Rise and shine, OTM nation! The Red Sox were on well past midnight on the west coast last night, but there’s plenty of minor league action to get into… even if most of it aside from the obligatory standard awesome game by The Password wasn’t that good due to some dry offense and some less-than-exemplary starts from some key pitching figures in the organization. Let’s get into it nonetheless!
This game had good news and more good news for some help coming down the stretch as the Red Sox make a postseason run, or as they look into 2026 at the pieces they can’t let go of. Connelly Early looked very solid in his five innings of work, striking out seven and giving up just three hits, and the whole rest of the way through Nick Burdi and Zack Kelly’s appearances going into Alex Hoppe’s save, the Bison (Blue Jays AAA) mustered just one more hit. Even if Kristian Campbell’s historic (in Triple-A) hit streak is done, he showed that watchful eye and worked three walks, Nick Sogard had 75% of that all by himself leading off, and, of course, it’s not a notable game if Jhostynxon Garcia doesn’t nail another home run. That makes sixteen in Triple-A, nineteen on the season, and six in about two weeks.
With the trade deadline behind us it seems like everyday the Password is, uh, encrypting himself further into a conversation about when, not if, a promotion will happen in 2025. He’s absolutely raking; his OPS creeps closer to 1.000 every day and with 231 at-bats in Triple-A, we can no longer call it a small sample size. I’d be pretty surprised if the outfielder doesn’t get some time in the roster expansion period, as he’s already on the 40-man roster, but a lot can be said for wanting to give him the most at-bats as possible, too. Despite sentiments that Password is some bulky big target in the field, he’s only 6 foot even, even being as stocky as he is. I think he’s a bit too small for first base and running Kristian Campbell at the position or taking Vaughn Grissom off the missing posters hung up around New England may be where the organization leans in the short-term, but taking some grounders over the offseason may be plausible.
Marvin Alcantara has his first home run in Double-A. Unfortunately, that’s about the only positive thing that happened in Harrisburg (Nationals AA) on Friday. Dalton Rogers just didn’t go long enough, and if you look at the batting averages of today’s starting lineups, with the exception of Ronaldo Hernandez, the fruit may have been picked a bit dry at this level; no organizational depth to speak of with the promotion of Mikey Romero to Worcester and the trade of James Tibbs.
Speaking of having a slow night at the plate, Greenville got captured by the Emperors (Braves High-A) by squeaking just four singles, no extra-base hits, four walks but stranding seven on the night. Meanwhile, Brandon Clarke had one of his weaker outings of 2025 as Rome teed off against the whole pitching staff and making the most of their six walks.
Yoikher Fajardo’s biggest issue so far has been his ability to go deep into games. This start was fine, I guess, though he did allow some walks to slip through the cracks to home plate, and only going three innings led the bullpen to let some more runs through. Salem was also devoid of any extra-base hits, and struck out thirteen times on the night. Even the usual suspects for some positive outcomes, Justin Gonzalez and Starlyn Nunez, were sat down multiple times. Overall, just a regrettable night all around on the farm.
