Lowell Spinners Update: Williams Cuevas, Justin Haley, Dreily Guerrero

William Cuevas, SP

Cuevas has pitched very well since we last looked in on him, pitching another 9-2/3 innings over two appearances, while striking out nine and walking just two. Cuevas allowed just one run in that stretch, scattering eight hits, with the only run coming on a solo shot. In the four years Cuevas has been in the Red Sox system, this is his first anywhere except for Rookie ball, but it might just be his only stop in short-season Lowell if things keep up.

This is also the first season in which he's done much of anything on the mound, as his previous years looked good, but not great -- not enough to convince Boston to take him out of the Dominican Summer League, or to move him from there to Lowell instead of the GCL upon his arrival in stateside ball. The 2008 international free agent might make his first quick move to another level, though, as long as he continues to succeed like he has in his 12 appearances in 2012, as Low-A Greenville will have room for him in his age-22 campaign.

Justin Haley, SP

Haley was Boston's sixth-round selection in this summer's amateur entry draft. He signed and started pitching shortly after, with his first professional appearance coming on July 2, and has now totaled 26-1/3 innings, facing over 100 batters in the process. The 21-year-old has started each contest he's pitched in, and while his strikeout rates have slipped a little from where they were last time we looked in on his season, his walk rates have also dipped.

The 6-foot-5 Haley isn't far enough along to know if he'll end up as a starter or reliever, but he's got the potential to do either well, given his size and repertoire. It all depends on how consistently he can control his stuff, as well as if he can develop his secondary offerings to go along with that mid-90s heat.

*****

Dreily Guerrero, OF/IF

Guerrero has bounced between Greenville and Lowell, as the jump from the GCL to the Low-A Drive didn't work out so well. He's taken a step back and joined the Spinners in short-season ball, and while he's not setting the world on fire there, the 21-year-old is having a much easier time of things, as he's getting on base at a decent clip, while showing at least some pop.

Remember, offense is very low in the New York-Penn League. Guerrero's line looks pretty poor, but in comparison to the league-average .246/.321/.347, it's not so bad. That being said, just a little better than average for a 21-year-old is in his fourth professional season isn't so hot, either, so don't give that rope too much slack. He's likely a future utility player, if his career gets to that point, so his development path is going to have some odd stumbling blocks like this as he adjusts and tries to stay useful.