Last year, when Dave Dombrowski visited Hadlock Field, he was watching players named Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada.
Dombrowski, 60, the Red Sox President of Baseball Operations, is back in Portland, working a long weekend at Hadlock.
Benintendi and Moncada have moved on. Portland’s top prospect is third baseman Rafael Devers whom, Dombrowski reiterated, is not going anywhere soon – “Very talented young guy … He’s still 20. He’s still maturing.”
But the Sea Dogs’ bullpen has Dombrowski intrigued. Two of Portland’s relievers, Jamie Callahan and Austin Maddox, were in major league spring training camp until right before the season, along with former Sea Dogs reliever Ben Taylor.
“We had a lot of guys in spring training and they really threw well,” Dombrowski said. “We had some talented guys that made some adjustments.
“We had three youngsters right at the very end, battling for a spot. You could have made an argument that any of the three could have made the team – Callahan, Maddox and Taylor, who eventually made it.”
Taylor has been back-and-forth between Boston and Pawtucket this year.
Dombrowski is hoping for more relieving arms from the farm.
“There’s been an emphasis put on that – the bullpen development internally,” he said.
Dombrowski has made trades to improve the Boston pen, with mixed results. He acquired lights-out closer Craig Kimbrel, but also Carson Smith and Tyler Thornburg – both of whom are on the disabled list.
Maddox, 25, was promoted to Portland early last season. This year, he has a 0.00 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in Portland. Callahan, 22, is in his first season in Portland and is putting up good numbers – 1.64/0.73.
“But there have been other guys that have pitched well here,” Dombrowski said. “Look at a guy like (Ty) Buttrey. He is opening up some eyes.
Buttrey, 24, began as a starter in Portland last year but soon switched to the bullpen. He was not in major league spring training camp, but appeared in two games (both scoreless). This year, he has a 1.98 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.
“I think we have some bullpen arms that hopefully give us depth now and in the future,” Dombrowski said. “Very happy with where they are at this time.”
IN PAWTUCKET, left-hander Brian Johnson was named the International League Pitcher of the Week after his dominating start last week (eight innings, two hits, one run). Johnson has a 2.28 ERA
Outfielder Aneury Tavarez is doing well since his promotion, with two home runs and two doubles in his first four games.
IN PORTLAND, Devers was named the Eastern League Player of the Week after batting .440 with four home runs with 10 RBI. He’s the first Sea Dogs player to receive the honor since Benintendi last year. Devers’ .322 average is second highest on the team.
Middle infielder Tzu-Wei Lin has the best average (.343). Lin is again playing some outfield, including a game in center with Dombrowski watching.
“He looked like he has nice instincts out there,” Dombrowski said. “Versatility will only help him. He’s swinging the bat much better, too.”
IN SALEM, third baseman Michael Chavis keeps impressing. He hit two home runs over the weekend and is batting .361/1.195 OPS with seven home runs in 72 at-bats … Right-hander Travis Lakins (4-0, 2.87) has 35 strikeouts and nine walks in 311/3 innings.
IN GREENVILLE, third baseman Bobby Dalbec is having an up-and-down start to his first full pro season. Dalbec is 7 for 17 in his last four games, to improve his numbers to .265/.722. Dalbec has struck out 42 times in 102 at-bats.
Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:
kthomas@pressherald.com
Twitter: @ClearTheBases
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