Bill Koch

Sunday

Jul 19, 2020 at 2:49 PM

PAWTUCKET — McCoy Stadium was supposed to be in its final summer hosting the Pawtucket Red Sox. But Minor League Baseball assured no games would be played when it canceled the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

That doesn’t change the importance of the work some of Boston’s top prospects will do here at this Red Sox alternate Summer Camp site over the next three months. Opportunities to develop individual talent and prepare for that hoped-for phone call [...]

"I’ve been trying to hammer that point so it factors into their decision-making process on and off the field and how they go about their business," said PawSox manager Billy McMillon, who is overseeing workouts here. "I think it’s going to be imperative we all tell these guys, ‘Look, you are it. You’ve got to get as much out of this as you can and make good decisions away from the park.’ "

Sunday was another scorcher as pitchers threw in the bullpen and hitters took their turn at the plate. Premier prospects Jay Groome and Bryan Mata were among those tossing side sessions while left-hander Mike Kickham took the mound for two simulated innings.

"Things can really go bad here in a hurry," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said on Saturday. "And if they go bad and we have four or five guys out, they’ve really got to be on top of what’s going on and how we’d replace those guys."

Tanner Houck, Bobby Poyner, Mike Shawaryn and Domingo Tapia were among the pitchers who threw on Saturday to open camp at McCoy. Houck made 16 appearances with Triple-A Pawtucket last year, and all but two came out of the bullpen. He was among the most recent additions to the 60-man Red Sox player pool.

"It’s definitely a different circumstance, but things haven’t changed," Houck said. "Whether I’m back home working out or whether there’s 20,000 people watching, it boils down to getting your work done every single day and doing what you’ve got to do."

Houck served as a starter in 48 of his first 50 professional outings, and that’s the role he expects to fill going forward. He was a first-round selection out of Missouri in 2017 and ranks as the No. 10 player in the system per SoxProspects.com. Houck allowed 86 hits and struck out 80 in 82 2/3 innings at Double-A Portland last season.

"That’s what I plan on," Houck said. "From what I understood from the organization, that’s their plan as well.

"It’s something I’ve done my entire life. I’ve been a starting pitcher since I first started pitching. I’m going to continue that trend for as long as I can."

Connor Wong doubled down the line in left, Jarren Duran singled up the middle and Jeter Downs cracked a double to deep left-center against Kickham, who made 14 appearances with the Giants over the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He’s among a handful of players who were sent to Pawtucket from the initial camp site in Boston, joining Shawaryn, Tapia, Wong and right-hander Caleb Simpson. The Red Sox will assign more players here this week following their cutdown to a 30-man roster for Opening Day.

"Guys were ready," McMillon said. "We’re just making sure by going slow, but they want more volume. We’re holding them back a little bit right now."

Houck was unable to remember the last time he was asked for an autograph, a byproduct of social distancing and no fans allowed on the grounds here. Players are tested every other day and have been split between the home and visiting clubhouses. Workout and treatment spaces have spread into the suites and lower concourses.

"Normally the locker room is a safe place to go hang out, watch TV, play Ping-Pong," Houck said. "Right now it’s one of those things where you’ve got to go in, get your work done and stay as far away from people as you can."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

The goal remains the same for players at McCoy

Sunday