next is the modern day Mark Bellhorn, the 24 year old outfielder Will Dalton. Dalton managed to sock 11 home runs last year but struck out 105 times for the Sea Dogs. In the recent "launch angle" trend that has guys like him and Bobby Dalbec hitting .230 with 20 home runs, he actually fits right in if he continues to hit the ball out of the yard. If he doesn't, he'll be back in Greenville or in another organization in due time.
Up next was arguably Portland's best home run hitter last season, 23 year old outfielder Tyler Dearden. Tyler crushed 24 home runs and drove in 80 runs, strong arming the Sea Dogs offensively. This season he's only hitting .222 with 1 home run but that's going to change for sure. Once again, if his power translates as he works his way up, he'll find a home either in Boston or in another organization. Everyone loves a home run hitter.
Up next is 22 year old right fielder Tyler Esplin. Tyler struggled in 2019 and 2021 hitting a combined .232 but right now he's hitting .282 in Portland. He doesn't have much power so he's going to have to raise his batting average if he hopes to advance to the next level.
Second to last on our list is 26 year old outfielder Devlin Granberg. When healthy he's a difference maker as he's hit above .275 in the minors. He also smashed 10 home runs last year for the Sea Dogs. Since he's the elder statesman of the group, he should be the first to head up to Worcester out of everyone. Whether he makes the majors or not depends on if he can keep hitting.
Last but certainly not least is 24 year old right fielder Izzy Wilson. Izzy was signed as a minor league free agent in the off-season and is currently hitting .100 in a limited role. He's got plenty of time to turn things around and if he doesn't produce, I'm sure someone from Greenville will be more than happy to replace him.
Well there ya have it. There's Portland's current roster. Not everyone is going to be here at the end for one reason or another. Still, every team's future stars are in AA since AAA has a glut of mediocre major leaguers on each roster. Let's hope Portland has a good season this year.
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