As one Red Sox pitching prospect made his professional debut Monday, there are concerns about another pitching prospect after his performance Sunday.
Lefty Jason Groome, Boston’s first-round draft pick in June, pitched in the Gulf Coast League for the first time on Monday. He threw two innings, allowing one hit, no walks and striking out three.
Meanwhile, lefty Henry Owens got lit for eight earned runs over five innings Sunday in a spot start for the Boston Red Sox.
What to make of Owens?
Work to do? Obvious.
Salvageable? Sure.
Owens, who turned 24 last month, seems like he has been around for a long time. But it was only two years ago when he spent most of the season in Double-A Portland. He was the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Year in 2014, going 14-4 with a 2.60 ERA, 126 strikeouts and 47 walks in 121 innings.
Owens was called up to the majors to finish last season, making 11 starts for Boston (4-4, 4.57 ERA). He had some strong starts (four into the eighth inning) and some clunkers (allowing seven earned runs three times).
Coming into this year, Owens was hardly a ready-for-the-majors product. The fact that he seems to be going backwards this season (0-1, 7.79 ERA) is troubling, but Owens has only started four games. On Sunday, four walks and two mislocated pitches (resulting in a pair of three-run homers by Justin Upton) were his downfall.
Owens’ trouble this year is command. While he is 8-6 for Triple-A Pawtucket with a 3.70 ERA this season, Owens also has the highest walk rate of his career (5.6 per nine innings).
Much is made of Owens needing to grow into his lanky 6-foot-7 frame (and his size 17 cleats). Two other tall lefties are an example. Six-foot-10 Randy Johnson was 25 when he reached the majors full time. Andrew Miller, 6-7, was 27 before he could be called successful, and that was out of the bullpen.
Both Johnson and Miller featured fastballs in the high 90s. Owens throws closer to 89-90, but it is his deceptive delivery and a complementary change-up that makes him effective.
On Sunday, Owens struck out five of seven batters. He fanned both Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez on four pitches, all fastballs. Owens used his curveball sparingly but with success (four balls, two called strikes, a foul and a flyout).
The Red Sox should be a long way from giving up on Owens. Not only will he have minor league options through 2018, but there are no pitchers at the Double-A level pushing for his spot in Pawtucket.
Owens has been hyped before he’s ready. We forget he was drafted out of high school. If he was chosen after his third year of college, he would be in only his second full professional season right now.
So give him time. There’s no need to rush, and the payoff may be worth it.
IN PAWTUCKET, lefty Brian Johnson could be the next pitcher to get a start with Boston. Since coming off the inactive list, he has made five straight strong starts – 3-1, 1.76 ERA, 20 strikeouts and seven walks in 302/3 innings..
Left-handed reliever Robby Scott is holding left-handed hitters to a .149 average (.228 against right-handers). In July and August, Scott has a 0.71 ERA in his last 10 outings. Has Boston noticed this?
IN PORTLAND, shortstop Mauricio Dubon is batting .435 in his last 12 games with three home runs. In 49 games with the Sea Dogs, Dubon is hitting .332/.891. … Infielder Yoan Moncada struggled Saturday, going 0 for 5, with five strikeouts, and two throwing errors at third base. … Aneury Tavarez continues to lead the Eastern League in batting (.335).
IN SALEM, Michael Kopech (3-1, 1.29 in nine starts) has 39 strikeouts and seven walks in his last four starts (22 innings). … Third baseman Rafael Devers (.289/.786) continues to sizzle in the second half (.330/.949 in 53 games). It was speculated (by me) that Devers might spend a couple of weeks with the Sea Dogs, but he will stay in Salem and play in the Carolina League playoffs.
IN GREENVILLE, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe is batting .301/.889 in the second half, after a first-half slump. … Starter Roniel Raudes, only 18, has allowed three earned runs over his last four starts. He is 11-5 with a 3.73 ERA.
IN LOWELL, third baseman Bobby Dalbec is batting .373/1.090 with five home runs in 22 games. Dalbec was a fourth-round draft pick in June.
IN THE GULF Coast League, Groome was the center of attention Monday for his pro debut. Groome, who turns 18 on Tuesday, retired the first five batters (three strikeouts, groundout and flyout) before yielding a double. He then induced a groundout to end his outing.
NOTES: The Salem Red Sox will have more opposing teams to play next year. The Carolina League announced that it is expanding to 10 teams (adding Kinston and a TBA location) as two California League teams (Bakersfield and High Desert) are folding. … Former Red Sox infield prospect Sean Coyle, who was waived this year and picked up by the Angels, has been taken off Los Angeles’ 40-man roster and assigned to Double-A.
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