International League North Preview: Red Sox Ready to Repeat?
By Wayne Cavadi
Now that Opening Day in the big leagues has come and gone, it is time to look towards Minor League Opening Day. Opening Day 2015 is a rolling start in the International League: teams will make their 2015 home debuts anywhere between April 9th and April 18.
Last season the Syracuse Chiefs, behind the bats of Michael Taylor and Steven Souza, Jr., ran away with the best record in the league. It was the Pawtucket Paw Sox, however, who rose triumphant as champions of the league. Led by pitchers like Anthony Ranaudo and Matt Barnes, the Paw Sox captured their second Governor’s Cup in the past three seasons.
Predicting what will happen in the Minor Leagues is, of course, a crap shoot. You would think that with Henry Owens, Matt Barnes and Eduardo Rodriguez ready to hurl for the Paw Sox, that they stood a good chance of repeating. However, the way injuries go down in the big leagues and the lack of strong starting pitching in Boston, all three could be called up at some point.
Today’s International League preview takes a look at the six team International League North. The Phillies, Blue Jays, Nationals, Yankees, Red Sox, and Twins all have exciting prospects on the pipeline, so it should be an action packed division.
BUFFALO BISONS
Parent Club: Toronto Blue Jays
2014 record: 77-66
Manager: Gary Allenson (2nd year)
Heading into Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, the Blue Jays were the No. 10 farm system in baseball. When six of your top ten prospects make the Opening Day roster, however, it leaves Triple-A a little bare. The Bisons’ roster has quite a few aging stars attempting to get back to the Major Leagues, or at least keep their careers afloat. Daric Barton, Chris Dickerson, Randy Wolf, Steve Delabar, Felix Doubront and Jeff Francis are all former big leaguers who will fill out the Bisons’ lineup while the kids are up in Toronto trying to make their way.
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The No. 17 prospect in the system, catcher A.J. Jimenez will platoon with Josh Thole behind the plate and is definitely worth keeping an eye on. The 24-year old is a defensive minded catcher, throwing out more than 40 percent of attempted base thieves over his career, and needs to get his bat going to make the big leagues. Aside from that, the Bisons will have an uncharacteristic veteran roster. They haven’t seen the playoffs in nine seasons and that streak could continue this season.
LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS
Parent Club: Philadelphia Phillies
2014 record: 66-78
Manager: Dave Brundage (3rd year)
It wasn’t long ago that the Phillies were known for pumping out Rookie of the Years and MVPs from their farm system. The days of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard working their way up the pipeline are seemingly long gone, but the 21st rated farm system does have some stars in the making at Triple-A. How far they can go this year however is another question.
The Iron Pigs will feature Maikel Franco in the heart of their lineup. Franco is just biding his time, however, and with only Cody Asche on the big league club keeping him down, it is just a matter of time until he gets called up. Franco, the No. 3 Phillies prospect and No. 56 in all of baseball, can only be held back so much longer despite his struggles in a brief call up last year and spring training this year.
The pitching staff will feature two of the Phillies’ top 30 prospects. Righty Severino Gonzalez will be the staff ace. The No. 15 prospect was asked to pitch last season using his go to pitch (his cutter) minimally to focus on the rest of his arsenal. Although it wasn’t his best season in the system, he took his learning curves and now has an above average 4-pitch arsenal to go along with his amazing control.
Joely Rodriguez, the No. 26 prospect in the Phils’ system, will pitch in the middle of the rotation. While he is still honing his command, the 23-year old lefty is a solid ground ball pitcher, which is always good for the Major League level. With Hamels on the trade block, both could make an appearance in Philly sometime this season.
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, after being bumped off the 40-man roster and then not claimed off of waivers, will attempt to prove he is not a bust in 2015. He will try to find his way, either in the bullpen or as a starter, or possibly even both.
PAWTUCKET RED SOX
Parent Club: Boston Red Sox
2014 record: 79-65 (Wild Card; won Governor’s Cup)
Manager: Kevin Boles (2nd year)
Skipper Kevin Boles heads into his second season, looking to make it 2-for-2. The reigning champion Paw Sox may be even stronger than last year with much of their No. 2 ranked farm system on display in Pawtucket.
The unquestioned leader of the team must be Blake Swihart. Despite the Red Sox starting catcher Christian Vasquez on the 60-day DL, Swihart, Boston’s top prospect and the No. 1 catching prospect in Minor League baseball, will lead the Paw Sox in search of consecutive Governor’s Cup titles. He will join seven of the Red Sox Top Ten prospects in Pawtucket this season.
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The rotation is anchored by Henry Owens. The 22-year old lefty is not far off from his big league debut, but for now, the No. 20 prospect in all of baseball, is the ace of a pitching staff that features four other top 30 Red Sox prospects. Lefty Eddie Rodriguez (No. 4), lefty Brian Johnson (No. 7), Matt Barnes (No. 9) and Steven Wright (No. 28) clearly make up the best starting five in the International League this season. The question is, with a questionable starting rotation in Boston, how long will they all be there?
Third baseman Garin Cecchini (No. 8) and shortstop Devin Marrero (No. 10) lead the infield. Rusney Castillo will anchor the outfield until he is ready for his promotion along with Jackie Bradley, Jr. who has been up and down with the big league club. Simply put, the Paw Sox are stacked.
ROCHESTER RED WINGS
Parent Club: Minnesota Twins
2014 record: 77-76
Manager: Mike Quade (1st year)
While many will await the return of Byron Buxton from extended spring training and Miguel Sano from Double-A to see how they are recovering from last season’s respective injuries, the Red Wings will feature much of the Twins’ No. 4 ranked farm system. With a stacked rotation and a lineup awaiting two of baseball’s top prospects, the Red Wings could contend for a title in 2015. That is if their young superstars stay in Triple-A.
The pitching staff’s ace is the Twins’ No. 3 prospect and Grading on the Curve’s No. 28 overall, Alex Meyer. The 25-year old righty is a strikeout machine and once he gains control of his arsenal, Meyer is Minnesota bound. He is joined by righty Trevor May (No. 11), lefty Logan Darnell (No. 30), lefty Jason Wheeler (No. 26) and righty Jose Berrios (No. 4) in a stout rotation. Once one of them gets a bump to the bigs, Kohl Stewart (No. 6) will surely get the call.
Infielder Eddie Rosario, the Twins No. 9 prospect, will be the face of the offense and defense. Joining him is outfielder Aaron Hicks, attempting to prove he can hit Major League pitching and finally make a name for himself in the bigs.
SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RAILRIDERS
Parent Club: New York Yankees
2014 record: 68-76
Manager: Dave Miley (9th season)
Miley had a tough season in 2014. The endlessly surmounting disabled list in the Bronx made Triple-A a revolving door last year with little consistency to his starting rotation. This season should be different, and eventually should see the likes of Yankees’ big names stars like Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino and Gary Sanchez.
The Yankees’ No. 18 ranked farm system is primarily there for the pieces that are below AAA right now. Until the aforementioned top prospects make their big jump sometime this season, Yankees’ No. 5 prospect Rob Refsnyder will be the focal point. Refsnyder was in the competition for the starting second base job right up to the end of spring training. After a breakout season, all eyes will be on Refsnyder to see just how long it is until he replaces Stephen Drew in the Bronx and attempts to become the next fan favorite face of the Yankees.
The outfield is a strength for the RailRiders with Tyler Austin (No. 18), Ramon Flores (No. 25) and once top prospect and injury prone Slade Heathcott. The starting rotation leaves little to be desired with Bryan Mitchell (No. 14) and Chase Whitley, the two best arms in the rotation, expected to be up and down all season.
The bullpen is the strength. It will be exciting to see how last season’s first round draft pick Jacob Lindgren (No. 9) performs. Lindgren skyrocketed up the Yankees’ minor league ladder in just half a season. The young fireballer is a strikeout machine and should make his Major League debut this season.
SYRACUSE CHIEFS
Parent Club: Washington Nationals
2014 Record: 81-62
Manager: Billy Gardner, Jr.
The three biggest stars from the Nationals 9th ranked farm system will not be with the Chiefs, who threw together the best record in 2014, to start 2015. Gone to Tampa Bay is reigning Nationals’ Minor League Player of the Year Steven Souza, Jr., while Michael Taylor is the starting centerfield in the nation’s capitol. Lucas Giolito is staying in Florida for extended spring training so he can be closely monitored.
Syracuse will have quite a few savvy veterans looking to regain their big league luster starting for them this season. Kila Ka’aihue will bring his big bat to the lineup and try to prove he is not simply a Quad-A hitter. Emmanuel Burriss, Ian Stewart, Mike Carp, Manny Delcarmen, Rich Hill, and Evan Meek are also amongst former big leaguers on the roster.
A.J. Cole leads the strongest part of Chiefs’ squad, the starting rotation. The Nationals’ No. 3 prospect made his debut in Syracuse last season, and went 7-0 after a midseason promotion. Righty Taylor Hill, the No. 25 prospect on the farm, will be his number two pitcher.
Brian Goodwin, ranked as high as No. 9 by Baseball America on the Nationals’ top prospect list, returns to Syracuse this season after an injury prematurely ended his season in 2014. The Nationals’ acquired catcher Dan Butler from the Red Sox after the 28-year old made his big league debut in 2014. He was their 2013 Triple-A MVP. Aside from those two names, the lineup will be mainly veterans and career minor leaguers.
The Chiefs will have a tough time getting back to 81 wins, but if Giolito joins Cole in the rotation sooner than later, the Chiefs can still contend.