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 Pawtucket Red Sox

PawSox Hot Stove Notes

February 7, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release


A number of players have joined us here at McCoy for both today's Media Luncheon and tomorrow's Hot Stove Party for fans and we'd like to thank Boston Red Sox Director of Player Development Ben Crockett; along with Red Sox Vice President, Baseball Administration Raquel Ferreira; Assistant Director, Player Development Brian Abraham; and Assistant Director of Minor League Operations Mike Regan for helping to coordinate the appearance of these players. Ben and Brian are both here in attendance today.

Manager Kevin Boles, who led the PawSox to the 2014 Governors' Cup Championship, and new hitting coach Rich Gedman will do their best to provide a preview of what the 2015 PawSox may look like. Kevin, Rich, and the players - pitcher Keith Couch, catcher Matt Spring, and pitcher Robby Scott - will all be available to the media throughout the afternoon.

The PawSox thank the players and staff for being here for our Hot Stove Weekend that will continue tomorrow (Saturday) from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm at McCoy with the 38th Annual PawSox Hot Stove event for fans. PawSox fans are invited to the Hot Stove Party that will be held inside the McCoy Clubhouse, batting tunnels, and team store. The players will be available for photos and autographs. Food and drink will be served. As always, the event is free of charge.

In recent years, past attendees for Hot Stove weekend at McCoy have gone on to successful big league careers. Hanley Ramirez & Kelly Shoppach (2005), Manny Delcarmen & David Murphy (2006), Brandon Moss & Clay Buchholz (2007), Justin Masterson, Jed Lowrie & Michael Bowden (2008), Daniel Bard (2009), Felix Doubront & Ryan Kalish (2010), Ryan Lavarnway (2011), Allen Webster & Jackie Bradley, Jr. (2013), and last year Bryce Brentz, Alex Hassan, and Steven Wright are just some of the players who have appeared here for Hot Stove weekends at McCoy before getting promoted to the Major Leagues.

THOSE WHO ARE HERE TODAY

Kevin Boles, who turned 40 less than a month ago (January 16), had a tremendous Triple-A debut season as he led the PawSox to the 2014 International League Governors' Cup Championship. In so doing, the PawSox became just the third team in the 131-year history of the IL to go to three straight Governors' Cup Finals with three different managers (Arnie Beyeler in 2012 when the PawSox won the Cup, Gary DiSarcina in 2013 when the PawSox lost in the Cup Finals, and Boles in 2014 when the PawSox recaptured the Cup).

Last season it took 143 games (out of 144 regular-season games) for the PawSox to secure the IL wild card and earn their 4th consecutive trip to the International League Playoffs. The PawSox endured a total of 225 player transactions during the year, employed 66 different players, sent 25 players to Boston, received 16 players from Portland, and Boles used a rather amazing 150 different line-ups in 153 total games (and those included the batting order only and not the starting pitcher). Through it all he steered the PawSox to their second championship in three years (after a 27 year stretch with no Cups from 1985-2011) as Pawtucket swept Syracuse, 3 games to 0 in the semi-finals and then rallied to beat the Durham Bulls, 3 games to 2 in a thrilling championship series. This off-season Bolesy was chosen as the 2014 Rhode Island Sports Coach/Manager of the Year as voted by Words Unlimited, Rhode Island's association of sportswriters and sports broadcasters.

The upcoming season will mark Boles' eighth year in the Red Sox organization. He had been the manager of the Portland Sea Dogs from 2011-2013 which marked his first seasons at the Double-A level after he spent the first 10 years of his managerial career at either the Rookie or Single-A level with the Marlins, Royals, Twins, and Red Sox organizations. Overall in 14 years as a minor league manager, Boles has compiled an 876-851 career record.

Rich Gedman, 55, was promoted from the Portland Sea Dogs (AA) to become the new hitting coach for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2015. Gedman has been the hitting coach in Portland for the past two seasons working with such notables as Xander Bogaerts, Garin Cecchini, and Christian Vazquez in 2013 and last season with Mookie Betts (.355 in 54 games), Deven Marrero (.291 in 68 games), and Blake Swihart (.300 in 92 games). Portland finished the 2014 season with an 88-54 record to win the Eastern League Northern Division.

A Worcester, MA native, Gedman played for Boston for 11 seasons from 1980-1990. In 906 career games with the Red Sox he hit .259 with 83 HR & 356 RBI. He is 4th in Red Sox history with 858 games caught behind only Jason Varitek, Carlton Fisk, and Sammy Walton. His best seasons came in 1985 and 1986 when he was an American League All-Star catcher both years...hitting .295/18/80 in '85 and .258/16/65 in '86. During that 1986 season Rich caught Roger Clemens' 20-strikeout game on April 29 and played in all 14 of Boston's post-season games in 1986 as he hit .357 with a HR in the ALCS vs. California and added a homer in the World Series vs. the Mets.

Gedman signed with Boston as a non-drafted free agent in 1977 and played for the PawSox in 1980 (batting .236 with 11 HR in 111 games). He also played for the PawSox for 25 games in 1981 (going 1-for-3 during The Longest Game in Baseball History in April of that year) and had a brief injury rehab assignment with Pawtucket during the 1988 season. He finished his big league career playing for Houston in 1990 and St. Louis in 1991 & '92.

This will be Rich's fifth year as a coach in the Red Sox system. In 2011 he was the hitting coach for the Lowell Spinners, in 2012 he served in that same role for the Salem Red Sox, and in 2013 & 2014 he was Portland's hitting coach. His coaching career actually began as bench coach for the North Shore Spirit of the Can-Am Independent League before he became manager of the Worcester Tornadoes in that same league from 2005-2010.

Rich and his wife Sherry currently live in Framingham, MA and have three children: Michael, Marissa, and Matt (a 26-year-old infielder in the Red Sox system who has played for Salem for the past two seasons).

The PawSox 2015 field staff will also include new pitching coach Bob Kipper, who has spent the last five seasons with Portland; coach Bruce Crabbe, who is back for his second year with the PawSox; and trainer Jon Jochim who returns for his sixth season with the PawSox and his 13th year as an athletic trainer in the Red Sox system. Ironically, Boles, Gedman, and Kipper comprised the Portland coaching staff in 2013.

PLAYERS

RHP Keith Couch, 25, was the starting and winning pitcher in the decisive Game 5 of the 2014 Governors' Cup Finals when he went 6.2 shutout innings (allowing just 1 hit) to beat Durham 4-1 and deliver Pawtucket the title. It was his only appearance all year for the PawSox. Keith went 8-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) for Portland (AA) last season despite being on the Sea Dogs' disabled list for almost two months with a right elbow strain. In April and May of last season he went a combined 7-0 with a 2.26 ERA and one save in 11 games (10 starts). Couch was also impressive in 2013 posting an 11-3 record and a 3.47 ERA in 29 games (15 starts) for Portland. The 11 wins tied for the most in the Red Sox system and his ERA was 6th best in the Eastern League. He made one start for the PawSox in August of 2013 before returning to Portland. The New York native was selected in the 13th round by the Red Sox in the 2010 draft out of Adelphi University.

Catcher Matt Spring, 30, was with the PawSox during their post-season run to the championship but was on the disabled list for much of that time with a left ankle sprain. He was activated on September 13 for Game 5 of the Cup Finals when catcher Blake Swihart was placed on the DL and was on the roster for the Triple-A National Championship Game on September 16 but did not play. In 12 games with Pawtucket last July and August he batted .265 with 2 HR & 7 RBI. He spent the first three months of last year with Portland where he hit .233 with 6 HR & 23 RBI in 31 games. Matt was an Eastern League mid-season All-Star in 2013 and finished the year with 10 HR & 34 RBI in 52 games. Born in Phoenix, AZ, Spring went to Dixie State College in Utah and was a 4th round choice of the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2004 draft. He signed with the Red Sox as a minor league free agent prior to the 2011 season. Matt currently lives in Georgia.

LHP Robby Scott, 25, had an outstanding year out of the Portland bullpen last season posting an 8-2 record and 3 saves with a 1.96 ERA in 35 games (34 in relief). In 59.2 innings last season he had 51 strikeouts compared to only 15 walks. Furthermore, opposing batters hit just .149 against him with runners in scoring position during the season (7-for-47). Robby began 2014 with 14.1 scoreless innings from April 6-26 and, after giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on April 30, he did not allow a run in 5 games in May going 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Scott was named an Eastern League mid-season All-Star. He spent all of 2013 with Salem (A) going 4-4 with 2 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 31 relief appearances while opponents hit just .214 against him (4th best among Carolina League relievers). The 6'3", 220 lbs. lefty from Miami was signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent in August of 2011 after attending Florida State University. His mother played volleyball at FSU and is in their Hall of Fame while his uncle Joe Wessel was a standout special teams player for the FSU football team from 1981-84.

PAWSOX BOX OFFICE IS OPEN

The PawSox Box Office at McCoy Stadium is open for walk-up sales. Individual tickets for all Pawtucket Red Sox regular-season home games in 2015 are currently available. The McCoy Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Beginning later in March the ticket office will also be open on Saturdays from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm leading up to Opening Night at McCoy on April 16th vs. the Rochester Red Wings at 7:05 pm.

Box Seats are priced at $13.00 apiece. Adult General Admission tickets are $9.00 while General Admission tickets for both Children (aged 12 & under) and Senior Citizens are just $6.00 apiece.

PawSox Box Seat Season Tickets are priced at $700 each (a significant savings of 25% off the box office price) and include a number of exclusive season ticket holder events. The PawSox also offer a variety of Flex Ticket Packages that allow fans the convenience of choosing from among several games at a substantial savings. Flex tickets can be purchased in quantity amounts of 25, 50, and 100. The price for 25 flex tickets is $200 (general admission) & $300 (box seats). The price for 50 flex tickets is $375 (GA) & $575 (box). And the price for 100 flex tickets is $700 (GA) & $1,100 (box).

Individual game tickets, season tickets, group sales packages, suite rentals, and barbecue reservations are currently on sale at the PawSox Office, on-line at www.pawsox.com, or by phone with any major credit card by calling (401) 724-7300. For more information check out the PawSox website at www.pawsox.com.

RED SOX OFF-SEASON ACQUISITIONS

Boston Red Sox acquisitions or free agent signings who could impact Pawtucket in 2015 include...

OF Quintin Berry, 30, joined the PawSox late in the 2013 season and then was a member of the Red Sox 2013 World Series Champions. He spent most of last season with Norfolk (hitting .285 in 112 games with 25 stolen bases). In 117 games in the big leagues with Detroit, Boston, and Baltimore he has a .266 average and is 25-for-25 in SB attempts.

INF Jeff Bianchi, 28, has been a member of the Milwaukee Brewers for parts of the last three seasons. He played in 100 games for the Brewers in 2013 (batting .237) and was on Milwaukee's Opening Day roster in 2014. He was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and played in 24 games for the Sounds hitting .276 with 3 HR before missing the second half of last season with a right elbow injury.

RHP Mitchell Boggs, who will turn 31 on February 15, was a mainstay in the St. Louis bullpen from 2009-2013. His best season with the Cardinals came in 2012 when he appeared in a career-high 78 games going 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA. He split 2013 with St. Louis and Colorado and last year fought some arm troubles while making 25 RA for Charlotte (AAA-White Sox) and 10 RA for Fresno (AAA-Giants). In 241 major league games (15 starts) he is 13-15 with a 4.12 ERA.

LHP Casey Crosby, 26, was limited to 11 relief outings for the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA-Detroit) last season due to arm woes. It marked the first time in his career he was used as a reliever. In 2012 he made 22 starts for Toledo (7-9, 4.01) and 3 starts for the Detroit Tigers (1-1, 9.49).

LHP Dana Eveland, 31, was impressive in relief for the New York Mets last season going 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 30 games (with 27 SO in 27.1 IP). He has pitched for eight Major League teams including Milwaukee (2005-06), Arizona (2007), Oakland (2008-09), Toronto (2010), Pittsburgh (2010), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2011), Baltimore (2012), and the Mets (2014) and is 20-26 with a 5.27 ERA in 144 big league games (61 starts).

LHP Matt Hoffman, 26, has been a reliever for three International League teams including Toledo (2010-13), Rochester (2014), and Lehigh Valley (2014). Last season he appeared in 14 games for Rochester (1-0, 3.80), 3 games for Lehigh Valley (0-0, 4.50) and 20 games for the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (0-1, 3.57).

1B/OF Bryan LaHair, 32, is a Worcester, MA native who was a National League All-Star for the Chicago Cubs in 2012. He played in 130 games for the Cubs that season hitting .259 with 16 HR & 40 RBI. He spent 2013 in Japan playing for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (.230/16/57). Last year he was in the Cleveland system playing the majority of the season for Double-A Akron along with 10 games for Triple-A Columbus. The 6'5", 240 lbs. lefty hitter had back-to-back huge seasons in Triple-A for the Iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League in 2010 (.308 with 25 HR & 81 RBI) and 2011 (.331 with 38 HR & 109 RBI).

C Luis Martinez, 29, spent most of last season with the Salt Lake Bees (AAA-Angels) where he hit .262 with 4 HR & 22 RBI in 53 games. He also played for Sacramento (AAA-Oakland) last season as well. Martinez has played in the big leagues with San Diego (22 games in 2011) and Texas (10 games in 2012).

RHP Nestor Molina, 26, was with the Birmingham Barons (AA-White Sox) all of last season going 7-4 with 7 SV and a 4.55 ERA in 44 relief outings. He was also with Birmingham in both 2012 (making 21 starts) and 2013 (17 games, 4 GS). He reached Triple-A Charlotte for one game in 2012. He originally was drafted by Toronto and in 2011 was 10-3 with a 2.58 ERA in 21 games for the Dunedin Blue Jays (A).

C/1B Luke Montz, 31, has been used as both a catcher and first baseman throughout his 12-year professional career. In 2013 he played for both Oakland (13 games) and Sacramento (AAA-Oakland). He has played for four organizations including Washington, the Mets, Miami, and Oakland. He did reach the majors with Washington in 2008 (10 games) and Oakland in 2013 (13 games).

RHP Felipe Paulino, 31, battled shoulder troubles last season and was limited to 4 starts with the Chicago White Sox and 5 starts for Triple-A Charlotte. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012 which cut short a promising season he was having with Kansas City as he went 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 7 starts for the Royals before being injured. The 6'3', 270 lbs. righty is 13-34 with a 5.223 ERA in 97 major league games (65 starts) for Houston, Colorado, Kansas City, and the White Sox.

C Humberto Quintero, 35, has played professionally for 18 years including parts of 12 years in the big leagues. In 471 Major League games with five teams he has a .234 career average with 20 HR & 127 RBI. His big league time has come with San Diego (2003-04), Houston (2005-2011), Kansas City (2012), Philadelphia (2013), and Seattle (2013-14). He played in three games for the Mariners last year but was with Triple-A Tacoma for most of the season batting .290 in 73 games with 4 HR & 27 RBI.

LHP Danny Rosenbaum, 27, was acquired from Washington in a January trade for former PawSox catcher Dan Butler. He made four starts for Syracuse last season but missed the remainder of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. Rosenbaum was a regular in the Syracuse rotation in 2013 making 28 starts to lead the International League and he was 5th in the league with 158.1 innings pitched going 7-11 with a 3.87 ERA. Danny was a South Atlantic League All-Star for Single-A Hagerstown in 2010 (2-5, 2.32 in 18 GS) and an Eastern League All-Star for Double-A Harrisburg in 2012.

RHP Zeke Spruill, 25, was acquired from Arizona in December. He spent the majority of last season with the Triple-A Reno Aces (3-7, 6.04 in 28 games) and also made 6 appearances for the Diamondbacks (1-1, 3.57). Zeke also pitched in 6 games for Arizona in 2013. A 2nd round selection by Atlanta in the 2008 June draft, he was a South Atlantic League All-Star for Single-A Rome in 2009 (8-6, 3.03 in 20 games - 19 GS) and a Southern League All-Star in 2012 for Double-A Mississippi (9-11, 3.67 in 27 GS).

OF Blake Tekotte, 27, was with Charlotte (AAA-White Sox) for most of the last two seasons. He hit .251 with 11 HR & 35 RBI for the Knights last year and had a game-winning, 9th-inning HR vs. the PawSox at McCoy Stadium last July. He finished last season playing in 7 games for Reno (AAA-Arizona). Blake has played 50 games in the majors with San Diego (2011-2012) and the White Sox (2013).

2014 PAWSOX WHO HAVE LANDED ELSEWHERE FOR NEXT SEASON

INF Carlos Claimed by Seattle (Tacoma)

INF Jonathan Herrera Signed by Cubs (Iowa)

INF Ryan 2 Signed by Kansas City (Omaha)

OF Alex Claimed by Baltimore (Norfolk)

IF/OF Derrik Gibson Signed by Baltimore (Norfolk)

RHP John Signed by Milwaukee (Nashville)

C/1B Ryan Lavarnway Claimed by Baltimore (Norfolk)

OF Corey A0 Signed by Tampa Bay (Durham)

RHP Rubby De La Rosa Traded to Arizona

RHP Allen 2 Traded to Arizona

RHP Alex Wilson Traded to Detroit

C Dan Traded to Washington (Syracuse)

RHP Anthony Ranaudo Traded to Texas

LHP Drake 2 Claimed by Cubs (Iowa)


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