Results tagged ‘ Carolina League ’
MiLB.com profiles Sox SS prospect Xander Bogaerts
Infielder Xander Bogaerts (23) of the Salem Red Sox, a Boston Red Sox affiliate, in a game against the Potomac Nationals on June 8, 2012, at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia. Potomac won the first game of a doubleheader, 5-4. Bogaerts is the No. 2 Boston prospect, according to Baseball America. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
MiLB.com has a new in-depth interview with Boston Red Sox’ prospect shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Writers name Jackie Bradley Jr. top Red Sox prospect
Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (16) of the Salem Red Sox, a Boston Red Sox affiliate, in a game against the Potomac Nationals on June 8, 2012, at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia. Potomac won the first game of a doubleheader, 5-4. Bradley is the No. 10 Boston prospect, according to Baseball America. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
Former University of South Carolina Gamecock and Greenville Drive outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has been selected by Boston’s baseball writers as the Red Sox Minor League player of the year for 2012.
The award, called the Greg Montalbano Minor League Award, will be presented at a dinner Jan 24 by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. It goes to the “individual who has made the greatest impact in the minor leagues in the past season.”
Bradley was a member of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks’ national championship teams and played briefly for the Greenville Drive. He moved up the Sox’ Minor League system quickly last year, from Salem to Portland.
Most of the previous winners of the award since 2005 also played for the Greenville Drive, including Jon Lester (rehab assignment), Clay Buchholz, Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and Ryan Lavarnway, who won in 2011.
Pitcher Tyler Wilson of the Frederick Keys
The sweat flies off Pitcher Tyler Wilson (26) of the Frederick Keys in a game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on August 4, 2012, at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach won, 4-3. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
A different angle for a play at the plate
Catcher Tomas Telis (17) of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tags out Michael Flacco (27) of the Frederick Keys in a game on August 4, 2012, at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Flacco was attempting to score from second base on a fielding error in the top of the 7th inning. Myrtle Beach won, 4-3. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
I always look forward to trying something a little bit different. Saturday night I had one of those chances.
I was able to free up the time drive over to Myrtle Beach and shoot the Pelicans-Frederick Keys game. The Pelicans’ stadium, now called the TicketReturn.Com Field, is normally a tough place to shoot. The light streaks in from the first-base side, casting long shadows. Hat shadows are awful.
At the start of the game the batters are half in shadows and have in direct sunlight.
(At least I don’t have to play left field. Those poor guys have to stare directly into the sun until it drops down below the stadium walls.)
And then when the sun goes down the field lights don’t provide the best possible illumination.
But enough negatives. The best part of the stadium is that the netting does not extend over the dugouts, making it possible to sit in the upper stands and get a great, unobstructed view of the action on the infield.
So Saturday night I climbed up to a metal bench seat in section 200-something and caught this image at home plate.
When you see this, duck quickly
Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. of the Salem Red Sox in a game against the Potomac Nationals on June 8, 2012, at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
This is what it looks like when Jackie Bradley Jr. hits a screaming line drive right at you.
(It missed.)
A range of emotions just before a ballgame
Youth ballplayers wait for the start of the Salem Red Sox game against the Winston-Salem Dash on June 6, 2012, at LewisGale Field in Salem, Virginia. Salem won 4-1. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
Infielder Adrian Sanchez of the Potomac Nationals
Infielder Adrian Sanchez (9) of the Potomac Nationals, a Washington Nationals affiliate, in a game against the Salem Red Sox on June 8, 2012, at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia. Sanchez is Washington’s No. 28 prospect, According to Baseball America. Potomac won, 5-4. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
Shortstop, pitcher competitions keep Braves interesting
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons, right, of the Lynchburg Hillcats, jokes with the Hillcats radio reporter, center, and coach Bobby Moore before a game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on June 15, 2011, at City Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. (Tom Priddy / Four Seam Images)
So far this spring the Atlanta Braves have a miserable exhibition record (2-10), but interest is growing in four rookies competing for possibly just two spots on the roster.
While Tyler Pastornicky was predicted by some reporters as the likely starting 2012 shortstop, Andrelton Simmons is turning this spring into a competition.
Simmons won the Carolina League batting title in 2011 as the only league player to hit above .300. But never having played above High Class A, he was thought to need another year in the minors.
But as of Thursday morning Simmons is batting .295 with an OPS of .780 in spring games and Pastornicky just .100 and an OPS of .229. Game on.
Two young, highly regarded pitchers are competing for spots on the roster, too, possibly one in a starting role. Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado, both among the Braves’ top prospects, have been tag-teaming games this spring, one starting, one coming in later to pitch.
Teheran is 0-1 with an 11.00 ERA, and Delgado is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA. So it’s possible neither will get the starting spot and both may be headed back to Triple A Gwinnett.
In any case, it keeps these spring games interesting, even as the Braves are less than inspiring at the plate.
RHP Julio Teheran of the Atlanta Braves at Spring Training camp on March 17, 2009, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Tom Priddy / Four Seam Images)
RHP Randall Delgado of the Atlanta Braves throws during an intra-squad game on March 13, 2009, at Spring Training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Tom Priddy / Four Seam Images)
Top Red Sox prospects have played in Greenville
Outfielder Bryce Brentz (23) of the Salem Red Sox, Carolina League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, prior to a game against the Potomac Nationals on June 16, 2011, at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Brentz was a first-round sandwich pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
Every one of the Red Sox’ Minor Leaguers listed on the new MLB Top 100 Prospects list has played in Greenville for the Drive.
They include: No. 56 Will Middlebrooks; No. 64 Bryce Brentz; No. 76 Xander Bogaerts; and No. 93 Ryan Lavarnway.
Plus, two former Greenville Drive players traded away by the Sox are also on the list: No. 37 Anthony Rizzo, now with the Cubs organization; and No. 50, Casey Kelly, now with the Padres.
The MLB Top 100 prospects list:
1. Matt Moore, SP, Rays
2. Bryce Harper, OF, Nationals
3. Mike Trout, OF, Angels
4. Julio Teheran, SP, Braves
5. Shelby Miller, SP, Cardinals
6. Manny Machado, SS, Orioles
7. Jurickson Profar, SS, Rangers
8. Jameson Taillon, SP, Pirates
9. Trevor Bauer, SP, Diamondbacks
10. Dylan Bundy, SP, Orioles
11. Gerrit Cole, SP, Pirates
12. Manny Banuelos, SP, Yankees
13. Jesus Montero, C, Mariners
14. Devin Mesoraco, C, Reds
15. Jacob Turner, SP, Tigers
16. Danny Hultzen, SP, Mariners
17. Bubba Starling, OF, Royals
18. Taijuan Walker, SP, Mariners
19. Wil Myers, OF, Royals
20. Archie Bradley, SP, Diamondbacks
21. Tyler Skaggs, SP, Diamondbacks
22. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies
23. Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins
24. Drew Pomeranz, SP, Rockies
25. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Blue Jays
26. Jarrod Parker, SP, A’s
27. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Nationals
28. Zack Wheeler, SP, Mets
29. Martin Perez, SP, Rangers
30. Carlos Martinez, SP, Cardinals
31. Mike Montgomery, SP, Royals
32. Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians
33. Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs
34. Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds
35. Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins
36. Arodys Vizcaino, SP, Braves
37. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs
38. Matt Harvey, SP, Mets
39. Yonder Alonso, 1B, Padres
40. Starling Marte, OF, Pirates
41. Dellin Betances, SP, Yankees
42. Randall Delgado, SP, Braves
43. Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers
44. Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Astros
45. Zach Lee, SP, Dodgers
46. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Rays
47. Jake Odorizzi, SP, Royals
48. Gary Brown, OF, Giants
49. Wily Peralta, SP, Brewers
50. Casey Kelly, SP, Padres
51. Nick Castellanos, 3B, Tigers
52. Nick Franklin, SS, Mariners
53. Gary Sanchez, C, Yankees
54. Trevor May, SP, Phillies
55. Jean Segura, SS, Angels
56. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Red Sox
57. Anthony Gose, OF, Blue Jays
58. Jake Marisnick, OF, Blue Jays
59. Michael Choice, OF, A’s
60. Rymer Liriano, OF, Padres
61. Jarred Cosart, SP, Astros
62. Javier Baez, SS, Cubs
63. Willin Rosario, C, Rockies
64. Bryce Brentz, OF, Red Sox
65. Andrelton Simmons, SS, Braves
66. Chad Bettis, SP, Rockies
67. Garrett Richards, SP, Angels
68. Yasmani Grandal, C, Padres
69. Josh Bell, OF, Pirates
70. Nathan Eovaldi, SP, Dodgers
71. Jedd Gyorko, 3B, Padres
72. Aaron Hicks, OF, Twins
73. Mason Williams, OF, Yankees
74. Chris Archer, SP, Rays
75. Brad Peacock, SP, A’s
76. Xander Bogaerts, SS, Red Sox
77. James Paxton, SP, Mariners
78. Jesse Biddle, SP, Phillies
79. Allen Webster, SP, Dodgers
80. Brody Colvin, SP, Phillies
81. Cory Spangenberg, 2B, Padres
82. Drew Smyly, SP, Tigers
83. Alex Meyer, SP, Nationals
84. George Springer, OF, Astros
85. Sonny Gray, SP, A’s
86. Sammy Solis, SP, Nationals
87. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Marlins
88. A.J. Cole, SP, A’s
89. Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers
90. Jeurys Familia, SP, Mets
91. Christian Bethancourt, C, Braves
92. Tim Beckham, SS, Rays
93. Ryan Lavarnway, C, Red Sox
94. Grant Green, OF, A’s
95. Noah Syndergaard, SP, Blue Jays
96. Mikie Mahtook, OF, Rays
97. Jed Bradley, SP, Brewers
98. Francisco Peguero, OF, Giants
99. Taylor Guerrieri, SP, Rays
100. Addison Reed, RP, White Sox
2011 Favorites: 9. A moment frozen in time
Starting pitcher Junichi Tazawa (13) of the Salem Red Sox waits out a rain delay by tossing a ball in the dugout prior to a game against the Potomac Nationals on June 16, 2011, at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Tazawa was on a Major League rehab assignment from the Boston Red Sox. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
Major Leaguer Junichi Tazawa was on a rehab assignment in Class A, and here he was waiting out a rain delay before a start. He was tossing a ball back and forth, listening to his music, and looked like he just wanted to get things going.
It just seemed to be an interesting Minor League moment frozen in time. Almost like a painting.
Tom Priddy
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