We’ve formally reached spring coaching’s halfway level, and in just a little greater than two weeks the Crimson Sox will break camp and fly to Cincinnati for Opening Day.
Who has stood out over the previous week and whose possibilities of incomes a spot have taken successful? Right here’s a have a look at the place issues stand.
Three up
Marcelo Mayer, INF
Earlier in camp Alex Cora issued a problem to Marcelo Mayer, successfully saying that the previous high prospect’s place on the workforce wasn’t safe and he’d must earn his spot.
Since then Mayer has gone about doing simply that.
After a sluggish and regular ramp up coming off final summer season’s season-ending wrist surgical procedure, Mayer made his Grapefruit League debut final Friday and promptly hit a house run off Atlanta Braves nearer Raisel Iglesias, one of many sport’s high relievers. He has since performed standout protection at each second and third base, and most encouragingly has performed solely with the membership’s projected starters.
That final half is essential, as a result of normally a great way to inform the place gamers stand on the depth chart within the spring is by who performs principally at house and who will get most of their alternatives on the highway. Mayer’s final three video games got here at house as a part of the identical unit as Trevor Story, Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras, all of whom are locks to start out. If issues hold trending this fashion, you possibly can mark Mayer down as a lock, too.
Johan Oviedo, RHP
After an erratic spring debut, Johan Oviedo returned to the mound for his second begin this previous Monday and was improbable. The appropriate-hander struck out 4 over his three scoreless innings, and he allowed simply two hits with no walks whereas throwing 25 of his 31 pitches for strikes.
Even after the rocky first outing Oviedo most likely nonetheless had the within monitor to start out the season as Boston’s No. 5 starter. However after Monday the job ought to be his to lose.
Payton Tolle, LHP
Payton Tolle’s first two outings weren’t nice and there are plenty of the explanation why it will make sense for the rookie left-hander to start out the season in Triple-A.
However performances like Wednesday function a reminder of simply how particular a expertise Tolle might be.
Tolle struck out seven batters over three scoreless innings in a dominant third outing on Wednesday, at one level placing out 5 consecutive Yankees whereas topping out at 100.4 mph to complete one among his innings with an exclamation level. Tolle allowed only one hit and one stroll, and most encouraging of all, 5 of the seven whiffs he drew got here on secondary pitches.
As overpowering as his fastball is, Tolle’s different pitches are a piece in progress and he gained’t attain his full potential as a giant leaguer till they enhance. Wednesday was an awesome first step and hopefully an indication of much more progress to come back.
Three down
Ryan Watson, RHP
As a Rule 5 choose Ryan Watson ought to have an awesome alternative to make the Crimson Sox roster. The appropriate-hander should spend all the season with the large league membership or be provided again to the San Francisco Giants, so the Crimson Sox can’t possibility him to the minor leagues with out doubtlessly dropping him.
Even nonetheless, Watson has to earn his place, and he hasn’t precisely accomplished so by means of the primary few weeks of camp.
Up to now Watson has allowed six runs over 5 Grapefruit League appearances, giving up seven hits, two walks and hitting a batter whereas placing out three. Solely one among Watson’s outings have been clear up to now, his spring debut, and since then the right-hander permitting no less than one baserunner in every of the final 4.
The majority of the injury got here on Monday in opposition to the Blue Jays when he was charged with 4 runs over 2/3 of an inning.
Contemplating how little bullpen depth the Crimson Sox have Watson ought to nonetheless have a superb likelihood to make the workforce, particularly if he performs higher over the second half of camp. However with a number of non-roster invitees in camp who’ve decide outs and likewise can’t be simply stashed within the minors, Watson’s Rule 5 standing may solely give him a lot leeway. If the membership will get to a degree the place a kind of non-roster arms clearly deserves the job and the best approach to clear a spot is by returning Watson to his outdated group, that’s a risk that may’t be dominated out.
Nick Sogard, utility
With Romy Gonzalez anticipated to start out the season on the injured checklist, Nick Sogard is among the many utility candidates vying for his spot on the Crimson Sox bench. He’s gotten loads of alternatives however hasn’t totally capitalized, particularly over the previous week.
Over his final 4 video games Sogard is 0 for 10 with one stroll and two strikeouts. He was additionally amongst those that made the lengthy journeys north to Dunedin and Clearwater, and he was scheduled to play Friday in Lakeland too earlier than he was scratched after reportedly coming down sick.
Even placing his latest performances apart, all that point using the bus suggests Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio have gained the higher hand. Sogard going hitless for per week positively gained’t assist his case.
Justin Slaten, RHP
Justin Slaten is in no hazard of being left off the Opening Day roster and nonetheless initiatives as one of many membership’s high high-leverage bullpen arms. However even with the caveat that spring coaching statistics don’t imply a lot, the right-hander has gotten off to an underwhelming begin.
Over the previous week Slaten has appeared in two video games and allowed 4 earned runs over 1 2/3 innings, surrendering three hits, a stroll and a house run with three strikeouts whereas opposing hitters batted .375 in opposition to him.
You’d definitely favor to see cleaner outings from a man who the Crimson Sox are relying on as a high seventh-inning possibility. Chalk this one up as not a giant deal, however one thing price monitoring.
