Red Sox Minor Lines: Pedro Castellanos can’t stop hitting homers

Pawtucket L 0-2

Tzu-Wei Lin, 2B: 0-4, 2 K

C.J. Chatham, SS: 0-4, 2 K

Jantzen Witte, 3B: 2-4, 1 K

Rusney Castillo, RF: 0-4, 1 K, 1 CS

Bobby Dalbec, 1B: 0-2, 1 K

Josh Ockimey, DH: 1-3, 1 K

Bryce Brentz, LF: 0-3, 1 K

Teddy Stankiewicz: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K (105 pitches)

Bobby Poyner: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (17 pitches)

Ryan Brasier: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (15 pitches)

It was a dreadful day at the plate for PawSox hitters, who managed only four singles and didn’t draw a single walk, though they were hit by a few pitches. Still, they just had nothing all game. In the end, they wasted good pitching all around though. Brasier is starting to roll with Pawtucket and he could be the next man up whenever the Red Sox look to shuffle their relievers again. He’s now tossed 8 ¹⁄₃ innings over nine appearances with Pawtucket and has a 1.08 ERA with 11 strikeouts and just one walk. Stankiewicz, meanwhile, could potentially see a spot start in September if/when the Red Sox fall out of it, though that is far from a sure thing.

Portland L 2-7

Jarren Duran, CF: 2-3, 1 K, 1 CS

Marcus Wilson, RF/CF: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K

Joey Curletta, 1B: 0-4

Brett Netzer, 2B: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 2 K

The two outfielders hitting in the top third of the Sea Dogs lineup are really the two only interesting parts of their offense right now, and both are swinging the bats well. The bad news is Duran left the game in the fifth inning after he was caught trying to steal second. I haven’t been able to find any news regarding the severity of the presumed injury, but we’ll monitor his status for the next few days.

Salem W 11-3

Garrett Benge, 3B: 2-5, 1 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Ryan Fitzgerald, SS: 0-3, 2 BB, 1 R, 3 K, 2 E

Pedro Castellanos, 1B: 3-4, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 R, 3 RBI

Keith Curcio, CF: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R

Devlin Granberg, LF: 0-5, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E

Edgar Corcino, RF: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI

Jagger Rusconi, 2B: 2-5, 1 R, 2 K

Enmanuel De Jesus: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (102 pitches)

Zach Schellenger: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (31 pitches)

Another day, another homer for Castellanos. This time, actually, it was two. What an amazing turnaround this has been for Castellanos, who as we’ve mentioned has always had big questions about his in-game power. It has just been an out-of-nowhere explosion over the last month and he is up to nine homers on the season after having just one less than a month ago on July 17. He’s gone from an .066 Isolated Power heading into that game to a .121 ISO today. Overall it’s still low for a first baseman, of course, but he’s been on an absolute tear in the home run department of late.

Greenville L 1-11

Tyler Esplin, RF: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K

Brandon Howlett, 3B: 1-4, 2 K

Triston Casas, 1B; 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K

I got nothing on this one. Not a whole lot going on in what was essentially a lost game for the Drive.

Lowell L 5-6 (F/10)

Cameron Cannon, 2B: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 R

Stephen Scott, 1B: 1-5, 1 R, 1 K

Nicholas Northcut, 3B: 1-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 1 K, 2 E

Nick Decker, RF: 3-4, 1 2B, 1 K

Antoni Flores, SS: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 K

Gilberto Jimenez has gotten most of the attention from this Lowell lineup for absolutely legitimate reasons, but he’s sort of overshadowed a couple of other good years. Decker was the team’s second round pick last year but became sort of forgotten after an injury cost him his entire first year as a pro. He’s come back in 2019 and has pounded the ball to the tune of a .252/.347/.472 line. He has some real pop in his bat that has shown up throughout the summer. Meanwhile, first round pick Cameron Cannon got off to a dreadful start immediately after signing but he’s been a hit machine after that initial slump. He’s gotten at least one hit in 15 of his last 18 games and has multiple hits in five of his last nine.

GCL G1 L 1-2

Daniel Bakst, 2B: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 R

Dominic D’Alessandro, 1B: 0-3

GCL G2 L 3-5

Angel Maita, CF: 3-4, 1 R, 1 K

Daniel Bakst, DH: 1-4, 2 RBI

Dominic D’Alessandro, 1B: 0-2, 1 BB, 1 K

DSL 1 L 3-4

Alex Zapete, 3B: 2-4, 1 K

Eduardo Lopez, CF: 0-4, 1 K

DSL 2 W 4-3

Axel James, DH: 2-4, 1 R, 2 K

Bryan Gonzalez, RF: 1-4, 2 K

Jose Navas, C: 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K

Danny Diaz, 3B: 1-4, 1 E

I usually don’t write up the DSL simply because we don’t have enough information on these guys for me to really know what I’m talking about. However, I am just noticing that Diaz has been sent back down to the DSL. This was his third game at the level after a really dreadful summer in the GCL. It’s a big step back for a guy who was a potential breakout prospect this year and someone who many were surprised not to see at Lowell.