Minors: Spinners close home schedule, but 2010 Draft pick set to make debut

The Lowell Spinners closed their home schedule quietly on Thursday night as they fell to the Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU), 3-1. Lowell got on the board in the seventh inning after a lead-off walk by Brandon Jacobs. After two quick outs, Jacobs came around to score on a double by David Renfroe struck to deep center field, cutting the lead to 3-1.

When the Spinners travel to Hudson Valley (TB) for a three-game, season-ending series, 2010 draftee Chris Hernandez will make his professional debut. He is scheduled to start the second game of the series on Saturday, while Hunter Cervenka and Madison Younginer start before and after. The Miami product was selected in the seventh round of June’s Draft and turned pro after three seasons with the Hurricanes. He broke onto the scene in his freshman season with the Hurricanes (2008), going 11-0 with a 2.72 ERA and 117 strikeouts. This year, he went 10-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 106 strikeouts.

* Mike Andrews of SoxProspects.com recently sat down with Boston’s Dierctor of Ameteur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye and put together a great Q&A on their News section. Check it out, its a great read!

Sox Notes: Ranaudo, Workman to report to Lowell

Top pitching draft picks Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman will report to Short-A Lowell, according to WEEI’s Alex Speier. Neither are expected to pitch for the Spinners when they join the team for the start of a three-game series against Hudson Valley (TB) on Friday night.

Ranaudo, the Sox’ supplemental first-round selection, went 5-2 with a 7.32 ERA (42 ER/51.2 IP) and 54 strikeouts in 15 appearances for Louisiana State University as a junior in 2010.  The righty also pitched for Brewster of the Cape Cod League this summer and did not allow an earned run over five starts for the Whitecaps. Just prior to Monday night’s draft signing deadline, Ranaudo and the Red Sox agreed to a $2.55 million deal.

Workman, the second-round pick out of the University of Texas, compiled a 12-1 record for the Longhorns in 17 games in his junior season this year. He led the Big 12 Conference in wins, while finishing fifth with 101 strikeouts. He received an $800,000 signing bonus.

Sox Notes: Sox sign seven total picks prior to deadline

Sox supplemental selection Anthony Ranuado drew much attention while pitching for Brewster of the Cape League earlier this summer. (Paul Blackmore/Cape Cod Times)

The Red Sox announced the signing of seven 2010 Draft picks prior to last night’s signing deadline. Here is the Red Sox press release with first reports added in parentheses:

The Boston Red Sox announced that the club has signed seven players selected in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, including right-handed pitchers Anthony Ranaudo (supplemental 1^st round), Brandon Workman (2^nd round) and Matthew Price (8^th round), shortstops Sean Coyle (3^rd round) and Garin Cecchini (4^th round), left-handed pitcher Chris Hernandez (7^th round), and outfielder Lucas LeBlanc (11^th round). Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye made the announcements.

Ranaudo, 20, went 5-2 with a 7.32 ERA (42 ER/51.2 IP) and 54 strikeouts in 15 appearances (11 starts) for Louisiana State University as a junior in 2010.  The right-hander pitched for Brewster of the Cape Cod League this summer and did not allow an earned run over five starts. (First report: Alex Speier/WEEI)

The 22-year-old Workman compiled a 12-1 record for the University of Texas in 17 games (15 starts) in his junior campaign this year.  He led the Big 12 Conference in wins while finishing fifth in the circuit with 101 strikeouts and ninth with a 3.35 ERA (39 ER/104.2 IP). (First report: Alex Speier/WEEI)

Coyle, 18, set a Germantown Academy (PA) record with 13 home runs this season and hit .562 (50-for-89) with 55 RBI, 45 runs scored and 22 stolen bases for the Patriots in 2010. (First report: Jim Callis/Baseball America)

Cecchini, 19, was selected out of Barbe High School (LA) but did not play in 2010 due to injury.  The left-handed batter hit .402 (45-for-112) with six home runs and 43 RBI for the Buccaneers as a junior in 2009. (First report: Trey Mongrue/BayouBengals)

Hernandez went 10-3 with a 2.64 ERA (31 ER/105.2 IP) and 110 strikeouts in 19 appearances (18 starts) as a junior for the University of Miami in 2010.  The 21-year-old left-hander led the Hurricanes and ranked among Atlantic Coast Conference leaders in ERA (1^st), wins (2^nd) and strikeouts (3^rd). (First report: Keith Law/ESPN)

Drafted out of Virginia Tech, the 21-year-old Price compiled a 7-4 record with a 4.95 ERA (50 ER/91.0 IP) in 17 appearances (15 starts) this season in his sophomore campaign and owns 138 strikeouts in 149.2 innings over two seasons with the Hokies. (First report: Kendall Rogers/Yahoo!)

LeBlanc, 21, was named a National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-American in 2010 after leading Delgado Community College in batting (.420), doubles (17), triples (7), home runs (11), RBI (67), runs (72), total bases (153), slugging (.722) and stolen bases (23). (First report: Ken Trahan/NewOrleans.com)

Sox Notes: Sox busy on Draft deadline day

Major League Baseball teams are again on the clock as the deadline for signing their 2010 First-Year Entry Draft picks comes on Monday at midnight.

First-round selection Anthony Ranuado has not been signed yet. Ranaudo is reportedly seeking “top ten” money, but expectations are that the Sox will met the demands of the LSU hurler. He began the summer with an impressive five-start performance for the Cape Cod League’s Brewster Whitecaps, sparking further negotiation.

SoxProspects.com did a great job covering the signings that did take place today:

* According to WEEI.com’s Alex Speier on Twitter, the Red Sox have signed second round draft pick Brandon Workman (pictured). Speier is reporting that the righty from the University of Texas will receive an $800,000 signing bonus, and will report to Ft. Myers to begin his professional career this week.

* According to LSU beat writer Trey Mongrue, the Red Sox have signed 4th round selection Garin Cecchini. The deal is estimated to be worth $1.31 million according to Jim Callis of Baseball America.

* According to Baseball America’s Jim Callis, the Red Sox have signed their third round selection, infielder Sean Coyle. The deal is expected to be worth $1.3 million.

* According to Kendall Rogers of Yahoo! Sports, the Red Sox have signed right-hander Mathew Price from Virginia Tech. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.

* Ken Trahan of NewOrleans.com is reporting that the Red Sox have signed 2010 11th round pick outfielder Lucas LeBlanc. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.

Sox Notes: Ranaudo throws six no-hit innings on Cape

Red Sox first round supplemental draft pick Anthony Ranaudo (LSU) threw six no-hit innings for Brewster in the Cape Cod League this evening. He waked four and struck out six against Harwich and exited after throwing 96 pitches (54 strikes).

Through 23.2 innings over four starts for the Whitecaps this summer, he has allowed just 7 hits, 1 run (none earned), 7 walks, and 22 strikeouts.

A Louisana news report said that he would meet with Scott Boras and also said that it could be his last Cape League appearance.

The deadline to sign draft picks is August 16.

Sox Notes: Closing the book on the 2010 Draft

Click for the RED SOX SELECTIONS list.

LOCAL SELECTIONS
#7 New York (NL), Matt Harvey, RHP, North Carolina
#49 Texas, Mike Olt, 3B, Connecticut
#102 Minnesota, Pat Dean, LHP, Boston College
#144 Los Angeles (AL), Max Russell, LHP, Florida Southern (via Amity HS, Conn.)
#191 Tampa Bay, Jesse Hahn, RHP, Virginia Tech (via Groton HS, Conn.)
#222 Seattle, Mickey Wiswall, 1B, Boston College
#278 Chicago (AL), Kevin Moran, RHP, Boston College
#386 Washington, Christopher McKenzie, RHP, San Jacinto (via Marian HS, Mass.)
#391 Arizona, Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Amherst Regional
#400 Chicago (NL), Pierre LePage, 2B, Connecticut
#405 Minnesota, Ryan O’Rourke, LHP, Merrimack College
#445 New York (AL), Travis Dean, RHP, Newton South HS (Mass.)
#545 Oakland, Jose Macias, RHP, Franklin Pierce University
#607 Chicago (NL), Jeff Vigurs, C, Bryant University
#792 Seattle, Robert Anston, CF, Boston College
#862 Los Angeles (NL), Mike Drowne, CF, Sacred Heart University
#896 Washington, Timothy Kiene, 1B, Avon Old Farms School (Conn.)
#938 Chicago (AL), Robert Young, LHP, Dartmouth
#972 Seattle, Andrew Giobbi, C, Vanderbilt
#1058 Chicago, John Spatola, OF, Boston College
#1084 San Diego, Rob Gariano, RHP, Fairfield
#1093 Detroit, Ryan Soares, SS, George Mason
#1098 San Francisco, John Leonard, RHP, Boston College
#1106 Washington, Nicholas Serino, LHP, Massachusetts
#1145 Oakland, Michael Fabiaschi, 2B, James Madison
#1163 Boston, Thomas Bourdon, OF, Northwest Catholic HS (CT)
#1243 Detroit, Matt Perry, 3B, Cypress Colllege
#1274 Atlanta, Ben Waldrip, 1B, Cypress Colllege
#1327 Cincinnati, Ed Campbell, LHP, Bridgewater-Raynham Reg HS (MA)
#1332 Seattle, Timothy Boyce, RHP, Rhode Island
#1343 Boston, Zach Kapstein, C, Tiverton HS (RI)
#1387 Cincinnati, Patrick Quinn, RHP, St Petersburg JC
#1422 Seattle, James Wood, RF, Trinity
#1476 Toronto, Matt Abraham, 2B, Eckerd
#1493 Boston, Trygg Larsson-Danforth, 1B, Yale

Sox Notes: Red Sox continue Draft with strong day two

Former Wareham Gatemen pitcher Brandon Workman was the Sox' second round selection on Tuesday. (SportsPix)

The Red Sox made 29 selections in rounds 2-30 of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. Over the first two days of the draft, Boston has selected 19 pitchers (16 right-handers, three left-handers), five infielders, six outfielders and two catchers. Of the 32 players drafted, 14 are from high school and 18 from college.

Wednesday’s final day commences with live coverage on MLB.com, beginning at noon today.

Sox Notes: Boston selects Brentz and Ranuado with sandwich picks

The Red Sox had two picks in the first supplemental round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and selected LSU pitcher Anthony Raunado and Middle Tennessee State outfielder Bryce Brentz. 

(BuccoFans.com photo)

Anthony was the Tigers ace as a sophomore in 2009, going 12-3 with a 3.04 ERA over 19 starts. In 124.1 innings, he walked 50 with 159 strikeouts, finishing third in the nation in strikeouts and fifth in wins. He became the first LSU pitcher to lead the SEC in strikeouts since Kurt Ainsworth (157) in 1999. He also ranked second in the SEC in opponents batting average (.209) and third in with a 3.04 ERA. Through seven starts this season, Anthony was 2-2 with a 7.30 ERA. In 24.2 innings, he allowed 29 hits and 11 walks with 24 strikeouts. Ranaudo was an 11th round selection of the Texas Rangers in 2007, but did not sign.

(BaseballRumorMill.com photo)

 Through 29 games in 2010, Bryce hit .330 with 11 home runs, 31 RBI, six doubles and 39 runs scored after a 2009 season in which he hit .465 with 28 home runs. In 2009, Bryce was the NCAA Statistical Leader in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage (.930) and total bases (214). Brentz was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 30th round in 2007, but did not sign.

Sox Notes: With the 20th selection in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox select…

Follow the entire 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, on MLB.com’s Draft Central.

(BallStateSports.com photo)

Kolbrin Vitek, second baseman from Ball State University (Muncie, IN).

His bio from the draft guide:

In 2009 as a sophomore, Kolbrin was named Honorable Mention All-Ping!Baseball and First-Team All-Mid-American Conference. He was second on the team with a .389 batting average and led the Cardinals with a .736 slugging percentage, 13 home runs, 25 doubles and 67 RBI. His 25 doubles tied the Ball State single-season record and led the MAC. Through 11 starts on the mound in 2010, Vitek is 2-4 with a 4.00 ERA. At the plate, Kolbrin is hitting .393 in 44 games with 14 homers, 57 RBI, 13 doubles, three triples, 61 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.