WooSox Set to Begin Second Half with Clean Slate
The Worcester Red Sox wrapped up the first half of the 2024 Minor League Baseball season on Sunday with a 9-7 loss to the Columbus Clippers. The club finished tied for seventh place in the International League East division with a record of 35-40––15 games back of Ryan Fitzgerald and
The Worcester Red Sox wrapped up the first half of the 2024 Minor League Baseball season on Sunday with a 9-7 loss to the Columbus Clippers. The club finished tied for seventh place in the International League East division with a record of 35-40––15 games back of Ryan Fitzgerald and the Omaha Storm Chasers. As the winners of the first half, Omaha will host the International League Championship Series in late September. The WooSox hope they’ll be the ones flying to Omaha at seasons end.
With the second half of the season beginning on Tuesday, the WooSox and every Triple-A club will start with a brand new, 0-0 record. The fresh slate might be just what the WooSox need, as their underlying numbers do not correlate with their 35-40 record over the season’s first 75 games.
Worcester ended the first half with a plus-34 run differential––ranking third best in the International League. Additionally, the team led the league in walks (395) and OBP (.369) while sitting in the top five in runs scored (423) and OPS (.797). Of seven WooSox hitters who have appeared in 30 games or more, five ended the first half with an OPS over .800.
While the WooSox pitching hasn’t been as stellar as the offense, the staff ended the first half middle of the road in most statistical categories. Yet, the club finished with a .467 winning percentage––sixth worst in the International League.
A possible explanation for Worcester’s first half woes is their 2-11 record in one-run games. Another is their league-leading 575 runners left on base.
No matter the reason, a new season starts on Tuesday.
The WooSox highly anticipated second half should be one filled with plenty excitement. Three of the Boston Red Sox top prospects––Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel––are all knocking on the doorstep of Triple-A, with each having excellent seasons at Double-A Portland. Brian Abraham, the Boston Red Sox Director of Player Development, spoke at Polar Park on Saturday regarding their progress and provided positive updates on each prospect.
“Double-A is having a really strong season this year,” Abraham said. “I think what is exciting about this group is that there is a lot of talent on that Double-A team, and they are very close to becoming Worcester Red Sox in the near future.”
When Mayer, Anthony, and Teel arrive, they’ll join a lineup that has the potential to be one of the International League’s best.
Chase Meidroth, the WooSox leadoff man, has been the tone setter for the offense. The 22-year-old ranks second in all of baseball––MLB and MiLB––with 59 walks and ranks in the top five in MiLB with a .452 OBP. Meidroth enters the second half with a 31-game on-base streak and has been kept off the base paths just three times this year. One of those games was the second leg of a double header (April 24) and another was a pinch-hit opportunity (May 11).
Fellow infielder, Nick Sogard, has also been superb at the plate this season. The utility man leads the team in runs (49), hits (74), doubles (15), batting average (.298), and average with RISP (.361). Though he hit just .250 with a .701 OPS through April, Sogard has been the team’s most consistent hitter since, slashing .327/.439/.558 since May 1. Entering Tuesday’s game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Sogard has been on base in 35 of his last 36 games and has posted a 1.087 OPS during that span.
Niko Kavadas––the WooSox most prolific power hitter this season––is fourth in the International League with a .972 OPS. In 63 games, the first baseman leads Worcester in home runs (14), RBIs (49), and SLG (.556) while ranking in the top three in runs (43), hits (54), doubles (14), walks (42), and OBP (.416).
Nick Yorke and Mickey Gasper, two of Worcester’s newest offensive contributors, have exceeded expectations since their promotions in early June. In 16 games, Yorke is hitting .355/.459/.532 while collecting 22 hits and scoring 12 runs. Gasper has been equally impressive, posting a .424 average and a 1.264 OPS in 10 games.
When Double-A Portland’s trio makes their way down Route 95 to Worcester, they’ll look to meet the standard that Yorke and Gasper have set.
On the pitching side, Richard Fitts has been a force at the top of Worcester’s rotation. In 60.2 innings, the Alabama native ranks in the top 10 in the International League in ERA (3.86), opponents' batting average (.239), and WHIP (1.29). Jason Alexander and Grant Gambrell round out the WooSox top three, each compiling 67 and 65 first half innings, respectively.
Though the WooSox finished the first half five games under .500, their record does not tell the full story. With a clean slate to begin the second half, the club will look to rebound and book a flight to Omaha.
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other