Making an impact in Red Sox farm system

Who are the noteworthy performers of late in the Red Sox farm system? Here’s a look at the last week:

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Triple A Worcester: 5-1 last week, 16-16 overall

Righthander Richard Fitts (ranked No. 7 in Baseball America’s may update of Red Sox prospects) continues to pitch well. In his last two outings, he has thrown 9„ innings, striking out 11, walking three, and allowing just five hits. For the season, he has a 3.72 ERA with 28 strikeouts and eight walks in 29 innings, with his fourseam fastball (93-95 m.p.h.) and slider playing well against righties, and his changeup proving effective against lefties.

Enmanuel Valdez hit the ground running in his return to the minors, going 6 for 16 with a homer, two doubles, and a .375/.444/.750 line. He played one of his four games at third base, underscoring the team’s intention of moving him around the field — something the Astros did prior to the trade that brought him to Boston in 2022 — to open more pathways to the big leagues.

First baseman Niko kavadas continues to mash, up to a .276/.440/.618 line for the season. most of that production has come by crushing fastballs (.351 with a .703 slugging percentage).

R Double A Portland: 5-1 week, 16-9 overall

It wasn’t a great week for results by marcelo mayer (now ranked the No. 2 prospect in the system by Baseball America, with Roman Anthony at No. 1), as he hit .160/.192/.280. Yet a scout who followed him over the past week suggested there’s little cause for alarm.

“There are few prospects in baseball better than marcelo mayer,” said the scout. “He’s really [expletive] good.”

Righthander Wikelman gonzalez (No. 5), who showed a mix that was heavy on off-speed stuff and breaking balls in his most recent outing, has been terrific of late, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out 20 in his last 13 innings spanning three appearances. For the season, opponents are hitting .148 against him.

Questions remain about whether gonzalez can work in the strike zone enough to emerge as a big league starter, but he looks potentially valuable in some role.

Righthander Ryan Zeferjahn, a 2019 third-rounder, likely has earned a promotion to Worcester. The 26year-old reliever has been working at 96-98, getting swings-and-misses with his slider and curveball, and not allowing an earned run in 13„ bullpen innings. He has struck out 22 and walked three.

R High A Greenville: 4-2 last week, 11-16 overall

Righthander Luis Perales (No. 9) has been excellent since returning from early-season soreness on his right side. In two starts, he has thrown eight innings without an earned run while striking out 14 and walking three.

kristian Campbell (No. 30) hit just four homers at georgia Tech last year, but the Red Sox were convinced he had the strength and barrel feel to develop power in pro ball with small adjustments to his approach — a conviction that informed their decision to select him in the fourth round of last year’s draft.

That sense was amplified in the spring, when Campbell consistently smashed pitches with elite exit velocities. In the offense-amplifying environment of the South Atlantic League, Campbell is reinforcing the point. Last week, in altitudinous Asheville, N.C., Campbell destroyed the Tourists’ staff, going 10 for 20 with three homers, posting a .500/.545/1.050 line.

The 21-year-old Campbell, who has split time at second base and center field this season, has a chance to rise quickly in the prospect rankings.

Lefty Connelly Early, a 2023 fifthrounder, has shown a mix of swingand-miss offerings that suggests promise if he can add velocity. He has 29 strikeouts and five walks in 21„ innings.

R single A salem: 3-3 last week, 12-15 overall

Shortstop Nazzan Zanetello (No. 10) suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that had him opening the season on the injured list. He’s back on the IL just six very impressive games into the season, having hit .412/.524/.824 in 21 plate appearances.

Catcher Johanfran garcia (No. 13), who had to be carted off the field last Thursday with what was initially diagnosed as a right knee strain incurred while running the bases, underwent an mRI monday. He’s on the injured list and has been sent to Fort myers to rehab. Before his injury, garcia was hitting .385/.467/.596 with seven extra-base hits in 14 games.

Towering 6-foot-7-inch righthander Blake Wehunt, a 2023 ninth-rounder out of kennesaw State, hasn’t given up a run in his last three outings spanning 13 innings. He has struck out 17 while walking four and allowing just five hits, leaving him with a 1.15 ERA on the season.

R Rookie level Florida Complex League: 1-1 week/season

Yoeilin Cespedes (No. 6), the top Red Sox prospect in the Florida Complex League, had the start of his season delayed slightly by a quadriceps injury, but he is expected to get in games this week, serving as a designated hitter.

other top prospects in rookie ball include 18-year-old shortstop Franklin Arias (No. 21) and switch-hitting infielder Starlyn Nuñez (unranked).