Day 2 in Ft. Myers. Fire and Ice!
Minor League teams play Spring Training games? They certainly do. Today was first taste of baseball, watching the Sea Dogs and PawSox play at the Twins complex against their Double-A and Triple-A clubs. Some quirky rules for minor league spring games — the bottom of the ninth happens regardless, and sometimes when a pitcher reaches a number of pitches, the inning will just end.
The Red Sox are still taking a bunch of minor leaguers for their games, so most of the minor league guys are playing up a level. The Pawtucket lineup featured possible Sea Dogs in 2017: Rafel Devers, Tzu-Wei Lin, Danny Mars, Jordan Procyshen and Tim Roberson. Clarity in the rosters will happen soon.
Former first round pick Trey Ball pitched in the Portland game and worked 4 innings. Ball is a hard throwing lefty, who could end up in Portland this season. Teddy Stankiewicz, Jordan Beeks and Brandon Workman were a few ex-Sea Dogs who pitched in the PawSox game.
Monday nuggets: Brandon Workman pitched the 9th inning of the Pawtucket game, allowing a walk and single to the first 2 hitters, but settled down to retire the next 3…Former Sea Dog Nik Turley signed a minor league contract with the Twins…Former Twin and Sox farmhand Heiker Meneses is back with the Red Sox, had a chance to say hello…Carlos Quentin made a terrific, head-first, tumbling catch in left field…Jantzen Witte is so smooth, got behind 0–2, worked the count even, and laced a double to right field — definition of a professional hitter.
A reminder that Opening Day is April 6th against the Reading Fightin Phils at Hadlock Field. Tickets available at seadogs.com. On Tuesday, I’ll be at JetBlue Park for the Sea Dogs Minor League coverage.
