Recent trades heightening focus on Red Sox player development staff

Alex Verdugo stands alone on the Red Sox roster for one particular reason.

It has nothing to do with the fact the outfielder leads the club in most major offensive categories. Verdugo is the lone current big leaguer returned in a pair of noteworthy 2020 trades.

Mookie Betts, David Price, Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and nearly $49 million have gone to the Dodgers and Phillies. Jeter Downs, Connor Wong, Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold are all currently working at [...]

Alex Verdugo stands alone on the Red Sox roster for one particular reason.

It has nothing to do with the fact the outfielder leads the club in most major offensive categories. Verdugo is the lone current big leaguer returned in a pair of noteworthy 2020 trades.

Mookie Betts, David Price, Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree and nearly $49 million have gone to the Dodgers and Phillies. Jeter Downs, Connor Wong, Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold are all currently working at Boston’s alternate site in Pawtucket.

Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has clearly been authorized by ownership to prioritize the future ahead of this season. That means additional external focus on the prospect base and vice president of player development Ben Crockett. Seven of the organization’s top 10 talents per SoxProspects.com are being put through daily workouts and simulated games at McCoy Stadium.

"Certainly acquiring young players that join the talented group of guys we have is great for us," Crockett said Monday. "It gives us great opportunities to help these guys get to the big leagues.

"But I think from our standpoint, our focus hasn’t really changed from year to year in terms of the importance of what we do and knowing how much drafting, acquiring free agents and developing talent – how important they have been in the success of our organization in the past."

Pivetta made 92 appearances on the mound for Philadelphia and is by far the most experienced of the new additions. But the right-hander’s recent role with the Phillies involved both starting and bullpen work, something the Red Sox would like to change. Boston sees the 27-year-old as a future member of its rotation and will schedule his workload as such.

"He’s an incredibly talented guy who has a really good pitch mix," Crockett said. "He has experience in the major leagues and I think is somebody we believe will keep getting better. He can be a really impactful major league starter."

Downs, Wong and Seabold have never appeared above Double-A, and no member of that trio is older than 24. Any chance for advancement without the luxury of a Minor League Baseball season comes under the watchful eye of Crockett, Pawtucket Red Sox manager Billy McMillon and his field staff. The most recent player named to the 60-man pool was Triston Casas, a corner infielder regarded by most as the top current Red Sox prospect.

"The number of reps guys are getting on a daily basis and the ability to keep pitchers on their routine has been really good," Crockett said. "Despite what could be somewhat monotonous they’ve done a really good job staying consistent with routines and bringing it every day."

Boston’s staff provided a welcome break from that grind over the weekend with a day trip to Fenway Park. Pool members played a nine-inning intrasquad scrimmage, with top pitching prospects Bryan Mata and Jay Groome both taking the mound. Outfield prospect Jarren Duran starred in a Red Sox intrasquad scrimmage toward the end of Summer Camp and mentioned how just being at the ballpark helped give him a feeling of possibility.

"Combination of things – that certainly was one of them," Crockett said. "The monotony of the days there at McCoy and the opportunity to change the scenery a little bit and expose them to Fenway Park, to the guys who weren’t in the fold for (Summer Camp) or who haven’t been up there. Also an opportunity to capture some extra information and data with some systems we have at Fenway."

The uncertainty of the next couple years presents Crockett and the front office with an unprecedented challenge. Boston made just four draft selections in 2020 and will be limited to 20 next year, reducing the amount of talent it could immediately add to its system. The upcoming Sept. 30 expiration of the agreement between the minor leagues and Major League Baseball could see a significant reduction and restructuring of affiliated clubs across the sport.

COVID-19 concerns are also likely to limit other development settings such as fall instructs, the Arizona Fall League and winter’s Caribbean Leagues. Red Sox players outside the pool have been left at home to work out on their own and at their local facilities. They check in virtually with coaching staffs and strength and conditioning personnel.

"Obviously it’s not the same," Crockett said. "We’re not going to be able to replicate that fully, but over the course of those things we’re trying to reach the guys the best we can."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @BillKoch25