The Boston Red Sox have promoted Triston Casas to Triple-A Worcester for the final ten games of the season, as the Double-A season has come to a close. Casas is joined by Josh Winckowski and Ronaldo Hernandez, two other Sox prospects who spent the season with Portland are being promoted to the WooSox.
The Sea Dogs finished 67-47 on the season, with Red Sox ace Chris Sale contributing to several of those wins.
Casas, 21, is Boston’s No. 1 prospect according to soxprospects.com. The first baseman was the Sox’s first-round pick (26th overall) in 2018, and quickly developed into a top prospect after being signed.
Through 77 games this season with Portland, the left-handed bat hit .284/.395/.484 with 13 homers, to go along with 52 RBI, 57 runs, and a 142 wRC+. He had a strong showing in the Olympics, as the Sox were one of several teams to let their minor-leaguers play in Tokyo. He belted three homers while posting eight RBI, a double, and a .960 OPS.
He also hit five homers in 48 hours last week, as part of a recent tear where he’s posted a 190 wRC+ and a walk rate of 19% since July 10.
Winckowski, one of five players acquired in the Andrew Benintendi deal, had a solid first season in Boston’s system. The 23-year-old right-hander slated a 4.14 ERA across 21 outings (20 starts) with the Sea Dogs, to go along with a 4.38 xFIP. The hurler struck out 20.5 percent of batters he faced.
Hernandez, 23, had a strong season in both his Double-A debut and Red Sox debut. The catcher slashed .280/.319/.506, socking 16 homers and posting a 121 wRC+, 53 RBI, and 43 runs. The right-handed bat was acquired in a four-player deal in which Boston sent a pair of hurlers, Jeffrey Springs and Chris Mazza, to the Tampa Bay Rays.
As noted by Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Boston now has five of their top seven prospects with the WooSox (as ranked by Sox prospects). Winckoski, Hernandez, and Casas (No. 1) joins Jarren Duran (No. 4) who is on a rehab assignment after catching COVID-19, Jeter Downs (No. 5), and Connor Seabold (No. 7).
Brayan Bello (No. 6) spent the majority of his season in Double-A, but missed out on a promotion. The 22-year-old right-handed starter posted a 4.66 ERA across 15 starts after a strong start to his season in High-A Greenville.
(Staff photo of Boston Red Sox top prospect Triston Casas by Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)