With this week being the last we’ll see of several of this year’s minor league mainstays, it’s understandable to hear me say “five scoreless, great final showing” a few times and think it redundant. But this is a team — nay, a farm — stocked with rotation arms who have all raised their stock over the course of the season. Tyler Uberstine, whose stats can be found here and who, like yesterday’s subject, Shane Drohan, is eligible for the Rule 5 draft if not protected, ran into a bit more trouble in some outings, but still earned a promotion this year. The Red Sox promoting three pitchers in the last month brought some finality to the question of whether Uberstine would make his MLB debut in 2025, but this was a great last showing of the season. He struck out six and allowed three hits to the Red Wings (Nationals AAA) without a run. The bullpen continuing to hold Rochester off the scoreboard until the ninth inning put Worcester in a great position to pull ahead and take a 2-0 series lead.
And pull ahead the Woosox did; in fact, they wasted almost no time doing so. Wednesday night wasn’t a night for power for Worcester, as they had just two extra-base hits among their ten knocks, with those hits coming from an unlikely duo in Max Ferguson and Chadwick Tromp. The former drove Tyler McDonough and Corey Rosier through, and in just the second inning, gave Worcester all the support they’d need for the rest of the night.
On a night when Kristian Campbell, in right field, gathered two knocks of his own, and a night whwn a guy who has been bouncing between Worcester and Boston for most of the season (Nick Sogard,whose versatility and contact batting skills I celebrate) had the walk-off RBI, it’s worth wondering what the long-term plan is with the Campbell, who’s now locked in until at least 2032 but doesn’t have a position. It may also pique the mind that, in September, he’s slashed .308/.390/.442 (here are his game logs). Abraham Toro DH’ing with Nathan Hickey playing first base, where Campbell played 31 games through the summer, may indicate that this organization does not see Kristian Campbell on first in the future. Mikey Romero playing third base more often with an Alex Bregman decision looming in the winter – as well as one from Trevor Story –also adds another ripple of curiosity.
Campbell’s versatility works in his favor, but it goes without saying he’s got to be defensively serviceable at at least one position, so it may serve the organization well in a season that’s had so many ups and downs to place him where he’s most comfortable. However, I’m of the mind that having him play every single position may only further stunt the psyche in development it will take to make him an everyday starter at any of them. At the start of what may be a contentious window for the Red Sox, they are in no position to have the status and comfort of a guy they sent down to Worcester for most of the year dictate their 2026 depth chart, but if a few key players on this year’s roster decide to depart, they may have no choice but to place extended importance on it.
Have a joyous Thursday night!
