Seven 2016 Salem Sox Headed to Arizona Fall League
September 1, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
SALEM, Va. - The 2016 Salem Red Sox have boasted an influx of top talent rarely seen at any minor league level and that has manifested itself into the top record in the league at the beginning of play on Thursday. Seven members from the team, including four players on the current roster, have been selected as Boston's representatives for the Arizona Fall League this year.
Pitchers Trey Ball, Jamie Callahan and Michael Kopech join outfielder Danny Mars as the current members who will suit up for the Surprise Saguros in the fall. Former players Jalen Beeks, Mauricio Dubon, and Yoan Moncada will also be on the roster that features players from the Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.
Ball enters Thursday's action fourth in the Carolina League in ERA at 3.77 in 22 starts for the Red Sox. The southpaw is 8-5 on the year in 112.1 innings and has won his last three decisions. The 22-year-old was the first round pick (seventh overall) of Boston in 2013 out of New Castle Chrysler High School in Indiana.
Callahan has been one of Salem's best bullpen arms in the second half of the year. In 34 total appearances, the righthander is 5-3 with a 3.45 ERA and six saves. After seeing his ERA rise to 4.80 after an outing on June 10 at Wilmington, Callahan has limited opponents to eight earned runs in 32.2 frames over 20 appearances for a 2.20 ERA. Boston selected the 22-year-old with its second round selection in 2012 out of Dillon High School in South Carolina.
Kopech has racked up 81 strikeouts in 51.1 innings through 10 official starts with Salem. Since joining the team on July 7, he has fanned the most hitters in all of Minor League Baseball. He has reportedly reached as high as 105mph on his fastball this season. Rated as the consensus top pitching prospect in the Red Sox system, the 20-year-old was chosen by Boston in the first round (33rd overall) out of Mount Pleasant (Texas) High School in 2014.
Despite missing the past couple weeks right a right ankle contusion, Mars has been at or near the top of most statistical categories for the Red Sox. In 108 games, the outfielder is batting .293 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, two home runs, 60 runs scored, 54 RBI, and 31 stolen bases. Mars, 22, was picked by Boston in the sixth round of the 2014 Draft out of Chipola Junior College in Florida.
Beeks started the year with Salem before earning a promotion at the All-Star break to Double-A Portland. With Salem in the first half, the lefthander was 4-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 13 starts, the sixth-best ERA in the league at the time of his promotion. Since joining the Sea Dogs, the 23-year-old has gone 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 12 starts. Beeks was Boston's 12th round selection in 2014 out of the University of Arkansas.
Dubon was a midseason Carolina League All-Star for the Red Sox after being one of the primary catalysts to Salem's first First Half South Division Championship since 1988. The shortstop hit .306 in 62 games, which was the third-best mark in the circuit at the time of his promotion. He also piled up 72 hits, fourth-most in the loop. Since joining Double-A Portland, the 22-year-old has hit .335 in 56 games. Boston selected Dubon in the 26th round of the 2013 Draft out of Capital Christian High School in California.
The top prospect in all of Minor League Baseball according to MLBPipeline.com, Moncada lived up to the billing in the first half with Salem. The Cuban phenom hit .307 with 25 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 57 runs, 34 RBI and 36 steals all in 61 contests for the Red Sox. He has continued to excel with Double-A Portland, batting .285 in 44 games with 20 extra-base hits. The 21-year-old signed for a reported $31.5 million signing bonus in March of 2015 out of Cienfuegos, Cuba and is scheduled to make his Major League debut on Friday for Boston at Oakland.
Additionally, 2015 Salem manager Carlos Febles has been named the manager of the Saguros, who will begin competition on October 11.
The Salem Red Sox finish up the 2016 home regular season slate on Thursday at LewisGale Field with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at www.salemsox.com or by calling (540) 389-3333.
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