Worcester: Cancelled (rain), end of season
Remember when Portland’s last game of the season was cancelled due to rain? Oh, that was just last week.
Well, as we’re stuck in a cycle of weekend storms, the last game of the season was cancelled for the WooSox. A factor in this decision was Worcester being eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday night. Still, for the season to end so unceremoniously calls for at least some commemoration, and so I’d like to shout out some names on the roster. I originally intended on going down the line on the website and speculate on future contributions to the team, but, by my estimation, especially since the trade for Adley Rutschman that had a ripple effect through the organization, a good portion of Worcester’s roster are either one-year placeholders until the farm gets replenished with the next couple of drafts or guys that are dealing with significant injuries. So, here’s to the guys that may not be that:
Allan Castro finished the season with 77 RBIs, two behind Bobby Dalbec for the team record since they relocated to Worcester five years ago… and saying that relocation happened six seasons ago is crazy for someone who went to the first home stand under pandemic crowd protocols. Castro really was a constant for the offense amidst a handful of platoon guys cycling through the team and that can’t be understated. He batted doubtful games back into contention and sealed close games away. If I pick a workhorse/general player of the year, it’s him or Braiden Ward, but only because Franklin Arias started the year in Portland.
Speaking of Braiden Ward, I personally was sad to see Brennan Bernardino go this offseason but loved the return from Colorado. And he performed fantastically, particularly near the end of the season. He ended up swiping 61 total bags and ther’s some clamor around a potential call-up to the Sox who, despite being a generally quick team in terms of baserunning, lack a real Dave Roberts-esque “when you see him, you know he’s going to steal” threat. Ward provides that, is defensively versatile, playing second as well as center field, and is pretty reliable with the bat in a pinch.
Franklin Arias is banging on the door and he will definitively be getting the call either in 2027 or Opening Day 2028, depending entirely on the length of the lockout. Either way, though, keeping him off the 40-man roster for now means, even with a lockout, he’ll get valuable time to improve his exceptional swing even more, though not against Major League arms. His totals across Portland and Worcester read like an All-Star caliber player: 28 home runs, .323/.400/.557 slash line, a 14% strikeout rate, and a plus glove in the infield to boot. Arias may or may not live up to his sky high prospect status, but pencil him in to the next iteration of this Red Sox team, whenever that comes.
John Holobetz will also likely be given the call in 2027. He’s still just 24. The 6’3” righty struck out 132 in 119 innings, walked just 36, had a WIP of a hair under 1.25, but even more comforting is he outperformed his Portland numbers in Worcester, signaling quick growth. While it’s sad that Quinn Priester missed 2026 with an injury, he was a world-beater in 2025, and the value of having steady presence in the rotation can’t be understated Depending how he bounces back in 2027, especially with the Brewers emerging as an NL front runner, expect that trade to go down in the history books as a win-win.
Hayden Mullins also put in his best work in 2026, and more specifically, directly before his promotion to Triple-A right before the end of the season. He celebrated his 26th birthday last Monday and so, in his age-25 season, Mullins was exactly what Portland needed in a rotation guy, especially following Anthony Eyannson’s departure. He struck out 132 in 92 innings, walked 49, lacked the longevity that Holobetz and others in the rotation had but did not give up long balls, getting taken yard just seven times all season (and even one of those was in his only Worcester appearance.) The 6’0” lefty will continue his development in 2027 before likely a late season call-up; it’s possible the team explores some multi-inning reliever roles depending on how this development goes.
Of course, too, the team’s former first-round draft pick Mikey Romero and current millionaire Kristian Campbell are still kicking around Wrocester, and the latter wants a redemption arc after a rough 2025. Neither saw any Major League time due to a cluttered roster and a multitude of other reasons, but don’t count either out for a platoon role next year, pending a lengthy lockout. You want guys looking better in September than they did in April, and while Campbell swung somewhat of a hot bat in the spring, I think that notion is true for both of these guys. The same is even true with Jedixson Paez (who saw Major League action, but don’t mention this to him) Blake Wehunt and Gage Ziehl. These are all guys to watch in 2027, provided some trade for a hole on the roster doesn’t call for dealing one of them (I think Campbell is pretty set on this roster given his price tag.) But, depth is a good problem to have.
And so ends my fourth full season providing Minor Lines for Over The Monster. You’ll see me kicking around during the playoff push and the offseason providing input on pieces that can make this 2027 team – and farm – even better than the 2026 version. Thanks so much for reading all season, and Go Sox!
