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PORTLAND, Maine — The Password is walk off.
Times two.
Over the weekend, Portland Sea Dogs slugger Jhostynxon Garcia secured not just one — but two game-winning hits to lift his team to a pair of back-to-back walk-off victories at Hadlock Field.
Double the pleasure, double the fun for the Red Sox prospect who calls Double-A Portland home, and who coaches, fans and teammates call “The Password.”
“It’s a good one. It’s cool to see it kind of take on a life of its own and (Garcis has) embraced it as well,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said. “He’s got T-shirts. I’m sure there are probably plenty of Red Sox fans who use his name as a password.
“You don’t get nicknames if you’re bad,” Abraham added. “To see him earn the right to get a cool nickname is pretty sweet.”
With Triple-A Worcester on the road for two weeks, the T&G traveled to Maine to check out some of the organization’s top prospects in AA who may call Polar Park home soon.
Let's take a look at some of Portland’s top players:
A left-handed pitcher taken by Boston in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Connelly Early hasn’t wasted any time rising through the Red Sox ranks.
After starting in 16 games for Single-A Salem (2023-24) and being called up to Double-A Portland at the end of last season for eight starts, Early added strength and weight to his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame in the offseason.
The 23-year-old also added velocity to his fastball — that hit 97 MPH in spring training but sits in the mid-to-low 90s — to pair with a quality changeup and evolving sweeper. He is currently listed as the Red Sox’ No. 9 prospect according to MLB.com.
“He embodies a lot of what we’re trying to do on the development side and pitching side,” Abraham said. “You’re looking at a really exciting left-handed pitching prospect (and) they don’t grow on trees, so we’re really lucky to have that.”
In 2022, Early was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year while at West Point. The lefty then transferred to the University of Virginia where he recorded 12 wins and took home Most Outstanding Player honors at the Charlottesville Regional in 2023.
After splitting time between Salem and Portland last year, Early has impressed in his five outings (just two starts as poor weather has played a factor) with the Sea Dogs. He possesses a 2.41 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 18⅔ innings.
“The confidence this young man takes out with him to the mound, he knows he’s good and you know he’s winning the race to strike one,” Portland manager Chad Epperson said. “He feels very comfortable to get a quick (at-bat from opposing hitters) and I think he's done that early on and as long as he continues to get ahead of hitters, he stands a pretty damn good chance to win that battle.”
The player coined “The Password” — because his first name is hard to spell — has been a fail-safe for the Sea Dogs so far this spring.
Garcia, who played 30 games for Portland last year, is hitting .286 with 2 HR, 15 RBI and 18 walks to go along with 23 strikeouts in 28 games this season. Add that with added weight, range in the outfield and bat speed, while learning English, and the Venezuelan-born Garcia has gained a lot of fanfare.
“He’s developed a lot the past year plus,” Abraham said. “He’s really just become a complete player. He’s a good example to show what hard work and dedication and trust in the program does for you.”
Boston signed Garcia for $350,000 in 2019 and although the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his debut with the organization, and he struggled in his first two seasons of pro ball, Garcia broke out last year. The right-handed hitter (and thrower from the outfield) slashed .286/.356/.536 with 23 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 107 games between Single A (Greenville and Salem) and Double A.
Now, he’s one of the best power bats in the farm system — ranked the Red Sox’ fifth-best prospect by MLB.com — that’s earned a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster.
“All of the sudden you’re looking at a five-tool player who can eventually make an impact in Boston in a few years for a long time,” Abraham said.
Facing a few curveballs on and off the field the past few years, Mikey Romero is currently finding his stride with the Sea Dogs.
Selected No. 24 overall by the Red Sox in the 2022 MLB Draft, Romero dealt with back issues during his first two seasons of pro ball — and the loss of his father — before returning to full health in 2024 and working his way up to Double A.
“He’s in such a good spot,” Epperson said. “This is like the first spring training that I think he came into healthy. ... This is a really good player. He’s a competitor that comes and wants to get better and wants to win ball games.”
A shortstop by trade, Romero has added weight to his 6-foot, 175-pound frame while cutting down on his chase rate at the plate and adding second and third base to his fielding repertoire.
The 21-year-old left-handed hitter is slashing .280/.368/.898 with 5 HR, 14 RBI and 21 runs in 100 at bats so far for Portland. He’s listed as Boston’s No. 11 prospect according to MLB.com.
“He’s done a lot of growing up,” Abraham said. “I think now being a healthy player, being someone who can physically come out and play day in and day out is his calling card, and it means a lot to him.
“It’s not just being healthy, it’s performing optimally. It’s hitting the ball hard throughout the ballpark and being a good defender. He has a very clear understanding of what he needs to do to get better.”
Often lost in the shadow of Boston’s “Big 3” in Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, Romero is starting to look like a player who can live up to his billing as a former first-round pick — and be part of the next wave of Sox prospects headed to Worcester.
“He’s a special player,” Epperson said.
A pitcher with a penchant for watching anything “Star Wars” related before he pitches; David Sandlin finally channeled his inner Obi-Wan Kenobi — after a self-described slow start to the season — in his latest outing for Portland this past weekend.
“This guy brings electric stuff to the mound every single time and you know he’s going to continue to get better,” Epperson said. “He knows what he’s got to work on, and I know the competitor and the work that he has put in, and he’s going to get right, and when he gets right, he’s going to go on one hell of a role.”
The 24-year-old righty, acquired by Boston last year for pitcher John Schreiber in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, generated 20 swings and misses (which led all Double A Sunday) in his latest start for the Sea Dogs.
The 6-foot-4 righty reached 99 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out nine batters in five innings. Despite a 4.78 ERA in 26⅓ innings pitched, Sandlin and Co. believe Boston’s No. 8 ranked prospect is close to turning the corner.
“Adversity provides a chance to make some changes and challenge himself,” Abraham said. “Velo has always been there. That’s been something that’s been a big key to his success over the years.
“Something we need to continue to focus on with him is get him in the zone. When you have that kind of stuff, you want to challenge these hitters.”
With these four prospects improving their craft in Double-A Portland, there is a good chance fans will get to see them play at some point in Triple-A Worcester later this season.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox prospects Jhostynxon Garcia, Connelly Early, Mikey Romero and David Sandlin
Continue reading...
Times two.
Over the weekend, Portland Sea Dogs slugger Jhostynxon Garcia secured not just one — but two game-winning hits to lift his team to a pair of back-to-back walk-off victories at Hadlock Field.
Double the pleasure, double the fun for the Red Sox prospect who calls Double-A Portland home, and who coaches, fans and teammates call “The Password.”
“It’s a good one. It’s cool to see it kind of take on a life of its own and (Garcis has) embraced it as well,” Red Sox senior director of player development Brian Abraham said. “He’s got T-shirts. I’m sure there are probably plenty of Red Sox fans who use his name as a password.
“You don’t get nicknames if you’re bad,” Abraham added. “To see him earn the right to get a cool nickname is pretty sweet.”
You must be registered for see images attach
With Triple-A Worcester on the road for two weeks, the T&G traveled to Maine to check out some of the organization’s top prospects in AA who may call Polar Park home soon.
Let's take a look at some of Portland’s top players:
You must be registered for see images attach
Connelly Early
A left-handed pitcher taken by Boston in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Connelly Early hasn’t wasted any time rising through the Red Sox ranks.
After starting in 16 games for Single-A Salem (2023-24) and being called up to Double-A Portland at the end of last season for eight starts, Early added strength and weight to his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame in the offseason.
The 23-year-old also added velocity to his fastball — that hit 97 MPH in spring training but sits in the mid-to-low 90s — to pair with a quality changeup and evolving sweeper. He is currently listed as the Red Sox’ No. 9 prospect according to MLB.com.
“He embodies a lot of what we’re trying to do on the development side and pitching side,” Abraham said. “You’re looking at a really exciting left-handed pitching prospect (and) they don’t grow on trees, so we’re really lucky to have that.”
In 2022, Early was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year while at West Point. The lefty then transferred to the University of Virginia where he recorded 12 wins and took home Most Outstanding Player honors at the Charlottesville Regional in 2023.
You must be registered for see images attach
After splitting time between Salem and Portland last year, Early has impressed in his five outings (just two starts as poor weather has played a factor) with the Sea Dogs. He possesses a 2.41 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 18⅔ innings.
“The confidence this young man takes out with him to the mound, he knows he’s good and you know he’s winning the race to strike one,” Portland manager Chad Epperson said. “He feels very comfortable to get a quick (at-bat from opposing hitters) and I think he's done that early on and as long as he continues to get ahead of hitters, he stands a pretty damn good chance to win that battle.”
Jhostynxon Garcia
The player coined “The Password” — because his first name is hard to spell — has been a fail-safe for the Sea Dogs so far this spring.
Garcia, who played 30 games for Portland last year, is hitting .286 with 2 HR, 15 RBI and 18 walks to go along with 23 strikeouts in 28 games this season. Add that with added weight, range in the outfield and bat speed, while learning English, and the Venezuelan-born Garcia has gained a lot of fanfare.
You must be registered for see images attach
“He’s developed a lot the past year plus,” Abraham said. “He’s really just become a complete player. He’s a good example to show what hard work and dedication and trust in the program does for you.”
Boston signed Garcia for $350,000 in 2019 and although the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his debut with the organization, and he struggled in his first two seasons of pro ball, Garcia broke out last year. The right-handed hitter (and thrower from the outfield) slashed .286/.356/.536 with 23 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 107 games between Single A (Greenville and Salem) and Double A.
You must be registered for see images attach
Now, he’s one of the best power bats in the farm system — ranked the Red Sox’ fifth-best prospect by MLB.com — that’s earned a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster.
“All of the sudden you’re looking at a five-tool player who can eventually make an impact in Boston in a few years for a long time,” Abraham said.
Mikey Romero
Facing a few curveballs on and off the field the past few years, Mikey Romero is currently finding his stride with the Sea Dogs.
Selected No. 24 overall by the Red Sox in the 2022 MLB Draft, Romero dealt with back issues during his first two seasons of pro ball — and the loss of his father — before returning to full health in 2024 and working his way up to Double A.
“He’s in such a good spot,” Epperson said. “This is like the first spring training that I think he came into healthy. ... This is a really good player. He’s a competitor that comes and wants to get better and wants to win ball games.”
You must be registered for see images attach
A shortstop by trade, Romero has added weight to his 6-foot, 175-pound frame while cutting down on his chase rate at the plate and adding second and third base to his fielding repertoire.
The 21-year-old left-handed hitter is slashing .280/.368/.898 with 5 HR, 14 RBI and 21 runs in 100 at bats so far for Portland. He’s listed as Boston’s No. 11 prospect according to MLB.com.
You must be registered for see images attach
“He’s done a lot of growing up,” Abraham said. “I think now being a healthy player, being someone who can physically come out and play day in and day out is his calling card, and it means a lot to him.
“It’s not just being healthy, it’s performing optimally. It’s hitting the ball hard throughout the ballpark and being a good defender. He has a very clear understanding of what he needs to do to get better.”
Often lost in the shadow of Boston’s “Big 3” in Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell, Romero is starting to look like a player who can live up to his billing as a former first-round pick — and be part of the next wave of Sox prospects headed to Worcester.
“He’s a special player,” Epperson said.
You must be registered for see images attach
David Sandlin
A pitcher with a penchant for watching anything “Star Wars” related before he pitches; David Sandlin finally channeled his inner Obi-Wan Kenobi — after a self-described slow start to the season — in his latest outing for Portland this past weekend.
“This guy brings electric stuff to the mound every single time and you know he’s going to continue to get better,” Epperson said. “He knows what he’s got to work on, and I know the competitor and the work that he has put in, and he’s going to get right, and when he gets right, he’s going to go on one hell of a role.”
The 24-year-old righty, acquired by Boston last year for pitcher John Schreiber in a trade with the Kansas City Royals, generated 20 swings and misses (which led all Double A Sunday) in his latest start for the Sea Dogs.
You must be registered for see images attach
The 6-foot-4 righty reached 99 miles per hour on his fastball and struck out nine batters in five innings. Despite a 4.78 ERA in 26⅓ innings pitched, Sandlin and Co. believe Boston’s No. 8 ranked prospect is close to turning the corner.
“Adversity provides a chance to make some changes and challenge himself,” Abraham said. “Velo has always been there. That’s been something that’s been a big key to his success over the years.
“Something we need to continue to focus on with him is get him in the zone. When you have that kind of stuff, you want to challenge these hitters.”
With these four prospects improving their craft in Double-A Portland, there is a good chance fans will get to see them play at some point in Triple-A Worcester later this season.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Red Sox prospects Jhostynxon Garcia, Connelly Early, Mikey Romero and David Sandlin
Continue reading...
