Red Sox minor lines: Pawtucket's unexpected pitching talents

Pawtucket W 9-1 (6/17)

Deven Marrero: 1-5, 3B

Aaron Wilkerson: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Pawtucket W 4-1 (6/18)

Justin Haley: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

In a season where the Paw Sox started with Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, and Roenis Elias, how is it that mid-season introductions such as Wilkerson and now Haley are the guys who suddenly seem the most likely to contribute to the major league roster at some point or another? Can't say I really understand it.

Portland W 3-1 (6/17)

Andrew Benintendi: 2-4, 2 2B

Williams Jerez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Portland W 10-3 (6/18)

Andrew Benintendi: 2-5, HR

Benintendi already has his Portland OPS up to .726. That doesn't sound like much, but remember that after his 0-for-4 performance on June 1st, a full two weeks into his stay in Double-A, Benintendi sat with a line of .196/.236/.255. Now he's had two-hit performances in five-of-six games, and seems ready to ruin many a pitcher's day.

Salem L 1-6 (6/17)

Mauricio Dubon: 0-2, BB, SB, 2 E
Nick Longhi: 0-4
Rafael Devers: 0-4, K

Salem W 4-2 (6/18)

Joseph Monge: 0-4, BB, K
Mauricio Dubon: 1-4, K, SB
Rafael Devers: 2-4, K

Trey Ball: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Yankory Pimentel: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Some rare games indeed from Joseph Monge dating back to Thursday (another 0-for-4). These were his first 0-for-4s since May 26th. Even if Salem hasn't been quite as easy for him as Greenville, he's been able to hold his own, especially of late. In the six games preceding those two, he'd been 11-for-26, boosting his OPS by some 56 points.

Greenville Game 1 L 1-6 (In 7) (6/17)

Michael Chavis: 0-3, 3 K
Josh Ockimey: 1-2, 2B, BB, K
Kyri Washington: 0-3, 3 K
Luis Alexander Basabe: 1-3
Austin Rei: 1-2, BB, K

Anderson Espinoza: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Greenville L 1-4 (In 7) (6/17)

Luis Alejandro Basabe: 1-3, 2B, BB
Josh Ockimey: 2-2, 2B, 2 BB
Kyri Washington: 0-4, 2 K
Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-3

Roniel Raudes: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Jake Cosart: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Greenville W 7-1 (6/18)

Luis Alejandro Basabe: 2-5, 2B, K
Michael Chavis: 1-5
Josh Ockimey: 2-5, 2B, HR, K
Luis Alexander Basabe: 1-3, BB
Austin Rei: 1-4, 2B, K

Marc Brakeman: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Austin Glorius: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Josh Ockimey has well-and-truly broken out of his slump, following a 3-for-24 slide that saw his line drop from .315/.456/.568 down to .277/.414/.497. Since then, he's collected nine hits in six games, drawing six walks to just five strikeouts. Having broken free from a slump, it's hard to say what more there is for Ockimey to do down in the SAL. Perhaps pick up an All-Star appearance than be on his merry way? It feels like pitchers may be actively pitching around him at this point, which doesn't do anyone all that much good.

Lowell W 1-0 (6/17)

Yoan Aybar: 1-3, K

Michael Kopech: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Lowell W 9-5 (6/18)

Yoan Aybar: 2-4, 2 K, SB

Hey, Michael Kopech is back! Yes, four walks, not great. But that's to be expected with the rust, even against guys fresh out of college or the lower rookie leagues.

For now, the Red Sox lack all that much else of interest in Lowell, frankly. Aybar is still a (semi-)big-bonus international signing from not long back with big physical gifts that have yet to translate to results, but at 18 that's not so great a knock against him. Behind Aybar, we're pretty much left waiting to see who will filter in from the higher rounds of this draft class. Perhaps a Groome at some point? We can only hope.