Tuesday, July 01

BOSTON – The Red Sox have at last joined the velocity revolution, backed by Garrett Crochet, Aroldis Chapman and Justin Slaten at the Major League level.

They are also developing some flamethrowers on the farm, led by the emergence of lefty Brandon Clarke, the team’s fifth-round Draft selection last year out of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

Considered by many to be the best JUCO pitching prospect in the 2024 Draft, Clarke is creating excitement early in his pro career.

Though Clarke just made it into MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the Red Sox at No. 30, he looks poised to bump up when rankings are updated.

In his first three starts for Single-A Salem this season, Clarke allowed two hits and one run over 9 2/3 innings, walking two while striking out 17.

The 22-year-old Clarke has been through his lumps, undergoing Tommy John surgery as a high school junior before getting redshirted at Alabama in 2022. He is now fully healthy and firing the ball, daring opponents to make contact.

I had the chance to speak to Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham about Clarke this week. Here is that Q&A.

MLB.com: What were your reports on him as you scouted him in college, and perhaps high school as well?

Abraham: Physicality, velo and stuff, but less refined due to less time on the mound. It was an opportunity to get someone into a system with consistency and routine that would allow his skills to flourish.

MLB.com: How impressed have you been by his first three starts at Salem, and what has stood out to you?

BA: First of all, the pure stuff and velo is hard to not be impressed by. Early on, his ability to work consistently in the strike zone with his nasty stuff has been fun to watch.

MLB.com: Has his velo improved since you guys scouted him in college?

BA: It has ticked up – he hit 100 during Spring Training.

MLB.com: What has he topped out at so far?

BA: 100, while mostly sitting 96-98

MLB.com: How exciting is it to have a Draft pick throwing that hard and performing so well?

BA: Velocity scales, so having that as something he has in his back pocket is certainly great to see. The key is staying in the strike zone and continuing to develop his secondary pitches so he can be a complete pitcher. It's been great to see his performance be so strong so far, but it's also great because his underlying metrics -- that lead to more consistent success -- have also been strong.

MLB.com: What will he need to refine or improve in the coming years to have that overpowering velo turn into someone who can perform at the highest level?

BA: Health is obviously a priority for every pitcher, and then being able to throw nasty stuff in the zone consistently. It is very rare for a pitcher to have success with just a fastball and/or not throwing strikes so pushing those areas will remain important – secondaries and strike throwing.

MLB.com: What can you tell me about his makeup and work ethic?

BA: Great kid who works incredibly hard. A good teammate that is not satisfied being good; he wants to be great. He is respectful, open to adjustments, and asks good questions. 

Here are some developments at the other affiliates.

Triple-A Worcester

Roman Anthony, MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect (tops among position players) continues to absolutely unload on the baseball. Entering Sunday’s action, the left-handed hitter had a line of .313/.451/.588 with five doubles, one triple, five homers and 14 RBIs. His triple-digit exit velocity hits are starting to be common. How much longer before he debuts in the Majors? Marcelo Mayer (MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 prospect/Boston’s No. 3) has been matching his pal Anthony with his hitting heroics of late. His 43 total bases heading into Sunday were just four fewer than Anthony.

Double-A Portland

No. 10 prospect Connelly Early (fifth-rounder in 2023) has been lights out in his first three appearances. The lefty notched a 0.84 ERA and 0.56 WHIP while punching out 21 and walking three in 10 2/3 innings.

High-A Greenville

No. 22 prospect Nelly Taylor continues to be one of the most exciting players to watch in the organization. Entering Sunday’s action, he had four doubles and four steals to go with a .400 OBP. The left-handed-hitting outfielder was an 11th-round Draft pick out of Polk State (Fla.) Community College in 2023.

It will be hard to top Jarren Duran for most exciting play of the 2025 Red Sox season. The speedster executed a straight steal of home in Saturday’s nightcap of a doubleheader in Cleveland. No Red Sox player had pulled off a straight steal of the plate since Jacoby Ellsbury in 2009. Fittingly, Duran accomplished the rare feat on the 16-year anniversary of when Ellsbury pulled it off on Sunday Night Baseball against Andy Pettitte and the Yankees at Fenway Park.

The next homestand will be a six-gamer from May 2-8 against the Twins and Rangers. One of the best giveaways of the season is on May 6, when the Ceddanne Rafaela CF/SS bobblehead will be received by the first 7,500 fans in attendance. Fans can choose if they want the center field or shortstop version. In his rookie season, Rafaela split his reps almost equally between the two positions, starting 72 games in center and 71 at short. This season, he is expected to stay in center.

Throughout the season, we will be recognizing moments from the iconic season of 50 years ago. This week, we look at an exciting win from May 1.

While Bernie Carbo would make himself part of Red Sox lore in Game 6 of that ’75 World Series with his pinch-hit, game-tying three-run homer off Rawly Eastwick, he made important contributions to a 7-6 win over Cleveland on May 1. Batting in the leadoff spot, Carbo had a double and a two-run homer against Jim Perry to lift his Sox to a 7-6 win. Bill “Spaceman” Lee went eight innings for the win, despite allowing six runs.

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