SoxProspects News

Podcast Ep. #434: 2026 in Review: Low-Minors Hitters

2026-10-19T21:02:51.308-04:00

It's part 2 of our season look-back, and the guys are headed south to the low-minors affiliates. 2026 Breakout Player of the Year Franklin Primera and four 2026 draftees lead a crop of hitters with interesting potential, but a ways to go. Plus, with the season approaching its end, Chris and Ian looked at this year's particularly noteworthy crop of minor league free agents, and how the organization might approach whether and how to retain those prospects.

4:48: 2026 minor league free agent class, featuring Angel Bastardo, Allan Castro, Yordanny Monegro, Jeremy Wu-Yelland, and Sam McWilliams

25:58 2026 Season in Review, Low-Minors Hitters: discussing Franklin Primera, Owen Hull, Jake Schaffner, Jace Mataczynski, Martin Shelar, Carlos Gutierrez, Dorian Soto, Geraldo Rodriguez, Luke Heyman, Isaiah Jackson, Hector Ramos, Garielvin Silverio, Dawvris Brito, Louis Andujar, Freyerso Vasquez, Anderber Urbina, Joskairo Ramirez, Maximus Martin, Kleyver Salazar, Josue Brito, Adonys Guzman, Starlyn Nunez, Jorge Rodriguez, Yophery Rodriguez, Jhorman Bravo, Ronny Hernandez, Andrews Opata, Antonio Anderson, Freili Encarnacion, Nazzan Zanetello, Jostin Ogando

Love the show? Want to help us out while also getting exclusive goodies? Support the podcast by contributing to us on Patreon! Go to SoxProspects on Patreon for the details.

A special thank you to The Ludlow Thieves for our intro/outro song, All the Money. Check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

Got something to say? We love talking about what you want to hear about. Make sure to email us at podcast@soxprospects.com.

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Fall/Winter Roundup: International Winter Leagues kick off

2026-10-19T12:00:39.706-04:00

The fall and winter league schedule continued to heat up this week. In addition to the ongoing Arizona Fall League action, the schedules kicked off in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico (where the Red Sox do not have anyone currently on a roster). The two top prospects in the Caribbean are upcoming free agents Allan Castro (pictured) and Yordanny Monegro. For a full roster of all affiliated prospects currently assigned and their statistics for the season, make sure to check out our Fall & Winter Leagues page.

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Arizona Fall League

It was an unusual week for the Mesa Solar Sox, with a rare weather postponement on Monday followed by another cancellation on Tuesday due to a power outage. Antonio Anderson followed up on a strong opening week by going 3 for 10 with a pair of doubles and three walks in his three starts. He scored twice and drove in a pair. Mason White got two starts at second base and one at shortstop, going 2 for 11 with an RBI and a pair of walks. Nazzan Zanetello struggled to an 0 for 8 week.

Madinson Frias got the start on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked one, struck out two, and was saddled with the loss. Harry Blum allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of relief in his lone outing of the week. Nicholas Judice took the loss in his lone outing, giving up three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Trennor O'Donnell was bailed out of a similar fate the night before--he also gave up three runs in his lone inning of work to surrender Mesa's 7-5 lead, but a late offensive charge helped the Solar Sox to the 14-9 victory.

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Domincan Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)

Winter ball kicked off in the Dominican Republic on Friday, and three Sox players saw action. Allan Castro, currently ranked 34th in the organization and scheduled to hit minor league free agency after the World Series ends, appeared in three games for the Toros del Este. He started at DH in Friday's opener, going 1 for 4 with a strikeout, and went 0 for 3 as a substitute in two games over the weekend. Like Castro, Yordanny Monegro is a top-40 prospect (#24) scheduled to reach minor league free agency. He appeared in one game in relief for Licey, allowing a run in one inning, striking out one and walking one. Miguel Bleis appeared in two games for Estrellas, going 1 for 2 as a pinch hitter.

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Venezuelan Professional Baseball League

After not having any prospects active in Venezuela last winter, four Boston players saw action during the circuit's first week. Marvin Alcantara, who missed the last two months of the season on the injured list, appeared in four games for Caracas, starting once at second base. He went 1 for 5 with a walk and a strikeout. Ronald Rosario appeared twice for Anzoátegui, going 3 for 6 with an RBI. Luis Cohen earned a decision in both games in which he appeared for Margarita. He surrendered a run in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth on opening day, suffering the loss, but responded with a scoreless 1 1/3 on Saturday as he struck out a pair to get credit for the victory. Ahbram Liendo joins Cohen on Margarita. He appeared in one game as a defensive replacement at third base and went 0 for 1.

Photo Credit: Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor

Podcast Ep. #433: 2026 in Review: High-Minors Hitters

2026-10-12T12:21:17.753-04:00

Part 1 of our season-in-review takes a look at the hitters who reached Double-A or higher in the system this year, led by the system's top prospect. Before diving in, Chris and Ian looked back at last week's episode, considering whether the "look ahead" segment had too pessimistic an outlook in response to some discussion on the SoxProspects forum. These season-in-review episodes will be great for listeners with any level of knowledge, serving as a great jumping-on point for those who want to learn about the players in the Red Sox farm system while also providing the usual in-depth analysis our regular listeners expect!

8:30: Post-mortem of the post-mortem. What's a fair assessment of the Red Sox heading into 2027?

38:20: Season in Review, High Minors hitters. Discussing Franklin Arias, Justin Gonzales, Henry Godbout, Yoeilin Cespedes, Jack Winnay, Mikey Romero, Mason White, Allan Castro, Johanfran Garcia, Brooks Brannon, Marvin Alcantara, Miguel Bleis, Nelly Taylor, Tsung-Che Cheng, Braiden Ward, Will Turner

Love the show? Want to help us out while also getting exclusive goodies? Support the podcast by contributing to us on Patreon! Go to SoxProspects on Patreon for the details.

A special thank you to The Ludlow Thieves for our intro/outro song, All the Money. Check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

Got something to say? We love talking about what you want to hear about. Make sure to email us at podcast@soxprospects.com.

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Fall/Winter League Roundup: Anderson erupts as AFL season gets underway

2026-10-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

With the 2026 minor league regular season in the books, we move on to the fall and winter leagues. Boston sent three position players and five pitchers to play for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. This week's roundup covers everything from October 3-11, and stats for all participating players can be found at the SoxProspects.com Fall & Winter Leagues page.

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Arizona Fall League

Over the first week-plus of game action, Antonio Anderson (pictured) has been one of the best hitters in the league. With the Solar Sox down by three runs in the top of the ninth on Friday, Anderson launched a go-ahead grand slam that left the bat at 115.2 mph. He followed that up with another home run on Saturday. In all he is batting .368/.500/.737 with five walks and eight strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. Nazzan Zanetello has also had a solid start, slashing .200/.385/.450 over 26 plate appearances. He has a home run, triple, and two steals to go along with six walks and nine strikeouts. Mason White, a 2026 SoxProspects All-Star, has had the slowest start of the trio. He is 3 for his first 18, though one of his hits was a home run. Similar to the other hitters, he has accumulated a high amount of walks (5) and strikeouts (8). In total the three batters have combined to walk or strikeout in 56 percent of their plate appearances thus far.

Two pitchers have been spotless for Mesa, with Nicholas Judice and Trennor O'Donnell yet to allow a run. Judice has not allowed a baserunner while striking out four in his 2 1/3 innings, while O'Donnell's only blemish is a walk in his three frames. Harry Blum took a loss in his last appearance as he has allowed six of the 13 batters he has faced to reach base, while Madinson Frias and Caden Vire are sporting a 4.50 and 5.40 ERA, respectively.

Despite having a positive run differential, the Solar Sox are 2-4 and are already three games back of first place.

Photo Credit: Antonio Anderson by Kelly O'Connor

2026 SoxProspects.com Awards: Pitcher of the Year

2026-10-09T12:05:00.000-04:00

This concludes the fifth and final day of 2026 SoxProspects.com Awards week. Over the past week, we at SoxProspects.com have recognized our All-Star position players and pitchers, Graduate of the Year, Homegrown Players of the Year, Ex-Prospect of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year, and Player of the Year. To wrap things up today, we name our Pitcher of the Year.

Pitcher of the Year

Despite being traded to the Orioles in early August, Anthony Eyanson (pictured, right) takes home SoxProspects.com's Pitcher of the Year award for a stellar first full professional season. The 22-year-old right-hander entered 2026 as the organization's No. 6 prospect after being selected with the 87th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Louisiana State and signing for $1.75 million. He further elevated his stock with a standout spring training that included touching triple digits in the Spring Breakout showcase.

Eyanson broke camp with Greenville and did not issue a walk in his first four starts, earning South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month honors for April. The California native ended up making five starts for the Drive, posting a 0.44 ERA with 34 strikeouts to three walks over 20 1/3 innings before receiving a promotion to Portland in early May.

In Portland, Eyanson picked up where he left off, pitching to a 1.69 ERA with 60 strikeouts to 23 walks over 11 outings (10 starts) and 48 innings for the Sea Dogs through the end of July. Alongside infielder Franklin Arias, the young righty represented the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game. Not long after that, however, he was dealt to the Orioles with four other players as part of the Adley Rutschman blockbuster on August 3.

Switching organizations for the first time just over a year after being drafted, Eyanson remained at the same level in the Eastern League by reporting to Chesapeake. He then closed out an eventful debut season by forging a 2.03 ERA with 47 strikeouts to nine walks in six starts (31 innings) for the Baysox. Across his two Double-A stops, he put up a 1.82 ERA with 107 strikeouts to 32 walks across 17 outings (16 starts) and 79 innings.

Overall, Eyanson posted a sterling 1.54 ERA with 141 strikeouts to 35 walks in 22 total appearances (21 starts) spanning 99 1/3 innings between Greenville, Portland, and Bowie this season. Opposing hitters slashed just .175/.255/.277 against him. For his work at Double-A, he was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year and selected as an All-Star.

Eyanson is now viewed as Baltimore's top pitching prospect, with Baseball America ranking him 34th in its Top 100 and MLB Pipeline ranking him 45th. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound hurler features a four-pitch mix consisting of a mid-90s fastball whose velocity tapered off as the season progressed, a mid-to-upper-80s slider, a low-80s curveball, and an upper-80s changeup.

Like Arias, Eyanson, who is celebrating his 22nd birthday on Friday, should have an opportunity to make his major-league debut in 2027.

Photo Credit: Anthony Eyanson by Kelly O'Connor

2026 SoxProspects.com Awards: Player of the Year

2026-10-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the fifth and final day of 2026 SoxProspects.com Awards week. Throughout the week, we have recognized our All-Star position players and pitchers, Graduate of the Year, Homegrown Players of the Year, Ex-Prospect of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and Breakout Player of the Year. Today, we begin by naming our Player of the Year.

Player of the Year

After moving up three levels in 2025, Franklin Arias (pictured, right) entered 2026 as the organization's No. 2 prospect behind only left-hander Payton Tolle. The 20-year-old infielder returned to Portland out of camp this spring and got off to a blistering start, homering eight times in 20 games on his way to earning Eastern League Player of the Month honors for April. He continued to swing a hot bat into the summer, culminating in him being selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game and receiving a promotion to Worcester in late July.

At the time of the promotion, Arias had batted .318/.407/.587 with 17 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 52 RBI, 50 runs scored, five stolen bases, 37 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 75 games (332 plate appearances) for Portland. The right-handed hitter picked up where he left off in his first taste of Triple-A action by slashing .331/.388/.506 with 11 doubles, six home runs, 39 RBI, 28 runs scored, four stolen bases, 16 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 42 games (188 plate appearances) for Worcester to finish the season.

Altogether, Arias hit a stout .323/.400/.557 with 28 doubles, a career-high 25 home runs (the most in the organization), 91 RBI, 78 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 53 walks, and 74 strikeouts in 117 games (520 plate appearances) between Portland and Worcester this season. Among other honors, he was recognized as Portland's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, the Eastern League's MVP and Top MLB Prospect, and the Red Sox' Offensive Player of the Year.

Defensively, Arias saw most of his playing time this year come at either shortstop or second base. Between his stops in Portland and Worcester, the sure-handed 5-foot-11, 180-pounder made 75 starts at short and 16 starts at the keystone, committing only five errors in 350 total chances. He also made 18 starts at DH.

Arias, who turns 21 next month, originally signed with the Red Sox for $525,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January 2023. The Caracas native is now ranked as the organization's No. 1 prospect, as well as one of the top prospects in baseball. Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline rank him No. 2 in the sport behind only the Brewers' Jesus Made, citing added strength and increased bat speed as reasons for his 2026 breakout.

Because he is not on Boston's 40-man roster and does not need to be added this offseason, Arias will not be affected by a possible MLB lockout this winter. He should, instead, head into 2027 with a chance to continue his rapid ascent and put himself in position for a big-league call-up.

Photo Credit: Franklin Arias by Kelly O'Connor

2026 SoxProspects.com Awards: Rookie, Breakout, and Comeback Players of the Year

2026-10-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

We continue our SoxProspects.com Awards week with our Rookie, Breakout, and Comeback players of the year. Eligible Rookies will have fewer than 50 plate appearances or 15 innings pitched in their minor league careers. The Comeback player award honors a player who has returned to prospect form from injury, poor performance, or a combination of the two. Breakout Player recognizes the player who made the greatest jump in prospect status during the season. The 2026 honorees include Boston's minor league strikeout leader, a pitcher who started this season in a different organization, and a 19-year-old catcher who reached base in half of his plate appearances.

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Rookie of the Year: Dylan Brown

For the third year in a row this award is going to a left-handed pitcher after Payton Tolle won last year and Connelly Early won it in 2024. Brown was an eighth-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Old Dominion University, receiving a slot bonus of $229,000. He debuted in Salem in April of this year, and he made quick work of the Carolina League. He struck out 32 in 23 1/3 innings while pitching to an ERA of 2.31. The 22-year-old got promoted to Greenville where he continued to miss bats at an impressive pace. The South Atlantic League had an offensive explosion this year when compared with prior years, but Brown was still able to post a 3.78 ERA with 111 strikeouts and only 24 walks in 83 1/3 innings.

Helped in part by the trade of Anthony Eyanson to Baltimore, Brown led Boston's minor league system in strikeouts this season with 143, and the Red Sox named him their 2026 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He ended the season particularly strong as he won the SoxProspects.com Pitcher of the Month award in August with an ERA of 2.66 while holding opposing batters to an average of just .186.

The 6-foot-5 left-hander has a good shot to open the 2027 season in Portland's rotation, where he will be tested against more advanced competition. He is looking to follow in the footsteps of Early and Tolle who were both in the major leagues the year after winning this award. While that may be tough to do with Boston's pitching depth, it was still an incredible rise this season for Brown who rose from 60th in the rankings all the way up to 20th.

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Comeback Player of the Year: Jedixson Paez

Coming off a 2025 season where he missed more than three months due to a severe right calf strain, Paez started 2026 in the majors with the White Sox after they took him in the Rule 5 draft. After three appearances that saw him allow six runs over three frames, he got returned to the Red Sox once he cleared waivers. The Red Sox assigned him to Portland, and he made his next 17 appearances with the Sea Dogs. His 4.41 ERA does not jump off the page, but he struck out 56 and walked just five over 49 innings. He was rewarded with a promotion to Portland, where he struck out 18 and had a 2.92 ERA over his first three starts.

With a playoff spot all but locked up, the Red Sox decided to give Sonny Gray some extra rest, and they called up Paez to make a spot start on September 1 against the Mariners. It was another tough major league outing for Paez as he got tagged for eight runs on 10 hits. To his credit he did not let this start rattle him, as he ended the season with arguably his best three-game stretch. He allowed just one run over his next 9 1/3 frames with Worcester, and then he ended the season by collecting his first big league victory. In the final game of the season at Fenway Park, Paez twirled five shutout innings with five strikeouts against the Cubs.

Paez's ability to miss bats combined with his strong command and control helped him have the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the system this year. While his strikeout rate is not elite, he did post the best walk rate in the organization. He finishes the year at 16th in the rankings, and he figures to be a key depth piece in the Worcester rotation next season.

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Breakout Player of the Year: Franklin Primera

Signed for $10,000 out of Venezuela in 2024, Primera had a good debut in 2025 as he was named a Dominican Summer League All-Star while posting an .895 OPS. Those stats, combined with a strong defensive profile, had him ranked 36th entering the 2026 season. Once the FCL season started on May 2, Primera's prospect status started its meteoric rise. His final FCL stats look like something you would see on the back of a Ted Williams baseball card, as he hit .427/.549/.718 over 134 plate appearances. He slugged eight home runs, stole four bases, and walked (22) more than he struck out (13).

Moving to the pitcher-friendly environment in Salem, Primera's numbers did not drop off as much as fans anticipated. The 19-year-old managed to lead the RidgeYaks in both batting average and on-base percentage as he hit .329/.466/.494. That gave him a total triple slash of .367/.499/.581 across the two levels. Among Red Sox prospects with at least 100 plate appearances, the .499 on-base percentage is the highest in the system since Kevin Youkilis back in 2001 when he hit .308/.504/.446 and walked 73 times in 64 games.

Primera is now ranked third in the system, and he has been getting buzz for top-100 prospect lists nationally. Getting him and Justin Gonzales in the same International Signing Period for a combined $260,000 is looking like a steal for Boston.

Photo Credit: Dylan Brown, Jedixson Paez, and Franklin Primera by Kelly O'Connor

2026 SoxProspects.com Awards: Graduate, Homegrown, and Ex-Prospect

2026-10-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

We continue our SoxProspects.com Awards coverage with the 2026 Graduate, Homegrown Player(s), and Ex-Prospect of the Year. The Graduate of the Year led the Red Sox in strikeouts as a rookie. The two Homegrown Players of the Year were among the best defensive outfielders in baseball. The Ex-Prospect of the Year, meanwhile, put together a resurgent season in Arizona.

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Graduate of the Year (Player who graduated this season who contributed the most to the Red Sox): Payton Tolle

After debuting at the major-league level late last summer, Tolle (pictured, left) entered 2026 as the organization's top pitching prospect and one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. The 23-year-old left-hander did not make Boston's starting rotation out of spring training and instead opened the season in Worcester. He made three starts for the WooSox, allowing eight runs (five earned) in 15 innings, before getting the call back up on April 23.

With Garrett Crochet sidelined by injury, Tolle emerged as a key member of Boston's rotation behind veterans Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound lefty made 26 starts for the Red Sox, posting a 3.03 ERA with a team-high 171 strikeouts to 40 walks over 148 2/3 innings. Opponents batted .222 against him. His 36.4% chase rate ranked in the 96th percentile among all big-league pitchers this season, according to Baseball Savant.

Highlights from Tolle's season include a 14-strikeout outing against the Athletics on August 7, two other double-digit strikeout performances against the Orioles and Yankees, and throwing an immaculate first inning against the Royals on September 13. He capped his rookie campaign by striking out four over 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a losing effort against the Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series on September 29.

Given that body of work, particularly during the regular season, it would not be surprising to see Tolle receive some votes for American League Rookie of the Year when the results are announced in November.

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Homegrown Players of the Year (Player still in the organization who graduated in past years (i.e. not a graduate this season), for contributions at MLB level): Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela

We could not decide on one winner here, so Abreu (pictured, left) and Rafaela (pictured, below left) are sharing the honor after putting together career years in 2026.

Abreu, 27, played in a career-high and team-best 157 games this season. The left-handed hitter led the American League with 38 doubles as he batted .248/.327/.446 with four triples, 24 home runs, 76 RBIs, 81 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 71 walks, and 141 strikeouts over 681 plate appearances. On the other side of the ball, he led all American League right fielders in assists (13) and defensive runs saved (28), making his case for a third straight Gold Glove Award at the position.

Rafaela, 26, was a first-time All-Star this season. Long known for his defense, the Curacao native had his best season with the bat, slashing .283/.319/.442 with 32 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 70 RBIs, 67 runs scored, 17 stolen bases, 22 walks, and 117 strikeouts over 138 games (576 plate appearances). He missed time in September due to a right quadriceps strain, but still paced all American League center fielders in assists (eight) and defensive runs saved (21), putting himself in position for a second straight Gold Glove Award. Rafaela was a two-time SoxProspects.com Minor League Player of the Year, winning in both 2022 and 2023.

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Ex-Prospect of the Year (Former Red Sox prospect who is no longer in the organization. Can be based on MLB/MiLB performance): Eduardo Rodriguez

Rodriguez (pictured, right) is the third different ex-Red Sox prospect to receive this award over the last three seasons, joining Rafael Devers and four-time winner Mookie Betts. The 33-year-old left-hander enjoyed a resurgent 2026 campaign with Arizona and, like Rafaela, was rewarded with his first All-Star selection. He forged a 2.89 ERA with a team-high 143 strikeouts to 62 walks in 32 starts (189 2/3 innings) for the Diamondbacks. Opposing hitters batted .240 against him as he excelled in limiting hard contact. Rodriguez served as the cornerstone of a Diamondbacks rotation that got only 10 1/3 innings from Corbin Burnes and middling seasons from veteran stalwarts Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. He did not miss a start as Arizona remained in playoff contention until the final day of the regular season.

Photo Credit: Payton Tolle, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Eduardo Rodriguez by Kelly O'Connor

2026 SoxProspects.com All-Stars: Pitchers

2026-10-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

Awards week continues here at SoxProspects.com with the pitcher portion of our 2026 All-Star selections. We have made a change to our selection process this year. With more minor league pitchers working in longer relief and swingman roles and fewer working in traditional short relief, we flipped from selecting five starters and three relievers to just naming the eight best overall pitchers on the year. That was further altered when there was a tie for the last spot on the team, resulting in nine pitchers being selected. Six of the nine are being recognized for the first time, eight are currently ranked in the organization's top 60, and one has already made his major league debut. The first three pitchers listed were unanimous selections by participating members of the SoxProspects.com staff.

Pitcher: Dylan Brown

A left-hander selected in the eighth round of the 2025 draft out of Old Dominion, Brown jumped onto the radar late in spring training and quickly rose through the rankings during an impressive rookie campaign. The first man to throw a pitch for the Salem RidgeYaks, Brown fired five scoreless innings on opening day and then needed only five starts to pitch his way out of the Carolina League. He finished the year with a 3.46 ERA in 106 innings across 22 appearances between Salem and Greenville. Brown led the organization with 143 strikeouts, walked 37, and surrendered only four home runs.

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Pitcher: Sadbiel Delzine

At 18, Delzine is the youngest player to appear on the pitcher side. After appearing in just three games in the Dominican Summer League in 2025 due to injury, the top pitcher from Boston's International Free Agent class that year excelled in his stateside debut. Assigned to the FCL to start the season, the 6-foot-5 righty appeared in 11 games, posting a 2.72 ERA and striking out 43 against 18 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. He adjusted smoothly to Salem after his late-July promotion, firing a 2.52 ERA in seven starts, striking out 36 while walking only six in 25 innings.

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Pitcher: Anthony Eyanson

Despite being traded at the deadline in early August as part of the deal that brought Adley Rutchman from the Braves, Eyanson's dominant 68 1/3 innings between Greenville and Portland earn him a spot on the All-Star squad. His 1.32 ERA was exactly half of the next closest pitcher with at least 60 innings (Delzine), and opposing batters hit just .152. He breezed through his initial placement in the South Atlantic League, allowing one run in three innings in his professional debut and then firing 17 1/3 scoreless frames in his next four outings to force his way into the Eastern League. In 22 appearances between the Red Sox and Orioles organizations, Eyanson allowed more than two runs only once.

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Pitcher: Jedixson Paez

Paez took a circuitous route to his second SoxProspects.com All-Star selection. After missing nearly all of 2025 with a calf injury, the 22-year-old righty was nabbed by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft. He initially made that team out of spring training, but was returned to Boston after two outings. Back at a more development-appropriate spot in the Eastern League, Paez worked in a swingman role, appearing in 17 games for the Sea Dogs and then getting five starts for Worcester after his August promotion. Control remains his hallmark, with just eight walks in 70 2/3 innings as he struck out 82 and posted a 3.69 ERA.

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Pitcher: Barrett Morgan

With the graduation of Payton Tolle, Morgan now stands as the top-ranked pitcher in the organization born in Stillwater, Oklahoma. One of four members of the pitching heavy 2025 draft class to earn a selection to this list, Morgan's 2.25 ERA was second in the system to Eyanson among pitchers with at least 40 innings. Opposing batters hit a measly .153 against the 6-foot-5 righty in 56 innings between Salem and Greenville, as he struck out 59, walked 22, and surrendered just one home run. He was particularly dominant after his August promotion to Greenville, giving up just one hit in 10 scoreless innings in his three appearances.

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Pitcher: Blake Wehunt

After struggling to a 5.68 ERA in Portland in 2025, the 6-foot-7 chicken-farming Wehunt saw his season get off to an inauspicious start. He allowed three runs in 1/3 of an inning before leaving with an injury that sidelined him for three weeks. Wehunt was excellent upon his return and remained one of the most consistently solid arms in the organization. He posted a 3.52 ERA in 13 Portland starts, striking out 72 in 53 2/3 to earn the promotion to Worcester. The righty didn't miss a beat in the International League with a 3.47 ERA in 46 2/3 innings across 10 starts.

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Pitcher: Hayden Mullins

Mullins rebounded from an uneven first half to dominate down the stretch and earn his second straight All-Star recognition. In his first 12 appearances with Portland, Mullins sported big strikeout numbers, fanning 73 in 47 2/3 innings. However, he struggled with his control, walking 31 on his way to a 5.85 ERA. A spot start with Worcester in early July seemed to align with the left-hander resetting himself: after allowing two runs in one inning in his first game back, Mullins posted a 1.64 ERA in nine second half starts, allowing more than one earned run in just one outing. He held Eastern League hitters to a meek .172/.274/.204 line during that stretch and fanned 59 in 44 innings.

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Pitcher: John Holobetz

Like Mullins, Holobetz overcame a slow start to make a repeat All-Star squad appearance. Unlike Mullins' control woes, it was the long ball that Holobetz struggled with in the first half. After allowing just two runs in 16 innings in his first three starts, Holobetz surrendered nine round trippers and allowed a .509 slugging average in his next nine outings. He got back on track in July and earned a promotion to Worcester at the end of that month. He made nine appearances with the WooSox, striking out 39 and walking 11 in 40 1/3 frames. After carrying a 4.75 ERA into the All-Star break, Holobetz delivered a 3.04 mark in the second half.

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Pitcher: Jason Gilman

An unheralded 16th-round pick in 2025 out of Division III Kean University in New Jersey, Gilman was excellent across two levels in 2026. His 33.4% strikeout rate ranked second in the system behind only Eyanson as he fanned 109 in just 77 1/3 innings. He had a 2.91 ERA in 55 2/3 innings with Salem despite some uneven control, walking 32 in 55 2/3 frames. A late-season promotion to Greenville provided a bit more resistance for the 23-year-old lefty, with a 4.98 ERA in five starts, but he continued to miss bats: the strikeout rate actually increased to 35.1% after his promotion.

Photo Credit: All photos by Kelly O'Connor

2026 SoxProspects.com All-Stars: Position Players

2026-10-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 2026 SoxProspects.com Awards week! Over the next five days, we will present our annual awards on the news page, recognizing the standout performers from the season. Following the format we've used the last few years, the schedule will be as follows:

Monday: All-Star position players

Tuesday: All-Star pitchers

Wednesday: Graduate of the Year; Homegrown Player of the Year; Ex-Prospect of the Year

Thursday: Rookie of the Year; Breakout Player of the Year; Comeback Player of the Year

Friday: Player of the Year; Pitcher of the Year

We kick things off with the All-Star position players as selected by the SoxProspects.com staff. While we consider factors such as age advancement and opponent quality, these awards recognize the players' in-game performances rather than a commentary on any status as a prospect. This year's All-Star Team is headlined by the top three prospects in the system, a pair of 2025 draftees, and a player who performed so well before being traded at the deadline that his spot on the team could not be denied.

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Catcher: Franklin Primera

Making his stateside debut after spending last year in the Dominican Summer League, Primera's stock rose more than perhaps any other prospect in the Red Sox system this season as he jumped from No. 36 in the preseason SoxProspects.com rankings to No. 3 by the end of the year. Primera started the season in the Florida Complex League and made an immediate impression, hitting .427 with eight home runs through 32 games before earning a promotion to Salem. While he slowed down slightly in Salem, he still put together an excellent performance in Single-A as he hit .329/.466/.494 in 42 games. Primera led the Red Sox system in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage among players with at least 300 plate appearances.

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First Base: Brooks Brannon

A ninth-round pick in 2022, Brannon had his best professional season yet as he 22-year-old hit .280/.355/.560 with 22 home runs, 28 doubles, and 75 RBI for the Sea Dogs. After splitting time between catcher and first base over his last three seasons, Brannon played first base exclusively this season and was able to stay healthy and turn in an excellent season. Brannon ranked second in the system in home runs, doubles, and slugging percentage and he finished third in RBI. He is the 38th-ranked prospect in the system.

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Second Base: Mason White

White had a strong showing in his first full season after being drafted in the fourth round out of the University of Arizona last year. He hit .270/.362/.525 with 14 homers and 14 doubles through 68 games with Greenville before earning a promotion to Portland in July. While his performance slipped in 33 games with the Sea Dogs, he still reached base at a .333 clip and hit four home runs. Defensively, White split his time evenly between second base and shortstop in 2026 but he likely profiles better at second base long term. White ranks as the No. 27 prospect in the system.

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Third Base: Jack Winnay

Another 2025 draftee, Winnay was selected in the 13th round out of Wake Forest and he was unranked by SoxProspects.com entering the season. Winnay put himself on the prospect radar with an excellent start to the season in Greenville, where he hit .255/.434/.457 with 11 home runs before being promoted to Portland in June. He continued to reach base at an elite level after moving up to Double-A, slashing .268/.365/.439 and clubbing six home runs in 45 games, and he finished second in the Red Sox organization in on-base percentage. Winnay played the majority of his time at third but also drew starts at first base. He ranks No. 19 in the Red Sox system.

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Shortstop: Franklin Arias

Arias had a true breakout season in 2026, emerging as the clear top prospect in the system and one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Viewed as an above-average defensive shortstop with a strong hit tool throughout his professional career, Arias's power took a huge lead forward this season. The 20-year-old hit .318/.407/.587 with 19 home runs and 17 doubles through 75 games with the Sea Dogs. After a promotion to Worcester in late July, Arias continued to perform at a high level as he slashed .331/.388/.506 with 6 home runs and 11 doubles in 42 games. Arias led the Red Sox organization in hits and home runs and he finished second in OPS. In their midseason rankings updates, Baseball America ranked Arias No. 2 and MLB Pipepline ranked him No. 3. This is his third consecutive year on the SoxProspects.com All-Star Team.

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Outfield: Enddy Azocar

Azocar was shaping up to be one of the top prospects in the Red Sox system as he hit .295/.344/.530 with six home runs in Salem before earning an early promotion to Greenville on May 26. Azocar's power production spiked with the Drive, as he slammed 12 home runs and 12 doubles while slashing .279/.338/.547 in 46 games. He was sent to Baltimore as part of a five-player package in exchange for Adley Rutschman at the trade deadline but he still finished eighth in the system in home runs and fifth in OPS.

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Outfield: Justin Gonzales

The 19-year-old Gonzales was viewed as one of the highest-ceiling hitters in the system entering the season after he was named 2025 SoxProspects.com Breakout Player of the Year and was the youngest player on the All-Star Team. He made good on that promise as he hit an impressive .271/.391/.463 with 17 home runs in 89 games with the Drive. He got off to a sizzling start after a late-season promotion to Portland before slumping to end the year, hitting .239/.353/.380 in 18 games overall. Gonzales is the No. 2 prospect in the system and he finished fifth in the organization in on-base percentage and seventh in home runs.

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Outfield: Joskairo Ramirez

After signing for $800,000 in January, Ramirez was Boston's breakout star in the Dominican Summer League as he was named the organization's Latin Program Position Player of the Year. In 45 games, Ramirez slashed .320/.443/.553 with five home runs, 14 doubles, and nine stolen bases. The 17-year-old Ramirez is ranked as the No. 47 prospect in the system.

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Utility: Tyler McDonough

In his sixth professional season after being drafted in the third round in 2021, McDonough is a veteran of the Red Sox system and he turned in an excellent season between Portland and Worcester this year. Through 115 total games, McDonough hit .249/.371/.468 with 20 home runs, 18 doubles, 68 RBI, and 27 stolen bases. The 20/20 season is the first by a Red Sox minor leaguer since Ceddanne Rafaela in 2023. A true utility man, McDonough spent time at second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions. He finished fourth in the organization in home runs and seventh in RBI.

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All photos by Kelly O'Connor

Podcast Ep. #432: Taking stock

2026-10-05T09:56:43.518-04:00

After an anticlimactic sweep at the hands of the Yankees, there's plenty to discuss about what we learned in the Red Sox short postseason run and what it means for the future, enough so that the guys pushed the season in review back a week. Chris and Ian analyzed what went so wrong in the Wild Card Series and what can be taken away from the disappointing end to a truly bizarre season.

2:40: Yankees 18, Red Sox 2 - the recap

39:38: What lies ahead for the Red Sox

Love the show? Want to help us out while also getting exclusive goodies? Support the podcast by contributing to us on Patreon! Go to SoxProspects on Patreon for the details.

A special thank you to The Ludlow Thieves for our intro/outro song, All the Money. Check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

Got something to say? We love talking about what you want to hear about. Make sure to email us at podcast@soxprospects.com.

Twitter

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Minor Notes: The postseason has arrived!

2026-09-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

The MLB regular season came to a close over the weekend and the Red Sox shift their attention to the postseason, where they will face the Yankees in the Wild Card Series for the second consecutive season. It was a light week for news on the farm system, as Worcester's season ended a week earlier, but some of Boston's minor league talent saw action with the big league club in the season's final week and the Red Sox announced the winners of their Minor League Awards.

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Red Sox announce 2026 Minor League Award winners

Last Thursday, the Red Sox honored the standout performers in their minor league system this season. To nobody's surprise, Franklin Arias was named the Offensive Player of the Year after a monster season that saw him hit .323/.400/.557 with 25 home runs between Portland and Worcester and claim the crown as the No. 1 prospect in the Red Sox system. The Red Sox named Dylan Brown the Pitcher of the Year after the 22-year-old lefty pitched to a 3.46 ERA and struck out 143 batters in 106 2/3 innings for Salem and Greenville. The fifth-round pick out of Old Dominion was one of the breakout stars in the system this year and rose from No. 60 to 20 in the SoxProspects.com rankings.

Catcher Gerardo Rodriguez earned the title of Defensive Player of the Year after a strong season in Greenville and Andrews Opata was the Baserunner of the Year after stealing 54 bases for Salem. The Latin Program Position Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year went to Joskairo Ramirez and Emanuel Jimenez, respectively. Ramirez hit .320/.443/.553 with five home runs in 45 games in the DSL and Jimenez pitched to a 2.73 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 33 innings.

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Paez lights out in second major league start

Jedixson Paez (pictured) was called up as the 27th man on the roster and started the second game of Boston's doubleheader against the Cubs on Friday. After getting roughed up in his first MLB start against the Mariners on September 1, Paez was excellent on Friday night. He worked five shutout innings, striking out five batters while allowing three hits. Paez had a whirlwind of a season, as he started the season in the White Sox bullpen after being claimed in the Rule 5 draft before returning to the Red Sox and pitching most of the season between Portland and Worcester. He closed his season on a positive note, turning in the best performance of his major league career, and he will end the season as the sixth-ranked pitcher (No. 16 overall) in the system.

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Houck returns to the major leagues

After spending the 2026 season working his way back from Tommy John Surgery, Tanner Houck's efforts were rewarded as he started the last game of the season for the Red Sox on Sunday. Houck pitched the first three innings of the game and surrendered three runs on four runs, allowing a pair of home runs while striking out a batter. It remains to be seen whether the Red Sox plan to include Houck, a 2024 All-Star, on their postseason roster.

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New podcast episode

In the latest episode of the SoxProspects.com podcast, Chris and Ian discussed their takeaways from the 2026 Red Sox season and previewed the upcoming Wild Card Series against the Yankees.

Additional transactions

The Red Sox announced on Tuesday morning that Garrett Crochet will be a part of their postseason roster. Boston's ace, who pitched to a 6.30 ERA in six starts this season and has not pitched since April 25, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.
After he was activated from the IL on September 20, Tyron Guerrero made only two appearances with the big league club before he was placed on the IL again with a right shoulder strain on Sunday. Losing Guerrero, who pitched to a 3.10 ERA in 40 2/3 innings this season, will be a major blow to the Red Sox bullpen this postseason.
Mickey Gasper was also placed on the 10-day IL after straining his right bicep on a swing on Friday and he is likely to miss the remainder of the season. Gasper's incredible run in August was a highlight of the Red Sox season as the 30-year-old journeyman hit .400/.571/1.100 with six home runs in that tremendous month.
With Guerrero and Gasper heading to the IL, Wyatt Olds and Nate Eaton were recalled in corresponding moves. Both players were named to the Red Sox postseason roster.

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Where are they now?

A trio of former Red Sox have been named to the Yankees' postseason roster and will have their chance at revenge in the first round of the postseason. John Schreiber and Michael Fulmer both pitched out of the Yankees' bullpen in September, with Schreiber pitching to a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings after he was claimed off waivers from Kansas City. Fulmer tossed 10 innings with a 4.50 ERA after the Yankees signed him as a free agent on August 26. Yankees backup catcher Ali Sanchez, who appeared in four games with the Red Sox last year, hit .244/.275/.302 and is known for his glove behind the plate.

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Photo Credit: Jedixson Paez by Kelly O'Connor

Podcast Ep #431: On to the Bronx, redux

2026-09-28T09:17:50.936-04:00

The regular season is in the books, so Chris and Ian hopped on the podcast machine to look back at one of the most unique seasons in the history of a franchise with a lot of weird seasons. Then, with the news of Tyron Guerrero and Mickey Gasper hitting the IL, the guys took one last look at the likely playoff roster before the series with the Yankees starts on Tuesday.

3:15 Red Sox lock Craig Breslow and Chad Tracy up through 2030; MLB season in review - what went well, what went wrong, what surprised, what didn't, and what was just weird

53:45 Final WCS roster preview

Love the show? Want to help us out while also getting exclusive goodies? Support the podcast by contributing to us on Patreon! Go to SoxProspects on Patreon for the details.

A special thank you to The Ludlow Thieves for our intro/outro song, All the Money. Check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

Got something to say? We love talking about what you want to hear about. Make sure to email us at podcast@soxprospects.com.

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After "roller coaster" season, Max Carlson showed improvement in Portland

2026-09-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

In terms of pitching prospects that flew under the radar in the Red Sox system in 2026, Max Carlson should be towards the top of that list. While the 25-year-old might not be seen on any top prospect lists, Carlson showed intriguing signs on the mound during the second half of the season.

"This season was a bit of a roller coaster for me," Carlson said. "I felt really good coming into spring training. Over the first month in Portland, I was probably the worst pitcher in the Eastern League. Slowly but surely, I started to climb out of it. The biggest thing I did over that big stretch of time was to just be where my feet are. I was trying not to change who I was coming to the field every day and making sure I got my work in. I kept thinking to myself it was going to come around. I strung a couple good outings together and the confidence started coming back. Before you know it, I had put together two good months. During that stretch, my stuff ticked up a little bit and warmed up. I have definitely made a lot of improvements to my arsenal as well, which helped."

The North Carolina product reached Double-A for the first time in his career in 2026 and struck out 94 batters over 79.1 innings pitched. The right-hander credited the pitching coach duo in Portland for helping unlock a few things with his game.

"There have been several different things I have been working on this year," Carlson noted. "Juan Rivera and Isaiah Page, the two pitching coaches here in Portland, are both extremely smart guys and they are always thinking of something you can keep in your back pocket to work on. As little as working on things during catch play, doing drills on side days, or velocity bullpens to address the needs. They have given me some big nuggets to think about over the last couple of months. My cutter, for example, I was always around 83-85mph in the past. I am now sitting 87-89mph after working with them. My fastball has also seen the velo tick back up. I was around 90-91mph at the beginning of the season. Recently, I have been 92-93mph. Those are a couple of things that I have noticed that have altered the performance a bit. My changeup also gets a lot of whiffs, but it gets barreled a little bit against righties. What can we do about that? You take a look at trends and heat maps and try something else. Maybe instead of throwing your changeup into righties, you should be backdooring it. You should be throwing it to the other side of the plate. It is what I have been working on over the last couple months, and I have had a lot of success doing that. Those two guys have been helping a ton"

Carlson had a bit of a unique role in Portland this year, as he made starts, bulk inning relief outings, and even the traditional one inning relief appearances where he picked up saves. It is nothing new or unique, as the Red Sox have treated the lower minors that way dating back a few years now.

"Last year I had a really bad shoulder impingement," Carlson said. "It took a long time to get that thing healthy. After rehabbing this past offseason and trying to get healthy, I kind of just told myself the only thing that mattered this year was competing the entire season and staying healthy while proving to people I could do a good job. I take that into account every single day whether I am starting or relieving. It doesn’t really matter what my role is. I am just grateful that I am here and that I am alive and pitching. It has been interesting how they were managing the bullpen arms in Portland this year. Most of the guys have been able to go at least two to three innings. If you were going to go up and help the big league team this year, you were most likely going to be going up there to throw two to three innings. I believe it is the general idea of how they are trying to prepare us."

Photo Credit: Max Carlson by Kelly O'Connor

Minor Notes: Red Sox clinch postseason berth; Arias named Eastern League MVP

2026-09-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

The 2026 season is officially over for Boston's minor league affiliates, as Worcester's campaign ended via rainout on Sunday after being eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday. The big club, meanwhile, clinched a postseason berth for the second straight year despite dropping Sunday's series finale to Tampa Bay. To make that happen, they received some help from the grandson of a franchise legend.

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Yastrzemski helps Red Sox clinch

With a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning of Sunday's 4-2 win over the Astros, Braves outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, helped the Red Sox clinch a spot in the postseason. Boston now leads Houston, on the outside looking in, by seven games for the second American League Wild Card spot with six games remaining. The White Sox and Blue Jays sit between the two teams in the standings.

Yastrzemski's homer allowed the Red Sox to celebrate inside the visitors' clubhouse at Tropicana Field on Sunday afternoon. After Monday's off day, Boston opens a six-game homestand against the Guardians and Cubs at Fenway Park beginning Tuesday night. They currently trail the Yankees by 5 1/2 games for the top American League Wild Card spot.

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Rehabbers in Worcester

Potential pitching reinforcements were getting work in at Polar Park last week. Johan Oviedo, sidelined since late March with a right flexor strain, made a rehab start for Worcester on Thursday. In 2 1/3 innings against Durham, the 28-year-old allowed one earned run on two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches (20 strikes), generating three whiffs and averaging 95.9 mph with his fastball.

Fellow righty Tanner Houck, working his way back from Tommy John surgery, made two relief appearances for Worcester against Durham. Working 4 1/3 total innings, the 30-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. He threw 42 pitches (28 strikes) on Saturday, generating eight whiffs and averaging 93.2 mph with his heater.

Kutter Crawford (right wrist surgery) was scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Worcester on Sunday before the game was rained out. Garrett Crochet (left shoulder inflammation), meanwhile, threw roughly 20 pitches in a side session on Saturday.

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Arias named Eastern League's MVP, Top MLB Prospect

Franklin Arias (pictured, top left) was named 2026 Eastern League MVP and Top MLB Prospect on Monday. The 20-year-old infielder batted .318/.407/.587 with 19 home runs and 52 RBI in 75 games (332 plate appearances) for Portland before being promoted to Worcester in late July. Anthony Eyanson, who the Red Sox sent to the Orioles as part of the Adley Rutschman trade, was recognized as the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year.

In addition to Arias and Eyanson, Brooks Brannon was also named a 2026 Eastern League All-Star. The 22-year-old first baseman slashed .280/.355/.560 with a career-high 22 home runs and 70 RBI in 93 games (398 plate appearances) for Portland this season.

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Arizona Fall League contingent revealed

Rosters for the 2026 Arizona Fall League, which begins on October 3, were revealed last week. The Red Sox will be sending a group of eight to play for the Mesa Solar Sox: Mason White, Antonio Anderson, Nazzan Zanetello, Harry Blum, Madinson Frias, Nicholas Judice, Trennor O'Donnell, and Caden Vire.

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New podcast

On the latest episode of the podcast, Chris and Ian celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the launch of SoxProspects.com and look ahead to the Red Sox' potential playoff roster against the Yankees in the Wild Card round. Be sure to check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

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Players of the Week for September 14-20:

Allan Castro, OF, Worcester Red Sox

5 G, 19 AB, 8 H, 4 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 2 BB, .421/.455/1.053

Castro (pictured, right) ended his season on a high note, homering twice on Wednesday and driving in a career-high seven runs on Friday. The 23-year-old switch-hitter batted .289/.354/.482 with 11 doubles, seven home runs, 36 RBI, 28 runs scored, three stolen bases, 19 walks, and 27 strikeouts in 44 games (189 plate appearances) for Worcester following July's All-Star break. He is slated to become a minor league free agent in the coming weeks.

Michael Sansone, LHP, Worcester Red Sox

1 GS, 1-0, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, .053 OBA

Sansone turned in a strong final start of the season on Friday. The 26-year-old lefty spent much of 2026 being shuttled between Portland and Worcester, finishing with a 5.74 ERA and a 93:44 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 25 outings (17 starts) and a career-high 111 1/3 innings. Like Castro, Sansone is in line to become a minor league free agent this winter.

Photo Credit: Franklin Arias and Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor

Podcast Ep. #430: On to the Playoffs

2026-09-21T11:38:28.711-04:00

Chris and Ian hopped on the podcast machine after the Red Sox officially clinched a playoff spot - on the 23rd anniversary of the launch of SoxProspects.com! - to work through the team's potential playoff roster against the Yankees in the Wild Card round. They then got some final in-person scouting reports for the regular season as Ian caught the WooSox this week, briefly touched on the Red Sox AFL contingent, and had some in-depth discussion of the state of the system in response to some great listener questions. Listen in!

2:59: Working through the playoff roster

25:52: AFL contingent; WooSox scouting reports on Jedixson Paez, Tanner Houck, Blake Wehunt, Sam McWilliams, Angel Bastardo, Braiden Ward, Franklin Arias, Allan Castro, and Romy Gonzalez

46:53: Listener emails on pitch shape and the state of the system/upper minors pitching

Love the show? Want to help us out while also getting exclusive goodies? Support the podcast by contributing to us on Patreon! Go to SoxProspects on Patreon for the details.

A special thank you to The Ludlow Thieves for our intro/outro song, All the Money. Check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

Got something to say? We love talking about what you want to hear about. Make sure to email us at podcast@soxprospects.com.

Twitter

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Cup of Coffee: Season comes to a close

2026-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

9/21 Cup of Coffee: Unfortunately, there was no minor league baseball to recap on Sunday, as Worcester's scheduled season finale was canceled. With the WooSox being the lone Red Sox affiliate still active, that brings the 2026 minor league season to an end across the organization.

On behalf of everyone at SoxProspects, thank you for reading, commenting, listening, and following along throughout the season. Stay tuned next week for our annual Awards and All-Star selections as we begin putting a bow on the 2026 minor league season.

Cup of Coffee: Arias homers, but Worcester is eliminated from playoff contention

2026-09-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

9/20 Cup of Coffee: An extra-inning loss to Durham has officially eliminated Worcester from playoff contention. Even with a win they would have been eliminated after Rochester beat Buffalo. Top prospect Franklin Arias still had a big day, and Tanner Houck was solid in long relief.

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Durham Bulls (TB) 4, Worcester Red Sox 3 (10 innings)

Worcester's slim playoff hopes ended with an extra-innings loss to Durham. A two-run home run from Franklin Arias in the third inning gave the WooSox a 2-1 lead, and Arias later added an RBI single in the fifth to retake the lead at 3-2. Braiden Ward followed up his five-hit night by going 1 for 4 with a double and a walk, and Tyler McDonough went 1 for 2 with a double and two walks.

Gage Ziehl turned in a quality start as he allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings. He walked one and struck out three. Making his fourth rehab appearance, Tanner Houck allowed one earned run and struck out two over 3 1/3 frames. In all, he allowed three runs over eight innings with nine strikeouts since returning on September 8. The loss went to Sam McWilliams as he allowed the zombie runner to score in the 10th.

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Player of the Day: Franklin Arias did everything he could to keep Worcester in the playoff picture, going 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI. Arias is up to 25 home runs and 91 RBI over 117 games between Portland and Worcester. He entered the year with 18 home runs total over his previous 240 games. The increased power output has catapulted him into a consensus top-10 prospect in the game. While it seems unlikely that Boston would add Arias to the 40-man roster to help the 2026 roster, he has put his name in the conversation to make the team in 2027.

Photo Credit: Franklin Arias by Kelly O'Connor

Cup of Coffee: Ward has five hits, Castro drives in seven in WooSox romp

2026-09-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

9/19 Cup of Coffee: Everything went right for Worcester on Friday, as the team needed to take care of business on the field while getting some help around the league. Braiden Ward (pictured) and Allan Castro had huge evenings at the plate in support of a near-perfect Michael Sansone.

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Worcester Red Sox 16, Durham Bulls (TB) 1

Worcester scored early and often, keeping its long-shot playoff hopes alive as the International League schedule winds down to a wild finish. By the end of the third inning, the WooSox sported a 12-0 lead and Allan Castro had already driven in Braiden Ward three times. Ward scored five runs and drove in three as he went 5 for 5. He pulled a solo homer over the right field wall in the sixth inning and added his 61st stolen base of the season. Castro finished with seven RBI, going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly, and a three-run homer in the third. Nathan Hickey also had a three-run homer, going deep in the first. Not to be lost in the shuffle, top prospect Franklin Arias was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs driven in.

The support was more than enough for Michael Sansone, who retired the first 13 batters he faced in a winning decision. Carrying a no-hitter into the fifth, Sansone allowed just one hit, a triple by former first-round pick Carson Williams. He struck out five without issuing a walk, and needed just 60 pitches to complete the six frames. Devin Sweet, Angel Bastardo, and Osvaldo Berrios went a scoreless inning each.

Rochester and Indianapolis both lost, so Worcester moves to two games out of first place with just two games left to play. Third-place Syracuse was victorious, moving to just a half-game back as the International League race comes down to the wire.

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Player of the Day: It is tough going when a six-inning start allowing one hit or an eight-total base, seven-RBI effort don't get the nod, but that was the case at Polar Park on Wednesday. Braiden Ward scored five runs as he went 5 for 5 amid talk of him joining the major league squad. Acquired from the Rockies in the deal that sent reliever Brennan Bernardino out west, Ward continues to build on his Red Sox Triple-A record for stolen bases. He has also scored 82 runs on the year while hitting .251/.364/.372.

Photo Credit: Braiden Ward by Kelly O'Connor

Cup of Coffee: Oviedo makes rehab start, Holobetz shines in relief as Worcester is shut out

2026-09-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

9/18 Cup of Coffee: Worcester's three-game winning streak was snapped at the hands of Durham on Thursday. Johan Oviedo struck out four in his rehab start, while John Holobetz (pictured) fanned eight in his first relief appearance at the Triple-A level, but the bats went cold in a losing effort.

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Durham Bulls (TB) 2, Worcester Red Sox 0

Johan Oviedo got the start for Worcester. Making his first appearance of any kind since late March, the rehabbing right-hander went 2 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. He threw 30 pitches (20 strikes) and generated three whiffs. Fellow righty John Holobetz followed out of the bullpen and fared well in his first relief outing at the Triple-A level, scattering two hits and two walks while striking out eight over 4 1/3 scoreless frames. He threw 66 pitches (43 strikes) and generated 20 whiffs. Tyler Samaniego surrendered an additional run in the eighth, while Noah Song put up a zero in the ninth.

Offensively, Worcester was held to just two hits by three different Durham pitchers. Allan Castro went 1 for 3 with a double to extend his on-base streak to nine games. Tomas Nido singled for his side's only other hit.

Following Thursday's loss, Worcester (39-31) now trails Indianapolis and Rochester (both 43-29) by three games for first place in the International League second-half standings with three regular-season games remaining.

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Player of the Day: John Holobetz gets the nod for his dominant showing out of the bullpen on Thursday night. Assuming he is done for the season, the 24-year-old hurler finishes 2026 with a 3.57 ERA and 39:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in nine outings (eight starts) spanning 40 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. He is currently ranked as the organization's No. 9 prospect.

Photo Credit: John Holobetz by Kelly O'Connor

Cup of Coffee: Castro homers twice as WooSox stay alive

2026-09-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

9/17 Cup of Coffee: Worcester won its third straight, as Allan Castro (pictured) twice came up clutch on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the WooSox did not get the help they were looking for elsewhere on the International League schedule, and continue to face an uphill battle for a playoff spot.

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Durham Bulls (TB) 5

Twice Worcester fell into deficits, trailing both 3-0 and 5-3, and both times Allan Castro erased them with a long ball. Castro's two-run blast in the third inning scored Franklin Arias and knotted the score at 3-3. Four innings later, his second two-run homer of the night carried into the right-center field seats and put Worcester up 6-5, a lead it would not relinquish. Arias also singled and drove in a pair. Braiden Ward, who scored on the second Castro long ball, was 3 for 4 with two stolen bases, giving him 60 on the year.

On the mound, starter Blake Wehunt battled through five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked two. Patrick Halligan allowed a run in the sixth, before Seth Martinez, John Brebbia, and Sam McWilliams turned in a scoreless inning apiece. Martinez got credit for the win while McWilliams noted his second save of the year.

Although Worcester did what it needed to do, four of the five teams ahead of the WooSox were also victorious on Wednesday. Rochester and Indianapolis both got in the win column, holding onto a tie for first place in the second half standings. Syracuse also won to remain a game back. Only Scranton fell, and joins Worcester in a tie for fourth place at two games out.

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Player of the Day: Allan Castro is closing the season on a power surge. The right fielder previously homered twice on Sunday, and now has gone deep five times in his last four games. He is hitting .286/.358/.455 since the All-Star Break and moves into a tie for second in the organization with 70 RBI on the year. Castro is currently ranked 34th in the system.

Photo Credit: Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor

Cup of Coffee: Paez deals, Castro hits walkoff single for WooSox

2026-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

9/16 Cup of Coffee: With the Sea Dogs' season ending on Sunday, the WooSox are the last team standing in the Red Sox system as the Triple-A regular season enters its final week.

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Worcester Red Sox 2, Durham Bulls (TB) 1 (10 innings)

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the WooSox bats were held silent until the eighth inning. The WooSox loaded the bases on a Nathan Hickey walk, a Franklin Arias single, and an Allan Castro walk then scored their first run of the game when Romy Gonzalez drew Worcester's third walk of the inning. That run was enough to push the game into extra innings, where Castro was the hero as he ripped a walkoff single to right field to send the WooSox home with the win. Arias went 1 for 4 with a walk.

WooSox starting pitcher Jedixson Paez allowed a solo shot in his first inning of work but he was in complete control for the rest of his start, throwing six innings of one-run ball. Paez allowed three hits and struck out four batters with no walks. After making two appearances with the Sea Dogs, rehabbing right-hander Tanner Houck had his strikeout stuff working in his first outing of the year in Worcester as he fanned three batters in an inning, walking one. Osvaldo Berrios threw a scoreless inning and Hobie Harris tossed two shutout frames to earn the win out of the bullpen.

Worcester's win combined with a Rochester loss narrowed their deficit to just two games with five remaining. However, Indianapolis, Scranton, and Syracuse all were victorious ahead of them, tightening an already crowded playoff picture.

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Player of the Day: Allan Castro had the signature moment in a pitchers' duel where the WooSox scored just two runs on six hits, delivering a walkoff single in the bottom of the tenth. Castro went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI, raising his slash line to .247/.322/.370 in 115 games on the season. The 23-year-old Castro is playing in his first season at the Triple-A level and the outfielder is ranked No. 34 in the Red Sox system.

Photo Credit: Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor

Minor Notes: Houck, Contreras rehab as Portland season ends

2026-09-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

The minor league season is in its home stretch. Portland finished up its schedule a day early with Saturday's annual Field of Dreams game (pictured), while Worcester heads into the final week of its 2026 campaign.

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Houck, Contreras rehab; Oviedo to join Worcester

A pair of veterans were in action for the final week of festivities at Hadlock Field. Tanner Houck made a big step in his comeback from 2025 Tommy John surgery, making a pair of appearances for the Sea Dogs. The 2024 American League All-Star returned to the mound in the fifth inning of Tuesday's contest. He faced four batters, retiring two, walking two, and allowing one run. He was more effective on Friday, allowing one run on one hit in three innings of relief, striking out four, walking one, and facing just one batter over the minimum. He will pitch for Worcester this week, aiming to return to the major league bullpen for end of the regular season. Willson Contreras, out since August 30th with a hamstring strain, had a tidy two-game visit to Portland. He went 2 for 7 in two contests, as the designated hitter on Friday and then at first base on Saturday. He was activated for Sunday's major league game, going 2 for 3 with a walk in Boston's 4-1 win over Kansas City.

Joining Houck in Worcester will be fellow right-hander Johan Oviedo. Oviedo pitched just once this season for Boston before going on the IL with an elbow strain.

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Transactions

The transaction carousel has slowed down as the minor league levels reach their end, but there were still a number of notable moves last week.

Portland activated Yordanny Monegro from the injured list. The 23-year-old righty made two rehab appearances with Greenville on the comeback trail from 2025 Tommy John Surgery. He was officially activated by the Sea Dogs to start on Friday, going three innings, allowing a run on three hits. Currently ranked 24th in the system, Monegro would be a minor league free agent following the season if he is not added to the 40-man roster.
Following the end of the Greenville season, three players were promoted to Portland for its final week:

Outfielder Isaiah Jackson, acquired in the deal that sent Vaughn Grissom to the Angels, was promoted after hitting .243/.340/.465 with 21 homers in 102 games with the Drive. Jackson had been particularly effective down the stretch, hitting .283/.373/.532 in his last 47 Greenville conests. The Arizona State Universityh product went 3 for 13 with Portland, and is ranked 29th in the system.
Griffin Kilander rejoined Portland, having seen two appearances with the Sea Dogs during a mid-August stint. The 2024 16th-round pick posted a 5.42 ERA in 37 appearances across three levels.
Aaron Nixon, who appeared in six games with the Drive after being cut by the Yankees organization, also joined the Sea Dogs. Originally signed by New York as an undrafted free agent, he had missed all of 2025 following Tommy John Surgery

It was tough timing for outfielder Kristian Campbell, who was placed on the injured list with a left foot contusion, putting the end of his season in jeopardy. The 2024 SoxProspects.com Player of the Year had a resurgent second half with the WooSox, hitting .320/.440/.524 since the start of July.

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Minor League Playoff Picture

Portland did what it could, winning four out of five in its final series against Binghamton and seven of its last nine overall. However, they needed more help than they got, as Reading won four of six from Erie to finish four games ahead of Portland and 3 1/2 up on Somerset.

Worcester has a serious uphill battle to prevent a full shutout from the playoffs for the minor league system in 2026. The WooSox enter the final week three games back from first place Rochester with six games to play, while also looking up the standings at Indianapolis (1 game out of first), Scranton (2 GB), and Syracuse (2.5 GB). None of the teams ahead of them are playing head-to-head, so a comeback is possible if improbable. The WooSox will host the Durham Bulls at Polar Park, and will welcome aforementioned major leaguers Tanner Houck and Johan Oviedo.

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Podcast

This week's edition of the pod had Chris and Ian exchanging their notes from the field from their live looks at Greenville and Portland, respectively. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

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Players of the Week, September 7-13::

Ronald Rosario, C, Portland Sea Dogs

4 G, 5-12, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K, .417/.533/1.250

Rosario had a power burst in the second half of the season that continued to the finish line, as he blasted three home runs in the season's final week. The most dramatic was a two-run pinch-hit blast in Tuesday's win that snapped a 6-6 tie. Since the start of July, Rosario hit .283/.339/.612 with 13 homers in 41 games.

Morgan McSweeney, RHP, Portland Sea Dogs

1 GS, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

McSweeney, the journeyman right-hander who began the 2026 season in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, turned in a throwback effort in Saturday's Field of Dreams game at Hadlock. McSweeney scattered four hits across seven shutout innings, striking out five, walking one, and needing only 84 pitches in the win over Binghamton. A Hudson, Mass. native who attended Worcester Academy, McSweeney was a 17th-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of Wake Forest. He pitched in the Baltimore system until 2024, when he bounced from the independent Atlantic League, the Marlins organization, and China before joining the Sea Dogs in August.

Photo Credit: 2026 Portland Sea Dogs Field of Dreams Day, Morgan McSweeney both by Kelly O'Connor

Podcast Ep. #429: Portland and Greenville Live Looks

2026-09-14T08:38:30.236-04:00

Ian and Chris have been out at the fields to close the season and they got on the horn to discuss what they've seen from the Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs in the closing weeks of the season. Listen in on the latest reports from those two squads!

4:32 Listener Email: The benefits of scouting in-person

9:52 Greenville reports on: Jake Schaffner, Owen Hull, Carlos Gutierrez, Gerardo Rodriguez, Luke Heyman, Ronny Hernandez, Nazzan Zanetello, Antonio Anderson, Maximus Martin, Yophery Rodriguez, Marcus Phillips, Jacob Mayers, Brady Tygart, Jason Gilman, Dylan Brown, Barrett Morgan

51:13 Portland reports on: Brooks Brannon, Johanfran Garcia, Justin Gonzales, Henry Godbout, Mason White, Yoeilin Cespedes, Tanner Houck, Yordanny Monegro, Devin Futrell, Jeremy Wu-Yelland, Max Carlson

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A special thank you to The Ludlow Thieves for our intro/outro song, All the Money. Check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

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Cup of Coffee: It's Worcester's show from here

2026-09-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

9/14 Cup of Coffee: It was a disappointing end to the 2026 season for Portland, as the rain that pounded the Northeast on Sunday was enough to wash out the season finale, ending the Sea Dogs' season prematurely. However, Worcester was able to get its contest in and finished its penultimate series in style, as Allan Castro (pictured) was 3 for 5 with two home runs, including the go-ahead blast in the top of the ninth. He hit two of Worcester's four home runs, as Tsu-Che Cheng and Vinnie Capra each left the yard, as well. The win kept Worcester on the periphery of the playoff race with six games to go, all of which are at home against Durham.

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Worcester Red Sox 8, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PHI) 7

The WooSox scored a pair each in the second and third, but the hosts retook the lead with a four-run sixth. However, Allan Castro played the hero, knocking a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to snag victory from the jaws of defeat. That capped off a 3-for-5 performance for the 23-year-old, two of which left the yard, as he also hit a big fly in the seventh. The top of the lineup did plenty of damage, as Franklin Arias, hitting in the No. 2 hole, as well as leadoff hitter Vinny Capra, had two hits, including a homer for Capra, joining three-hitter Castro's explosion. Tsu-Che Cheng also went yard, with a two-run shot to get the scoring started in the first. Gage Ziehl gave his team length, pitching 5 2/3 innings, as he allowed four runs on five hits. He did not walk an IronPig, but struck out eight of them. Sam McWilliams was credited with the win and he completed the contest, with two clean innings that featured a pair of strikeouts.

Rochester is alone atop the International League standings with six games to go. Worcester sits three back, with Indianapolis, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Syracuse between them.

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Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) vs. Portland Sea Dogs, Cancelled (Weather)

Saturday night's 1-0 victory ended up being the swan song for Portland's season, as the wet weather rolling through the Northeast was enough to wash out Sunday's contest. The Sea Dogs finished the 2026 season at 71-65.

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Player of the Day: Even though there was only one game, Allan Castro's performance would be player of the day almost every time. The 23-year-old, ranked No. 34 in the system, knocked two home runs, driving in the tying and go-ahead runs in the ninth with his second big fly, as part of a 3-for-5 day. They were his 11th and 12th homers of the season, as he raised his OPS to .687.

Photo Credit: Allan Castro by Kelly O'Connor